Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1906 — Page 3

PAPERS BY. THE PEOPLE

FEDERAL SUPERVISION OF INSURANCE. *

By John A. M'Call,

JOHN A. M'CALL.

q iiiuj vuv u *-v/Jl vovuiulivu vjl the Issues Involved. The bureau of commerce has already proved of great assistance to insurance companies transacting business in foreign countries, and if its work should in some way bring about a review -of the disputed questions with an affirmative result a great and permanent service will have been rendered to insurance Interests. Federal regulation of life insurance could be made to secure for every policy holder all the benefits now secured by the best State regulation of the business and without the crudity and the enormous expense involved in its regulation by forty odd insurance departments under our present •ystem.

SCEPTER OP COMMERCE IN AMERICAN CONTROL.

The scepter of commercial power is speedily passing into American control. If we are but true to the vast opportunities which lie at our hands, the United States will become the acknowledged leader in the commerce of the world. The conquest, will be achieved by the men of trade and not by the men of war. It will come 'by an irresistible law of commercial gravity. It will come because of our increased productive

capacity; because of our superior ability to supply the needs of others; because of the illimitable resources of our farms, mines and factories; because of multiplied methods and enlarged facilities of cheap transportation from the centers of production down to the seaboard. • We take pride in our commerce because It tends to lift the country to a higher and better level. It tends to equalize conditions. It enlarges thq, opportunity of labor and capital, and gives our people more homes and fills them with more of the comforts of life. It brings communities and trade centers together in common interest A higher civilization follows in its pathway. While we are a commercial people, we are not subservient to commercialism. We seek to expand commerce as a means, not as an ends* We seek its conquests that we may minister to those’high aspirations which are the birthright of the Anglo-Saxon race.

STRIKING OIL IS RISKY BUSINESS.

By J. N. Ashton.

“Striking oil” still is one of the most meaningful phrases used in the vernacular of modern Investment. It is at once the safest and the riskiest proposition that can appeal to the capitalist. The spouting well is in the fireworks stage of the business—otherwise, speculative stage; not till it has settled down to respond to the pumps for nt least twelve mouths does the careful investor begin to consider its dividend paying cer-

tainties. “Too much oil” was the first bf Texas experiences. The greatest flow of oil In the history of drilling was from the Lucas well, which, from a depth of 1,025 feet, threw oil 180 feet into the air, at the rate of 70,000 barrels in twentyfour hours. A lake of 900,000 barrels was formed from the unchecked overflow; stretching a mile or more from the derrick. Crude oil dropped from $1 a barrel to 1 cent a barrel, while water held strong at 25 cents a barrel. The

Popular science.

One ot the moat powerful causes of disease In London, says Prof. Macfayden, Is the Inhalation of dust. The constant Inhalation of particles of dust, particularly at times of fog, has a deleterious effect on the respiratory functions, producing bronchitis, pneumonia and kindred diseases. A shrinkage In the world’s water supply Is predicted by M. Martel, the French explorer of caves. Through the erosion and corrosion of the earth’s surface, ho says, the water level Is being continually lowered, and, unless measures for preventing this are adopted, a large part of the world will, a few centuries hence, die of thirst. Helium proves to be the one permanent gas. Prof. Qlszewskl has suddenly released It from a pressure Of ISO atmospheres at the temperature where hydrogen Is about to solidify, but there was no sign of liquefying, although the temperature developed was estimated at 271 degrees below zero Cent This temperature is within two degrees of absolute zero. A step toward the adoption of the decimal system of weights and measures in Great Britain was taken by the board of trade a few mouths ngo. It was decided to authorize the preparation pf standard weights of 20 pounds, 110 pounds and 5 pounds each. There Is at present a 50-pound weight In use, and the success of thlß as a time and labor saver has contributed toward -the decision In favor of the new weights ahove named. In spectacular geology the Varau volcano la Samoa seems to have a place by itself. The crater Is seven miles Inland, and It forms lava mountains that are slowly carried great distances by the molten sea beneath, as many aa five or six of these shifting mountain chains seeming to be now In existence. The mountains may have a length of four or ’five miles, with a width of a quarter of a mile hi places, and a height.pf two hundred feet. Noting the rapid change la motive power, Bir Alfred Hickman states

President New York Lite.

On the subject of federal regulation of life/ insurance in the United States one might make the reference as brief as the famous chapter on shakes in Ireland by saying there is no such thing as federal regulation of life insurance In the United States, but because such regulation is eminently dosirable I am minded to say a word with respect to it. The act-of the Fffty-seventb Congress, authorizing the establishment of a department of commerce and labor may open the way for presentation of

By Vice President Fairbanks.

that in his own works twenty-four valuable steam engines have been replaced within a few years by electric motors driven by gas engines. This is estimated to have brought a saving in fuel alone of $37,500 a year. If the future motors are to be driven by explosion, be suggests the use of powder or dynamite, and predicts fame and fortune to the man harnessing dynamite for power. In order to protect the interior of ships from the humidity caused by condensation upon the metallic walls during sudden changes of temperature, the Italian marine has experimented with,,a kind of hygroscopic varnish, or coating, the essential component of which is ground Cork, which is consolidated by pressure with copal and litharge, and applied to the Dr. Belli finds that the cork varnish absorbs the watery vapor of the atmosphere to the extent of eight or nine grams for every meter of surfuce exposed

TOMBSTONE TELLS A STORY.

Flairs M«*morlnllai-s In Mnrble (he Work of n Lifetime. * In the cemetery at Boylston, Mass., is a tombstone which bears this Inscription, “The emblems on the four corners of the lot represent the dlf-

UNIQUE MEMORIAL.

fervnt kinds of business in which I have been engaged." This memorial was erected by George A. Flagg in honor of himself. lie Is not dead f9t} far from it He is engaged in a prosperous business —chlermaking, with which be combines house building- He Wanted his tombstone to suit him and he had it done during his lifetime so that he could supervise the job. t It is certainly unique. The heavy block of white marble stand# In the middle of the lot, while

lake became such a menace that it was decided to burn It. When this, was done, and when the insane ideas regarding the impossible vastness of the deposits had been shaken sufficiently, the investors began to have hopes of dividends. Considered geologically, nearly all the great oil fields of the United States are within the belt that starts in New York and trending southwest at an angle of 45 degrees, takes in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Kansas belt starts near-the-city of Chanute, In that State, -and along. n iine at the same angle southwest are the southwestern Kansas fields, the Indian Territory and the’ Texas fields. There are men who hffve made more money in oil within Uvo years than they made In mercantile and financial ventures in a quarter of a century. As to how much money thousands of young plungers have lost in the aggregate in that time—that is altogether another story. But it Is largely their own fault, as they plunge in without exp* rience or-careful thought

REMEDY FOR MUNICIPAL ROTTENNESS.

The most conspicuous fact of municipal governments in the United States to-day is that they are governments by the few and not by the people. There is more aggressive rottenness and less aggressive patriotism in our large cities than anywhere else. If the patriotism can be made as aggressive as the rottenness the problem of good government would be solved by the people taking the government into their own hands. If

corruption exists the people are to blame. If corruption is to be eradicated the people alone can do ft ’ The moral revolution now sweeping over the land means the patriotism that comes from the heart, not from the head. Many men would be willing, if need be, to give up their lives for their city or State. They are needed sometimes, and this kind of patriotism cannot be too highly commended, but the man who is willing to live for his city and State every day is the man that is needed Just now. There may be as much patriotism in giving one’s time to the betterment of civic conditions and the election of good men to office and in purifying the ballot as in baring one’s breast to the bullets Of an enemy. , There never was a time when the need for patriotic men in public affairs was greater than now. We need more men actuated alone by the public good and fewer of those who are in politics merely for revenue. The strength of the lawless element is great, but it is as nothing when it' comes In contact with a public conscience thoroughly aroused. The people can overthrow civic evil whenever they want to and get just as good government as they desexwe or as bad as they permit it to become.

ALL IN A DAY’S WOKK.

