Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, September 24, 1900, Page 4, Image 4

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    THE MORNING OfcEGONlAN,? MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1900.
'& v&gjomaxu
at the Postofflce at Portland, Oregon,
as second-doss matter.
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P Oregonlan should be addressed Invariably
pdltor The Oregonlan.' not to the name of
Tlndl'Idu4L Letters rcratlng to advertising,
fibscrtptione or to any business matter should
addressed lmnlv t'Tht. nwimnion"
Tbe Oregonlan does not buy poems or rtorle
,w inaivjauais. and cannot undertake to rO
Ml any manuscrlots sent tn tt Trithnnt Uritn.-
a. No stamps ohould be inclosed for this
orpostt.
I'nerot Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson,
nil .Paclflc avenue, Tacoma. Box 355.
Oma PoRtnfflra
ICastem Business Office Tho Tribune build-
pc. now York City; "The Rookery." Chicago;
F0 S. C Beckwith Rnr!n1 nr-oni. Wtr Vnrlr.
por sale In Snn FranclBco by J. It. Cooper.
JiiarKet street, near the Palace Hotel, and
Goldsmith Bros.. 5ftT. RtiHur ot-m
pior sale in Chteasro by the P. O. News Co..
m-4 jjearoorn street.
i
(TODAY'S 'WEATHER Showers, warmer;
pauieriy -winds.
2OItTXAKDf MOJVDAY, SEPT. 24.
PHE HEART OP THE PROBIEM.
W-e shall r.ot justify our occupation
the Philippines by defining- our title
the islands. The paramount Issue in
j-espansion controversy is not wheth-
lat title -was legitimately trans-
d to us, or whether Spain had any
le to sell. We shall Justify our oc-
apation by our present and future ac-
in. Subtle abstractions or legalities
11 not change the actual face of the
luestion. We are not Just going into
ie Philippines; we are there. The fact
lust be faced, nothing else. The real
Bsue is whether we are able to gov-
grn the Filipinos; -whether we can do
o with Justice to them and -with honor
ourselves. Even if the subjects of
itle and of consent did obtain, they
DUld not obtain against the fundamen-
al -single issue. If we are fit to govern
ie Philippines, we are fit to stay there.
we are not Jit to govern them, we
lould clear out.
Neither is the assertion pertinent that
ie Filipinos once had a stable govern-
ient, and that we destroyed it What
done is done, and antls should rec-
ignize the fact Expansionists may
mt, -without impairing the integrity
their position, that we destroyed that
lovernment. The assertion and the
oacesslon do not touch the Issue. We
ire face to face with the present, and
must meet it squarely. We are con-
srned more with the future than with
ie past If we are fit to govern the
(iilplnos, we should do It If not we
lould clear out Thus the dispute re-
olves itself Into its lowest terms. The
iiverging arguments converge to the
jediency or inexpediency of spread-
fig bej'ond the sea our National Idea"
idividual freedom concomitant with
ieneflcent government We are to de-
ade if we can do this without hazard-
lg the genial spirit of that idea. Be-
llde this high conception of the issue.
fconBent" and "imperialism" reveal
leir true character as catchwords.
fhich fade into nothingness amid the
lear light of rationalism. If we are fit
govern the Philippines, we are fit to
ty there. If we are not fit to govern
lem, we should clear out
Abstractions will only cloy the discus-
Ion. We must deal with a question
expediency. Not what is best to be
ione, but what is best to bo done under
ie circumstances, must engage us.
7e may reason from the inalienable
jhts of man, from the doctrine of
Sopular sovereignty, or from the pre-
t of consent of the governed, up to
ianclusions which show our conduct
einous, but our conduct is not thereby
ieoQSsarlly made so. We may torture
consciences with the supereroga-
;ry indictment that we have shattered
ie inalienable rights of a sovereign
pie, liave destroyed their firesides
have ravaged their country after
iq manner of Tarleton in South Caro-
Ina, but we cannot be oblivious of the
sal fact Order must be established.
should look at the issue stripped
disconcerting habiliments. If we
! fit to govern the Philippines, we are
ft to stay there. If we are not fit to
svern, them, we should clear out
IHo who doubts the ability" of the
lericaa character to evolve a scheme
K government adapted to the Philip-
lines doubts the most essential attri
bute of our National life. -Teutonic
snius has always prided itself that it
uld meet every political difficulty and
Dpe with every political exigency. It
always succeeded, in a manner
rhich has most conserved personal
rerogatlve and spared Individual privi
lege. It has not always succeeded in a
loment A perplexity which never
iefore had been experienced sometimes
juld not be solved In a day, or even
a generation. By a long course of
sEtticui development the English sys-
xax has reached its present perfection
ich perfection as the human mind only
lows perfection. The English sys-
3m, which Includes the American, Is
lie only one that has made human
ights inalienable, for everywhere else
iey, are alienable. One has -merely to
vejr tlie organizations of the two
furopean governments which make
(pretensions of individual equity to see
aw their subjects are abused in
sailed inalienable rights from the
idle to the grave. All imitations of
lerlcan and English models have
iled of the originals.
