The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 5, 1903 Page: 1 of 8
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Vol. XXIII. No. 10
Dallas* Texas, Thursday March 5, 1903
$1.00 Per Annum.
DEMOCRATIC
PERFIDY.
How Missouri's Legisla-
ture goes back on
Pledges Made to
' the People.
Last year the Missouri Democrats
pledged themselves to submit to the
people o£ that State an amendment
•o the Constitution of Missouri pro-
Tiding for the Initiative referen-
dum.
Then they pledged themselves to
keep their pledge.
Now, with an overwhelming major-
ity in the Legislature, they are schem-
ing to defeat the proposition, to to
amend it until it shall become abso-
lutely ineffective and Inoperative.
In this connection the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat, a Republican organ,
Ably reviews the situation, and inci-
dentally quotes some history which
may be of interest to readers of the
Mercury. The Globe-Democrat says:
"Let it be borne in mind, in order
to avoid running off after matters not
flt issue, that the referendum qnestion
before the Missouri Legislature is
whether the people shall be allowed to
vote on the constitutional adoption or
rejection of the proposed revision of
laws by popular vote, and whether the
pledge in the Democratic platform on
the submission to voters of the refer-
endum shall be kept. No one in Mis-
souri is called upon at present to take
Bides on the referendum. The resolu-
tion pending in the Legislature asks
for no decision of that kind until No-
vember of next year. What the Leg-
islature must do now is to submit the
referendum, in the form of an amend-
ment to the State Constitution, to the
voters of the State twenty months
hence, or wilfully and knowingly
violate its pledgee made to the
people before the election. By
taking the latter course the large
Democratic majority in the Legisla-
ture will violate the platforms of the
party, both State and National. The
Kansas City platform referred to the
Initiative wand rcfc-eidum -he.-i it
declared that 'we favor direct legisla-
tion whenever practicable.' In the
Democratic campaign book for 1902,
Issued by the authority of the Demo-
cratic congressional committee, four
pages are devoted to the question, the
position being that 'this Is in line
with the past record of the Democrat-
ic party. The Democratic party is
(.gainst special privileges, and there-
tore stands for difeot legislation—the
referendum and the initiative.'
"The Democrats in the State Senate
who are against submitting the
amendmqpt to the people in Novem-
ber, 1904, assert that the amendment
'would change the whole idea of rep-
resentative government.' The refer-
endum, they say, is a fad, and in use
nowhere except in Switzerland, a
country noted chiefly for its blue sky
ind cream cheese. Several American
States—all Republican, by the way—
have embodied the referendum in
their constitutions, and the Idea was
fundamentally recognized in the
American colonies 250 years ago. It
is as old in Missouri as the adoption
of the first State Constitution by a
vote of the people in 1820. The pres-
ent State Constitution ordains that
the Legislature shall not incur a debt
for any one year exceeding $250,000,
unless the proposition be submitted to
and ratified by a two-thirds vote of
the people.
"Senator Farris said, in the course
of discussion, that the referendum
plank in the Democratic platform is
'a piece of ginger cake, thrown in by
a few politicians' to servo their per-
sonal ambitions. If that is the case,
the people can put little confidence in
Democratic platforms hereafter, and
will have a better understanding of
the motives and sincerity of the lead-
ers who wrote the Democratic Nation-
al platforms of 189fi and 1900, l'ully
indorsed by Democratic leaders in
Missouri. Several Democratic. State
Senators are apprehensive that if .'15,-
000 voters in Missouri are empowered
to call for the referendum the State
will be In ceaseless turmoil. That is
not the experience in Switzerland,
where 30,000 signatures of voters are
sufficient. In sixteen years, from 1876
to 1891, the referendum was taken in
Switzerland on twenty-seven laws, in-
cluding several constitutional amend-
ments, an average of three in two
years. Twelve laws wore accepted
and fifteen rejected, out of a total of
149 passed by the Federal assembly.
