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The Commoner.
TUNIS 2, 1905
5
0TE of tho most interesting paintings at tlio
St. Louis exposition was what is popularly
known as the "Painting of Hands." This is tho
.work of tho Flemish artist, Jef Leempoels. Puhllc
Opinion for May 20th, reproduces a fine half
tone of this wonderful painting. Tho artist has
called his work "Destiny and Humanity." Ac
companying tho half-tone in Public Opinion is
a description of the work written by Grace Whit
worth. In this description a high tribute is paid
to tho "wonderful technique and symbolism" of
the painting. '
MISS WHITWORTH says: "A talk with tho
artist himself helps one to understand its
meaning. Mr. Leempoels says the idea of the
painting came to him as a sudden inspiration, but
how best to interpret, on canvas, Destiny and
Humanity, took many months of thought. Human
nature is always yearning for something more.
It is never content with the health, happiness, or
fortune that it possesses. Most of the human
race look to a power above for response to wishes
and prayers for greater blessings. The artist
could think of nothing more expressive in por
traying this supreme power than a human coun
tenance. So the face in the dark sky is as a
source of all light to the world. It typifies God,
Christ, Intelligence, or Destiny. The gaze of this
face is of immeasurable penetration, and from
the head light radiates to every, part of the paint
ing. His conception of humanity is represented
by innumerable hands. In them can be read all
the character of the individual, and so, through
them, is depicted all that humanity thinks or
asks."
THIS strildng description of a striking picture
concludes: "Below the face in the sky is
held aloft the cross, crozier and scepter. Toward
this symbolism of church and government are
uplifted hundreds of hands, representing all con
ditions, races, and religions. In the left fore
ground is tho family group. One sees the mother
lifting to God the hands of her children, beseech-
ing blessing; the clasp of two hands in love and
marriage; and those wrung in grief and mourn
ing. In the center are intermingled the jeweled,
delicate hand of aristocracy; the rough coarse
hand of tho vorkman; the convict's chained
hands; the hand of the suffering one, offering all
his wealth for health; the prayerful, the greedy,
the pleasure-loving hand. On the right are those
which oppose all institutions of society. They
are hands full of malice and anarchy. Here is a
clenched, blood-stained one; there one flourish
ing the red flag of the anarchist; others treach
erously wavinc knives, revolvers, ' and hatchets.
In the background are the offerings to Jehovah
of incense, palms, idols, music, dancing, and
human sacrifices. As one contemplates this
painting, many ideas crowd the mind as to its
meaning. Does the church or the government
bring us peace? Must our appeals be made
through the church or state, or directly to the
Force that moves the universe? That, every in
dividual must solve for himself. The painting is
considered by the ablest critics a masterpiece in
technique and color. Its mysticism is very strik
ing, and yet the ex.eition is most realistic. In
the hundreds of hands painted no two are alike,
and the wonderful expression in each is singularly
appalling. The more one gazes, the greater be
comes its mysterious fascination."
THE frequency of cyclones these days has pro
moted a vrlter for the Lincoln (Nebraska)
News to present a list of notable storms, show
ing terrible loss of life and property. One great
otorm, then called a' tornado (which storm is
not included in the list) oqcurred at St. Louis in
1868. Great damage was done, and those who
passed through that terrible storm will never
forgot it.
THE list presented by the News writer follows:
Adams county, Miss., May 7, 1840, iOO killed;
property loss, $1,000,000. Same, June 13, 1842,
500 killed; property loss; $3,000,000. Erie, Pa.,
July 26, 1875, 134 killed; property loss, $500,000.
Barry and Stone counties, Mo., April 18, 1880,
100 killed, COO injured; property loss $1,000,000,
Grinnell, la., Juno 17, 1882, 100 killed, 300 in
jured; property loss, $1,000,000. Emmotsburg, la.,
Juno 24, 1882, 100 killed; property loss, $250,0Q0.
Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennes
see, Virginia, North and South Carolina, February
9, 1884, 800 killed, 2,500 injured; 10,000 buildings
destroyed an unparalleled series of tornadoes,
there being over sixty of these scattered over
tho territory named after 10 a. m. on that day.
Louisville, Ky., March 27, 189), 76 killed, 200 in
jured; 900 buildings destroyed. Tho storm cut
a path 100 feet wide through tho city, destroying
property of the value of .2,500,000. Savannah, Ga.,
Charleston, S. C, and Southern coast, August 28,
1893, 1,000 killed; great destruction of property.
Gulf coast of Louisiana, October 2, 1903, 2,000
killed; loss of property, $5,000,000. Terrific gale
on Lake Michigan, May 16, 1894, 25 lives lost
and 20 vessels destroyed off the water front of
Chicago. The cyclone which swept St. Louis in
1896, took nearly one hundred lives and destroyed
$10,000,000 worth of property. One of tho severe
storms of the country which was not cyclonic In
character, was tho hurricane and tidal wave which
destroyed the better part of Galveston in Septem
ber, 1900. Tho loss of life has never been accu
rately determined. Tho property damage was
placed at $10,000,000. The storm came out of tho
Gulfjaf Mexico, and had been preceded by a long
period of barometric depression.
