The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972, August 14, 1904, Image 25

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) .THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND SUNDAY ; MORNING. : AUGUST 14. 1904,
g-y,-.r-.:sj-:s-
, ' 1 ; . : : ' . : L
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(By rrederlo J. XaaW)
"T7HERE 1 doubtless no country In
I which Americans have a greater
' I Interest than Cuba, because we
sianeu tni iiiui isiuna 10 dusi-
ns for Itself. We have almost a pa
ternal sol lull uda In Its welfare, because
without our Instrumentation Its present
area of Independence would have been
Impossible. The political life of Cuba
may be reckoned by three periods
. namely, the colonial, the. American oc
cupation and the present republic- A
review of condition a revealed by the
'.vital statistic offer much that 1 In
teresting. '... , -.
That the health of the people of the
Island continue to Improve I cause
for much congratulation. In the city
of Havana the death rat I now IS to
' the thousand, which 1 a moat excel
lent showing, when It 1 conaldered that
. ln1880,' undtflr the old regime, the mor
tality we 40 to the thousand. In 1880
...over t.iuv peopi. aiea in Havana irom
yellow fever and smallpox, while last
year there wa not a 'single death dur
ing the 1J months from either disease.
,'. It waa rumored that Santiago wa In a
- imu , sanitary . conamon, dui ima . im
the. on city -of the inland where all
' the streets are well drained, and paved
with AHnh.lt ' All (hnrnn h Cn ra have
. . an abrupt incline toward tne sea, nence
. the troplcul rains' help to prevent un
sanitary accumulation. If nothing else
were done. The continued benefit aris
ing from- the sanitary crusade which
wa Inaugurated lit Cuba by the Ameri
can make th outlook for Panama seem
uoperuL ,
School Workr la Cabs.
There does not -seem to be any
great Increase In th school system; it
: Is practically where the American left
' it. General Wood provided for about 25
' per cent of the publlo revenue to be ap
propriated for public Instruction, wnicn
was something like $4,000,000 annually.
Tne latest report enow mat aoout it
, per cent of the revenues are being utl
' ltsed for educational purpose, and that
per cent of thlHor-th primary and
wammitm BptiAnl. Th.M waa nlt
Spanish stenographer or typewriter on
the Island when the American took pos
session, but now there are number of
'both sexes. Several classes In short-
. hand and typewriting have recently
graduated from the schools. ' -'
Expert -telegraph operator are also
being turned out by tbe schools. The
- telegraph line of the republic belong
to the government. There are 91 eta-
. tlon connecting the six provinces. Last
year about 200,000 messages were sent
over the lines, at an average price of 41
cent per telegram. ' Cuba now ha tele
graphlo communication with the United,
States, Mexico. Central and South Amer
ica and the Antilles.
The law passed In January of this
year, authorising the president to dis
pose of the publlo forests, na caused
considerable activity among the, lumber
men. There are million of acres of
wooded land in Cuba, most of which
ars unexplored forests, containing build-
' Ing timber of all kinds, as well a that
used for tanning, ropemaklng, resin, etc.;
also Indigenous fruit trees that produce
. seed from which oil I manufacture!.
-w ; -Enemies of the Republic '4 -
(Continued Jrom Preceding Pag.
Smith, who wa there a special counsel
to the city council' traction committee,
ums ltvnUu:lnAl.article.ln-the
Atlantic Monthly for January, 1904; "It
wa understood that as a condition of
hk election, the speaker wa required to
promise to carry out Hlnman's (the
editor of Yerke' ''Republican' Inter-
Ocean) order on all - street railway
measure - and .'to use the gavel when
necessary to defeat objectionable legis
lation Mr. Gus Nohe Iorlmer" mem
' foer from hi own legislative district-
when asked whether there waa any trac
tion legislation, replied: 'I don't know.
I do whatever the oil man . (Loiimer)
-tells me; and he tells me to do about
traotlon as Hlnman say.' Hlnman him
self announced that there would be no
, traction legislation at that session "
Bosses Against Chicago
- r 1 4 , U JttJt
nt want A intlHP a flnrtna-f laltl - he-
cause he was running a "good business
man" for mayor on tho Republican
ticket In Chicago, and his candidate waa
for traction legislation. Bu$ one of the
.city's bills, drawn by Walter "L. Fisher.
