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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1901)
THE MCVRNTNCr OREGONIAN, -THURSDAY. -APRIL 25, 1901. ta regoixica Entered at the Postofnce at Portland, Oregon, as second-class matter.' TELEPHONES. Editorial Booms 108 Business Ofllce.OGT REUSED SUBSCRIPTION HATES. By Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Ually, wlthSunday, per .month.. ......,..$ S3 Daily, Sunday excepted, per year......... 7 T0 Daily, with Sunday, per year 9 00 Sunday, per j year 2 00 The Weekly, -per jear .... ............. 1 50 The Weekly. 3 months W To City Subscribers Dally, per week, delivered, Sunday a excepted.ISc Da.lj, per wetfk, deluercd, Sundays lncluded.20c POSTAGE RATES. Tnlted States. Canada and Mexico: 30 to 10-page fpaper.. .................... ...,1c 10 to 32-page paper.... .................... ..2c Foreign rates double. Xews or discussion Intended for publication in The Oregonian should be addressed invaria bly "Editor The Oregonian." not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to advertisr ing, subscriptions or to atty buslne$V matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems or Btorle from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to It -without aolicl- tation. Ko stamps should be inclosed Tor this purpose. Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson, offityj at 1111 Pacific avenue, Tacoma. Bor 0M. Tacoma Postofflce. Eastern Business Office 17, 48, 40 and 50 Tritune building. New Tork City; 40? -The Bookery." Chicago; the S. C. Bcckwith special agency, Eastern representative. For sale in San Francisco by J."K. Cooper. 740 Market street, nearhe Palace Hotel; Gold smith Bros,, ,230 Sutter street; F. W Pitts. 1008 Market . street; Foster & Orear, Kerry news stand. ' For sale lri Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner. 250 So. Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 10G Bo. Spring street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Co., 17 Dearborn Street. For sale in Omaha by H. C. Shears, 105 N. Sixteenth jtijeet. and Barkalow Bros., 1012 Farnam street. For sale lnHSalt Lake by "thelsait Xake News ., ir. SJipwUO OUUJ SirEQl. - t, On file in WashingtbJi.'-lr. C..' with: "A. "W:' Dunn, 500 14th N. "V. For sale in "Denver, TJolo,, by Hamilton & Kendrick, 000-912 Seenth street. TODAY'S WTEATHER. Partly cloudy, -with winds mostly northerly. I -z- PORTLAND, THURSDAY, APRIL 25. LEGAL TORTURE. The report that Bresci, the assassin Of King Humbert, has become a maniac in consequence of the 111 treatment of !his jailers, is probably true, for this was the fate that was incurred by the Ital ian assassin who attempted the life of King Humbert several years before the murder of that sovereign. "While the law of Italy prohibits capital pun ishment for murder, the terms of the life Imprisonment substituted are so terribly severe that it means a living death to the criminal, and soon reduces him to a, state of imbecility or violent mania. In other words, life Imprisonment to murderers In Italy means ceaseless le gal torture. The prison cell of the mur derer is designedly so constructed as to make the inmate comfortless night or day. He is not permitted to talk to anybody, or read, or divert himself in any way, and his food is barely suffi cient to sustain life. It is the design of the law to torture the criminal In body and mind, and it succeeds in its purpose, lor one of the royal assassins has been la a lunatic asylum for sev eral years, and the other is now re ported mad. The assassin of the Empress of Aus tria, who is now undergoing life impris onment in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, was recently reported as showing signs of madness. Surely, It would be less In human to break a murderer's body on a "wheel, as was done in the Middle Ages, than slowly and deliberately to break his mind down on the wheel, of legal torture in the" shape of the cruel life im prisonment which Italy has substituted for capital punishment. This Idea of slow legal torture by cruel life impris onment is worthy of that terrible old tyrant, Louis XT of France, who Impris oned Cardinal Balue in an iron cage for several years, a kind of torture that is vividly described "by Victor Hugo In his novel, "The Hunchback of. Notre Dame." The dreadful character of life impris onment as enforced. Tipbn'-rmirderers in Italy is weUlcnownand it is"s&r horrible in its results' that it would be humanity to restore the death penalty. It is' both justice and sound public policy to de stroy the life of a murderer, -who is a human wild beast, but is neither justice nor humanity to torture a murderer into mental overthrow any more than it would be either wisdom or humanity to cage a tiger 'and subject him to daily torture because he had killed your herdsman and made havoc among jrour cattle. Any form of legal Imprisonment that is sd dreadful in its severity as to torture its victim into certain madness is without warrant. .Society has a right to protect itself by destroying a human tiger, but society has no right to cage that human tiger and torture him into speedy madness.