THE people of Philadelphia have been greatly
disturbed because of what is known as "the
gas scandal." It seems that tho state has leased
the gas works to the company that is now oper
ating them, for a period of thirty years, and it
has provided that, at the end of ten years 1907
the city shall have tho right to terminate tho
contract by paying for the improvements which
have been made. The Philadelphia city council,
acting at tho behest of the Gas company, passed
a resolution granting to the Gas company a
franchise for seventy-five years. This would pre
vent the city acquiring possession of the plant
before 1980.
MAYOR WEAVER of Philadelphia promptly
declared war on the republican organiza
tion because of its advocacy of the gas ordinance.
The mayor summarily removed the directors of
public safety and public works, who were charged
with being the tools of the organization. By tho
appointment to these places of men who will do
his bidding the mayor has placed himself in a
position where he will have the power to dis
charge every one of the 20,000 city employes
whose support made the republican opposition
possible. The mayor thought that withthis power
in his hands the city employes would use their in
fluence with the organization to prevent the gas
ordinance from being passed over the mayor's
veto. Mayor Weaver announced "this will be a
battle to the bitter end, a battle to death on the
gas lease and all kindred matters. Philadelphia is
facing a state of anarchy. There will be no mercy
shown."
DURING the first two years of his administra
tion Mayor Weaver has worked closely
wih the republican organization and he has
brought upon himself considerable crticism. In
his attitude on the gas franchise he seems to
have completely reversed his policy, and while
his old time associates are roundly abusing him,
he is receiving congratulations from the rank and
file of Philadelphians.
IN THE application of the city officials dis
charged by Mayor Weaver, Judge Ralston gran
ed an order requiring the mayor to show cause why
he should not be permanently enjoined from re
moving the Gas company's favorit officials. An
Interesting feature of the Philadelphia situation is
the .fact that many prominent republicans ex
erted every effort to embarrass Mayor Weaver
in his fight for public interests. But the mayor
won tho victorv, the gas company withdrawing
, from the contest in the face of the aroused public
sentiment.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, according to tho
Washington correspondent for tho Pittsburg
(Pa.) Gazette, has flatly assumed all responsi
bility for Secretary Taft's free trado order. Tho
Gazotto correspondent says: Ho told all of his
callers who talked with hlra on tho subject that
ho had personally directed tho action and that '
no other oourso was open to him since tho govern
ment was bound to construct tho cnnal wltli tho
greatest posslblo economy. Ho also Indicated
quite plainly that ho did not consider that a
political prlnciplo was .involved. If tho party
question was to bo considered, whore would tho
administration land if It did not buy i tho cheap
est market and should thus lay itself open to tho
chargo of paying tho highest prices to tho trusts,
not to say scandal and fraud? At any rato tho
question was up to congress. That body had an
opportunity to act once and would havo an oppor
tunity to act again.
THIS frank assumption of responsibility has
not quelled tho disorder in the republican
party. Tho Gazotto correspondent says: "Tho
family row continues to grow. Tho talk of tho
action is not entirely outsido of tho cabinet.
There has been talk today about "such a policy,
if persisted in, would end in disrupting tho repub
lican party, or at least in making difficult the
path of tho next republican candidates." Repre
sentative John Dalzell of Pennsylvania camo out
in an interview tonight scoring tho action in vigor
ous terms He called it "free trado" and "a sight
for gods and men," and said that congress had
never acted and never intended to act. At tho
same timo many protests are coming In, especially
from American shipbuilders. Senators Scott and
Burrows, both high tariff republicans, called on
Secretary Taft and criticised tho administration's
policy. "I havo dropped in to your political fune
ral, Mr. Secretary," said Senator Scott. "Can't
come to my funeral without bringing flowers, and
I see no flowers," replied the secretary. At tho
same timo Mr. Taft said that ho would stand by
tho action to tho very end, funeral or no funeral.
He told his callers there was no reason why tho
government should pay a quarter more for mate
rial made in America, or pay for two ships hero
a sum that would buy four ships in Europe.
IT IS predicted by this same authority that if
the administration undertakes to buy In tho
markets of tho world congress will pastf a bill
requiring the commission to patronize homo in
dustries. This correspondent says: Such a bill
was Introduced In the last congress, but was
not brought to vote. However, none of the lead
ers contemplated that by tho failure of that meas
ure the government would scale Its own tariff
walls and go over into foreign markets to get
tlio benefit of low tariff prices. Prominent re
publicans In the house and senate will never con
sent to such a policy and when congress assem
bles in tho fall one of tho first measures to bo
introduced will be one to direct the canal com
mission to confine its purchases to American
markets. No governmental policy in years has
aroused the interest and discussion that the an-
nouncement of tho canal commission has. It
means that In the next session of congress tho
tariff question will bo to the front with the possi
bility of the "stand patters" being unable longer
to resist the pressure for a new bill. High protec
tionists are outspoken in their opposition to the
canal commission's policy and they will Insist that
supplies and materials for tho canal must bo
bought in American markets."
TT HAS been taken for granted by the news
paper writers that if the government pur
chased abroad It would not be required to pay
duties on its imports. Secretary Taft speaking to
an Associated Press correspondent at Columbus,
Ohio, May 24, said: VThe laws provide for tho
purchase of supplies for the isthmus. They pro
vide that, where supplies aro bought in foreign
lands, the government must pay duty the same
as an Individual purchaser. The laws further
provide that for the army, the price and quality
being the same, American goods shall be pre
ferred. In the Philippines the army has con
stantly bought where it could get the cheapest.
It has bought frozen meats from Australia at
six cents that would have cost fifteen cents from
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