1 of th Municipal : Voler' leitgue, was
going through the senate. This was' th
1 Mueller bill, and th "combine, " under
the whip of the league, the Chicago
newspaper, and publlo opinion gener
ally, sent th measure down to the
house. ' Lorlmer had to go to Spring
field, and he took personal charge in th
house. It wa Indeed an emergency. Th
Mueller hill was safety burled in the
' municipal committee, but clearly, with
tha lohhv full - of Chicago 'reformer
and committee from cltfscn' associa
tion, to say nothing of hi own "busi
ness man , for mayor" all demanding
legislation soma bill had to pass. Lorl
mer VV unc ur lliv wvi 'I ivr w mvii,
and both parties In the house held cau
cuses that evening. The result was bad
"for the organization." Lorlmer sent
' at night called a conference In hi own
room in the Leland hotel, of certain
. ringleader, tn unicago aiaermanic
committee,' Graeme Stuart his -business
candidate for mayor; Frank O. Lowdcn
(a candidate thl year for governor),
Kdwln Burrltt Smith, and other; . Mr.
Smith ay Lorimer a congressman,
, mind you, not a state legislator- opened
the discussion by asking, "Whet do yaa
' wantr Lorlmer declared that the
Mueller bill was dead, and he offered a
a substitute a bill to be called the Lln-1-
ley bill.' That the official representa
tives of Chicago rejected; " bore un
mistakable signs," Mr. Smith ay,' "of
lender regard ror tne traction interests.
. V , , J A w a.
III,.-, I. - , ' 1 1 -'." ........ I..,
proposed other himself, and when these
failed to satisfy the friend of the city,
in doss, a leader oi in nepunncan
. party In- Illinois, said th Li nil ley bill
.wa all Chicago would get "Ton mint
accept It with these amendment, pull
down all opposition In th house am
from the Chicago pre, and actively
annnr Ih. hill T la tha T.lnrilav hill
or nothing." , ' S.
Defeat of Republican Bosses j
- The Chicago press had been telling'
the city and state all about the situa
tion, and, with the Allen bill episode in
mind, the organization legislator were
gnxlous and weak. Chicago decided to
reject the Llndley substitute and to
fight it own bos on th floor of the
house. . With Sherman' "Fighting
Forty" and tHe Democrats who .wer
willing to help they had the rote, and
all that they needed waa a roll-call. But
the speaker, asked If he would allow one,
refuaed to aay. For two days there were
skirmishes, and th voting showed that
Ih "organization" waa, in' a -precarious-
A portion of these lands hav been rent-.
ed and the forest exploited.- The les
sees are taking out mahogany, ' cedar,
firewood, charcoal, eto. The value of
Cuban timber may be better understood
when It 1 stated thut In remodeling an
old prison in Havana com door and win
dow frame were removed which had
been put In something over 100 year
ago, yet which were ss sound a when
iirst cut. ..,.. , '
Growth of rralt Industrie.
The fruit Industry Is growing In im
portance. There Is a fortune In the'
culture of pineapple. Some few of the
sugar-planters, pending the revival of
the sugar Industry, have turned their
attention to tnis luscious iruu. uver
100,000 plant can be set In a single
acre. When the growth I established
cultivation 1 unnecessary,' because the
spiny points monopolise the ground to
th exclusion erf weeds, and animal can
no more commit depredation than In
cactus field. Ninety per cent of the
plant will bear In It to IS months, and
a a rule five crop are cut from one
planting, I wa told -by several dealer
that there I never a glut In th market
for pineapple, til demand always ex
seeding the supply,. i
The orange crop In Cuba this year
may reach 600.000 boxes. The -Cuban
orange never has an acid taste, and Its
flavor 1 unusually fin. Grapes raised
on the island are of a Very excellent
quality. , Truck-farming 1 becoming an
established .Industry. Last spring th
early strawberries from Cuba found a
ready sale, in the New York market
Many new peach and apricot orchard
aresoeing pianteu.
There seem nothing to - add about
tobacco except that great success has
attended the use of cheesecloth net to
protect the growing plant from th at
tack of Insects a weir a to preserve
the moisture.- Two well-known planter
of; Pinar del Rio province, where the
world's finest tobacco Is grown, report
a yield of 830 bale per cabullerla from
Jjprotected plants, while by the old melh.l
Od the output from the same ground
amounted only to 160 bale. The Cuban
tobacco crop for the psat season wss
t9,0:'0 bales, which was marketed at
anaverage price of 121.75 per bale.
Cuba make rather' a good showing
on her bees, but much of the profit on
bee culture 1 lost, because the bees,
not finding Jthcmselves under the neces
sity of storing up food for a winter
day, give themselves up to riotoua liv
ing. They can gather , honey all V the
year.' ... . ,' -1
The sponge fisheries hav always been
an established Industry In Cuba, the
best being in Batabano and Calbarlen,
although several other port are engaged
in It. The total production during the
last season wa 0,115 dosen sponges,
including all grades, valued at .lBOl.