- You nominally spare the man's life, but you deliberately pro ceed to wreck his mind and reduce him rapidly from a sane and responsible criminal to that of a hopeless lunatic; We have a right to kill the body of a murderer; we have no right to wreck his brain. MAX AND METEOROLOGY. Dr. "William Trabert French scientist and student of meteorological influ ences, discourses at some length in a recent number of Cosmos the question of man's influence upon weather condi tions. This influence, whatever its character and extent, Dr. Trabert be lieves to be involuntary, and upon this basis he discusses it, making some ob servations that are, at least, interesting. An attempt has been made, declares the scientist, to explain the increased num ber of storms in certain parts of the world by -the abundant production of steam for- purpdses of industry. This theory new to most people he rejects, asserting that the entire volume of steam produced in Germany, a country containing numerous and' large indus trial plants, would scarcely represent an evaporation of one-fourth of an inch of water to the square mile. Concerning what man may do, how ever, to change weather conditions In voluntarily, he says: -It is quite dif ferent with particles of dust scattered throughout the air In great abundance hy the incomplete combustion of coal' adding "This increase, of atmospheric dust contributes a positive basis for condensation. It is well known that when moist air passes the state of sat uration, condensation takes place In particles of dust. When these particles are furnished in great quantities by the action of Industrial operations, the greater basis is offered for condensa tion. The condensation of saturation on a convex surface increases with the curvature of the surface; that Is to say, with the smallness of the drops." This theory is, to .say the least; inter estingly presented. If it be. correct, it follows that an increase of the particles of dust in the atmosphere will tend to favor the supersaturatlon of the air and consequently to produce abundant rains. Perhaps it may account for the heavy rains that not infrequently del uge the harvest fields of the great, dusty interior. In which the tramping of hundreds of horses and the stir of ma chinery over wide areas cause clouds of dust to arise, veiling the face of the sun. Or it may account for the rains that have so often deluged battle-fields, the cause of which has been ascribed to the heavy detonation of cannon. Be this as it may, the theory as presented by. Dr. Trabert'glves room for Inte'rest- Ing speculation upon a subject which possibly some time in the not distant future will be better understood than now. WHIT COMMOX-SEXSE DOCTORS THINK. The wife of the Rev. J. C. St. John. a Baptist minister of New York City, traveled from her home in that city -to her father's home at Southlngton with the pustules of the smallpox well broken out, thus endangering every passenger on the train. This wanton exposure to contagion of many passengers was due to Mrs. St John's conviction of the power of prayer. . She refuses to have a doctor. Dr. Lindsley, the secretary of the Connecticut Board of Health, warned the officials-of the New York & New Haven Railroad to have the car occupied by this woman at once fumi gated, and notified her fellow-passengers to get vaccinated without delay. This Incident illustrates one of the dan gers of this charlatanism, which pro cesses to- be 'a religion, and yet In Its idiotic disregard of law is a menace to the public health. Another illustration Is a recent case of a woman inEllzabeth, N. J., who is a Christian Scientist and refused to call a physician to care for her children sick with diphtheria. Facts like thesemoved Dr. Andrew H. Spears to say at a recent meeting of the New York Medical Society that under the guise of religion -Christian Science is a denial of all the physical facts of life; that It means the abandonment of all the protective influences that now re strict and limit disease In Its public rav ages. Christian Science flourishes openly in states that enact legislation for the protection of the public from medical malpractice, and yet allows this danger ous form of quackery a free hand. If a regular practitioner did what Christian Science Is permitted to do under the plea of "religious freedom," he would be promptly prosecuted. Unskilled, un scientific, medically ignorant men and women are permitted to outrage- the fundamental medical and intellectual qualifications which are required to ad mit a bona fide doctor to legal practice. In the New York Legislature rational legislation -limiting quackery was de feated by Christian Science demagogues who persuaded some of the legislators that there was an insidious attack on religion and private rights in a law that sought to prevent the public being robbed of its right to protection from contagious diseases that were treated simply "with prayer"; thai 'sought to' assure to a helpless diphtheretlc. child a chance' for its life by medical treat ment If & regula'rJy educated doctdr should be guilty of treating, contagious diseases only with prayer; If when he was called to visit a diphtheretlc child he should omit to give anti-toxin, but should proceed to sing a hymn, he would be open to prosecution for medical neg lect of. his patient, but what he "may not do an ignorant mountebank may do without restraint on the plea that it is part of "religious freedom'" to ignore science' and refuse to summon a doctor to the bedside of smallpox, diphtheria or pneumonia. The New York Medical Journal forci bly points out that the crime of the Christian Scientist .does not lie in what he does, but in what he refuses to do. Nobody objects to Christian Scientists or any one else praying for the recovery of sick. No doctor would object to a "Christian Scientist" supplementing his professional knowledge and medical skill with any mental suggestion, but the Christian Scientist makes no effort and approves of no effort made by the votaries of medical science to attain the result for which the Christian Scientist professes to pray. The Medical Journal bluntly asks: Would any Christian Scientist exonerate the guardian of a child, should the child die of starvation because Its guardian withheld all food, on the ground that matter was nothing and only Divine Mind fulfllled the processes bf nutrition and caused progress of the being in growth and health? The Medical Journal is right when It says that it is not what the Christian Scientist does; it is what he refuses to do, that constitutes his crime against religion, society, the community and the Individual. The Rev. Dr. J. W. Buck ley, editor of the Christian Advocate, was clearly right when he recently in sisted that the Methodist Episcopal Conference In session in Brooklyn, in