Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1902 — Page 2

The Iron-Worker’s Daughter

CHAPTER X. '"Too can’t ride roughshod over me, Bob Peters, and you’d best not try it!” “What do you mean talking that way to me?" “Just what I say.” The sentence cut the air like a whip. There was snap in the words, snap in the tone, snap in the expression and attitude of the speaker. The two men looked at each other. They were hot unllke In general appear-; ance and age. Possibly the man with the flannel shirt, and check cap on his head, was the stronger and finer looking of the two. Just now his eyes were flashing with anger. His face was red with the beat of the furnace he had faced and the exertion he had put forth in puddling the iron. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing a neck and shoulders that woulji have delighted a sculptor. His shirt aleeves, rolled up to his shoulder, revealed a muscular arm. His frame was massive, his head well set on his shoulders, and as he faced Peters he looked like a man capable of holding his own with any man, as, indeed, Dan Atherton had demonstrated time after time. The man facing him was plainly but decently dressed. But he did not meet Dan Atherton's eye boldly. His manner indicated restraint. He ought to hare had the advantage in the wordy encounter, but he seemed to be at a disadvantage. One was the manager, the other was a workman in the Star iron Works. "We may as well understand each oth•er,* Bob Peters,” said the puddler, crossing lais arms and looking defiantly at the manager. “You talk like a fool, Atherton. Are ynn craxy? If you want to quit, your money is ready for you at the office,” said tha manager. “Look here, Peters—if I take that money to-day, and through you, you'll hear from me.” ‘‘Pooh! Now you are childish.” “I’ve warned you.” “Who cares for your warning?” exclaimed Peters. “Who is running this milir “That’s just what I’d like to ask the owners. You are running it, and a nice mess you are making of it. Ever since we worked in the old Hope mill you've had a grudge against me. Bob. I’m not indebted to you for any good will, nor for my furnace. You want to run it very economically, to please the owners, but you do it at our expense. Oh! you needn't swell now, and curl your lip—it’s plain truth, and hundreds in this and other mills know just as well ns you and I knowhow things are working.” “Have you done, Atherton?" demanded the manager, in a grave tone.” “In a minute. The furnace you put me on was run down. It’s one of the hardest furnaces in the mill—everybodv knows that.” “There, that's enough, Atherton." “I’m not-through. Peters. You haven't had a man on Number Fourteen in two yaara who brought as much iron out of it aa I have. And because I have done it, and held up my end better than some of your pets, you don’t like me. The whole trouble the last two weeks was vuur (fault, not mine. I’ve asked you twice to repair it, but you’ve pretended it didn’t need it, or yon hadn't time—all to get me In disfavor—and like as not, when the Rime comes, you'll lie about it, and say you wasn't notified. Is that plain enough?” Jiii Peters at that moment was in such a rage he could scarcely speak. He stammered, gulped, theu, with a white face, clenched his first. , — 1 r “Oh, if that's your kind, I’m your man. Come on.” But a band was laid on the manager's arm at that critical juncture, and a voice each recognised said: “Hello! What fool nonsense is this?” The workman turned to the newcomer ■with an angry look. The manager R ok•d crestfallen. He wondered how much the newcomer had heard; he suspected lie had heard all that passed. “Nothing's gained by fighting—you two ought to know that,” The remark was an unfortunate one. It recalled contests between these two -when they were younger—contest^which always exposed Peters to the ridicule of his fellow-workmen. If he could not vanquish Atherton in a hand-to-hand contest, he could show him he was his superior by discharging him. __ “What's all the finis abont?” The manager and workman glared at him. Both thought he knew. It was the puddler, however, who blurted his belief out boldly. “I guess you know, Gripp. But if you don’t. I’ll let you into it. If Bob Peters, here, undertakes to ride over me. finding fault with me for not bringing as p&uch out of my furnace as other men in Pie mills. I'm going to curl every lime. m going to tell him just where the fault la. I’m not going to play dummy, end let him or any other man put me in a false light with the owners. I don’t care l(rhe was manager of forty mills, he nor JDO other man can make me any white’s black. or black's white. There you bate It, Gripp." “Atherton, you are discharged.” said Peters. “Go to the office and get your money." “Buppose I don’t take my discharge from you?" said Atherton, with a sneering smile. He looked around. They were standing |nnder a shed cut entirely off fyom the •view of the laborers inHhe yard. They Bad met near it, and stepped •aide to engage in the wordy encounter both anticipated. i The person who came upon them here fwas Mr. Jackson Gripp, a gentleman (whose business transactions with iron manufacturers led him into and about (the mills. He was well known to workpKn and owners. . “Suppose I give you something to discharge me for, Peters. You haven’t got grounds—l’ll give you some.” . The iron puddler faced the manager defiantly, placing hit hands befc-* him. jrendy to strike or ward off a blow. His m * *u fixed on Peters warily. Gripp looked at the manager, then at the pudllsr, curiously. The manager was Irreo“Dripp, bore, will see fair piny, I dare any. MI trust him. Gome on. You’ve •discharged me. If I want to, I can stay Tha nun you think you can rids over