It is marvelous that a woman’s family will work against her when they should see that she is sacrificing herself on the altar of home. But they will do It. Few families there are Indeed who do not “tear down” what the mother has with patience and fortitude built up. Every housekeeper has certain little cranky notions that there really is no use of her holding

to, but It does seem as if she ought to have things as she wants them in her own workshop. I think men have an idea that women complain a great deal about their work. I don’t know about that. I do know a number of lazy women, but my idea about the matter is that the vast majority of us do entirely too much without ever Baying a word. When we reach the complaining stage it is a pretty sure sign that the Wonderful strength and force-that has kept us up so long is on the wane. A woman’s complaint of overwork is nearly always a danger signal —women are often cruelly overworked without even knowing it.

By Gov. J. W. Folk.

By Juliet V. Strauss.

at each of the four corners there Is a smaller one of almost the same shape. But In the smaller ones the top is hollowed, and within this hollow on the first stone there Is a marble representation of a pile of cordwood; In the second Is a cow; In the third a cider barrel, and in the fourth a house. It would puzzle a stranger to fathom the meaning of this strange collection. Egyptian hieroglyphics seem, by comparison, as a child’s primer. Yet the mutter Is simple enough; those articles represent in marble the four different ways in which Mr. Flagg has amassed a comfortable fortune. He Is proud of .having been successful, and believes that one of the most vital characteristics of a man is his method of making money. So, briefly, he will Inform the world about himself when he dies. “How did I happen to erect such a monument?” he repeated, in reply to a question put to him. “Well, I’ll tell you. Ever since I was ‘knee high to a grasshopper’ I’ve been going through cemeteries looking at the tombstones. I used to like to read the Inscriptions, and then wonder about the men. On most of them there wasn’t much but ’Here lies Tom Grant,' or ‘Here lies Jim Smith-’ Now, that doesu't tell a "fellow much. What did I know of the man when I got through reading that? I could have hunted up some of their friends and found out, probably, but that isn’t the point Here was I, a stranger, just passing through, aad naturally curious to know something about the fellows who bad done their work nnd retired. “The more I got to thinking about this, the more I made up my mind (hat when It came my turn I wouldn't leave anybody who happened to pass by my tombstone In the same quundary. If I put on just ‘Here lies Georgs A. Flagg’ they wouldn’t know me from John Smith. 8o I said: ‘l’ll tell ’em something about George A. Flagg and how he made his money.' And I’ve done It.

A Choice of Evils.

“Why did you ask that woman’s youngest child to recite?” “Because,” answered Miss Cayenne, “it was the only way to keep tjie eldest child from playing the piano.”— Washington Star.

Am a rule, woman have worse colds than ths men, and smaller handkerchief*.

RUSS GORE FLOWS

1 Terrific Battles Are Fought in Moscow. CIVIL WAR IS FEARED Revolutionists Mowed Down by Drunken Cossacks.

toatb**- Between “Red" Army and Cmar’a Forces Races for Three Bure—Rebel Troops are Bathorlnsr and Leader* Assert Armr Will Soon March on Soldiers and End ‘ Ciordom—Disturbances in Other Parts of Empire. "After three days of riot and slaqgjii* tor la the streets of Moscow the spirit of revolution is blazing out in other parts of Russia. At Odessa, Kieff and elsewhere the strike is on, end a call -for an armed rebellion has gone oUt In Moscow the fighting continued without interruption. The strikers were driven from their intrenchments by the Cossacks and dragoons, only to fall back on new barricades, scattering Into new thoroughfares and extending the zone of battle. Five thousand persons were killed and 14,000 wounded in fights in Moscow between revolutionists and Cossacks. Leaders of the Russian revolutionists assert armed forces are being assembted to fight the soldiers and that civil war between organized bodies of troops will begin soon. Frightful execution was done with the machine guns. They were trained on the crowds, and innocent women and, children who were fleeing for their lives fell beneath the hail of bullets. Thousands are reported killed or wounded. In one Instance the machine pieces stationed at the Monastery of Passion were trained on pers'ons who were seeking escape from the pursuing Cossacks. Hundreds are reported to have fallen, and the hospitals are filled with the dying and Injured. The strikers in Moscow appear’to have become disorganized, and their attacks were often turned Into unruly routs. Thousands were drived outside the walls and the fighting caused terror in the suburbs. Once, a mob of revolutionaries swirling around a street corner surrounded a small sqUad of Cossacks. The soldiers used their knouts and. knives, but were dragged from their horses and trampled under foot. Twenty Cossacks were killed. The revolutionary leaders are still untamed, although on the whole the skirmishes went against them. The constitutionalists assert that the strikers have lost the day, while the government officials point to the fact that although the strikers have sought to capture the railroads, trains are still running between St. Petersburg, Moscow and Eydtkuhnen, and the tramways and electric lights are still til operation. In Moscow the military seems to have triumphed, but out in the proylnces the danger is said to be grave and outbreaks are looked for at Odessa and other points that will be even more sanguinary than the bloody street conflicts in Moscow.