dismissing a clergyman who had adopt ed Christian Science, should use no lan guage which implied that Christianity ' could treat Christian Science as part of the great family to which itself be longed. Dr. Buckley bluntly said: "Christian Science is a hostile religion." So far as both science and Christianity are concerned, Christian Science is "a hostile religion." It is not Christianity any more than theosophy is Christian ity; it Is not science any more than the voodooism of an African witch doctor is science. If Christian Science is true, then Christianity is a delusion and med ical science a snare. In any event, it should not be allowed to break the laws which forbid medical practice by an unlicensed practician. RAILROADS REACH FOR PACIFIC SEABOARD. Of course, the Missouri Pacific Rail way will have a Pacific Coast outlet, perhaps more than one. No great rail road system Is content "to remain with out seaboard connections these days. Control of the Utah-Colorado lines gives the Missouri Pacific entrance to Port land through the Ogden gateway. George Gould's presence In the new Southern Pacific directorate and the great influence he wielded at the recent election of that company indicate that the Missouri Pacific will also get to San Francisco through Ogden. The matter of giving the Texas & Pacific an outlet Into Mexico is for the future to deter mine, but that is not essential to the success of Gould's .great interior sys tem. N Every succeeding move, in the great, scheme of consolidating Western rail roads shows the increasing influence of Pacific .commerce as a factor in the coalitions. The Burlington system was taken care of in order to prevent the building of a new line to the Coast The St. Paul was brought under the power 'of J. J. Hill to, such extent that that company has gone to the Legisla ture of "Wisconsin for relief that shall leave it free for important extensions in the far West. The Union Pacific ac quired a large interest in the Southern Pacific in order that its outlet to San Francisco might be out of danger. Now comes the Missouri Pacific system greatly extended In order that it may reach and participate in the trade of the Pacific. This desire to get a share of the awakening commerce of the lands bordering the Pacific is a large factor In the harmonization of West ern railroad interests. And no Pacific Coast seaport stands to gain more than does Portland in this readjustment of commercial lines. THE DEADLY BOUNDARY DISPUTE. A disagreement In the matter of land boundaries and ownership is the one thing In rural communities that refuses to yield to any power less forceful than the shotgun or the bludgeon. There seems to be that In ordinary human na ture which utterly refuses to take coun sel of sweet reasonableness in a disa greement of this character, and the land boundary dispute has perhaps been responsible for more bitter hos tility and deadly encounters among neighbors in farming communities and consequently for more murders in the state than any other one cause. Man's capacity for annoying his neighbor Is abnormally developed by the opportuni ties and suggestions furnished by a dis pute of this' kind. Traveling across lots in defiance of interdiction; chopping trees and setting brush fires on disputed premises; throwing down fences; turn ing stock in upon growing grain; killing or maiming cattle"; inciting children to Impudence and trespass, and shouting defiance in semi-public places, are fa miliar examples of the deviltry that is begotten of a disagreement as to land boundaries and titles between next-door neighbors Of course, the step from any of these points of assault to the shotgun or the bludgeon the 'former the preferred means of arbitrament in such cases Is not infrequently taken. Except in the matter of names, dates and a few minor details, therefore,, the case to which public attention was called Sunday morning, In which Adolph von Gruen ingin and Frederick Berstaecher, both farmers of Bethany, a few miles west of this city, figure respectively as mur derer and victim, is a familiar one, a re"cltal of the Incidents and aggrava tions that led up to the final act in a. land dispute bringing out nothing new or sensational in crimes of this charac ter. Usually some member of the fam ily of one or the other' of the principals in the affair is the sole witness of the killing, and this instance was no ex ception to the rule, the wife of the mur derer being the horrified witness to her husband's bloody deed. " The cause of. such deadly enmity Is not hard to determine,, but the remedy is difficult to apply. It must come, if it is to come at all, through the culti vation of on of a spirit of neighborly-tolerr-2, a disposition toJcohceide?sbmethl,ng ance, for the sake of peace and good-will, and a determination to avoid deadly cdnse quences at any reasonable cost. The lines are precisely those which are laid down by peace 'commissioners for' ths amicable, settlement df international questions of difference. Diplomacy, the highest form of statesmanship, is for tunately able In most cases-to deal with the larger question without allowing bitterness and unreason to culminate in bloodshed. In the smaller matter pas sion Is too often kept at white heat by the busy brea'th of the mischief-maker the antipodes in private concerns of the peacemaker, and in larger matters the scorn of the diplomat until a trag e,dy which is but the beginning of a shameful end is precipitated. The case is one wherein the "prudent man fore seethrtlie eyil and hideth himself, while thesimple pass on and are punished." A steamship sailed from Chicago yes terday direct for Liverpool,, and another will; follow today, with ' two others scheduled for later dates. The promot ers of this new enterprise express the greatest confidence In the success of their venture, and If it should .prove profitable, large fleets will soon be In the trade. This is a matter that re quires the Immediate attention of the Bureau