575.4 J. This, show an Increase of 71
per cent over the catch, of the previous
season. . Commercially " it is conceded
that the finest sponge In ' the world
come from Cuba.' not excepting those
from Greece and the Levant The fine
variety called the silky sponge I very
small. Aside from being very fine In
texture. It ia filled with extremely small
condition, but at last th speaker rose,
pale, but with gavel In hand, to force
the amendment to th Llndley bill.
Back of him were aome women; beside
and.before .him stood a core" of strong
men ready to defend Tilm. "The "bill was
called up, and Mr. Llndley offered Lorl
mer' amendment number one. The law
required a roll-call upon a demand of
five - members. Ninety-six . rose and
shouted "Roll-call!" The speaker would
not hear; he put the amendment and,
amid confusion, and outcries, swung
down his gavel and declared the amend
ment carried. Amid great excitement
amendment number two was offered;
members cried "Roll-call! RH-call!"
But again the gavel fell and the second
amendment was "carried." and so, with
the storm waxing, numbers three, four,
five, lx were hammered through. -But
at the sixth the house broke and there
waa a rush for the speaker's chair. If
It hadn't been for the women back of
him. missile would have been showered
upon him; as it waa the wav of angry
member rose up to th chair and th
peaker fled through' a back door.
Balked, the house paused a moment:
then Representative Sherman whispered
something- to a- friendly representative
who. called the house to order. ' The
house reorganized with Representative
Charles A. Allen aa temporary speaker,
a roll-call showed a quorum present and
the Ltndlqy bill wa moved for recon
sideration. On by on, on roll-call, tha
amendments, numbers six, five, four.
etc., were rejected In reverse order, the
bill waa laid on the table, and the
Mueller bill wa substituted for It Thau
scathing resolution of censure waa
passed upon the fugitive speaker and the
house adjourned. He waa In conference
with Governor Yates, Lorlmer and Hln
man, and when he returned to hi seat
that afternoon, he took hi censure and
excused himself by making -charges ot
attempts to bribe him, which were
Investigated and found to be un
founded. After the Investigation the
Mueller . traction bill waa finally
paased and Governor Yates signed
It. He. wrote a memorandum
giving reaaona why the bill should not
become a law. but he made it a law.
Boodle a Democratic Issue
Now for the Missouri-Illinois parallel.
When Mr. Folk realised that th .politi
cal corruption of St Louis was but a
part of the financial-political state sys
tem, which ha supplanted a representa
tive democracy . with an oligarchy of
criminal, he started what ha haa called
counter revolution. . He aw. more
over, that hi party, controlled by
boodlers, wa th organisation of this
treason. Th Democratic party repre
sented not democracy, hut the enemies
of democracy. What did he doT Be
cause he was a Democrat he appealed
first to th Democrat of Missouri, be
cause they were Democrats, to clear out
first ef all the Democratic bondler because-
they were Democrats.- That wa
putting party loyalty to a, pretty severe
test. What happened? rtuch a splendid
exhibition of genuine patriotism as this
country seldom has a chance to display.
The Democrats of Missouri rose up and
they smashed that rotten old machine
all to pieces; they-are making it fit for
any American citizen td support. And
tha, good citizens of Missouri will be
asked to support It, -for. incidentally, the
Democrat insured the nomination of
Mr. Folk for governor, He will make
his campaign' on, th same issue,
"boodle," and ' lnc the Republican
party also boodlcd, he will ask all men
of all parties to let him organize an -administration
that will, represent, not
bribery, but all the men of Missouri.
Th Issue wa not mad so clear, nor
so personal, nor no exciting In Illinois,
but Illinois seem to be more Intelli
gent politically than Missouri, less
partisan, and boodl was th Issue 'lher
- ' : : t
.
T- -e-rtsat s)ert-Bl
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... isS-.V: .r If
' ''J?V'; (' 1 , r-k tf
k- f.f)Alr
'K lull
hairs, which. render It lnvaluabl . for
surgeon. j
KevlTaJ of Sugar Business. .