BY HOWARD FORRESTER.

has a friend in the office more influential than you, Peters. He controls the stock —and can control you. But if you want my furnace for another pet, you are welcome to It. Only I’d prefer to give you better grounds for my discharge. Are you ready?’ For answer, Petess suddenly seized an ax handle from a bundle standing on end at his right hand. The iron worker sprang back. Then he called himself a coward f&r recoiling; his rage was expressed in his face as he said between his clenched teeth: “I might have* known it, Peters.” He advanced suddenly, in a threatening manner; but before he came within reach of the manager the latter dropped the ax handle aud fell back. He dropped so suddenly that the puddler and Gripp looked around to see if any one were near. The same thought occurred to both—that Peters was felled with a stone or missile of some sort. Then they looked at each other wonderingly, and with one impulse stooped over the fallen man. Atherton, who was frightened, turned to Gripp with a paling face and trembling voice. -* “Mr. Gripp, we’d best send for a doctor, quick.” ... Gripp placed a hand under the fallen manager’s head, and withdrawing it with a shudder, replied: “I’m afraid it’s not much use.” “He ain’t dead, Gripp?’ “He’s the next thing to it, then,” said Gripp-. Then he stood up and looked at the puddler calmly. “This is a bad business—a very bad business, Mr. Atherton.” The ironworker rose and confronted the other. “What do you mean, Gripp?” He scrutinized the solfcary witness of the occurrence anxious)}-, bending forward in his earnestness. The involuntary action was not unnoticed by Mr. Gripp. “I said it was a bad business. The man is dead. Feel his head where it struck the lump of iron lying there.” But Atherton, instead of placing his hand on the back of the fallen man’s head, placed it over his heart. “He is living. He’s in a faint. Hear him breathe. I’ll go for a doctor. You stay by him.” “One word; Atherton.” The puddler looked back impatiently. “Before you go, let us understand each other.” “What, in the name of heaven, do you mean?” Atherton asked as he wheeled about angrily. “If I’m sworn to tell the whole truth—mind, the whole truth—and he dies ” “It is not likely you'll be asked to swear if he lives,” Athortou retorted. “You doii’t look at it ns I do.” Gripp shook his head. “What you said, even if you hadn’t jumped at him ” “Jumped at him! Wasn’t I excusable—a&:l him holding an ax handle, lifting it, ready to brain me?” “Ah! but who was aggravating him? Who threatened? Who said he’d have grounds to discharge them—and went back to old sores, and raked up old scores?” “Gripp! You infernal ” Gripp put up a hand sneeriugly. "Best free yourself of this man’s blood before you spill mine. Dan Atborton. But I’m not your enemy. Go for help. I'll not tell more than I can help telling" —on —on your account. Go now—go!” When Dan Atherton ran for the Coctor. fear, the-fear born of a sudden over-, mastering horror, lent swiftness to his feet.

CHAPTER 11. When Atherton returned with the doctor, a little knot of workmen were standing near the door of the office, whither the manager was speedily borne when Gripp made the truth known to the clerks, who had observed the ironworker running past. The doctor entered the office in his brisk way, glanced at the man lying tu the sofa in the back room, felt his pulse and shook his head. Atherton, who was standing at lug elbow, opened his mouth to speak; but his question was anticipated by oiie of the owners, who had entered the mill yard just as the manager was borne to the office. “What do you say, Doctor?” “He is dying.” Atherton started. He looked around him guiltily. Ilis hands trembled. He wondered if anybody observed his manner. Bnt all were looking questioningly at the doctor, “It is apoplexy—and a very bad case at that.” “Is there nothing you can do for him? Do you require assistance—whatever may be needed, command us," said the owner earnestly. >— “We can do very little. Our art is futile in many instances—this, I fear, is one of them," said the doctor; “the usual remedies w ill be tried,” he added, as he took off his coat, and. calling upon those near him. "busied himself with the insensible manager. In the meantime, Mr. Meeker was questioning the clerks. , "When did this happen? How lqng is it since he was seized? Where was Peters?” The clerks were silent. One made a sign, indicating Mr. Gripp, who was standing near, looking now at the group working with the manager, now at Atherton. It was worthy of note that Atherton did not at any time meet Mr. Gripp’s aye. Once or twice he glanced at Mr/ Gripp furtively. “Mr. Peter*,” said Gripp in a calm tone, as he looked straight at the owner, “he was talking to Mr. Atherton, in the yard, when he fell—dropped just as if he had been shot. Just a little while ago. Not more than ten or twelve minutes, iffky be not so long.” H “4k! Were you near?" “Not near enough to prevent him from falling." , ** "I see blood on him. How did that come thetd?’ , “I think he struck his head—at hast there was a piece of iron just where he fell. ML Atherton was nearer to hind than I was.” '* “Tell os all about It, Atherton?* said the owner. The puddler swallowed the lump that

rose in his throat as he turned In answer to tha question; he trembled as the eyes of those present turned upon him. On their patt, they attributed his nervous manner to the shock. “Indeed, Mr. Meeker, I don’t know that I can tell you any more, than Mr. Gripp has, told you. I nqet Peters jrst where he fell. He fell so quick—it was so unexpected—neither of us had time to catch him. His head hit an ugly lump of iron tying at the corner of the shed; That hurt his head.” “Humph!” said the mill owner, in a meditative manner. “Had Peters been doing anything? Lifting, or walking quick, or was he in his usual mood?” The little office seemed to reel an instant, then Atherton, whose eyes were riveted upon Gripp, controlled himself. “Why, then, to tell the truth, we had some words about my furnace. Mr, Gripp heard ail that passed. I was mad, so was Peters; when this thing happened.” “Ah!” said the owner again; -then he looked annoyed. “I guess,” said Atherton, who was now resolved to tell the whole truth, “I’d best Just begin at the beginning, and tell you all that passed.” The owner put up a hand, and lowered his voice. “Hush! Time enough when he dies, and the coroner is called iu, as he may be. There is no use making matters worse by letting everybody know he was in a passion. Say no more until you are called upon, Atherton. Then you and Mr. Gripp can give the necessary testimony. Poor Peters! he was a very faithful man!” The doctor rose up suddenly, and the others fell back filled with the awe sudden death inspires. "You may say he was now; he is dead, Mr. Meeker.” Then the group in the office shudderingly bent over and looked down on the dead man. The owner alone had the presence of mind to give the necessary directions. “Send word—by some discreet person—you, Wilson, break the news to his relatives. He has a brother and sister. And send word to his boarding house. Attend to it at once. Poor Peters—a very faithful fellow he was to us.” As the owner turned away, he brushed his eyelashes. He was inexpressibly schocked. Now that all was over, he wanted to get away. He was a man who had a horror of death. He said to himself he would have the sofa on which Peters died removed at once. He was stepping into his buggy when he turn.'d back to the little knot of clerks. “Of course you’ll shut the mill down at once—just as soon as they run the heat out.” . . *' * Then he sprang into his buggy and drove away. He felt that he must do something to make him forget the dying scene he had jiist witnessed. Tire picture Peters presented as he lay on the office sofa seemed so horrible—so awful. Gripp and Atherton left the office together. The puddler did not look at Gripp. He was inclined to avoid him, but there was something suggestive in Gripp's silence. “Well?” he demanded suddenly, wheeling about and facing Gripp as they were walking in the mill yard alone. “Well?” Gripp looked at him with a calculating eye. “t’m going to tell the truth, Mr. Gripp.” “Do just ns you please. I wouldn't.” “Why? What have I to be ashamed of? What have I to be afraid of? You heard the doctor. You heard what Mr. Meeker aske'd me —and you know how he looked when I told him.” “Oh! do aB you please.” “Why shouldn’t I do as I please, Mr. Gripp? I’ve done pretty much as I pleased all my life. I’ve never acknowledged any man as my ruler. Why shouldn’t I make a clean breast of it?” Gripp smiled. It was an evil smile. It excited apprehension. Then the puddler bethought himself of the moaning Gripp might take out of his language. “Well—there’s nothing to make a clean breast about, come to think of it.” “Then you oughtn’t to use rhe words.” “You know what I mean —I was going to whip him, or he would have whipped me. But no man living can say I ever took advantage of a man, even in a fight —which is as much, maybe more, than ytHt ea» eay, —» __ Mr. Gripp remarked that the “mister” was dropped now. He smiled aguUr*and now his smile was very crafty. “You smile. What are you looking a,t me like that for?” demanded Atherton. "I am no more his murderer than you are. It was himself—his passion. I’m sorry —it ought to be a lesson to us. But I don’t like your way of talking, and —” Here the puddler looked about him, lowered his voice, and added, “I don’t like your infernal smile, Gripp, as if you were wiser than me, or had the upper hand of me somehow.” “I suppose I can’t live if you don’t like me,” said Gripp. “You can make a ‘clean breast of it,’ ns you say—but if I were you I wouldn’t. I don’t think it will read well in print. I’m sure it won’t make you any friends.” The calm air of superiority Gripp assumed produced the precise effect he intended. It goaded Atherton, who locked at him with lowering brows and a firm mouth. There was a dangerous light in the ironworker’s eyes as he said, quite coolly now: “Gripp. you mind your business—l’ll mind mine. And don’t yon give advice until you are askad*for it.” Then the puddler walked away rnd entered the mill, leaving Mr. Gripp to go his own way. The sudden death of the manager occupied the thoughts of the hundreds of workers in the great iron mill. Atherton was questioned by dozens of his fellows as he made his way to his furnace. He was compelled to answer the same question a score of times. There were some who looked at cim sharply. They suspected he knew more than he told. They knew he had, from the hour he was assigned to his furnace, failed to secure the good will of the manager. He had never deferred so Peters—bore himself in the manager’s presence a trifle more exactingl.v than when he was dealing with his fellow-workmen. There were a few who recalled the passage* bet wen the two men before Atherton lost his time and money on a patent that proved to be worthless, when they, were employed in the same mill. These recollected that Atherton was always rated a more skillful worker and manlier man than Peters; bnt. now that Peters was dead, they were disposed to obey the precept which bids us speak no evil of dead. ~~ Atherton’s work was done. The worle men did not require the prompting that came quickly from the office. The majority were preparing to qnR when or- • • ■