It is absurd, therefore, to say in the
rknesS of bigotry that the Filipinos,
fith their narrow scope of political ex-
jrleuce, can fashion a pattern of gov-
linent superior or equal to the Amer-
m. Yet they must do this themselves,
sdbe independent thereafter. If they
to hare consent" The historical
svelopment of the individual idea neg-
es the proposition. The record of
ie Filipino insurrection conclusively
sgatives the proposition. The evolu
tion of personal privilege scouts the
roposltlon. It is an offense against ra-
Sonalism to affirm that we, with all
political heritage, are less fit to'
induct the work of regeneration than
lie crude Filipinos. Wherefore we are
lin confronted with the real issue.
iut we are fit to govern the islands,
id hence we shall stay.
lit la wrong to synonyznize independ
ence with freedom. The two ideas are
as distinct as they possibly could be.
Absolute freedom never exists, either
with or without independence. There
may be lesB freedom in a country which
Is independent than in another which
Is not Freedom 1b entirely separate
from the condition of independence or
dependence. The Individual has more
freedom in Australia, which is depend
ent, than in France or Germany, which
are independent Canada is as free as
England or the United States, yet It is
a subject of Great Britain. Just so, the
Filipinos will have as much freedom as
they are capable of exercising, nor will
dependence upon the United States
limit that freedom. They shall be more
free under us than they would be
under their own dictators, or under a
state of anarchy, or under the rule of
any other nation. We are fit to give
them this freedom; therefore we shall
stay.
According to the Declaration of In
dependence, the adopted shibboleth of
the new Democracy, rebellion is justi
fiable when a government becomes too
bad to be endured. Upon this sentiment
that party bases its opinions. It de
clares that the Filipino rebellion is jus
tified. It asserts that the Filipinos, an
incongruous hodge-podge of semi-barbarous
races, is a nation, entitled to the
political organization of a national
state. They, are further entitled to in
dependence because of the vicious gov
ernment of the United States. We
should be grateful to the Democratic
party for this grand discovery. We did
not know before that our Government
was too bad to be endured. Oregon has
good cause to withdraw from the Union
tomorrow. However, It might be wise
first to prove that our Government Is
too bad to be endured. Nobody has
done this yet; probably has not thought
of It The opportunity for some Popu-llst-Democrat
to win lasting fame and
honor has come.
THE MIJ.7TEAPOI.IS SETBACK.
At first blush the result of the di
rect primary nominations at Minneapo
lis is a staggerer. Democrats marked
their ballots for the weakest Republican
candidate for Mayor and thus Insured
his nomination. Loud are the protests
of the politicians against the law, and
proposals for its repeal and amendment
are offered on all hands. The night
of the Minneapolis election The Ore
gonian obtained a special dispatch
from Minneapolis on the working of the
primary law. The comment that came
was from, the Journal, but was so evi
dently partial against the law that
some hesitation was felt about print
ing it It was printed, however, as it
was then too late to. obtain a different
report It now appears from the St
Paul Pioneer Press, just at hand a
paper without superior In reputation
for candor and public spirit that the
Journal's comment was, as suspected,
unfair. The Pioneer Press says:
With the exception of this one untoward
circumstance, the law and the system demon
strated Its success. Those who have been ac
customed to make a living- by politics, and
those renerally who prefer the excitement of
the came to the welfare of the public services
or to real popular rule, have not scrupled
to declare in prlvato that tho people could
not make proper nominations. Loud as they
have been In their professions of love for
'the people," they have fought, and will
make tho Minneapolis test an excuse for con
tinuing to fitrht, a system that takes out of
the hands of the politicians and places in the
hands of the people the business of nomina
tion. But the Minneapolis test showrd that
their distrust or pfofecsed distrust was ut
terly unwarranted. Jot only did the rank
and file show such eagerness to take ad
rantnee of their new privllece that the Vote
was actually greater than in the regular elec
tions of 189S. but they voted Quickly, Indicat
ing minds already mnde Up as to the merits
of the various candidates with whom a pre
liminary canvass had acquainted them, nor did
the novelty of the machinery embarrass them.
This was shown by the rapidity with which
the very early morning vote, which Is gener
ally supposed to include a large proportion
of those who have little political discrimina
tion, was cast. In districts where this vote
is heaviest an average of almost one ballot
per minute wai checked off. indicating a thor
ough understanding of what was expected and
no hesitation In marking. . . . Tho Minne
apolis law. in a word, oujrht not' to be re
pealed, but extended to cover Bt. Paul, Duluth
and the other cities and counties of the state.
The "one untoward circumstance" to
which the Pioneer Press refers was the
nomination of Dr. Ames, the objection
able Republican aspirant, by Demo
cratic votes. It is evident that
a direct primary law which ad
mits all voters Indiscriminately to
the UBe of one blanket ballot contain
ing the names of all accredited aspi
rants affords the opportunity that was
availed of by the Minneapolis Demo
crats. There are two ways of answer
ing this objection. One is by a pro
posal to have voters designated on
poll-books by their parties, or else give
each voter a separate party ticket such
as he shall choose. In this way the
chances of Democratic tampering with
Republican nominees, or the contrary,
would be reduced to a minimum; for
if a man had to use an entire party
ticket, he would not be apt to deny
himself the prerogative of Influencing
his party nominees on all the rest of
the ticket for the sake of voting for
a weak opponent on a single office.
But there are objections to this plan
so great that the other way of an
swering the difficuly la perhaps pref
erable. The objections are that the es
pionage of the state in such matters
must be very sparingly exercised. It
is doubtful If the state has any right
to make a man declare his party af
filiation, If he has any, and It is doubt
ful if the state has the right to for
bid a man to exercise his choice for
candidates by voting a mixed primary
ticket It is readily conceivable that
freedom in this respect might fre
quently be the sole reliance of the com
munity to defeat for nomination a pow
erful :and corrupt aspirant for office.