So far a the number of sugar plan
tations Is concerned, Cuba has never
ben able to recover lost -ground.' In
1877 there were 473 plantations In ex
istence, while last year- there were only
169, in operation. However, the neces
sity fOr cheaper' method of produc
tion, ha prompted tha planter to in
stall modern machinery, so A hat the
output of the 109 plantations In opera
tion last season was 1.000,000 tons.
against 4(0,810 ton produced by the
473 crudely operated plantations which
were working in 1877. Although the
present price of sugar is low. the oper
ators, by reducing the cost of produc
this summer. Chicago realized' after it
eight year of war .that the exiatlng po
litical system misrepresented the people
in both city and state government and
thaCJJia-Repubaoaxlylha-damloant
one. was tne party to try nrst to clean
up. In. it the worst traitors to the peo
ple were the Lorimer-Jamleson group,
The Chicago reformers asked the Repub
licans of Conk county and of Illinois, to
take away from them the control of the
party and restore It to Republicans who
would represent the common interest of
all the people of the state. The Chicago
Dally News, the Tribune and the Record-
Herald, the trusted newspaper that ex
press publio opinion In Chicago and
(therefore I think) wield thst "power
of the press . which so man journalists
eisewnere are ' bemoaning the loss or,
voiced a demand to have Charles B.
Deneen nominated for governor.
Deenan the Folk of Chicago '
Deneen 1 a Cook county Republican
leader, a politician, who associated for
years with Lorlmer ami Jamleson. Chi
cago i not afraid of politicians. All
the city' best reform effort have been
directed, not to put reformers In office,
but rather to, force the politicians to
represent the people and the "new
paper trust" and the voters' league are
developing a class of politicians, not al
ways sincere, who recognise that public
opinion is a constant torce in pontics.
Deneen Is an honest man; I never heard
hi Integrity questioned. He haa been
state's attorney since 1896, and hi
record 1 one of orderly, efficient, feari
less, and aggressively honest service.
He did not go forth, like Folk, seeking
out corruption In all places, but he per-,
formed the duties that came to him with
tireless, masterful energy, and there Is
Una of cells in one state prison so
full of business men whom Deneen con
victed, that it 1 called bankers' row.
Deneen la a remarkable man. But, for
the sake of simplification, let us say
only that he Is a politician who believes
that It I good pontic to serve th pub
lic '-....-
Thl I all Chicago require, and that
made th Issue in the Republican party
of Illinois thl summer. - Deneen ran on
it He wanted to be governor, but he
understood that the men who supported
him were seeking to beat the Lorlmer
Jamleson ring, - which believe that th
Republican party exist to serve special
Interests, Lorlmor And - Jamleson un
derstood this, 4oo. There were other
candidates. Governor Yates, a shallow.
pompous persont sought a second term,
but he thought Yates war the Issue.
Than there was an eloquent young law
yer, Frank O. Lowden, son-ln-laW of
George M. Pullman, who want to be
omethlng prominent In politic. United
State senator or governor. He Is. a
"fine fellow" and he has more personal
friends among the reformer and best
citizen of Chicago than Deneen, but
when" he. appeared" as a candidate for the
nomination, the old ring backed htm, not
all his friends. Mr. Lowden Is a "safe
man, ne la the type that "fools" moat
good citizens." Having a "laudable am
bition," he seek an office, not an Issue,
and he Cannot understand why he should
not "welcome the support of hla party;"
and when he achieves office he cannot
understand why he should not support
his party. The Lowdens are the kind
of men political bosses put, up when the
ring Is on the verge of a defeat and,
being "good men." they rloud issue
and save the rrhgs. They do not mis
lead Chicago. That city saw through
him. to th ring behind, and tho Repub
lican of Conk county sent to the conven
tion a large majority of delegate in
structed for Deneen. Many of the dele
gate, and som of the ward leaders,
were reluctant and hankered for their
old boss, btitwpuhlc opinion held thenj
to their instructions,' '
'Hrterm
At
-4 '
'Sr'
K t A
I II lfil"sH,fi'll,.lliV,'W
A CLASS OK CUBAN OIRL
tion and Increasing the output, re&lize
a fair profit,. especially when they.fully
utilize their side issues of molasse and
alcohol, '. Th quick recovery ; of tho
.sugar Industry reflects no little credit
upon th planters, showing great energy,
labor and perseverance. At . noma
places, notably Clenfuegoa and San til
Clafav the output was greater than
ever known before. Thousands of acres
of virgin soil are being planted In cane
and th crops of the future will be very
large. - . . .
Agriculture, of course, la Cuba'
forte. It is not probable that she will
ever be much l)Ut an exporter of raw
material. Wltn a soil that will grow
almost anything, this 1 the natural
result The government has trans
formed the industrial school, established
If Deneen, or, better fctlll. If Chicago
had made as careful a canvass of the
country aa .Folk did of Missouri, I be
lieve Illinois would have responded liko
Missouri. A it was, the Republicans of
Illinois did not decide. The country
districts followed their leaders and tho
nomination was left to the convention
There were six or seven - candidates.