ders came to cease work. Atherton, who** thoughts were oil the dead man, and whose conscience upbraided him for pressing a quarrel that was the indirect means of shortening Peters’ life,* had his coat and dinner pail in his hands. He looked about his furnace to see that everything 7 was as it should be, and was turning to’ step out of the side of the open mill, when he heard a shoot, and observed the workmen near him looking in a startled way toward the machinery. Atherton turned his head. The sight he beheld caused him to toss his coat and pail from him. The puddler leaped forward with a loud cry. (To.be continued.*

HE DODGED THE TIP.

Rather Rough on the Barber, but the Customer Saved a Dime. “Well, sub,” said the barber as tha man stepped out of the chair after having had his hair cut, “an’ how- doe* yo’ all lake it, suh?”' , The man stood before the looking glass and surveyed his head carefully and admiringly. “Well,” he said, after a pause, “I’ve had my hair cut all over the world, and : ” “Yaas, suh,” commented the black barber, delightedly. “And by all kinds andcolors of barbers. I’ve had my zazas clipped in Hongkong and I’ve had ’em razed in Port Said.” “Yaas, suh,” gurgled the barber, feeling the tip already in his mitt. “I’ve had ships’ barbers in the South seas reap my harvest of hirsute, and ' »» ‘'‘Yaas, Indeed, suh!” chimed in the overjoyed barber. “And I’ve had my tresses toyed with by the artistic ducks on the Rue des boulevard in Paris. But th!s—this _______ tt “Yaas, suh,” put in the barber, ex- — “This,” continued the man, as he slipped on his coat, “is the very rottenest apology for a rough-house hempehop that 1 ever saw in my life," aud he clapped on his hat and fled. “That was about the ouly way in the world," he muttered ns he got out into the open air, says the Washington Post, “that I could have the necessity of coughing up to that barber the dime that I required so badly in my business.”

MAIL ORDER BUSINESS.