Swiss legislative action has been test-
ed by the referendum less than once
in five times and reversed but once in
tea times. It is proposed in the reso-
{ution before the Missouri Legislature
o allow 5 per cent of the voters, at
present 35,000. to call for the referen-
dum, and there is no reason to helieve
that the number is so small that the
State will be needlessly disturbed. But
it is the right of the people to vote on
establishing the referendum, not the
merits of the referendum itself, that
now confronts the pledged Democratic
majority in the Missouri Legislature."
Not only is this leading editorial
from the great Republican newspaper
of the West a stinging arraignment
of the infidelity of the Democratic pol-
iticians of Missouri, but it is a star-
tling evidence of the-strength of Pop-
ulistic principles, even among Repub-
licans. For what is more thoroughly
Populistlc than the referendum? In
fact, it Is the sheet anchor of Popu-
ligt tekh, and through it we expect to
progress to industrial liberty and
economic perfection.
Populists, those who have fought
and steadfastly kept the faith during
the dark and disastrous years of the
past should heartily congratulate
themelves over having secured such a
powerful ally as the Globe-Democrat
in support of what they all concede to
be their most vital principle.
REMEDY FOUND FOR
CHOLERA INFANTUM
Announcement of Great Discov-
ery Recently Made.
Baltimore, Mrach 4.—Another great
discovery of anti-toxine which, it is
said, will destroy the germs of cholera
infantum has been announced by Dr.
Simon Flexner, director of the Rocke-
feller institute for medical research.
Last fall the announcement that two
students of the Johns Hopkins medical
school had discovered the germ which
caused the death of millions of children
was made.
It was then stated that the energies of
the investigators would be directed to-
ward the discovery of a serum which
would destroy the bacilli.
Dr. Flexner says the perfecting of it
would occupy but a few months longer.
LORENZ COMPLIMENTS
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Vienna, March 4.—Prof. Lorenz, re-
lating to his experiences in America
before a distinguished gathering of so-
ciety people and scientists referred
jestingly to the fact that he had "been
banquetted to death." and the "tyranny
of the American toastmaster."
The American woman, the professor
said, undoubtedly was pre-eminent tti
intellect, education and art, but she
cannot cook, and. according to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, will not marry.
Continuing, the professor remarked:
"The president's fears, however, are
probably exaggerated, as the American
man is by no means the mere dollar
seeker, as he has so often been de-
scribed. He is, above all. tender-heart-
ed, often sentimental, charitable, public
spirited, chivalrous to women and un-
approachable in hospitality."
Prof. Lorenz summed up his impres-
sions by saying that America is "a
magnificent country inhabited by uoble
pbople."
SEVERAL COLLISIONS
IN NEW YORK TO-DAY.
New York, March 4.—In a heavy fog
which prevailed to-day two trains on
the Fifth avenue elevated line in Brook-
lyn collided at Twenty-fourth street,
Brooklyn station.
Six persons were hurt, two of them
seriously.
No one was killed.
Within a few minutes there was an-
other collision on the same line at the
Twentieth street station.
The passengers were badly frightened,
but none were hurt.
The fog enveloped the harbor and
caused several minor collisions of ferry
boats.
110 NftD TO PARADE
Imperial Texas Leads in Progress and
Prosperity. Sho Is Neither a
Beggar Nor Fakir.
ENGINEER KILLED
BY HIS STEP-SON.