Yates, with hi patronage-built state
organization; Lowden. with the old
bosses, the special Interests, ..ajii bis.
the Chicago newspapers, - and the best
public ' opinion these three, led in
strength, and a deadlock ensued which,
for duration, was unprecedented in the
state
Federal Branch of the System
The efforts to break it developed' the
apex of the system.. I said a whllo ago
that the United States government was
a part of the state and municipal sys
tem of Illinois and Chicago. ... Speaker
Cannon of the national house of repre
sentatives was chairman of tha conven
tion, and, United States Senators Cullom
and Hopkins wer present also. These
men the whole "federal bunch," as
they are called "worked" for Lowden.
Not that they cared especially for him,
though one of them remarked that It
wa well to have "a governor with a
barrel." But their influence waa for
"harmony." the "good of the party," not
of the state, nor even of the Republican
citizen ot the state .but of the old
party leader and "the thing as It was."
Well, they dldhetp to break the dead
lock. Chicago and Illinois resent federal
Interference. When thl spring the
Municipal league mad its successful
fight to beat "Doc" Jamleson In that
boss' own ward. Congressman Lorlmer
and Senator Cullom and Hopkins per
suaded President Roosevelt to appoint
Jamleson naval officer of the port. Upon
their advice, confirmed, as he said, by
such "yespectable business men as John
M. Smyth, etc., the president gave the
discredited boss the office and the moral
and political support that went with it
William Kent says that thawhelped to
defeat Jamleson. So, at the convention,
the Chicago newspapers, talking always
of the old ring, were able to point out
that the national government was back
of Lowden and his backers. This crys
tal I zed publlo opinion. The convention
took a recess for 10 days. When It re
convened, though the deadlock held for
two days more, the current of senti
ment wa toward Deneen; and Yates, to
get even -with th ring that had used.
then dropped him, directed hi delegates
to vote for Deneen,
What Republicans Represent
There was a "deal" between Yatea
and Deneen.' But the terms were honorable,-
and "besides, "political deals"" are.
like politicians, not had In themselves.
They are had when they trade the public
Interest off for' special and' personal In
terests, and the deal which carried out
the wishes of the best public opinion In
Illinois and made Charles S. Deneen thW
Republican candidate for governor (uml
Lawrence Y. Sherman, the Candida! for
lieutenant-governor), did for the Repub
lican pany of Illinois, wliat the Demo
cratic voter of Missouri did for the
Democratic party, when -they , sent up
delegntea Instructed for Folk restored
th control to the peopi of tho party.
That deal completed the political ruin
,of ..the Lorimer-Jamleson ring, end, I
verily believe, begin a movement to
carry on out into the state the reform
which was begun eight year ago- In
Chicago a reform w,hich alma to make
tne government, municipal anu suite,
represent, not bribers, not corrupt poli
ticians, not corrupting business men,
but the common Interests' of th state
the citizens and friend, not the enemies,
Of th- republic. , 1
trot steady to Beport. .
Goodwin We have a new minister at
our church.
Texlly So? How do you like him?1
Goodwin Don't know ..'yet. My. Wiftf
hasn't met, hi wife. , . '
"Tf"
t
iv Nc vr-
N a if
TKLKGRArH.' OPERATORS.
by General Wood at Santiago de las
Vcgma, Into an agricultural experimental
station, appropriating (75.000 therefor.
Mr. - Prank 8. . Kurle, agricultural ex
pert, attached to the . department of
agriculture 4nf the United States, has
been engaged "to organize, direct and
manage this institution. It is divided
Into six sections: General agriculture,
animal Industry, including veterinary
science; horticulture, biology, chemical
rind physical conditions of the soil, bot
any and vegetable pathology. Including
entomology. Such a school was greatly
dettlred during the- American administra
tion, and It is very commendable In the
official of the new repuhllo to have
undertaken the project The value of
the experiments conducted at these sta
tions la unquestionable, especially when
Royalty
(By Olof B. Cervijl.y-
EURUSUND. July 9. Tho other day
I had occasion to look up a drug
store.'' Some one was In need of
"un ointment afid vfYnitwMt certain
patent medicine1 with properties some
thing akin to witch hazel.- But I had
come to the wrong store. I waa politely
told that no patent medicines were kept
lnany drug stores, but could be had at
the grocer's around the corner.
"But," said tho druggist, "I can give
you exactly the sanio thing and for a
less price; for Ve have the formula, but
cannot use the proprietary name."
I bought his substitute, for he seemed
an honest fellow and willing to talk.
Now, the druggists of Sweden have bo
gun to fight the proprietary medicines,
and, believe they can do it bust by refus
ing to sell the gfiods. They make two
claims first, that . most patent medi
cines are mere 'swindles, ; schemes to
dupe the innocent; and, second, that all
(even the few really bt-neflclul prepara
tions) are sold ut exorbitant prices. So
now the patent-medicine crank must buy
his favorite pill or jnlxture at the gro
cer's or in the department stores. I
wonder If it won't rob It of 90 per cent
of Its curative piwer when thu di
vorced from th halo and mystery of
the drug stores and absolutely ignored
by the doctors.
Neither do the drug stores sell per
fumes, toilet articles and ' slate pencils,
to say nothing of cameras, soda-Water
and cut flowers.' Ttiey sell drugs, and
nothing else, I believe, except vlchy,
which la conaldered as much of a medi
cine as a beverage, and consumed in
great, quantities.
But druggists can do here what would
he Impossible In other countries. For
their business is a remnant of the old-
time guilds. When a young man ha
finished lila studies, passed, the exami
nation and- gone through a year or two
a an apprentice, one might think he
waa free to select th best vacant cor
ner, stock up and watt for business. By
no means. The law says Just how many
drug stores there shall be, and Just
where they are to be located no more
and no less. It also prescribes the price
of all drutcs there Is no cutting.
Th young man anxious to get Into
business must wait fbr some one to die
or for the government to establish a new
drug store, as is done when the popula
tion ho Increased enough to warrant It.
Then a new druggist Is appointed ac
cording to merit or favor, aa tha case
may bo. If he la dissutlsfied he cannot
Close hi shop according to his own wll
If he wants a better locution he must
wait until another is, vacant and then
apply. Thus a driiKglst moves about,
beginning- usually at some crossroads
village and finishing In Stockholm if
possible.' '
They nro all hnxlous to get to that
city. No- wonder, for It Is beautiful,
healthy, full'of attractions, and the drug
stores pay well. In small cities the
druggist I" one of the -leading men. and
perhaps the wealthiest one. In Stock
holm th net income ts as much as 60.000
or 60.oo crowns, which is u, big thing
In tills country of few millionaires, and
nearly five times us much as the king's
mlnlsterx are paid.
Hut lately it has been determined to
establish four or five more drug stores
In the capltul city. This does not please
the old-timers, but' Is hailed by the
young blqod us a good thing. , Now you
can sec how easy It U to exclude patent
medicines from drug , stores. H Is a
country where they try U regulate
things, and thejr succeed thojugh some
times only t'o. well. It gets to' bo a
bore.
There Is certainly no comprehending
the points of vtuw which some people
take. One day a few of us were chat
ting over ft cup of coffee. The talk
drifted to politic In a general sort of
way how country could ho ruled ,by
a mere president seemed a mystery; no
traultlonj no dignity, -no stability. Sonte--
4 'V : I
JlU
I I .'.11
W 'W I t
w. 1
j'vVr, h
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a country Is so wholly dependent upon
Irs soil a Cuba.
Balance ia Cuban. Treasury.
The statement that thero is a surplus
of 17,000,000 In tbe Cuban treasury Is
untrue. An, official report from the de
partment of finance covering the first
three tnopths of the present calendar
year gives the cash in treasury at
$4. 682.014.36. This balance covers ap
propriations already granted, soma by
special law and others left by the
military government; the return of sums
unduly pluced in tbe treasury; and the
Interest on the debt contracted for pay
ing the army. alt. of which make a
total of $3,493,011.82, leaving therefore,
an actual balance of $1,188,902.64.
When the American government . with
drew from Cuba there ws turned over
and:ReputlicsA Contrast
how I had occasion to compliment the
country on erecting the handsome gran
ite house of parliament, now nearly
completed. One of the party waa a man
kneww-.ivt her for. the -tig h ttesg0 mi a
purse thari the liberality of his views.
.. In a' moment he flared up and hurled
his Invectives at the pride-ridden 8 wed
ish people, who, though few In number
and poor tn resources, must needs spend
millions on a mere building for fts repre
sentatives. It was to his notion the
worst foolhardiness and utter waste of
national wealth. I thought here was an
opening and pointed to the royal palace,
which ever since the stern old day of
Chnrle XI ha towered abov lowly and
ven squalid surroundings, quite
eclipsing everything else, be it private
or public. Moreover, It was erected at
a time when money was carce more
difficult to raise a million than It now 1
to rale two.