All the liberty practicable must be al
lowed the voter. Otherwise the law's
constitutionality and its popularity will
be jeopardized.
The other way of answering the ob
jection naturally raised by the Min
neapolis incident is bj' denying Its seri
ousness and explaining Its menace
away. For the fact unmistakably ap
pears from the detailed accounts of the
Minneapolis election that the man
Ames, while objectionable to politicians,
has a noteworthy following among the
people at large. The most serious ele
ment in the situation, however, is that
the political machines of both parties
are opposed to the direct primary sys
tem, and employed this means to bring
it Into discredit This puts the matter
in a different light If the bosses think
by such cute tricks as thlB to over
come public sentiment In favor of di
rect nominations, they are likely to
find themselves In error. Nothing
could show this fact more forcibly than
the conclusion of the Pioneer Press that
the Minneapolis system should be ex
tended over the whole of Minnesota.
The Minneapolis election, therefore,
shows us just what we knew before'
that is, that the direct primary reform
.must expect to contend with the most
determined struggles of politicians to
prevent its realization. All sorts of
open arguments will be urged against
It All sorts of concealed efforts to cir
cumvent it will be made by the offer
of bogus bills at the legislature, osten
sibly for primary reform, but in reality
for perpetuation of the present machine
rule. The Oregonlan warns the people
of the state and the members of the
legislature to be on their guard against
these specious schemes, and when the
time comes it will ask the people and
the Legislature to support a genuine
reform bill. Very little open opposition,
is to be expected. The task will be to
discover and expose the schemes of the
reform's r"eal enemies but pretended
friends.
ANTHRACITE COMPLICATIONS.
The anthracite coal strike is no ex
ception to the general rule that prob
lems of this sort are too complicated
to be settled by a simple wave of the
hand. Questions of public policy are
simple only to the simplermlnded. It
Is not sufficient, as regards- corpora
tions, to shout "Down with the trusts!"
or, as regards our responsibilities In the
Philippines, to cry "Imperialism" and
run away. Publlo sympathy is with
the miners in the anthracite difficulties
so long as violence is aVoIded, and is
probably right But the questions of
detail involved are many and compli
cated, admirably adapt themselves to
arbitration, though they confuse the
candid mind and prove that even where
the best Intentions exist on both sides,
friction at innumerable points of con
tact is hard to allay.
Perhaps the best-known cause of dis
agreement 1b weight of a ton. The
mines sell 2240 pounds for a ton, where
as the miners are compelled to mine
perhaps 3500 pounds in order to pro
duce 2240 pounds of screened coal. The
miners receive no pay, nominally, for
the waste material mined but thrown
away. The equity of the case, then,
may not necessarily be that the price
per pound now accruing to the min
ers for the 2240 pounds net shall be ex
tended over the whole 3500 pounds, net
and waste. It is obvious that a price
can be agreed upon for the 2240 pounds
that, while not precisely accurate, shall
be on the average fair. It Is not a mat
ter to be settled off-hand, but to be
reached by mutual agreement
The miners are compelled to pay the
owners $2 75 a keg for powder, which
they profess to be able to buy for $1 50
a keg. This Is certainly wrong. But
when It is explained that .this rate on
powder is an intimate part of the ar
rangement involving also the wage
"scale, the question' at once passes from
the simple to the complex. The owner's
contention, moreover, Is that freedom
of miners to buy powder wherever they
choose would be likely to result in pur
chase of Inferior and dangerous pow
der, so the question gains a further com
plication from admixture of a matter
of public policy.
The miner's demand that the com
pany hire its own shovelers seems flaw
less on its face, but the claim is made
by the owner that the practice of the
mlnere themselves hiring the shoveler
and paying him was Instituted at the
miner's own instance, because a lazy
shoveler would Impede the miner's
work and preventhiseaifrtlng aft his
full capacity. The price of .the shov
eler's pay, it is explained has already
been allowed to the miners.
The company store is an unmitigated
injustice, for which there Is no de
fense, and the matter, of the company
doctor Is one of policy, on which no
bitter disagreement need be kept up, if
each side is open to reason.
We have cited these details, Which
are more fully explained In another col
umn on this page, not for the purpose
of discrediting the miners demands,
which in the general .view resolve
themselves Into a desire for increased
pay and greater freedom, nor to pre
sent the side of the owners, who seem
singularly regardless of publlo opinion
and public rights, but simply to show
that the question is one calling for calm
investigation, and not for violence on
one side or cold-blooded indifference on
the other. The efforts of disinterested
persons of influence to compel accept
ance of arbitration by both parties to
the controversy should be pushed un
remlCtlngly to a successful end. To
permit this fearful struggle to continue
Indefinitely will be a crime against our
vaunted civilization.
AW AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE.
The Albany Democrat thinks It has
sufficiently answered The Oregonian's
position on trusts when It has quoted
Mr. Hanna to a different effect If the
Democrat thinks The Oregonlan is in
any way bound or affected by what Mr.
Hanna says, or that It undertakes to
stand sponsor for his opinions, or that
Its views In general are those Incul
cated by Mr. Hanna, it might profit
ably consult some of its Republican ex
changes. There is a great deal of Re
publican foolishness In the Hanna
press, and tha. It Is not faithfully re
produced in The Oregonlan is a source
of rage and grief to the Hanna press.
In jret more pitiable case, however, are
the Bryanlte organs, who resent not
finding in The Oregonlan the clap-trap
they are accustomed to deal with In
Republican machine papers. Their only
resource In this baffled state is to Im
pute to The Oregonlan what it never
said, or else to make a puerile attempt
to confound it with" the .utterances of
Hanna. This Is a party exigency .which
may provoke pity, but not wrath. The
truth lies somewhere between the Ex
tremes of party contentions, but this
Is a fact not calculated to appease the
rage at The Oregonlan which Is shared
In about equal degree by our Repub
lican and our Democratic critics. Be
cause unvaried adulation of Hanna and
McKlnley Is not the rule In these col
umns displeases the Seattle PoSt-In-telligencer
just as grievously as it does
the Albany Democrat
We should apologize to the Democrat,
perhaps, for connecting it with a -reference
to the Cottage Grove Leader,
which indulges this original reflection:
The Oreeonlan says it fully Indorses the
tariff olanK of the Democratic platform, but
whines that Bryan does not talk much oh this
subject. Oh, well. Bryan knows Harvey has
got his price for supporting Mr. Hanna any
way, to what Is the use In wasting his breath
on the "desert air"?
We take It that this brother Is hun
gering and thirsting for a notice, 'and
as prosperity has warmed all hearts
with a disposition to relieve the ' dis
tressed, he shall have It. The fact that
The Oregonian's opinions are -its
own, and not for sale, and" the further
fact that The Oregonlan does" hot now
and never dfd 'support Mr. Hanna Is
known and acknowledged by all read
ers of Intelligence and In all circles of
honest criticism, to neither of which
classes the Leader is eligible. The
Leader evldentljcthlnks every man has
his price, and quite" as" evidently has
the best ofreasops for thinking so, be
cause from seif-conscloUsness there is
no appeal. Our boasted freedom of the
press has this drawback that It pro
vides no punishment for Indecent ex
posure. 'f
In practical evidence of the revival
of prosperity in New England cotton
manufacture is the substantial Increase
of the capacity for output of the widely
known Ann and Hope mills, at Lons
'dale. The number of spindles added is
35,060, so that in T901 there will be a
total of 105,000 spindles flying under, one
roof. This is remarkable as showing an
expansion of prosperity In a district
wherein four years-ago-contraction of
the cotton Industry was painfully in
.evidence, attended by dire forebodings
of Its relative extinction through de
creased demand. and the rapid grow.th
of .cotton manufactures in the South.
All the sophistry of Colonel Bryan and
his political lieutenants, urging upon
the people of the United States the de
sirability of a change nln our Industrial
policy, cannot offset in the mind of the
Intelligent voter, whose memory runs
back for the space of four years, the
logic of growth as exemplified in this
single instance of industrial expansion.
And it is but a single instance of a
change from Industrial depression to in
dustrial activity, that is Verified by
thousands of whirring spindles In mills
where oppressive silence reigned but
now, and in payrolls carrying in aggre
gate hundreds of thousands of dollars
monthly Into homes shadowed a few
years ago by that most bitter of all
poverty, the enforced poverty of thrift
The authorities of Tale University
have opened a labor bureau for the ad
vantage of students who have need to
earn the whole or a part of their ex
penses through college. The plan Is a
novel one, and promises to be useful.
Already It Is said there are more appli
cations filed for students' services than
the bureau is likely to be able to sup
ply. In connection with this effort it is
shown that in the class of 327 men who
were graduated from Yale last June
about one in five paid a large share of
his expenses by his own labor, and one
out of every twenty earned the entire
cost of his college education. It may
well be supposed that men thus
equipped with the spirit of independ
ence and self-support will carry into
their life endeavor an equipment of en
ergy and experience that free tuition,
so-called in reality education at the ex
pense of the taxpayers of the state,
since nothing is free does not provide.
Education by,.personal effort and self
sacrifice cannot fall to prove a help In
any career.
A gratifying Incident, of Pendleton's
grand street carnival -was the visit of
Portland' business men, who were roy
ally welcomed and apparently niade
themselves agreeable; These and kin
dred social happenings are strength
ening the ties between Portland and the
rest of the state. It would be a mistake
to suppose, however, that the surround
ing country is. developing. new 'traits
of good-fellowship and hospitality. Tne
fact Is tlje disposition, has been 'there
all the time, but it has been a Hard
pull hitherto to make both ends meet
A man with his nose incessantly at the
grindstone can't be very sociable, no
matter how he craves companionship.
Good times and'ready money have only
enabled the latent pioneer spirit of
friendliness to reassert itself.1 'May
they long continue!
The steamship Deutschland, in her
recent record-breaking passage across
the Atlantic from New York to
Plymouth, maintained an average speed
of 23.36 knots, or 26.5 mllem per hour.
The time of the Voyage was 5 days, 7
hours, 38 minutes. The record of hu
man edurance. and suffering in the en
gine and fire-rooms will be forever un
written. A suggestion of it only was
in the utter physical prostration of a
number of the men Hwho kept the
mighty enginery of the steamship at
a top rate of speed during these days
and hours in Which she flew across the
Atlantic. This is emphatically an age
of rapid transit, everything else being
sacrificed in the desire to annihilate,
space and "get there" ahead of time.
Figures showing decrease In the num
ber of convicts In the Oregon Peniten
tiary must be a Source of gratification
to citizens and taxpayers of the state.
This Is another evidence of the fact
that the state has passed through the
pioneer -and boom stages and has be
come a settled community. It is pos
sible, as Mr. Gilbert says, that chang
ing from the fee system to salaries has
had bearing on the matter, but it is
also possible that the undue eagerness
for fees in previous years led to abuses
that the penitentiary record in some
degree reflected.
Unseemly strife and scandal over the
text-book contracts for the Washington
State publlo schools Indicate that there
must be great profit in the business of
supplying these books. Perhaps the
best way of getting a fair deal for the
people is to throw the market open
again, as It was before the modern
Idea of uniforming the equipment of
the schools and the minds of the chil
dren got Into such vogue.
A Heavy Responsibility.
Chicago Chronicle.
, A hundred thousand men In the anthra
cite mines In Eastern Pennsylvania go
out on strike.
The very same day the price of coal in
Chicago jumps 75 cents a ton.
'The coal in Chicago yards . may have
been paid for at a price leaving Chicago
dealers a fair profit at the old figures.
The price goes up just the same.
The dealers may "protect" their regular
customers by selling for a time perhaps
selling the entire supply for domestic use
for the Winter at the old rate. These
regular customers are fairly well-to-do
fieople, most of whom have already laid
n tholr Winter supply. They do not
suffer. Those who,.. for any Cause, have
been unable to lay lh a sUpply must
bleed.
It Is the oia lawrtof human life enun
ciated lh Palestine neatly 2000 years ago,
"To him who hath Bhall be given; from
him who hath not shall he taken even
that ho hath." While the law is In Some
sense lnevit&ble, it is said that it should
bo made ,to bear "ith extraordinary se
verity by avoidable acts.
These who are responsible for thls'strike
en the near approach of Winter have
much t6 answer for to their own accusing
consciences.
Can nothing" "be done to piit an end to
the barbarous strife between .employers
and employed which is the" cause of so
much misery? Multitudes will ask this
question 'mosi seriously and not a few
will feel impelled to demand that this
country profit by the example of New
Zealand In "compulsory arbitration."
in n in
Refusal to Arbitrate Is Censurable.
' New York Commercial Advertiser.
To the unbiased observer this appears
an Ideal case for arbitration. There is
disagreement as to the amount of pay
increase that is possible in tho present
state of the market There is disagree
ment as to the extent to which admitted
evils prevail. These are almost like facts
for a jury. They could be decided justly
by any Impartial tribunal put In posses
sion of data the companies need not
care to conceal, since the Very large pub
lic Of their stockholders is -entitled to
know them. Public opinion will not ex
cuse either operators or Intelligent strike
leaders If they let the strike pass into a
more acute stage without honest attempt
to arbitrate. They will divide a heaw
responsibility business responsibility to
owners whose property is to be dissi
pated, human responsibility Xo workmen
whose maintenance is to bo Withdrawn.
That both will bo deeply to blame if nt
settlement is made is tho most general
feeling in relation to the case. Strikes
are said to be decided ultimately by
public opinion. It is clear that public
opinion supports neither Bide of this in
its present Btage. It would pass eagerly
and strongly to that which made the
first sincere and practical move for arbi
tration. '
Bryan as Anthor and Critic.
Chicago Tribune.
It is pleasing to note the naive ap
proval with which Mr. Bryan surveys
hl3 own handiwork. "The platform adopt
ed at Kansas City," he says, ."commands
my cordial and unqualified approval." This
Is kindly and generous praise for a Critic
to bestow upon an author. "It courage
ously meets the Issues now , before tho
country," he Continues, "and states clear
ly and without ambiguity the party's po
sition." Such approval from Critic Bryan
must be profoundly gratifying to Author
Bryan. Praise from any source is sup
posed to be sweet to an author, but praise
from so high an authority must be espe
cially saccharine. Mr. Bryan's criticism
of Mr. Bryan's literary production at
Kansas City is of a sort that should meet
the approval of the higher critics, since
it is based on internal knowledge. No
man knows more about the inside ap
paratus of that platform than Bryan, the
critic unless it be ,Bryan, the author.
Since It meets the unqualified approval of
'both, it can probably also be accepted
by Candidate Bryan. It seems to be a
case for bouquets all around. It Is well
that Mr. Bryan finds himself thus unani
mous, so to speak, for the majority of
the rest of the population cannot think
highly either of his powers as an author
or of his good taste as a self-complacent
critic.
MEN AND "WOMEN.
The death of Max Koner is reported at Ber
lin. Koner was one of the six German paint
ers to receive the irold medal at the Paris
exposition.
Max O'Rell. the famous French humorist,
. -who has 'been seriously ill at Rhurso, Is gain
ing strength, and -wilt soon be. able to return
to France. It is greatly fftared, though, that
he -will never be quite himself nsaln.
Finley P. Dunne, author of the "Mr. Dooley"
papers, has resigned as managing: editor of tho
Chicago Evening- Journal, and will remove per
manently to New York City. Mr. Dunno has
been connected with various Chicago news
papers for about 15 years.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Parker, pastor of thft City
Temple, London, Is about to retire from tho
ministry. He is the leading Congregatlonalist
preacher in England, and has a fame -whloh,
llko that of Spurreon and Beechcr, is world
.wide. His views are broad. Ho believes in
tho stage, which he says "responds to an
lntstnct which is Ineradicable."
Benjamin Constant, tho French painter, is
now busy with , two portraits of tho Princess
of "Wales, which he has taken to Paris to fin
ish. In this country he is not unknown.
About eight years ago, while in Philadelphia,
he p alnted the portraits of George W. Chllds
and Anthony J. Drexel. They hang on the
Walls of the Drexel Institute.