Great Growth of the I usiness Shown \ by Chicago Houses. The total volume of business done by the mail order houses of Chicago, writes William E. Curtis, in the Rec-ord-Herald, is about $40,000,000 a year. It is peculiar to Chicago, although there are imitators in several other cities. One firm In Chicago does a trade of $15,000,000; another $12,000,000. It is a cash business. The money must accompany the order. About 40 per cent of their receipts are in postofflee money orders, 30 per cent in express orders, 20 per cent in currency that comes in ordinary letters and 10 per cent in postage stamps. People are very careless about sending money, and it is the highest possible tribute to the honesty and efficiency of the postal service that so little Is lost. The other day one of the big firms received a SIOO bill and seven silver dollars in an ordinary envelope so thin that the coins ciuid be counted through The paper, and every postofflee clerk that handled the letter must have known that it contained silver money. Nor is this exceptional. One firm here receives not less than $3,000,000 annually in currency through the mails and the clerk in charge tells me that while there are mistakes and losses every day, they are comparatively Insignificant and are due to the carelessness of the senders rather than to the dishonesty of the postofflee employes.

Had True Christian Spirit.

An exchange unusual if not unprecedented in church history and marked by the spirit of true brotherly feeling lately took place between the Methodists and Lutherans in Roanoke, Va. When they were at the height of their prosperity the Lutherans built a handsome stone house of worship, which cost them SBO,OOO and which seats 700 persons. They got a fine organ and everything of the best and costliest style and In their enthusiasm expended more than they intended and had to borrow SIB,OOO. Then came a squabble about the pastor and the choir, the attendance fell off and-the congregation was sadly divided, until, having lost its best men, the society found it difficult to raise the money to pay the interest on the debt in addition to the regular running expenses. In the meantime the Methodists had prospered and needed a new and larger church. The Lutherans heard of it and offered the trade. The offer was accepted. The Methodists took the sßo,ooo< church off their hands, assumed the mortgage of SIB,OOO, paid them $20,000 cash and gave them In exchange their ol<d boose of worship.

Rather an Odd Coincidence.

“So that young man wants to marry you?’ said Mabel's father. "Yes,” was the reply. “Bo you know how mack his income U?” “No, but it’s an awfully strange coincidence.” “What do you mean?’ “Herbert asked the very same question about yon.”—Washington Times.

Uncovering Pompeii.

At the present rate of progress seventy years will elapse before Pompeii is entirely uncovered. It Is thought as much treasure remains as has been exhumed. <

The Oldest Perfumes.

The oldest perfumes were those recovered from Egytian tombs, 1,600 to 2.000 yean before the Christian ora.

Political Comment.

Issues Between the Parties. The issues between the parties are as sharply defined as they were in 1900. The Democratic party is committed to the same policies, and the leaders are urging them with more ve-_ hemence and cunning .than in 1900. However, Mr. Cleveland, Mr. Hill and ether conservative Democrats may differ from Mr. Bryan an l Mr. Johnson, they all agree in demanding a reversal of our present tariff policy and the adoption of a tariff for revenue only. This Is particularly an issue In the congressional campaign, and in the campaign text book issued by authority of the Democratic congressional committee 126 pages are given to assaults on the tariff and to arguments in favor of what the committee, dropping all disguise, calls free trade. Under the head of “Imperialism,” 118 pages In the same text book are given to misrepresentation of President Roosevelt’s Philippine policy, to slanders of our army, and to arguments in favor of abandoning the islands. The compiler of the book goes, ‘‘by authority of the committee,” as far in malicious falsehood and as low In slander as did Senators Carmack, Rawlins and Tillman in the Senate last winter. The Democratic party makes an Issue of the Philippine war, and stands in opposition to every feature of Republican policy. David B. Hill, in speeches delivered in the last two weeks, has gone further than Mr. Bryan in advocacy of socialistic doctrines. In bidding for

WHY THERE IS NO HARMONY.