of Publicity and Promotion, op erated in connection with the shipping Subsidy graft Here is a fleet of mod ern-built freighters steaming away from the great "protected" Lake traffic, on past the "protected" coast trade, out on the Atlantic, in competition with the unsubsidized fleets of the world. Through the efforts of the Bureau of Publicity we have been taught that nothing but financial ruin awaited the man who attempted to send his steam ers away from this protected coast and lake trade Into competition with the ships of other nations. Ma'de-to-order editorials exploiting -this belief have filled the columns of the subsidized pa pers, from Seattle to St. Louis, and here we are right up against a cold, hard fact, that jabs into the false state ments of the subsidy grafters like a sharp-pointed tack, into a well-pumped" bicycle tire. Why this needless haste on the part of the Northwestern Ship ping Company? But a few months will pass before another mighty effort will be made to force the $180,000,000 raid on the Treasury, and it will be no easy matter to supplant such a prominent fact as the work of this new American steamship company with the stereo typed theories which have been used in the past. Mr. Hanna should buy these steamers before they get past Buffalo and keep them In the lake and coast trade until the subsidy bill is passed. It was in 1S34 that a mob of several hundred ruffians made a night attack on a Roman Catholic convent in Charlestown, Mass., sacked it and finally burned it, the fireman being afraid to do their duty when they arrive'd on thp scene, and the Charlcstown" Selectmen doing nothing to arrest the outrage. In June, 1847, the "Native American," or "Know Nothing," party was so strong in Boston that at the annual celebra tion of the battle of Bunker Hill "No Popery" banners were displayed In the public square of Charlestown, Mass. In 1S54, Gardner, the "Know Nothing" candidate for Governor, was elected by a great majority, and the Legislature was completely controlled by that party. Delaware was carried by the "Know Nothings" at the same time. Every member of Congress from Mas sachusetts in 1854 was a "Know Noth- lug"; so were Delaware's Representa tives, three from Pennslyvania and five from New York. A vulgar street preacher, who styled himself the Angel Gabriel, tramped all over New England from Long Island Sound to the Cana 'dlan border, expectorating lurid lies concerning the "great red dragon" of Rome. One Joseph Hiss, a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, visited at the head of a legislative committee a Catholic school and made himself so ridiculous that he was the butt of the bright dailies of Boston of that day. The book stands were full of cheap stories pretending to relate the confes sions of a converted Jesuit or escaped nun. It was a day of triumph for petty Protestant fanatics. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, a very eloquent, powerful ora tor, took the stump against "Know Nothingism" in his own state; it was rampant in Maryland, but Wise upset it promptly in Virginia in one of the greatest speeches of his life. It lasted from 1850 to 1860; the Civil War, with its fusion of patriots of all races and religions, gave it its death wound. A feeble attempt to revive it in Massachu setts was quickly stamped out by Sen ator Hoar, Governor Greenhalge and Lieutenant-Governor Wolcott. The dif ference between Massachusetts of 1854 and Massachusetts of today is Illus trated by the fact that the great Prot estant evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, not long before his death, made a generous contribution toward the building of a Catholic church In Northfield, Mass., his home, where "No Popery" had been a political war cry fifty years before. D. H. Lewis, the cashier of the Farm ers' National Bank of Vergennes, Vt., is inprison, having "got away" with about $90,000 of the bank's money and com pletely wrecked it He was credited with being an all-around good fellow, hut' has systematically robbed his trust for fourteen years, during which time the bank paid no dividends because the" cashier was milking It by theft He deceived the directors, and on the very eve of exposure not only took de posits, but solicited them. Nevertheless, the Vermont papers report that "the cashier still retains the respect and sympathy of many men who have done business with him; that public opinion In Vergennes, 'Vt, is kindly disposed toward him." A community that "feels kindly disposed" toward a man that systematically robbed his trust for four teen years would probably have felt "kindly disposed" toward Benedict Ar nold after his treason. ("Reformed drunkards," "reformed rakes," are un derstandable objects of sentimental so licitude; but a bank-robber, who has not been arrested long enough "to re form," is a creature that it ought to be difficult to sympathize with and impos sible to excuse. A remarkable display of the educa tional resources and methods of the United States has been made In Man chester, England, the past Winter, and has attracted wide and favorable men tion. According to the Manchester Guardian, the visitors numbered 1000 a day, and embraced members of school boards, of technical Instruction commit tees and of borough and county coun cils, teachers of elementary, secondary and' technical schools, and official ad ministrators from all parts of the king-' dom. Special praise has been wort for the industrial 'and commercial work done in American schools, and our na ture study for children impresses the English visitors as something novel and highly commendable. Only one opinion was expressed by the English educators among the visitors, and that was that Great Britain is a long way behind the United States in methods of educating children. To residents of the Pacific Coast the heavy snow storms, frigid temperature and severe floods .that have prevailed east of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Vermont and as far south as Georgia, present an April phenomenon. It is difficult even to imagine in the presence of our April seSson, with Its alternating sunshine and showers, blos soming trees and balmy air, the condi tions of snow, sleet and bitter, biting air that prevailed over wide sections during at least ten days of April. These weather reports, though scarcely be lievable, should at least 'conduce to a spirit of contentment in our people, and cause the Immigrants recently distrib uted throughout the Pacific Northwest to congratulate themselves that they left the storm-swept region before the Winter King got his "second wind," so to speak, and postponed Indefinitely all pians for Spring work. At the dinner, given last night to the Washington and Oregon members of the centenary celebration of the acqui sition of the Oregon country by the Hon. H. W.. Corbett, at the Hotel Port land, a name was adopted which, it is believed, will cover as nearly and fully as any other possibly could the dis tinctive objects and historical purposes of the centenary celebration of 1905. The legend that is to lead the title page of all the literature on the subject Is Bryant's famous half-line, "Where Rolls the Oregon." The name is then to follow "The Lewis and Clark Cen tennial and American Pacific Exposi tion." This was adopted by the unani mous voice of the gentlemen present. It Is believed' no better name could be suggested. In denying the application of Captain Oberlin M. Carter for bail, the United States Supreme Court has, It is hoped, locked the door of that impudent mili tary grand larcenlst's prison securely until s"uch time as his, sentence expires. Mor.e. honorable irten.thdn he have can celed accounts that they had previously falsified, with the pistol, and better men are doing time for far less offenses in 'the civil prisons all over the land. It would be well if the public were to hear no more about this adroit swindler ,of the Government at least until such time as his Inadequate penalty has ex pired and he Is released from prison. The report that the salmon pack will be smaller than It has been for years is now due. It always comes along with the pessimistic forecast of the Delaware peach crop, and is just about as trust worthy. A rich man may not be able to get into the kingdom of heaven, but he has the satisfaction of knowing that he can indulge In April strawberries. Fuhston has proved himself nearly enough of a hero to hold the position of Superintendent of West Point Russia does well to beware of Japan. Though she be but little, she Is fierce.. THE PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS. WASHINGTON. April 24. The commis sion recently appointed by the President to represent this country at the Congress of American Republics, " to be held at Mexico City next October, will meet in Washington shortly for the purpose of or ganization. It is expected that a chair man will be chosen, and there is some talk that this honor may go to ex-Senator Davis, of West Virginia. A subcom mittee of the American delegates will be formed to consider the political subjects which may come before the congress, of which the most Important Is that of Inter national arbitration for the republics of the Western Hemisphere. Among the South American representatives In Wash ington the Idea seems to be accepted that there should be some plan of establishing a permanent court of arbitration, and this view meets approval of the American del egates as well as leading officials of the Administration. This involves some deli cate considerations in connection with pending controversies between some of the South American Republics. There Is some prospect that Mr. Kockhlll, at pres ent the United States Minister at Pekin, will return in time to attend the meeting as the official representative of the Bu reau of American Republics, of which he is director. Thus far, however, there has been no intimation that the State De partment can spare his services from Pe kin, as the negotiations there will continue through the Summer. Owing to the num ber of Spanish delegates to the congress tne official proceedings will be In Spanish, with a reprint in English. Japanese Monument to Perry. The Navy Department has received a letter from Admiral Remey, in command of the Asiatic station, mailing known his purpose to be present at the ceremony attending the unveiling of a monument to Commodore Perry, at Kurlhama, Japan, July 14. The ceremony has something of an international aspect, as It is Indicative of the kindly sentiments existing between Japan and the United States. As to his plan for the trip, Admiral Remey writes: "Believing It to be for the best inter ests of the United States to be well rep resented on that occasion, it is my inten tion to attend the ceremonies with th& Brooklyn and such other vessels as con ditions at that time may enable me to take in company, starting from Che Foo and making this fit in as part of the squadron drill and cruising which I have planned for this Summer." Bond Purclisae. The Secretary of the Treasury this afternoon purchased $28,200 short-term 4s at 113.5578. WHY CONGER IS RETURNING. He Did Not Want to Spend the Sum mer at Pekin. VANCOUVER. B. C. April 24. The Shanghai Mercury publishes a statement, ostensibly from a confidential friend of Minister Conger, explaining that his ap plication for leave was due to the fact that having spent the last three years in Pekin, he desired a furlough at this time to avoid spending the Summer In the Chinese capital. In granting his ap plication for leave, it Is said, Minister Conger was congratulated by the Secre tary of State upon the result of his la bors. It is added that Mr. Conger felt obliged to decline the nomination for Governor of Iowa, because he had no de sire permanently to retire from the work which will still be necessary before the Chinese question is finally settled. It is stated that Russia has practically taken possession of Chlng Hal Bay In Corea and is making it the basis af ex tensive operations. With Masamphq and Chlng Hal, Russia will have In her pos session the two finest harbprs on the Corean coast and will thwart many of the commercial plans of Japan. ' The following account is published of the Anglo-Russian dispute at Tien Tsin: "The railway company wished to lay rails from the station to the river bank, which is only 50 yards away. The Inter vening ground (now occupied only by debris of a few Chinese huts) is claimed as Russian territory by right of con quest, because Russian blood was spilled there In the defense of Tien Tsin last June and July. The claim Is denied by the other powers on the ground that by International agreement there was no war of conquest, and furthermore all nations alike took part in defending Tien Tsin and all shed their blood on that particular spot as well as elsewhere." The North China Daily News says that Prince Tqan, Tung Fuh Slang and other Chinese culprits, now in Nlng Hsla, will resist any attempt of the government to arrest them, and that Tung Fuh Slang has a force of 20,000 well-armed Kansu veterans under his banners and about J0.000 Mongols under Prince Tuan to back their defiance. The military authorities at Pekin are said to have evolved a scheme for an in ternational fortress at Pekin, which is to be a veritable citadel. The Siamese government has just let the gambling houses at Bangkok, 16 In number, for 2,S92,400 ticals, an increase of 300,000 ticals over the previous year's rental. A brewing company is being floated in Manila with a capital of $1,000,000 (Mex ican) , and will be known as the Ameri can Brewing Company. Dixie Will Take Recruits. NEW YORK, April 24. The United States training-ship Dixie arrived here to day from Norfolk navy-yard, and went direct to the Brooklyn navy-yard to take aboard stores and recruits for the South Atlantic and Asiatic stations. Many of the recruits are for the flagship Chicago and cruiser Atlanta. After supplying them at a South American port, the Dixie Is to proceed to Manila via the Cape of Good Hope, and when she has left more men for the ships there, will return to the United States via the Suez Canal. Dlnr Will Not Meet McKinley. MEXICO CITY, April 24. The Associ ated Press correspondent Is authorized to say that President Diaz will b& unable on account of public business to accept any Invitation to meet President McKln ley at the border. Satisfactory to Botu Sides. NEW YORK, April 24. The conference between officials and employes of the Cen tral Railroad of New Jersey, which has been In session for several days, has re sulted In the signing of agreements be tween the representatives of the work men and the company satisfactory to both sides. The Plow Combine. CHICAGO, April 24. Representatives of a score of plow manufacturing concerns who have been in session here to effect a combination of their interests departed today after formally agreeing to form one big company to control the market in the United States. Final action will be taken at a meeting to be called later. International Pence. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.. April 24. Mrs. May Wright Sewall, representing the United States In the International Peace Congress, has issued a call urging the women throughout the country to arrange for meetings In behalf of International peace and arbitration, to be held May IS. Utah Mine Sold. SALT LAKE, Utah, April 24. The fa mous Humbug silver mine, located at Tin tic, Utah, was today sold by Jesse Knjght, of Provo. for $250,000 cash. The purchas ing parties are: J. E. Dubois, a million aire mine-owner of Dubois, Pa., and E. W. Genter, a local capitalist. Broker Marries nn Actrestt. NEW YORK. April 24. Walter W. Price, a broker and ex-journalist and soldier, and Miss Isabel Hasklns, the actress, were married this afternoon. SPECULATIVE DAMAGE SUITS. The California Supreme Court has re turned a decision that ought to be care fully considered by those lawyers who become speculators In damage suits. At torneys had brought 674 suits against the Southern Pacific for alleged violations of the law requiring rafiroads to give stop-over privileges to passengers under penalty of $200 for refusal. The damages claimed In these suits aggregated $600,000, and the attorneys had prepared to bring 2300 more suits. On their face the claims seemed valid. The railroad, however, al leged a conspiracy to extort money by laying foundation for these claims. The court decided In favor of this view. The ruling is likely to be felt in future ac tions in which damages are sought for purely speculative purposes. This case was an exceptional one, but thousands of actions are brought with similar motives and should meet the same fate. The judge said: "No case Is found In the law books where an undertaking of thl3 character ever assumed such proportions, and where the spirit of spec ulation was carried on dally for weeks, months end even years with all the method of a great business undertaking." It was clear to tht court, he continued, that the Legislature in tended to give the stop-over privilege to pas sengers who actually desired It, "but a desire to exercise a stop-oer privilege, and the de sire to lay the foundation for a cause of ac tion by securing the refusal of the stop-over rrlvllege, cannot exist In the mind at the same time." Sheep and Wool In Australia. The London Express gives a pitiable picture of the effects of drought on the wool Interests of Australia. It says 50, 000,000 sheep have perished and that the great six-years' drought has not yet been broken. Some rains have fallen In many parts of New South Wales, but the sup ply has been scanty, while In Central Queensland and the north and northwes ern portions of New South Wales the drought is as severe as ever. Then the account continues as follows: Inquiries made In the Australian market show that during the whole of February. Queensland was deprived of her monsoon rains. In March there, were Intermittent thun der .storms, accompanied by heavy, but very brief, showers of rain. "Nothing less than six Inches of rain," said the .secretary of the Australian Mortgage, Land & Finance Com pany, "will be of any use. and, though there is no news ot such a ralnfalf. It is possible that the recent gales, which have been severe enough to break down the telegraph lines, may have brought rain." In the meantime the sheep industry in Queensland has been brought to a desperate pitch. Runs of 250.000 sheep have been reduced to 5000, and whole town ships have been depopulated. As a consequence, the wool market Is very weak and low, both In quantity and price. The rise to 22 per bale in 1800 led to rash buying in Australia, with the result that much rubbish was sent to London. The price now averages 11 per bale. And yet wool la scarcer than It has been since 1800. Here are the figures of the London wool sales for the past three periods: 1S90, 1.411,000 bales; 1805, 2.000,000 bales; 1000, 1.450.000 bales. The pick of the sheep hands have gone to South Africa, and the Minister ot Works In New South Wales Is employing larrikins on "relief" works at 7s per day, when shearers aro badly wanted at Cs a day up country. Many stations In Queensland and New South Wales have had no rain for two years, and the sheep hate been reduced In six years by some 50,000.000. The only hope for Australia Is in a ejele of rain after this protracted and disastrous drought. How Insurgents Were Kept Going:. New York Journal of Commerce. General Catlin writes to Senator Piatt after visiting Manila that he has seen and read the evidence that the main hope of the Insurgents last Summer and Fall was. that Bryan would be elected, and that he has seen and heard translated an extract from one of Senator Hoar's speeches, printed In Spanish and Tagalog, in the official journal of the insurgents, and circulated throughout Luzon. There never was any doubt that the literature of the self-styled Anti-Imperialist League was supplied to the Insurgents and circulated by them and accepted by them as. evi dence that the Government of the United States was on Its last legs, for they could not possibly conceive of a government strong enough to last six months that would tolerate the Issue of such literature and the utterance of such senti ments before public audiences. The news of the election could not be expected to reach the Insurgents very promptly, for mall service between their camps and Ma nila was slightly Irregular, and their leaders were anxious to conceal the truth hoping that something would turn up to save them yet; they had gone too far to retrace their steps gracefully. But the rapidity with which Insurgent bands have been surrendering during the Winter and Spring indicates that antl-lmperlallst humbug was pretty promptly exposed In all parts of Luzon. ' A Reminiscence. Boston Herald. The statement that the widow of Vice President Breckinridge has, at the age of 76 years, been granted a pension of $8 per month has its pathetic feature. Fifty years ago John C. Breckinridge came Into Congress from Kentucky, handsome and chivalrous In bearing, and with the repu tation of one of the brilliant orators of his state. He took a prominent position In the House of Representatives, and Is re membered from a personal encounter In debate on the floor with Francis B. Cut ting, of New York, like him, a member of the Democratic party, which it was thought at one time threatened a duel. The Democrats nominated and elected him for Vice-President on the ticket with Buchanan. He was popular personally, and Kentucky chose him to be a United States Senator when his term of office ex pired. He was then at his acme of promi nence to achieve success In life. He took his seat as a Senator, but soon left It to engage In the rebellion. There was only ruin before him after that, and his fate became a melancholy one. He has long been dead, one of the prominent victims In the sad mistake of secession. Unfortunate Mistake. New York Commercial Advertiser. The decision not to hear the Africander delegates, Messrs. Sauer and Merriman, at the bar of the House of'Commons might have had a bad effect on the South Af rican situation had it been made before the recent rejection of the British terms by General Botha. That unfortunate mis take will serve to absolve the British au thorities from all blame In refusing to listen to the statement of the delegates, which was Intended to be a modified ex pression of the views of the recent Af rikander congress In Cape Colony. It Is doubtful whether, apart from a restora tion to the former independence which even the delegates did not Intend to ask for, the rejected British terms were not fully as generous as those Messrs. Sauer and Merriman were instructed to propose. The more the question Is considered the more useful for strategic purposes In counteracting disaffection Botha's rejec tion of those overtures seems to be. Since It occurred nothing has been heard from the Afrikander leaders in South Af rica. The Speculative Craze. Detroit Free Press. German financiers say that we are going through the same disastrous speculative experience that brought a crash In the Vienna Bourse In 1873. London's veterans in the money market of the world look to an ultimate reac tion that will be -as notable as a catastrophe as this current boom Is as a boom, when compared with everything of a kindred nature preceding it. The deliberate courting of such a fate is rendered the more inexplicable because American prosperity legitimately and prudently dealt with, was never upon a more substantial foundation. NOTE AND-COMMENT. Has anybody seen the Spring flood prophet? West Point seems to be as fond of noto riety as Kansas. The superintendent of the Military Academy may yet learn how tabasco snuco tastes. General Funston is not coming home. The wily Kansan knows where honor Is thickest. Hon. John Barrett has allowed several days to go by without being appointed