The proposition to expend $200,000
of the hard earnings of the people of
Texas for an exhibit of our material
wealth and resources at the St. Louis
World's Fair next year, is meeting
with much opposition from those who
have the interests of the people at
heart, and well it should. The people
of Texas are in no condition financial-
ly at this time to squander $200,000
for shows and parades to gratify the
sizing crowds which will be on hand
at St. Louis. The short crops the past
two years render economy everywhere
necessary—especially when no mate-
rial benefit will result except, to thoso
who have already full purses and ex-
tensive holdings in the State. If this
class want an exhibit let them furn-
ish the funds—and not tax the people
for it,
Texas ha3 made wonderful advances
during the past decade in spite of the
untoward circumstances which have
environed her—and will continue to
do so whether she is on dress parade
at St. Louis or not. The solons at
Austin would do well to put their ear
to the ground and hear the voice of
the people before voting away that de-
si.ed $200,000. From a paper prepared
by Hon. 52. T. Fulmore, of Austin, we
make tho following excerpt which
shows that we are not behind in the
procession—that we are doing well
enough, and we should let well enough
alone:
"During the last three years our
tayable values have increased over
| $8(1,000.000 and the state has entered
I the column of billion dollar estates.
Cotton factories have increased five
fold. More than a million dollars has
heen Invested in meat paekerics to
meet the growing demands of our
stock industry. Within our borders
we have found the greatest oil fields
of the Western Hemisphere. We have
discovered and commenced to exploit
the greatest quicksilver deposits in the
United States. We have chartered
over $200,000,000 of capital to develop
our manufactures, commerce and ag-
riculture. We have built more miles
of railway than any other state in the
Union. We have organized and start-
ed into operation more banks than any
other state in the Union. We have se-
cuied better markets for our .produce
than we have had in all the previous
history of the state. Our principal sea-
port has risen from an obscure posi-
tion to the sixth in magnitude among
the great seaports of the continent.
iWe are producing fifteen times asmuch
sugar and over twenty times as much
rice, as shown by the last census re-
ports. We have had flood and storm,
drouth and boll weevil; misfortunes
the extent of which we can never
know, yet in the midst of it all, the
gieat mass of the people are buoyant
and hopeful, and never before in the
state's history has there been a health-
ier public, sentiment or a more frater-
nal spirit among the people.
The fact is, we are living in the
greatest industrial epoch of the state's
history.
Within the last three years the cen-
sus reports have been circulated
among 80,000,000 of our own people,
and have gone to the remotest, parts
of the earth, even to far off South Af-
rica. They showed that during the
Columbia, S. C., March 4.—N. CI.
Heope, an engineer on the Southern
railway, was killed last night by his
step-son, F. W. Fairey.
It is said Heope had been drinking
heavily; that he attempted to kill his
wife, Fairey's mother, and that Fairey
shot and killed him while defending
her.
A coroner's jury returned a verdict
of justifiable homicide.
TO VISIT DALLAS,
Fort Worth Baptists to Come Over in
Special Car.
Fort Worth, Tex., March 4.—Members
of the Broadway a d First Baptist
churches have accepted the invitation
of a Baptist congregation of Dallas to
attend a reception In that city to-mor-
row afternoon. Forty or fifty person*!
will go over to Dallas in a special car
on the Interurban line.
decade ending In 1900, amid almost
constant political strife, that proph-
esied calamity and misfortune, before
which storm and flood, drouth and boll
weevil have paled into insignificance,
and progress of the state in all those
respects that lead to the prosperity
and happiness of a people, seems not
only steady and healthy,but little short
of wonderful. It was not only a reve-
lation to the outside world, but a gen-
uine surprise to our own people. That
a state whose population has increased
36 per cent in the short space of ten
years, on the natural soil, with no
change in character of products,
should increase the products 114 per
cent, was an eloquent fact that in-
spired the people and enlisted the in-
terest of the whole world.
These facts were published to the
world, not by us. but the United States
government. But the United States
government did not stop here. While
it informed us that our cotton crop in
1S9!> was worth $84,232,276, it told us
|that the value of the crop in 1900 was
j$173,767,495.99, a fact which no other
human agency could have impressed.