•-Chicago Inter Ocean.

the socialistic and populistic vote, he advocated confiscation of the coal mines. -The coal strike iii the anthracite regions was settled by President Roosevelt in accordance with law and the principles of fairness, but Mr. Hill's declaration of a socialistic principle to be applied to a like crisis is an issue between the parties. ♦ In fact, the Republican party, by the action of Ulr. Hill and others, stands more directly facing the Issued of Populism than in 1900. The Republican party is opposed in the congressional and State campaigns on its Philippine policy, on the tariff, on its Cuban policy, and most particularly are the Democratic leaders opposed to the President’s course in attempting to control the trusts. There are many Issues between the parties, and “the time-honored, timetested principles of the Republican party,” that have given such prestige and prosperity to the nation, are being .opposed violently and persistently,- In no campaign since the copperhead campaign of 1564 have Republiean policies been assailed with such malevolence this congressional campaign of 1002.—Chicago Inter Ocean. One Thing at a Time. The decision reached by the President and the leading Republican Senators with whom he has conferred, not to attempt tariff revision at tbe next session of Congress is the only one expedient at this time. The industrial situation in this country is not an abstract mathematical problem to be solved upon general principles. In the great field of American prosperity the wheat and the tares are so intermingled that to adopt any sweeping method for removing tbe tares is to run great risk of destroying the wheat as welL The question Is: Which do the people desire the more—that the abuses of the trusts be curbed or that tbe Incidental hardships of the tariff be removed? To that question sober and practical men have bnt one answer. Protection benefits millions who neither gain nor lose by the trusts. Therefore let the tariff alone and attend to the trusts. The first step toward curbing trust evils Is plainly Indicated by the facts and practically agreed upon by all concerned. It la that these great corpora tiona shall give a wholesome publicity to their doings. That step caa Injure no legitimate enterprise, and will be opposed by no man whose Intentions are really honest. ,

When that step is takA—when the results of publicity are seen—then other steps may be necessary. One of these steps may have to be a revision of the tariff. But to insist upon taking that possible step now Is both unnecessary and reckless. For we cannot, without endangering prosperity, curb the trusts and revise the tariff at the same time. Our Industrial situation is too complex thus to be dealt w,ith on all skies at once. To taka up both these questions would call In question the whole foundation upon which our industrial system is built. All lines of Industry would halt until the uncertainty' as to their future should be ended. The mill would work upon positive orders only. The merchant would buy only what he felt sure he could sell at onee. Consumers would purchase for immediate needs only. Producers would have to wait nntli the terms upon which they should ■hereafter produce were determined. And such conditions are what we call “hard times.” When confronted witiusuch a situation, In which the welfare of all the people Is bound up, it evidently behooves the nation and its chosen leaders to move cautiously. Complete success in the whole task can be achieved only by doing one thing at a time.— Chicago Inter Ocean. Agree with Henderson. Speaker Henderson has declined a renomination to Congress because he is not in full sympathy with all the Republicans of his district regarding the

trusts and their relation to the tariff law. He does not believe that the trusts can be curbed or the people benefited by free trade in whole or in part. The great majority of the Republican Party Is In complete accord with Mr. Henderson’s views, and it is to be hoped that he will not insist upon depriving the country of his services because of a little disaffection. Teal or fancied. The present tariff law has been the chief factor in bringing about the country’s present prosperity; why disturb It? —Los Angeles Herald. Gool Times for All. Wages are higher and interest on money is lower than ever before in this or any other country, and there is more work than wage-earners. It is not possible for such a condition to exist without good times for people in all callings. —Poplar Bluff (Mo.) Republican. Roosevelt’s Great Work. As the politicians see it. President Roosevelt should have remained perfectly Indifferent, smiled and talked about the success of the party, Just as If there had been no trouble in the anthracite region and no shivering in New York.—Dallas (Texas) News. President Roosevelt has succeeded. Beset on all sides by discouragement, treated with marked disrespect by the operators* and uncertain of his ground at the best, he v has yet labored faithfully and with good effect to end the great crisis. He has performed a great public service which should earn him the respect of the American people without regard to partisan affiliations. —St Louis Post-Dispatch. Roosevelt completes the trinity of the President who do things. His act of Oct. 3, 1902, stands with the act of Jan. 1, 1863, and the act of July 4, 1776. When a man has done a magnificent thing, it is dlfllcult not to be extravagant in thanking him for his deed. It Is true that Theodore Roosevelt has merely done his duty, but there are few men capable of doing their duty in a supreme moment.—St Paul Dispatch. Irrespective of party, the people of tbe United States are commending President Roosevelt for the decisive step by which—not in the interest of any class, bnt In tbe Interests of all classes—be has contributed to the amicable adjustment of what by many la considered the most formidable strife between espial and labor that has ever menaced the peace and comfort of the people of tbe United State*.—Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.