to anything. Tou may beat at a carpet all day If you will. But the dust In great clouds will roll out ot It still. Perhaps when those Cuban Commission ers se ethls country they will wish they were a part of It Champion Jeffries says he sleeps a good deal. He lets the other pugilists do the dreaming, however. The thriving condition of the train-robbing industry is another evidence of proa-' perlty In the Southwest. Now doth the ardent fisherman Find pleasant occupation. In practicing, wher'er he can. With his imagination. The Austrian Relchsrath always stand ready to take up any available space that may be left In the news columns. The man who Interviewed Minister Loomis Is probably the same gentleman who distinguished himself last Summer by publishing the alleged views of Grover Cleveland. A movement Is on foot In Mexico to put the countr yon a gold basis. Let U3 hope that the editor of the Commoner will not be too severe with those who are respon sible for It Senator Vest, of Missouri, tells of & mass meeting once when a certain reso lution was discussed for several hours. Finally, some one Interrupted a long winded speaker with the remark that his ought to confine his rem! 's to the reso lution. "Let us have the resolution read," suggested some one In the meeting. The presiding officer stooped down and whis pered to the absent-minded secretary. "Read the resolution," ha vild. "H'm?" queried the secretary, waking upr "what resolution?" "The one we have been dis cussing for several hours," replied the chairman. The resolution was hunted for high and low, but could not be found. On the secretary's desk there was a bit ot paper which looked as If It had been nib bled by a mouse. It was all that remained of the resolution. The absent-minded sec retary had eaten the rest. Charles Dickens has been dead for near ly 30 years, but there Is a man still alive In Australia who remembers him when ho was a young reporter, knocking about London and collecting the material for his first book, "Sketches by Boz." This ven erable antipodean, now In his 85th year. Is a Melbourne tobacconist, and still stands belilnd his counter, hale, hearty, ruddy-cheeked and keen-eyed. Ha ran away to sea at 14. His uncle fought un der Nelson at Trafalgar, and his father went through the Peninsular War. The youngster saw a good deal oZ the -world during his seven years at sea, and on hla return he was appointed a "fire-escape man" the progenitor of the fully equipped' and organized fire brigade man of today. It was In his little crib or station at St. Clement Danes that young Charles Dick, ens occasionally paid him a visit, and on one occasion the future novelist was his guest for the whole night. At 78 the brave old London llfesaver made a new Btart in life, opened a tobacconist's shop in Melbourne, and Is now reaping the reward1, ot his courage and perseverance. It has been generally agreed that there Is a good deal of "pie" and other desir able things contacted with a Government Job, but a Chicago man who visited the navy-yard recently says the fact was never so forcibly impressed upon him na on the occasion of his trip to where the big guns are made. The big whistle of the navy-yard was just blowing the noon hour as the Chicago man entered the gate. A moment after the first blast hundreds of workmen rushed out of shops to the road, where a huge wagon stood, whose sides bore the sign, "Pie." In gaudy, painted colors. In a few minutes after ward each of the mechanics was lunching on a huge section of a huge pie. The Gov ernment allows no private undertakings Inside any of Its buildings, and the navy yard Is no exception. As the men havo but half an hour for lunch, they do not have time to go outside of the, yards, so they have secured theA concession , from the regular rule which allows the pla wagons to come in. Every day three im mense loads of pie are consumed by the men who build the guns for our fighting ships. PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS Ceclle What would you give to havo such hair as mine? Jeannle I don't know what did you give? Tlt-Blts. Scene (a restaurant. Two little boys dining at a public place for the first time. "Walter Just gHlng change for bill). Little Boy I suppose, father, we don't return thanks when we pay for our dinner, do we? Plck-Me-TJp. To the Poor. Mrs. Newbrlde (with an air of triumph) Really, I was greatly surprised to get a weddlne present from the Vander Qllda. They am so exclusive, you know. Miss Jeilua Yes. bu they are very charitable, I be lieve. Philadelphia Press. The Mistress (entering the kitchen) Jane, didn't I hear a dish break a mlnuto ago? The Maid I hope you did. mem. It made noise enough. If you hadn't heard it I should have thought you were getting deaf, and that, you know, would be awful. Boston Transcript. Silent Criticism. "She is very nice and all that, but she is altogether too critical." "I assure you sho never speaks of you but In the kindliest way." "P'raps so; but every time I see- her she Blvea me the Impression that my frock doesn't fit!" Brooklyn Life. Papa's Consent. She Isn't it lovely? Papa consents. He Does he, really? She Yesi He wanted to know who you were, and I teld him you were tape-clerk at Scrimp St Co.'s, . and he seemed real pleased. He t am de lighted. She Yes, and ho said we could be married Just as soon as you were taken Into the firm. New York Weokly. The MornliiK. Frank L. Stanton in Atlanta Constitution. I. The good time that's coming Is not far away; The weariest Winter la dreaming of May; Out o the darkness the light o' day The morning r the morning! tho morning! II. What of the sorrows of all the dark, years What of the lost hopes, and what of the fears? After the grief and the rain o the tears The morning! the morning! the morning! III. Fast part the storm-clouds, unveiling the bright; The ships hear the home-bells the harbor's In sight: And we dream, and we drift evermore to tha light The morning! the morning! the morning! V