THE WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS.

How the President and Hie Family Spent the Holiday. The custom of distributing turkeys among the clerical force of the White House, which was inaugurated by the McKinleys, has been followed by ths Roosevelts. Eighty-seven fine, fat birds were this year required to go around, each one bearing a card aa which Is Inscribed the words, "A Merry Christmas from the President” Though, as a rule, they do not have a tree, the Roosevelts Inherit from their Dutch ancestors a veneration for the spirit and sentiment of Christmas and the day is given up entirely to festivities. The four younger children hang up their stockings, as a matter of course. On the morning of Christmas day, after breakfast, Mr. Roosevelt leads the way to the library, which he calls the “study,” where the gtfts are laid out on tables. He and bis wife distribute them and a general romp usually follows. In the afternoon the children go to two or three tree parties, one of which Is at the house of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, the President's lifelong clium, while another Is at the residence of Mr. Roosevelt’s elder sister, Mrs. Cowles. Every Christmas thousands of gifts from total strangers reach the Whits Honse. They are not wanted and peopls would do much better not to send them. When of considerable value they are returned to the donors, otherwise they are accepted politely, with a note of acknowledgment Not one out of a hundred of them Is seen by the President nnd In former administrations they wera commonly consigned to the atlip4>where *aY*the time of the recent reconstruction of the mansion, an immense quantity of old junk thus accumulated was found.

Sparka from the Wires.

Reclamation projects proposed and under way by the government provide for the reclaiming of 1,303,600 acres of arid land at a cost of $37,028,571.' The wholesale grocery house of the C. W. Adam* & Sons Company in Louisville was destroyed by'lire. Loss |IIO,OOO, insurance about 100,000. , Dr. Maurice Flshberg of New York, a special Immigration Inspector, declares that immigrants are “doctored up” temporarily in Europe, In order to enable them to enter America.

RUN WITH BLOOD."

Fearful FlkWliik People and sel<llei-* |„ --Ui.l, MoHi-aw,” Xu civilized Irtnd since the atrocDjesof the French revolution has beeu engaged in such scenes of horror, and bloodshed as Russia is experiencing. The nation seems to have been hopelessly plunged into anarchy, with the whole; fabric <ff society falling Into disintegration. ■ . . ■ On the western border, the BaHie provinces have revolted and proclaimed a Sort of republic. Odessa, in the south, has been drenched in blood. Sara toft, in the east, is in a condition of anarchy, anil even far away Vladivostok lias felt the thrill of the revolutionary spirit, which, is sweeping over t}ie broad empire of the Czar. And now- Moscow, the ancient capital and-the seat both of religious and political power, is in the throes of civil war. Men who were • yesterday the submissive victims of the bureaucratic power have risen and met the Czar’s trained legions. Behind barricades in ihe open streets and from the roofs of buildings they have fought the dreaded Cossacks anti, have learned that Cossacks, too, when, bullets are well aimed and bombs carefully directed, can die. The flow of red blood in the streets, as their ancient enemies went "down before bomb and bullet, fiercely TEfflTecT them and throwing all fear aside they plunged like madmen into the fighting, prepared to die and dying happily if they could take along a Cossack or two for company. The lighting In the streets of Moscow between the revolutionists and soldiers lias been of the fiercest kind. Whenever the conditions lent themselves to the style of warfare, barricades were erected in the streets and from behind them the revolutionists fought with grim determination. Dislodged from barricades In one street, the revolutionists fled to erect fresh obstacles in another thoroughfare, and thus for days they have kept up an almost endless fight. Comrades fell by their side in rows, the machine guns -and shrapnel fire of the soldiers doing fearful'execution; but the sight of blood only deepened their hate and made them more determined to win the freedom so long and cruelly denied them. In Moscow for several days the streets were like slaughter houses. The revolutionists found shelter, some behind the street barricades, some within buildings, others upon roofs, and from these vantage points did deadly execution among the soldiers. Often the latter used artillery to demolish., buildings in which the revolutionists had entrenched themselves; but driven out of one place, the revolutionists speedily rallied in another, taking advantage of every opportunity to pick off the Cossacks by rifle fire or blow them up with bombs. Owing to the lack of discipline among the Cossacks, the latter in many cases fell easy victims. Drunken bands of them charged wildly through the streets and many were tom to pieces by bombs dropped from the roofs of buildings. Sometimes groups of regular soldiers joined the revolutionists, bringing to their support much needed ammunition and arms. The desperate nature of the fighting may be inferred from the estimates of the dead and wounded during three days of this awful carnage. A correspondent in touch with the situation says that no fewer than 5,000 were killed, while he places the number of the injured at 14,00&„ The city is In a state of chaos, neither life nor property being secure. Hundreds of innocent persons have been killed In their houses by stray bullets and other hundreds have^fallen in the streets. Russia is indeed paying a fearful price for the infamies her government has practiced for centuries upon a longsuffering people.

ENGINE BLOWS UP.

Chlraao and Erie Train Is Wrecked and Four Men Are Killed. Following the explosion of the locomotive boiler, which killed four men outright, a fast freight train on the Erie railroad carrying SIOO,OOO worth of fancy meats and 100 live cattle from Chicago to the East*, was wrecked and destroyed by fire near North Judson, Ind., Friday. The cattle were cremated. The explosion blew several of the thirty-five cars in the train Into bits, and caused others to leave the track. When wreckage and contents of the cars were strewn about, fire from the exploded engine spread. Fed by the fats of the meats, the Haines soon enveloped the entire mass. The train was kno\vn ns the second section of No. 80 ami was going at a speed of 45 miles an hour when, without the slightest warning, the explosion occurred. Tlifee of the men were in the engine cab and the other was on tile first car. All were blown to' pieces. The first three cars were completely destroyed by the explosion. 'Hie seven cars •■behind them were piled up on top of oin> another. The llye stock in some of the cars were able to escape and scrambled In a mad rush to get away from the wreck. Citizens of North Judson and farmers who -wont to the scene of the wreck endeavored to save several cars of merchandise and fancy meats which were not destroyed by the first fore# of the explosion and wreck. Word was sent to the division headquarters at Huntington, and Ore engines were immediately sent to the wreck. Dr. Andrew Jackson Barchfield, one of the recently elected Representatives from Pennsylvania, ia 0 feet SMnche# VUL , ,

Indiana Stale News

r.~ ' 1 -u-c-Ln.-.-u-u.-u-u-C-u ' T £ see evidence: of murder. Wom»n'» Hair and Corset* In Smoldering Fire. Miss M. Mahan-, the teacher at the Greenwood school, -two miles south of Mitchell, tohl a horrible tale which has conviiiced many people a murder has been committed. Accor-diag to Miss -Mahan when she arrived at. the school house the other morning, she discovered that several horses had been tied to the hitch' lack. On .entering the building a stench as of burning flesh and hair abmost suffocated her. Whisky bottles were strewn about the floor and soma of the furoitnjre was demon) isbed. In the stove she found a mass of long auburn hair, in which was tangled hairpins, corset stays, buttons au<i other articles of women’s apparel. In the stove still smoldering were the remains of a Are;" ’AH the wood w£ich had been piled in the school room had been bnrfied. The school house stands in an isolated spot more than half a mil 6 from any habitation. WOMEX HOUND RICH MAN. One Clnim* Him ns Hnsband anil An* other aa Fiance, Interesting legal complications have arisen to entangle the business affairs of Walter B. Leiteh, a wealthy resident of Starke county. A woman named May Sullivan of Chicago put in an appearance the other day with the allegation that she and Leiteh had lived together as husband and wife for fifteen years and made legal claim to valuable property. Several days ago Mrs. Selki Nicholas filed action in the court to Leitch’s properly, producing documents declaring that if she would secure a divorce from her husband and marry Leiteh the property was to pass to her title. Mrs. Nicholas obtained the divorce, but the proposed marriage was never consummated. - BURGLARS LOOT A SAFE. Find It Unlocked and Take All It Contained. Burglars broke into the general store of McMannis & Dulin in Elizaville and obtained SIOB in cash and $2,000 notes from the safe. Entrance was gained to the storeroom through a back door. The safe was not locked and the robbers did not find it necessary to blow it open. They pried open the inner drawers and got away with the contents of the safe without any one seeing or hearing them. The money and papers belonged to Charles E. Richey and the notes were made payable to him. McMannis & Latin had no money in the s^fe. HURT IN STORE EXPLOSION* Right Persona Suffer Injury When Gan Blow* Up and Starts Panic. Eight persons were injured by a gas explosion in the dry goods store of S. P. Minear in Greensburg. The injured are: Anna McManaman, both arms crushed at elbow, right arm amputated; Mrs. Dick Thomson, right leg crushed; Annabelle Allen, cut on the side and face; Gertrude Crume, cut on head and face; Arthur Hazelrigg, right leg crushed; Anna Gerhardt, cut on head and face; Charles Jackson, cut on face; James Dashields, burned about head and eyes. The explosion caused a panic among clerks and shoppers in the store. CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH. Parents Fatally Injured While Trying to Rescne Them. Clara and Mildred Beggs, 7 and 8 years old, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. William Beggs, living near Royerton, were burned to death. Mr. and Mrs. Beggs were so seriously injured both may die. The family had been living in a tent on the farm of Mrs. Lucy Moore. The gas stove in the tent set fire to the canvas while the family was asleep and the parents tried to rescue their little girls and it was in this effort they received their injuries. BINDS HORSES BY TAILS. Farm Hand After Trick Urges Animals In Opposite Directions. A farm hand at Lawreneebnrg, while intoxicated, tied the tails of two horses together with a stout strap. He then urge 4 the animals to pull in opposite directions. They tugged so hard the tail of one of the horses was completely torn off. The tail of the other was practically severed from its body. The animals were the property of W. E. Brnnders of Jackson township. MOVE FOR A DEEP SEA BASIN. Steel Corporation After Conunodloni Walrrnar at Indiana Harbor. The United States Steel Corporation, which has bought a large tract of land in Lake county, for the erection of one of the largest steel plants in the world, is stnrting a movement for n deep sea basin at Indiana Harbor, and hna asked Gov. Ila nly regarding the possible attitude of the Indiana Congressmen toward a government appropriation in aid of the project. “ . ■ ;

Planned Memorial Hall. By a provision of the will of John A. Burbank, once territorial governor of Dakota, which waa filed in Richmond, $113,000 is giyen the town of Centerville for the building of a memorial hall in honor of his mother. , Within Our Bordets, Mrs. Anna Brandt, aged 68, despondent and in ill health, severed the artery in her wrist and jumped off the bridge at Elkhart Into the river. William Tlionias Moran, who saya he was at one time a millionaire in Michigan, was sent to the poorhouse at Evansville. He is 01 years old. David S. Maule, a farmer, aged 55, residing in Adama County, died from being poisoned by dust while cutting corn, a "Swelling being caused which thoked him to death. m