It also disclosed to us that we were
one of the leading producing states of
• the Union; that in 190(1 we made 1,-
,597,692-bushels more corn than Iowa,
',5,413.835 more than Illinois. It showed
j that we were in that small list of
states that produced over 1(10,000.000
buehels of corn. It disclosed that upon
a fair average valuation 19,576,076
'acres of cultivated land in Texas pro-
duced crops more valuable than those
of 29.000.000 acres of cultivated land
in Iowa or 27,000,000 acres in Illinois,
'or 25,000,000 in Kansas, or 22,000,000
in Missouri, This and much more as
to the capacity of our .soil. We learned
also from these ic,ports that we had
within our borders one-sixth of all the
cattle in the United States, besides
.hundreds of thousands of tons of tine
'different sorts of hay; that we had an
enclosed area, exclusively devoted to
grass, 22,258 square miles larger than
the entire areas of Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont. Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connnecticut, New York, New
Jersey. Pennsylvania. Delaware and
Maryland, besides an enclosed area in
improved farms of 19,576.076 acres that
produce more per acre than Iowa,
Kansas or Missouri, and only 23 cents
less per acre, even in the unfavorable
crop year of 1899, than Illinois. In ad-
dition to all this, that we had an unen-
closed area about as larg" as the state
of Georgia. It showed that millions
I of acres of the most fertile lands in
the state had not been touched by the
plow. For example, that Brazoria,
Fort Bend, Harris and Matagorda,
I with an area forty-five square miles
,greater than the whole of Connecti-
! cut, had less than nnr-tjfith In cnltiva-
11ion, and that sixteen counties in
! Southeast Teas, more than half the
' size of South Carolina, had only one-
fourteenth in cultivation. It is told
| us in plain language that we had tho
, finest pine timber in the United States,
and by far the largest forested area of
any state in the Union. It also told us
that we had between thirty and forty
of the most valuable minerals In the
United States.
This is only a part of the informa-
tion which the United States has scat-
tered broadcast over the world for
Texas. Its value is not to be measured
by the $S6.000,()i 0 increase in our tax-
able values. It has permeated our in-
dustrial life and expanded and devel-
oped it to such an extent that its in-
fluence will endure beyond tills gen-
eration. In agriculture and commerce
we are greater than our sister rcpiili-
| lie, Mexico; greater than any of the
j republics of Centra! or South America;
greater than the United States when
|they began their career."
THE SESSION ENDED
Washington, March 4.—Tho ftenote
was called to order at 10 o'clock to-day
for the lust sitting of the Fifty-seventh
congress, but business did not begin
until some time later.
The delay was due to the absence of
a quorum and to the fact that Mr.
Cockrell Insisted upon tlie presence of
the necessary number before taking up
the work of the day.
The attendance In the galleries was
also comparatively small.
Nothing of importance was done, the
time being occupied with irrelevant
discussion, and .it high noon the Fifty-
seventh session of the United States
senate passed into history.
In the house, after Payne, the floor
leader, had offered a resolution of
thanks to Speaker Henderson, Mr.
Cochran (Democrat) of Missouri was on
Ills feet demanding recognition, but the
chair (Cannon) ruled that Payne was
entitled to the floor.
The majority leader faced the minor-
ity and announced that he considered It
a high honor to be permitted to offer
this resolution, pointing out that it was
not the first time that such a resolution I
had come from the majority side. H"
cited the Instances of Clay, Polk, Banks
and the late Speaker Heed.
As he concluded with a. glowing trib-
ute to Speaker Henderson the whole
Republican side broke Into hearty ap-
plause, but there was dead silence cn
the Democratic side.
When Payne demanded the previous
question and Speaker Pro Tom Cannon
put the question there was a second op-
pressive silence. All eyes were on the
Democratic side. From the rear row
1 Mr. Cochran (Democrat) of Missouri
iarose quickly and in a loud voice cried
I 'Dlvlsion!" and then "Ayes and Noes!"
! From the Republican side came a syb-
1 ill int. sound Ilk" a hiss. *
! "The gentleman from Missouri de-
jmands (he ayes and noes." announced
the chair. "As many as are in fnvor
of ordering the ayes and noes will rise
and stand until they are counted."
Cochran was already on his feet.
Hurleson (Democrat) of Texas, at his
side, joined him and with some seeming
hesitation a: score of other Democrats
rose to their feet.