But he did not see it that way. That
was foil the king, and the king stood for
the people. What was done for the king
waa good and proper and no extrava
gance. It seemed to him perfectly in
place that the eldest son of one certain
man should be elected or rather pre
destined to rule over a whole people.
-Admitting.' as I was vary glad to do,
that the present king-is as good aa can
be desired, and far better than most
other rulers, there still remained the
risk of the country once more being In
flicted with -a foolhardy perhaps idi
otic sovereign. Twice ha It been
brought to the very'verge qf destruction
by supercilious and Intractable kings.
"Ye; but don't you see," retorted my
friend, "our king Is so hedged about
with constitutional restrictions, handi
capped In every way, that bis real power
Is mere fiction?"
It seems, then, royalty Is a luxury
which the European people love to have,
think they must perpetuate, and ar
quit willing to pay for. They certain
ly do alt they can to carefully train th
'young princes, any one of whom may
some day have to ascend the throne.. It
they succeed with the limited material
they have at hand, so much the better.
They are very proud of the product, feel
they are amply repaid when they know
they have a king who keeps up a grand
court, pushes the electric button when
an exhibition Is' opened, makes a neat
little speech when laying the corner
stone of a sanatorium, and last but
best of all Is quite willing to sign his
name to all the document thut th real
rulers, his ministers, place before him.
You see, It Is all done In the klngjs
name.
, Yes, It 1 a fine thing, very spectacu
lar and very grand; but somehow a re
publican fail to se how a sensible peo
ple can b so well satisfied, as they un
deniably are, with what Is, even accord
ing to their own admission, a mockery
of power.
They do, howevesy gain on thing
that Is- stability. Our quadrennial dis
turbances, when we renew all political
antagonism, harrow our feelings and ex
cite our passions, bring our business to
a standstill and otherwise spend a year
to make up our mind as to whom we
really Want for president all this may
be quite ns much a, luxury as to, sup
port a royal household,- and It Is not
nearly ao picturesque. But a?h ac
cording to hla taste, and w think our
I the better. Perhaps we-may yet im
prove our preant wasteful mothods.
Stability I their real gain. Royalty
doe act aa a sort of balance-wheel, or
one might-say-that a good king la an
oiler. He lubricates th machinery and
keep th parts working harmoniously,
aVerfs clashea and otherwise ' makes
himself useful. Such is King Oscar, and
more, too; such was Quen Victoria.
It is curious to notice the strong In
fluence of th English language. When
translator falls to find a word to fit
the original, he transfer the English
word boldly Into the Swedish text. A
German will go a .block out ef hi way -'
t the official of the itw' repuhtlo.
II5, 170.19. While th ah In the.
treasury has Increased sine that time,
there bus bn K corresponding decrease
In expenditure. During th Amnriruu
occupation tha Island had to house at
array at on time of about 40.000 mm.
Vast au-ia- wer spent In eanltatlon.
In building roads and bridges ami other
publlo wnrka. Tha mint ef tltla heavy ,
outlay of money wai of such a nature
that It only had to be made once, tlm
tha Increase in tha raah balance. e-tnc
that time, la easily accounted tor, ThM
statement la not mad to comment
favorably or otherwise upon tha Ameri
can administration, or the admlnletra
tlon of President Estrada Talma; It I
merely recital of fact. -'
Tha chances In the new Cuban tariff
law have gone Into effect. An increase
of from SO to SO per cent Is brine- lrvtr 1
on- almost everything, Vany articles,
which heretofore wore relatively elian? .
In Cuba, can no longer he had at a,
low price. For Instance, llnnn has i'l
waya been within the reach of a mult
erat purse, but la now IS per eent
higher; also alllc. carpem, l?em, wnnlrn
gooda. etc. Cotton have 10 per! rent
Increase, while gold, precious stnhes..
Jewelry, silver articles, vegetnnl fibers,
timber, sewing machine, 'carriages,
horses,' mules, etc., have'Sf per reiu In
crease; .boots, shoes, pianos, waiehrs,
dour, fruits, , cotVee. etc., carry en In
(reuse o.f to per cent Practically every
article In general ur.e la Included In this)
Increase, but It Is. thought Hint-the re.,'
elproclty. treaty neutralizes- any hnn,
ship arising from the apparent Increase
In cost of living, though It Is not e
to see how .the laboring man derive
special benefit therefrom.