Thomas Oliver Colt, who died In New Tork
the other day, was a subject of much in
terest In medical circles. In boyhood he lost
his nose and a part of his face, through a
blow from a baseball bat. When ho had al
most recovered, the little finger of his left
hand was grafted on his face, in place of a
nose. Tho finger was placed in position and
held there with the hand by means of plaster
of parts. When it had grafted is w'as cut off
at the middle Joint, and air passages then in
serted. The operation was entirely successful.
PLEASANTRIES OP PARAGRAPHIAS
Bill Wot did 'Any get for picking up the
loldy's purse when she dropped it? Jim
Six months. Tit-Bits.
A Certainty. Playwright Sometimes I doubt
whether this. play will be a success. Man
ager Nonsense I It has no Slot; It abounds
in cheap sentimentality; it is vulgar enough
In spots, and the scenery is fine. It can't
help but succeed. Life.
Judging by Other Instances. 'Tou think
we ousrht to undertake the publication of
this novel, do you?" asked the head of the
publishing house. "Well, I think It would bo
a financial success." cautiously replied tho
reader. "Why?" "Because It Is written by
a zlrl, and deals with subjects of which she
ought to know very little." Chicago Evening
Post.
Not the Conventional Woman. "But I don't
know you, madam," the bank cashier said
to the woman who had presented a check. But
this woman, instead of saying haughtily.
"I do not -wish your acquaintance, sltl" mere
ly replied, with an engaging Bmlle: "Oh,
yes, you do, I think. I'm the red-headed
old vlra&o' next door tt you, whoso 'scoun
drelly little boys' are always reaching through
tho fence and picking your flowers. Whon
you started down town this morning your
wlfo said. 'Now, Henry, if you want a din
ner lit to eat this evenlnc, you'll have to
leave me a llttlo money. I can't run this
house on the city water and 10 cents a day "
"Here's your m6ney, madam," said the cash
ier, pushing It toward her and coughing
loudly. Chicago Tribune.
The Changeless Plays.
Baltimore American.
I've- wandered to the theater; I'vo been
to
see the show.
I'vo listened to the same old jokes wo heard
long years ago.
The Villain died tho samo old way hts death
was hard and alow
The last act sawhis finish, Tom, llko twenty
years ago.
The heroine She suffered, Tom you should
have heard her weep
Her hair was tfolden In its hue for peroxide
is cheap.
She found tho missing well, though, Tom
she always did, you know,
When we went to tho theater some twenty
years ago.
The Jokes vere just the same ones, Tom
about the mtt-ln-law,
Llkowise the Koat, the stovepipe and the
female suffrage Jaw.
And, yes, they sprung the one about the good
old bald-head row.
It sounded as It used to( Tom, some twenty
years ago.
Tho hero struts about the Stage, and hoarsely
whispers, "Ah!
1 see it alii" And then tho crafty villain
fcnutters, "Bah!"
The piny is Just the same, dear Tom, the plot
is thickened so.
it looks the same as When we went some
twenty years ago.
The soubrotte Is tho same, old boy she has
tho same otd wink.
Her cheeks are just bb radiant they have
the same soft pink.
She's billed as "Little tottle" now and say,
She docSn't show
Her acre as much ae when she played some
twenty yefirs ago.
The sons are full bt "Mother, dears," tho
star take's all the stage.
The Jokes and other dialogue show very
little ate.
But youngest of the lot, dear Tom, tho
soubrette's cheeks still- glow
As plnkly as they used to do oomo twenty
years ago.
li
THREE VIEWS OP THE STRIKE-
The Ovraer' Side.
Intorvlew in Now York Commercial Advertiser.
Tho powder question Is a long story.
The present price, $2 75 per keg, was fixed
after the close of the Civil "War. The
mining of anthracite coal Is fraught with
many dangers, and in order to lessen tho
dangers from firedamp and other gases, It
is necessary to adopt every precaution.
If the companies were to supply the pow
der the miners would bo sure to grow
moro or less careless In using It, So tho
best Course has been to compel the min
ora to. purchase their own powder. They
use It with greater care, and uso smaller
charges. The companies buy the powder
in order to be sure that nothing: but tho
best is used. If the men wero to buy
It themsplves In the open market they
might buy an Inferior grade, and thus
cause a great deal of danger. "When the
powder scale was fixed powder cost 52 75
per keg. Since then It has been reduced
in the open market until now it can bo
bought for about Jl 50 per keg. "Wo have
several times suggested to our men a re
arrangement of the scale. A miner works
urtder a wage scale which gives him a net
amount per car of cCal. A small car
carries about 2 tons. Now, if we wero
to reduce the price of powder to $1 CO per
keg, wo should have to make a similar
reduction in the price paid for a car of
mined coal. Therefore, the miners would
have the same net salary. Our miners
have always refused to readjust the price
of powder. They say: "What is the use?
"Wo get just a3 much by paying J2 75 as
we would if we paid $1 60, so let It go."
Regarding the hiring of their own shov
elers. The miners work In little cham
bers and niches here and there, and have
one or two, and sometimes three, shovel
ors. to put their coal in the cars. It
would be almost Impossible to havo a
foreman over each of these gangs, and tho
shovelers, being Huns or Poles, would
be Inclined to loaf. This would hinder
the miner in his work. The miner Is
anxious to get out all the cool ho can,
and so he says to us: "Pay us the wages
you would pay a shoveler, and we will
hire them and pay them ourselves. "We'll
see that they get tho coal out of the way
all rlsht." And we let them hire their
shovelers. and pay them the additional
amounts. They compel their shovelers
to shovel from six to eight cars of coal
a day according to the vein they are.
working in, and we could not possibly
get that much work out of them.