Richardson, Underwood, Williams of
Mississippi, DeArmond and other promi-
nent men on the mmoitty side remain-
ed seated.
The sound on the Republican side now
became distinctly a. hiss, and from the
galleries also came similar signs of dis-
approval.
| Fifty- }
! Seventh I
♦
Congress !
Came to i
I Close at noon f
♦
In all only twenty-one Democrats
arose.
The chair counted and amid intense
silence announced that twenty-one had
seconded the demands.
"Forty-two is necessary to order tho
ayes and noes," he announced. "There
is not a sutlicient number and the ayes
and noes are refused."
A great wave of applause swept over
the Republican side and was taken up
by the spectators in the overhanging
galleries as the announcement was
made.
Now the question came on the adop-
tion of the resolution. Again Cochran
demanded a record vote.
This time only seventeen Democrats
joined the demand and the announce-
ment that the resolution was adopte<I
was hailed with redoubled applause.
After disposing of some routine busi-
ness, the house adjourned at high noon.
MANY CARIOfMtH CLOSKD.
Washington, March 4.—The session of
the senate today was Interesting, not
alone by reason of the official proceed-
ings on tin' floor of the chamber Incl-
jdent to the lust day of congress, but
by many occurrences which were pure-
ly social in their character, due to the
fact that the day marked the dose of
many careers In the senate.
• if the thirty senators whose terinn
expired when Ihe presiding officer'*
gavel fell at noon, thirteen failed to
secure re-election either through de-
feat or through their own refusal to
enter contests in the various states.
Included In the number whoro official
presence In the chamber will no longer
l.e noted are six Republicans and seven
Democrats, but of the Republicans
two, Sena tor Jones of Nevada and Sena-
tor Wellington of Maryland, In recent
years each supported for a time the
national candidates of the opposing
party.
Two other senators, Deboe (Ken-
tucky) and l'rltchard (North Carolina)
are Southern Republicans, and both
are succeeded by Democrats. The re-
maining two Republicans are Senators
Mason of Illinois and Simon of Oregon.
Of the seven retiring Democrats Sen-
ator Harris of Kansas, Turner of
Washington and Heltfeld of Idaho were
elected as Populists and all are suc-
ceeded by Republicans.
Senator McLaurln of South Carolina
was elected as a Democrat and while
still classed as such acted Independent-
ly during the greater part of his term.
The other three senators. Vest, Jones
of Arkansas and Rawlins , from first to
last have been In the Democratic ranks,
and Jones and Vest have risen to place*
of conspicuous leadership in their party.
In Senator Jones of Nevada' the senate
loses one of the two men who had
served in that body for thirty consecu-
tive years, the other being Senator Al-
lison. In Mr. Jones tho senate loses
one of the moid popular as well as one
of Its most unique members.
Senator Vest belongs to the next gen-
eration of senators. He entered tho
body In 1S77 and served for 24 years,
winning a reputation for brilliancy of
speech, classic learning and sharp re-
partee seldom exceelled In the senate.
CANNON'S SPEECH.
Washington. March 4.—Tho speech
of Representative Cannon, chairman
of the appropriations committee, deliv-
ered after 3:30 o'clock this morning
In tho house on the conference report
on the deficiency appropriation bill,
protesting against "legislative black-
mall" and Insisting on the right of the
majority to rule In tho senate, In view
of thi' fact that lie Is to be the speakei
of tho next, house. Is regarded at
foreshadowing a contest on this ques-
tion.
The scene when 1A Cannon deliver*
ed this speech was one of the most
remarkable In the history of the house
Date as the hour was, the wean
members were set on flre with, en-
thusiasm and they cheered the utter-
ances until the great hall resounded
with their shouts.
PRRSIDENT WAR PIIRSENTJ.
Washington, March 4.—President
Roosevelt left the white house at'9:*>f
o'clock tills morning for the eapltol,
where he remained until die adjourn-
ment of congress at noon.
WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Resume of What has Been Done and Left Undone Dur-
ing the Session Which Came to a Close
at Noon To-day.
COMMERCIAL FAILURES.
Comparative Record for Last Month
Is a Good One.
New York, March 4.—R. O. Dun & Co.
report 1030 commercial failures during
February, with liabilities of $10,907,454,
compared with 1104 in the corresponding
month of 1902, when the amount involv-
ed was $11,302,029, and 1024 in 1901, with
liabilities of $11,287,211.
GOING TO AUSTRIA.
Former Crown Princess of Saxony to
Go There in May.
Vienna, March 4.—It Is stated that
the courts of Saxony and Tuscany
have arrived at an agreement by
which the former Crown Princess of
Saxony may remove to Austria in May
and deliver her newly-born child to
the Saxon court. She will then be
permitted to see her other children
every summer. A satisfactory finan-
cial arrangement Is also made for her.
RETURNING HOME.
New Orleans. March 4.—Miss Alice
Roosevelt and Miss Root, who have
been visiting New Orleans for the past
two weeks, left to-day over the Louis-
ville and Nashville for Washington.
Mr. Mcllhenny and a number of so-
ciety people w* them off,
Washington, D. C., March 4.—When
one takes (he trouble to look up the
record of the Fifty-seventh congress it
is r oil lid that it has been pre-eminently
a. business proposition from the begin-
ning. It ha.s done lots of work, and its
record for goori, wholesome, unsensa-
tional legislation is not often equaled in
the piping times of peace.
There have been no wars, no pesti-
lences, no business panics, to require
sharp action by congress, so that the
work done has been that which legitl-
nntely pertains to the legislative
branch of the government. Far from
being humdrum, however, congress has
done many things it could hardly have
been expected to have done, and has
left undone quite a number of other
things which the people were afraid it
would do.
The history of the Fifty-seventh con-
gress essentially is the hlsiory of the
administration of Theodore Roosevelt.
It came Into being within three months
of the day when he took the oath of
office. His first message was sent In at
the first session of the Fifty-seventh
congress, and so It. Is possible, in look-
ing back for two years, to determine
the measure of usefulness not only of
congress, but of the executive.
It ih surprising to find that, without
any great blowing of trumpets, so
much has been accomplished in the di-
rection of rendering the first half of
the administration of Theodore Roose-
velt and the entire period of th" Fifty-
seventh congress actually memorable in
the history of the country.
tlon will be the chief frathar In its can.
But on reflection it will readily b" seen
that. the legislation by means of which
a canal across the isthmus of Panama
has become a possibility Is in reality
the most far-reaching work of this ad-
ministration. The cnnnl across the Isth-
mus has been discus- I for a genera-
tion or so. A French company began
work at Panama and mere dreamers
long ago cut a ditch through Nicaragua.
It remained for the Fifty-seventh con-
gress to solve the actual problem, so
! far as the United States Is concerned,
and if all goes well boys in kntekerbook-
| era to-day will in early manhood see
; th" f'ltting of the Isthmus and the
I realization of the dream of a direct
j route to the Indies which led Columbus
on his wild goose < base across the At-
lantic.
The Fifty-seventh congress, after Its
predecessors had disturbed the waters
for many years without avail, arranged
to buy the rirhts of the French compa-
ny, authorized the beginning of the i"--
gotlatlons which have been conducted,
to a successful Issue, and actually pro-j
vlded the money with which to build
the entire canal, leaving but little for
subsequent congresses except to super-
sage was largely devoted to tills sub-
ject. Congress has made ail excellent
beginning in answer to his suggestions.
It. has provided a bureau of corpora-
tions, which is given authority to Insist
on public!*" In regard to the operation.')
of all great corporations. Publicity and
the supervision of this bureau Is, of
course, largely experimental, and prob-
ably iv ill be milled to ill the future, but
this congress blazed the way In the di-
rection of throwln light upon the
met hods of ' he I rusts.