The matter of coffee alone Is a hrd
proposition. Heretofore no man . In
Cuba was too poor to have coffee, it
la the life of the people, an the Ulamt
Is yet a long way from producing suffi
cient for .home consumption.' - it r-
profitable, hence the capital that Is be
ing Invested In the Island 1 going Into
something which Insures quicker re
turns. It, la a question for the pnlltles-1
economist to decide how the Cuban la
borer Is to earn his coffee, with 30 per
cent increase of duty.
SffKt on Amarioma Trad.
Th report for the first quarter; since,
"the reciprocity treaty went into effect,
show no perceptible increase In the
volurne of trade with th United States.
However.1 this Is not to be wondered at,
because the European merchants, know
ing that the treaty was an accom
plished fact -made special efforts to
stock the Cuban market with '.their
goods, and to supply everything neces
sary for consumption for at least a
year to come. Therefore the American
-manufacturer had no opportunity to sell
Ms goods, because there wss absolutely
no demand for them. This overstocking
method is usually resorted to by those
who expect to be affected by a change,
of tariff. A soon as Mieae surplus
stocks begin to give out the Yankee
drummer will have a busy time In
Cuba, .,...-..-...'
te find a German expression, be it ever
ao long and cumbersome. Such word
a "flirt." "sport," "Interview." "start."
ar used not only In. the written qn-
f'K'ufige,"'"buTTn every-day talk. , But when
they Import such words aa "trade, "fac
tory," "blunder" and '-inquiry" on is
urprised.
. The Swede are very friendly to the
English in every wny. In spite of a great
deal of prejudice against America. There
ts far more sympathy with England
than with Germany, for Instance, al
though the Germans are closer kin. It
Is simply Incomprehensible how the Oct- '
mans can do so much for Russia, and
openly, too. The Swedes know only too
well what the Russians are. They sym-. .
pathlze fully with the sufferings of the .'.
people pt Finland sufferings of which -w
have no adequate 'comprehension.
Yet Russia claims to be a Christian na
tion. .
CHOCTAW DEATH PEKAI.TT.
Oailty Man Was hot by th Shtrlff la
Presence of HI friend.
J From th Kansas City Journal
Tha stroet commissioner of Atoka has
removed on of the oldest Indian land- '
marks of the town. It was a bols d'aro
post 10 feet long and 12 inches n diam
eter. In the middle of what' Is now
known aa B street It Was placed there
48 years ago by i the Choctaw Indians,
and for many year wns used by them
as a whipping post. Lndcr the Indian
laws any person who was convicted of
theft wss tied to this post and given
B0 lashes on tho bare back. For tlm
second offence he wns given 100 lashes;
for the third offence the penalty was
death.
In Inflicting the death penalty a Mock
of wood was laid on the ground against
the' post. The victim was stripped to ;
his waist and was mado to sit ii'ti -
thla block. His hands were tied behind
him, his arms reaching around the post.
with a white spot painted over hi
heart. The sheriff, who was the execu
tioner, started at the feet of the pris
oner and walked 10 steps toward the
sun.
He then turned and facing the man
rn.lat,t hla tf-un anA annniinr-A to ftff
"gathered throng the crime for .which '
the man wa to die. The friends of th
doomed man were then permitted to go
to hln and bid him farewell, The '
father, mother 0(r- wife Were ttw lant
person permitted trt apeak to hlro. They
Invariably begged of htm to be brave,
and die like a man. and expressed their -hope
that they would meet hitn at the
happy hunting grounds. Then the sheriff .
took aim at the white spot ever tha
Indiana heart and so true was, tho
marksmanship of th executioner that a
second shot- wa never ' necessary, in-
stant doath being produced by tM fli'-'t
"It Is said by those who know that M'
les than 100 pin-son have been tied t
the Atoka whipping post and whipped,
and that more than JO hove been shot -at
the foot of it.
BTOB XJOKTS OBT UTSBATtmB.-
From th Chicago Journal.
Othello was giving Desdemon a warm
line of guff. '
"That's a fine coat of tan you'v got.
aid Dendemona. adnilrltiiflv,
'Yes,'' responded tHhillo. "My lildn .
is real-Morocco.",
Thl proves that- even In th nr1f '
days of cfturtjhlp he ws 'rgul.ir cut
un, . ,;
' . Cleopatra Waa eairing down th N'.i
with Antony. . ' '
"Don't cair me Antony." snl-i tr rr.'.
man. s he gve hr another penil lit
"I think." sslii Egyp' rid tr"'--i
queen. "I shall tail you iwarx, ", -
added, aottu K'". ' easy ntu si ll'Ji
And Antony was Immensely f.ai-i- 1.
i