Justice for the Miner.
Chicago Tribune.
The anthracite miners ask that they be
allowed to buy powder for themselves at
51 50 a keg, instead of having to pay their
employers 52 75 for It. It is true that
in the few mines where this is allowed
tho wage scale Is lower, but tho miners
figure that cheaper powder will add about
10 per cent to their earnings. They ask
also that day laborers now paid $1 25 be
'given 51 50. Doubtless they would com
promise on a 10 per cent advance. It
must be admitted that $1 37 a day Is not
too much for the man who leads tho
hard, dreary life of a common laborer In
a coal mines Nobody else is so poorly
paid. In tho bituminous mines 53 is
paid for day labor, and the miners are
earning: now from 52 0 to 54 a day.
Another demand which is made is that
the extra amount of coal miners are re
quired to deliver to offset wasto shall not
excoPd 500 pounds to the ton. Tho min
ers complain that thoy are sometimes
forced to mine from 2700 to 4000 pounds
for a ton, and are often docked exorbit
ant amounts for impurities sent out with
their coal. It is Impossible to defend
such exactions, due either to the orders
of the mlneowners or to the attempts of
suprlntendents and Inspectors to curry
favor with them.
The mlneowners have not yielded to
these demands, just as they are. Some
of them might have done so. perhaps, had
It been possible to reach them before tho
strike was ordered. Some Of the oper
ators were indifferent. Others saw only
the fact that a strike would enable them
to get higher prices for stocks on hand.
Others felt that if there were a strike it
would not last Ions. They aro the men
who say cold-bloodedly now that "It Is
onlv a question of time when tho strlko
will Collapse," because the miners havo
nothing to live on, and "the moment they
aro distressed financially they will re.
sume."
Mlneowners who decline to consider tho
demands of operatives because the latter
can be starved out need expect no sym
pathy anywhere. They ought to under,
stand that they are embarking In a peril
ous undertaking when they resort to co.
erclon by starvation. Nobody can fore
tell this outcome of such a strike as the
one which has just begun. Much de
pends on the attitude of the mlneowners.
Their rapacity and lack of feeling: havo
brouirht" on this strike. They can end
it by dealing Justly with their employes,
who have on their side public sympathy,
and who may bo of such tough fiber that
it will not be so easy to starve them Into
surrendering.
Really Mean Increnned Wngei.
New Tork Journal of Commerce
Several of the demands of the striking
anthracite miners, which are not so ex
pressed, are nevertheless domands for
Increases of wages. The avowed demand
for Increases ranges frCm 20 per cent for
the lowest-priced laborers to 10 per cent
for those whose wages are highest. There
is, however, a concealed demand for 50
per cent addition of wages in the demand
that the men shall be paid on the basis
of 2240 pounds to the ton instead of on
the basis of 3360 pounds. On their behalf
It is asked why the men should be paid
according to one weight and the coal sold
according to another weight. The par
ticular unit of weight does not affect tho
laborer or the consumer; If tons were
larger the consumer would have to pay
more, and If the tons were smaller the
Consumer would get each ton for less,
though ho would not get his "Winter's sup
ply for less. The rate of wages is based
upon various conditions, chiefly the prices
tho mining companies can get, and there
Is no relation between the ton the miner
Is paid for and the ton the consumer pays
for except the relation which the cost of
mining a given quantity of coal bears to
the money obtained for that quantity of
coal, whatever number of tons it may be
called.
The Increases in wages demanded are
increases for the men who are paid by
the day. The men who are paid by the
ton demand an increase of 0 per cent by
demanding that they shall receive the
same amount for mining 2240 pounds that
they now are paid for mining 3360
pounds. The question is whether the
mining companies can and will pay so
large an Increase. It Is not denied that
tho earnings of coalmlners are very
small, but they can get no more than the
amount the coal will sell for less the cost
of transportation, the Incidental costs of
production, the Interest on the invest
ment and a reasonable profit.
The miners have little reason- for com
plaining of a deduction of 50 or 75 cents
a month from their wages for the ser
vices of the company doctor, whether sick
or well. If they were sick or Injured they
could not get medical attendance for any
such rate, and If they can be sure of
getting a doctor when they need him by
paying 56 or 59 a year, whether they
heed him or not, they are more fortu
nate than many worklngmen are. The
company store has already been legis
lated against by the State of Pennsyl
vania, and is found no more among the
mines of the large corporate operators:
It Is said to be limited to the private
operators, and its complete suppression
cannot justify a general strike. The
complaint against the company butcher
may be well founded, but the complaint
of overcharging is so easily made by
customer's who do not pay cash that there
Is room to suspect that this grievance
has been exaggerated. An examination
of the demands of the miners will confirm.
the suspicion that the chief point at issue
is the recognition by the operators of tho
Miners' Union.
NOrE AND COMMENT.
Hobson but he is- a closed' Incident.
Bryan Is more likely to be left than
President.
A census in Seattle Is -worth two la
"Washington.
Bryan will havo hard work to keep his
1S96 vote from Omahaing:
The biggest fish 7nthe Chinese puddla
was the one that got away.