It lias been understood all along that
the Sherman law did well so far as It
went. For this reason congress has
but recently passed a special act provid-
ing for the expedition of suilH against
Ihe trusts under the existing law. The
attorney general has already taken ad-
vantage of this much needed amend-
ment and lias set the machinery in mo-
tion to expedite the suits against the
Noi thwestern railroad merger. In ad-
dition to this, the Elklns law has been
passed, which provides heavy fines for
giving or receiving an Illegal rebate,
'fills, it. Is believed, will do much to put
an end to fllserlmlrintIng rates on rail-
roads, by means of which many of the
worst monopolies in the country, like
the coal trust and the Standard Oil
company, have been built up.
executive branch of the government,
bill that congress should in the near
future enact laws looking toward stat-
nlory reciprocity with foreign coun-
tries by means of a maximum and
minimum tariff, or some similar de-
vice.
Just at the present time tho people
will be Inclined to think the re< ord of
ihe present congress on the trust ques-
vise the work of actual construction.
This congress has undoubtedly made
a great step forward In anti-trust, legis-
lation. At the opening of the present
administration the beef trust v.as In
the center of the stage. Immediately
thereafter the great railroad merger at-
tracted public attention, and to cap the
climax the coal strike affected the en-
tire country and called renewed atten-
tion to the vast power and growing
danger of the trusts.
President Uogacv.lt ■ opening tnes-
Well up toward the top of Ihe page
which re"ii'lH lis history will be found
a hi ,ef list of Hie things the Fifty-
seventh congress wisely refrained from
doing. For Instant t , it has avoided tlie
passage of Ihe dangerous ship subsidy
measure, whbh hail In hind It power-
lull influences and which would have
enriched the already rich corporations
at lh" expense of the people. Further-
more, ii seemed for a long tline as If
four desert stales would be created
ami an alien people with a parched
full given full representation In the
sisterhood of states. The statehood
bill \\,as beaten at the last moment
only, and the question Is left as a
legacy to the n"Xt congress, which
probably will admit only two slates
out of the entire territory.
There was considerable temptation
for this congress to meddle with Ihe
tariff. Vociferous demands were made
In certain sections, but the wisest men
in the party bllevetl that the time hail
not yet come. Although convinced
that moderate revision Is necessary for
the near future, they prevent action
at lb" present tiin*-, and thus possibly
avoided what might hnve been a Sert-
oli:' disturbance of business conditions.
This subject, too, b:.s been left for the
next congress, with the assurance that
wise, conservative action probably will
he taken before (he conclusion of the
first administration of President
Roosevelt.
This congress has utterly fulled to
do anything in the direction of reci-
procity with foreign nations. The
treaties now before the senate are all
untouched. They are not dead, ex-
actly, but have been In a comatose
condition since the beginning of the
congress. Opinions will differ as to
the wisdom of this Inaction, of course,
but it has largely been the result of
a strong feeling in cungress that tariff
schedules should not be altered by Um
In connection with the foreign rela-
tions of the country the Fifty-seventh
congress bus had much to do In ad-
justing several delicate complications.
In the first place, the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty was ratified, which paved the
way to the Panama, canal. Cuba has
been given Independence, and has coil-
ed to the United States a naval sta-
tion nnd coaling port, which were the
last features to satisfy the conditions
of Ihe Pla.lt amendment. A treaty was
also ratified to purchase Ihe . Danish
West Indies, and, although Denmark
finally failed to take similar action,
the purpose of the American govern-
ment was clearly established.
Commercial reciprocity with Cuba
Is still hanging In the balance. It has
been before the Fifty-seventh con-
gress during Its entire life, and It, too,
goes as a legacy to the Fifty-eighth
congress, with reasonable assurances
that the senate will ratify the Cuban
treaty within a. few weeks.
