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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1904)
PAGE FOUR. ASTORIA, OREGON, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1004. Cfte morning flstorian ESTABLISHED 1873 PUBLISHED BY ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY. J. n. CARTER, GENERAL MANAGER, RATES. By mail, per year $6 00 By mail, per month 50 By carriers, per month THE SEMI-WEEKLY ASTOKIAX. 60 By mail, per year, in advance . $1 00 BUSINESS FAILURES. On the surface the report of commercial insolven cies for the six months ended on June 30 is dis- tincely unfavorable. The liabilities involved amount to $79,500,000 as against $66,800,000 for the corre sponding period of 1903 and the number of failures amounts to 6,214, as against 5,628 for the nrst tail f last year, says the New York Commercial. A slight analysis of these figures, however, serves to indicate that general business conditions remain sound. The bulk of the commercial insolvencies for the last six months consists of manufacturing and mercantile suspensions, the liabilities of which amounted to $61,700,000. This, however, was only $5,000,000 in excess of the liabilities of similar con cerns during the first half of 1903, before the present lull in business activity fairly began to be manifest. JTke largest share of the increase in the pliabilities of insolvents for the last half year was due to com mercial failures" offier than those classed under the head of manufacturing and trading failures. The liabilities thus involved aggregated nearly $8,000, 000 more than those of similar failures for the cor responding period of last year. An encouraging feature of the report of commer cial suspensions for the last six months is that by far the heaviest failures measured by the liabilities in volved, occurred during the first three months, thus indicating that the country has probably witnessed the worst of these reverses, at least for the present (Thus, the liabilities of the suspended concerns ag gregated $18,200,000 in January, $io,800,000 in February and $13,800,000 in March, or more than 70 per cent of the total for the entire half year. For May these liabilities had dwindled to $9,800,000 and for June to $8,500,000. ' It is true that banking failures, as distinguished from strictly commercial failures, have been numer eus and severe in the last six months. In number they were 59, involving liabilities to the amount of $17,000,000, as contrasted with 44 suspensions in volving liabilities amounting to $6,500,000, for the first half of 1903. These failures, however, have been due largely, if not chiefly, to speculation, and reflect business conditions in only a small degree, if indeed they reflect such conditions in any degree whatever. Such failures are frequent in the most prosperous of times. The busines outlook, accordingly, is for smoother sailing in the immediate future. Most of the great crops promise to be abundant, industrial corpora tions and business concerns in general have adopted a policy of conservatism, carefully eschewing any thing savoring of taking chances, and working peo ple show less of a disposition to plunge into disputes with employers. In these circumstances there is reason to believe that business will not long remain in the doldrums. and he has been backed by the vast majority of the democratic voters of the nation. Today, were he to declare against Tarker and Davis, his simple declara tion would deprive the democratic candidates of a million or two of votes. But, as all party men should, he has abided by the will of the majority. No politician is greater than the party of which he is a member. Its decision should be final with him. The voter is differently situated, and may with reason bolt whenever he finds the party wandering from his ideas of right or wrong, in stming contrast wun me acuon vi Mr. Cleveland and other gold democrats is the ac tion of the famous Nebraskan, and the disinterested element will applaud the course of the latter. Mr. Bryan's statement is interesting for other . m. T - Y--.l ...Ml 1. reasons, lie Deueves inai juage l arser wiu ue little better from the democratic viewpoint than President Roosevelt Democrats' demand something which the president will not promise them. The democrats expect of Judge Parker those things for which they can entertain little hope. The situation makes the election of Mr. Roosevelt all the more easy and offers not the least hope to conservative democrats of the election of the St. Louis nom inees. B u i ggjjg ft,,, rnHj "I ri4 kit kln.1t of Mm4 wrawllei hlh fttlrtl to do njr rixnl hut I ti fmmd h rlikl thlnf M !(. tit !. foil of Hupi tntl blx'k. haii. At r ukliif Cuaru ill Ml. lam eonttnutnt In una ot thom anil nxfraimaadlnf hm in cur frlanda. 1 teat Cna when I riaa ah aiornlna. Wop to hava t chasM to raeoauaaul Caa9afaU. ' Fr4 0, Wtuai, N Bla It., Nawark, V.tt Jfifyi best For" , If JJ ThtDowtla VV CAN Of CATHARTIC CRUELTY IN WAR. MR. BRYAN'S DECLARATION. The announcement of "William J. Bryan that he will support the nominees of the St. Louis con vention is peculiarly interesting, in view of the assertion of Judge Parker that he supported Mr. Bryan not because of, but in spite of, the silver plank in the Chicago and Kansas City platforms. Mr. Bryan now announces that he will support Judge Parker not because of, but in spite of, his Wall street environments. 1 If there is any such thing as political coals of fre, Mr. Bryan is certainly heaping them upon the leads of Mr. Cleveland and the other gentlemen who brought about the defeat of the democratic candi date in 1896 and 1900. When Mr. Bryan was nom inated Mr. Cleveland did not for a moment stop to consider the consequences of his betrayal upon the future of the party that had twice elevated him to the presidency. Without regard for what had transpired, he split his party squarely in twain, and ever since has gloried in his course. Suppose Mr. Bryan were to follow the example set by his illustrious opponent, the gentleman who resides at Princeton where would the democracy be! ' Whatever else may be said of Mr. Bryan however much his principles may have been sub ject to criticism he has at all times been sincere, Japanese charges made against Russians of cruelty and mutilation on the field of battle and Russian charges against the Japanese to the same effect are an unpleasant but not unexpected feature of the war in the far east, says the New York Trbune. Upon the face of the case, they might be true on both sides. The Russian fondness for the knout and the grewsome memories of Kishinef! might incline men to believe Russian soldiers capable of any deeds of cruelty, while the ancient practice of hara kiri, by no means obsolete in Japan, and tales of alleged Japanese reprisals against Chinese in the war of 10 years ago might give color to Russian charges against the Japanese, Then there is always to be reckoned with the trace of the tiger spirit, which is latent, but potential, to so large a degree in the human race, and which may break loose at the taste of blood upon almost anw provocation. Such stories of such deeds are common in most wars, iney are generally umounaea, or ai ieasi much exaggerated. Sometimes they may be made in entire good faith, though quite falsely. Wounds inflicted by shot and shell in battle often assume strange forms and simulate wanton and cruel mu tilation. Unhappily, too, no army is entirely free from camp followers of ghoulish proclivities, who are as hateful to the side they are with as to the other, and for whose vile doings it wuld be unjust to con demn the soldiers. But principally it is to be ob served that these charges are in nearly all cases made not by soldiers, but by non-combatant stay-at-homes, always "more royal than the king." It is not among the men who do the actual fighting with swords and guns, but among those who fight with tongue and pen at home, that the most virulent hatreds are engendered. In the present case it is to be observed that the charges are not officially made. On the contrary, it is explained that they are non-official and that no official notice is to be taken of them. That, we may assume, means that they are not officially believed; and that fact alone should discredit them before the world. Moreover, there is much official as well as non-official testimony to the humanity and kindness displayed on both sides. We have seen actual pho tographs of Japanese soldiers and their wounded Russian captives fraternizing inthe most marked manner. There is little question that each side in the unhappy struggle now feels increased respect for the other and has an increased sense of recogni tion of the other's good qualities. That either side is guilty of wanton cruelty to the living or of mutil ation of the slain the world will not yet believe. Ptauant. PaUUbla, Pct.M Taata Oond , TV) flood, Kr Waaann or Ortpa. Wo. W, Ma. Vavft nli! la bulk. Tha a.imlna Ublol aUnipwi OCU Unarantoad as aura ot your aioaaf bask. Storlinf Ramady Co., Chicago or N.Y. jaj ASKUAL SalLE, TEN EOXES FORESTS ARE THREATENED. Hitherto Iceland has enjoyed the, distinction of being the only country without a railroad, but it is now to have a short one, for the purpose of work ing some sulphur mines at Theisstaryker, about 17 miles from Huavik, the nearest harbor. The coun try thus moults the tallest feather of its pride, and will have to get used to the squeal of the locomo tive whistle, as other states have done, one after another, leaving Iceland to the last, but, after all, as the event shows, with no enduring immunity. Public sentiment in favor of more severe regula tions governing the sales of poisons by chemists is making headway rapidly. Few men or women who have resolved to kill themselves find much difficulty in buying anywhere the necessary drugs. This is especially true of the purchase of carbolic acid, which can be obtained in deadly quantities from pharmacists well nigh all over the town in nearly every hour of the day or night. Another glorious advance has been made by Brit ish arms in Tibet and hundreds more of inoffensive people have fallen before the march of greed and aggression. The British mission to the unfortunate country has become a "war." The next step will be the justification and glorification of British soldiers by British statesmen and then the incident will be considered closed. Rain Atona Will Prevent Disastrous ' Foreat Firaa Nsar 8attta. Seattle PoM-lntclllgencer: It la tha prediction of Ftra Warden Rlef that unlesa rain falls within the next few days the whole Puget aound region la likely to be enveloped in a hate of smoke aa a reault of forest Area, sev eral of which hava broken out within the paat 48 hours and are now threat' entng to assume alarming proportions. The excessively dry, hot weather of the past two weeks has dried up all the moisture contained In the under growth and once under headway the fire travels from one large body of timber to another with great rapidity. Warden Rlef has deputy wardens scattered throughout the whole county combatting the Incipient Area which have started within the past few days, but unless rain falls, In hla opinion. It will be almoat miraculous if the flames do not get beyond the control of those engaged in fighting them. A foreat fire has been reported at Cherry val ley, on the land of the Cherry Valley Lumber Company, and la reported to have already done great damage to timber and loga in the tract In which it broke out A fire at Jtfaywood has burned over about 500 acres. The flames started beside the railroad track, and Warden Rlef last night stated that unless they are checked within the next 24 hours great damage will be done to standing timber. North of Green lake, In sec tion 36, the timber Is on Are. This section is covered with shingle bolts and cord wood. This Ore started Sat urday evening and burned alt day Bun day. Rlef last night went out to take personal charge of the fight to atop the flames from spreading and to learn, if possible, the origin of the fire. Warden Rlef was at Lester on Sun day, Investigating a case reported to him at that point He gathered evi dence to show that the law had been violated by persons In the vicinity, and arrests will be made today or tomor row. The warden has appointed three additional deputies in that part of the county. "The Italians working on the rail road In that vicinity are the principal vlolaters of the law," said Warden Rlef. "They hunt In and out of sea son, and frequently build camp fires in the woods. Since the accident last week, In which a boy was mistaken for a deer and shot, they are lying low." Clothes For Active Men The harder you aro oa your clothes the more reason for being sure they're Hart, Sdi aft n er & Marx clothes. These clothes are not only made to look well; but they're made for wear. And as long as$ they wear they look well. You will find them the most economi cal clothes you ever had both for the service . they'll give you and for the satisfaction in aj pearancea you will get. t.TTI HtAdMla n.5FfJ tt Man Hi, i etafiltM la H H laa a Hare P. A. STOKES, One Price To Everybody Scow Bay Iron 8 Brass Ms Rtafactirera cf Iron, Steel, Brass and Bronze Castings. General Foundrymen and Patternmakers. Absolutely firstclass work. Prices lowest Phcns245f. Comer Eighteenth end Franklini xiiniiniiiixxiiixinrrx iimnniiimmtiiiu Business End of Law. There are fully 2,000,000 civil suits of law brought In this country every year. If the plaintiffs were different In every case, one in eight of the vot ing population could be said to be a litigant. As it is, the actual number of different litigants Is not in excess of 800,000 400,000 plaintiffs and 400, 000 defendants which Is 1 per cent of the total population of the country, now about 80,000,000. The number of law suits brought In a year in France Is 800,000. In Italy Italians are much inclined to litigation It is 1,400,000, and in Germany it Is 3,000,000, a very much larger number, both actually and relatively, than the number In the United States. Civil actions of all kinds begun last year in Great Britain and Ireland numbered about 1,600,000, or one for nearly every tenth male or female adult In the United Kingdom. In 1902 there was an Increase of nearly 62,000 over the previous year, and 472.- 041 actions were heard out of 1,410,484 that were begun. Of the number of appeal cases heard, one In every three was successful, against one In four or five, years ago. The total cost of Brit ish litigation In 1903 was placed at $7,809,875. The best measure of liti gation Is usually the number of laws or statutes, and not, contrary to gen eral belief, the number of lawyers. In this country it is found generally to be the case that the largest amount of litigation does not originate among Americans, but among newcomers here, who appeal to the courts for the adju dication of matters of trifling account In no other country in the world are there so many damage auits brought as there are In the United States. Staple and Fancy Groceries FLOUR, FEED, PROVISIONS, TOBACCO AND CIGARS. 8upplla ot All Klnda at Lott Prleaa for Fishermen, Farmers and Loggers. , Braocb Uniontowa, Phones, 711, Uniontowa, 713 A. V. ALLEN, Tenth and Commercial Street. ASTORIA, OREGON. .intininiHHTminiminmHHna The TROY Laundry Is the only White Labor Laundry in the City. Does the Best of Work at very reasonable Prices, and is in every way worthy of your patronage. Cor. 10th and DUANE STS. Phono 1991 PRAEL O COOK TRANSFER CO. Telephone 221. Draying and Expressing All goodsshlpped to our care will receive special attention. 709-715 Commercial Street. Reliance Electrical Works H.w.cvaaa, Manager We are thoroughly prepared for making estimates and executing orders for all kinds of electrical Installing and repairing. Supplies in stock. We wli the Celebrated SHELBY LAMP, Call np Phone 1161. 428 BOND STREET rrTTTxrrTriiriiiiTHTTgitTiiTiiiiniiinTiiiT ttttttt FRESH AND CURED MEATS Wholesale and Retail Ships, Logging Camps and Mills supplied on short notice. LIVE STOCK BOUGHT AND SOLD WASHINGTON MARKET - CHRISTENSON CO. ANDREW ASP, BLACKSMITH. Having installed a Rubber Tiring Maobine of the latest pattern I am prepared to do all kinds of work in that line at reasonable prioes. Telephone 201. CORNER TWELFTH AND DUANE STREETS.