Chicago has a smoke inspector. Whoa
he Is allowed a few thousand deputies he.
will take up the candidate's clgar
A California editor was robbed of 530
the other day. Tho man the 530 belong
to is entitled to general sympathy.
It Is understood from Mr. Bryan's let-
ter the other day that he Is willing to
become a candidate for President.
If the porter would only ride in tho.
baggage-car, Pullman passengers woald
never need to see a train-robber.
We get a rose with every thorn. Austir"
is writing some more poetry, but fot-
tunately, so is James "Whitcomb Riley.
Trade unions resolute against foreign
pauper labor, and then resolute with
sympathy when pauper foreign labor goes
out on a strike.
An Indiana man tvas told by an anget
the other day that when he was golngr
to die, and he expired at t,ho appointed
time. There Is nothing miraculous about:
this. Many a Sheriff has done the samei
thing:
Among others summoned to serve on a
jury In the State Circuit Court a few
days ago was "W. H. Courtney, an old
time citizen, who has a fair share of tha
ready wit possessed by hosts natives oC
the Emerald Isle. "While he was being;
examined as to his qualifications for a
Juryman, he was asked if he knew any
of tho lawyers present He said he be
lieved ho know them all. He was then
asked if ho had ever had any business
connection with any of them. Ho
glanced over the somewhat lengthy list
of legal practitioners present, and with a
shake of the head replied: "No; and I
never want to." This is about o.n a par
with the reply of another old-time citi
zen of Irish birth, who,, on being treated
by a friend to some specially fine old
whisky, swallowed two-thirds of a tum
bler full without winking. "When asked
If he wanted some water he replied:
"Wather no; there's wather enough in
that whisky."
A citizen of Portland a number of years
ago purchased a large tract of land In a
fertile section of rolling land something;
less than 50 miles from this city. Ho
planted out a large apple orchard and a
peach orchard. A few years later ha
was sending friends here sample boxes of
his peaches which were as fine as any
ever seen in this market. Several days
ago a friend met him and Inquired how
his peach crop turned out this year. Ho.
said he had no peach crop, as he had,
pulled up all his peach trees. "When,
asked If his peaches had proved a fallura
he replied that they had not. Tha
trouble was that they wero too good and
some people io that region became so
fond of them that they stole them alL
Hl3 orchard was out of sight from his
house, and people from a distance, great
or small, invaded his place from tha
rear at night or on a foggy day, with
horses and wagons and actually harvested
his crop and carted the fruit away. On.
this point he had the peach trees pulled
up and burned and now the thieves ara
mourning because they practically killed
the goose which laid golden eggs.
The melancholy days are come, the saddestl
of the year.
The lawnmower's lying Idle, but tho steam
wood saw is here.
It starts its rest-destroying work before tho
break of day
And saws and sawn and saws and sawa
and saws and saws away.
Its rasping sound's enough to make your
flesh get up and creep.
And when Its whirr begins you know it's good,
. and off with sleep.
And to your tortured, frantic soul to add
another sting.
You lie there and reflect that you are paying;
for tho thing.
Tou presently will hear the sound of oft
repeated blows r
Upon your door; the steam saw men have
come to get your hose.
For their machine must work, they spy, and
therefore it must drink.
And so you go and get the hoie and sttflo
what you think.
They go away, but soon leave off their coun
terfeit of toll.
And rouse you from a doze to aslc it they,
can get some oil.
Tou ask them It they'd like to have you
come and saw th wood,
;But they reply full solemnly, they do not
think you could.
Perhaps you saunter out of doors, and ser
with rising Ire.
For every stick of wood they saw, there's
two go In th Are. ,,j,,
And wonder nt how your patience so unfail
ingly endures.
For all the wood, both sawed and burned, is
that is once wns your.
Tour not a vicious man. perhaps, and do not
like to see
A fellow mortal mangled up to a mtnuto
degree.
But still in watching them you feel you'd'
bo re'olced if you
Could put one sawyer in the Are, and saw his
"pard" In two.
A teamster who Is Inclined to bo
"sporty" and is anxious to gamble on
eveTy possible proposition, always when
he buys oats, stumps the dealer to judge
the weight of the sack for a wager of
25 cents. The dealer, who handles mora.
sacks of oats than his customer. Inva
riably wins the quarter, to the chagrin
of the betting man.
Ono day not long ago the dealer saw
his customer prowling around the ware
house and Imagining that he was up to
some mischief, kept an eye on him. Tho
teamster found a billet of wood which
had been left over from last "Winter, and
after weighing It carefully, put it back
against the wall. Next day he came in
to buy a sack of oats, and this time
he was stumped to Judge the weight. Ho
said he was not at his best judging sacks
of oats, he could do better on other
things. He looked around and finally no
ticing the old chunk of wood, said ho
would bet on judging the weight of that.
The dealer said "all right," and put
up his quarter. The teamster said ha
did not want to bet a quarter, and in
sisted on betting 52 50. Finally the dealer
reluctantly put up 52 50, and they
marked the weight of the chunk. Tho
teamster Judged it about three pounds
too high and the dealer half a pound
too low, so the latter pocketed the stakes.
The teamster seemed dumbfounded. Ho
looked over the scale and said thera
must be something wrong with It. Ha
was assured that the scale was all right,
and finally in support of his Idea, stated
that he had weighed the chunk of wood
the day before and It had weighed threa
pounds more. "Ah!" said the dealer,
"but you did not weigh It after I had
sawed three pounds off It." The teamster
had no more to say. and hereafter will .
not be so ready to back his Judgment.