With regard to the Insular posses-
sions the Fifty-Seventh congress has
done most of Its duties. Civil govern-
m"nt was provldetl for (he Philippine
Islands, and this has been supplement-
ed by a stable currency system. A
moderate tariff bill for tho Philippines
has thus far failed of passing, and Is
probably in a hopeless condition,
owing to the opposition of certain pro-
tected Interests In (ids eounrtry.
Temporary government has also re-
cently been provided for (luani and
Tutulla, while a multiplicity of laws
have gradually been extended to I'orto
Rico and Hawaii, both of which have
been actually represented in congress.
To round out lis record of successful
foreign negotiations the i.enale rati-
fied the treaty establishing a tribunal
for the settlement of the Alaskan
boundary dispute.
been renewed mid strengthened. A
now immigration law is iuiw in con-
ference, mid, while it fails to apply an
educational standard. It is at least all
excellent; administrative measure ,and
strengthens tho hands of the Immigra-
tion bureau. In the same line of these
efforts of tlie federal government to
protect the states Is Hie reorganiza-
tion of tho marine hospital service and
the establishment of a national quar-
antine system.
While the Fifty-seventh congress
has paid more than usual attention to
building up the navy and perfecting
the organisation of the army, It has at
the same (line passed a much needed
general militia law, which will give the
volunteers uniform equipment nnd put
them more directly under the control
of the national government. In tha
same line with this action Is the pas-
sage of a general staff law, which gives
Iht) regular army better centralisation
and more nearly equips it tor sys-
tematic work.
in the way of practical government
there Is an excellent, record for the
members of 'he FIfiy-seventh congress
to look back upon. They have estab-
lished a department of com-
merce and labor, provided for a
permanent census, regulated the
manufacture of oleomargarine, and
Inaugurated a system of Irrigation
for arid lands. The Fifty-seventh
congress has taken a. Ioiik step tor-
ward In the way of the development
of the rural free 'It'llVery system, and
more than doubled the appropriation
of money for that purpose, having
demonstrated tho fad that the deliv-
ery of lelteis along the countryside Is
no longer an experiment, hut a recog-
nized duty the centers ' f population
owe to the agricultural districts.
Some excellent legislation has been
enacted also In the direction of maln-
talrring and Improving the standard of
American citizenship. A stringent law
has been [Hissed for the punishment of
anarchists ajid assassins of public
men. The Chinese exclusion laws b^vs
During the period of the Fifty-sev-
enth congress money has been freely
appropriated providing for the res-
toration of ihe White House and the
erection of a. temporary ofllee building
for the president of tly; United
Sla.l"s. This congress has been show-
ing Its purpose to spend public money
for tlie erection of government build-
ings at all centers of population, and
more has been done In this direction
than during any other two years in
the history of the government.
Ii will also bo set down to the credit
of the Fifty-seventh congress that it
removed from the statute books every"
reminder of the war taxes and that It
has not by any affirmative action at
least Increased the burdens of tho
people, either by way of customs or
Internal revenue taxation.
Taken altogether, the subjects men-
tioned, which are only a small per-
centage of those actually dealt with by
this congress, constittute an extraor-
dinary record, and the Fifty-seventh
congress will go down In legislative
history as one which avoided scandals
and disturbances nnd whlchjdld good
work for the nation and the people
thereof.
GENERAL UPRISING
HAS ALREADY BEGUN
! ;
•• /' •>'
Constantinople, March 4.—Increasing
numbers of Bulgarian revolutionary
bands are operating In Macedonia and
the frequency of stiff encounters be-
tween them and Ihe Turkish forces H
regarded here as indicating that a gen-
eral rising has already begun.
The Inhabitants appear not 6nly.to be
sheltering these bonds, but to be In-
forming them of tha movement of the
troops, thus enabling the revolutionists
to evade pursuit.
Telegraph wires are being cut by the
revolutionists, who are determinedly •
opposing the troops, whenever they en-
counter them. The aggregate leasee on
both aides have beea heavy;
■si
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Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 5, 1903, newspaper, March 5, 1903; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185990/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .