INFERNAL MACHINE
TO GOVERNOR FORT
Same New Jersey Ruffian Tries
to “Get” Governor Who
Shut Resort Saloons.
♦ THE SENDER WAXES W
+ QUITE FACETIOUS ♦
♦ ♦
+■ Sea dirt, Nev., Sept. 15.—That ♦
♦ the sender of the infernal ma- ♦
v chine had a grim sense of humor ♦
♦ became apparent from an exam- ♦
•f Ination of the contents of the ♦
♦ package. On a bit of paper he ♦
♦ had written a message to the
♦ governor which read:
“Please notify us promptly of -f
> any change in your postcfllce ad- ♦
♦ address." ♦
+ Another read: ♦
+ “You will know me better after ♦
we are acquainted.” +
♦ ♦
Seagirt, N. J., Sept. 15.—An infernal
machine addressed to Governor Fort,
of New Jersey, was found in the mails
by postal authorities.
When the package, which had
■aroused the suspicions of the postal au
thorities, was opened, it was found to
contain powder, bullets and matches.
There is said to be no trace of the
•sender of the infernal machine.
Governor Fort recently caused all
the saloons and disorderly places at
Atlantic City to be closed on Sunday.
The rowdy element at first defied him,
but when he declared he would call
out the state militia, if necessary, to
•enforce the law, the liquor men sul
lenly obeyed the statute.
That the death dealing package was
intercepted before it had reached its
•destination was due to the vigilance
of the postal officials, who have
scanned the governor’s mail with un
usual care since the executive’s recent
crusade against the violation of law at
Atlantic City.
Opened With Care.
Several days ago when a package of
somewhat unusual shape was found to
bear insufficient postage it was taken
by the clerk to one of the postal in
■spectors. The inspector became more
impressed by the shape and condition
of the package than by the shortage of
■stamps and at once wrote the governor
informing him that a package of sus
picious appearance addressed to him
was being held at the office. The in
-sector asked for permission to open it
without forwarding it to its destination.
Pi mission was given at once.
Exe/rclsing the greatest care, the in
spector and his assistants removed the
wrappings from the package to find
that their worst fears were confirmed.
It was a real infernal machine, crude,
but so cleverly constructed that it was
capable of doing tremendous damage.
It contained a quantity of powder and
bullets with matches so arranged that
•a hurried opening of the package would
have set off the powder and hurled the
bullets in all directions.
—4—
MAILED IN PHILADELPHIA.
INSPECTORS ON THE TRAIL
Philadelphia, Sept. 16.—Postal In
spectors of this city admit they are in
vestigating the mailing of an infernal
machine in this city to Governor Fort,
■of New Jersey, but will discuss the case
no further. The package was mailed
August 28, the day after the governor
issued his proclamation regarding the
•sale of liquor on Sunday in Atlantic
City. _ _ _
INSANITY PLEA FOR
EDNA KENNETT’S SLAYER
Omaha, Neb., Sept. 15.—Van Doodeli,
Who shot and killed Miss Edna Ken
nett, a Lincoln girl, on the night of
September 4. was arraigned in police
court this afternoon and held in $5,000
bonds on a charge of murder.
Goodell still had his head bandaged,
covering a wound inflicted on himself
after shooting the girl. It developed
that insanity will be the basis of de
fense. Attorney Slabaugh, in request
ing that baii be fixed, said the homi
cide was admitted, but premeditation
was not indicated since the man un
dertook to take his own life, indicating
an unbalanced mind. Bail has not yet
been furnished.
4 4 4 44 444 44444444444444444+
+ +
+ STUDENTS TRAMP 4
4 150 MILES TO SCHOOL 4
4 +
4 Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 15.—John 4
4 Ressler, a senior at the state 4
4 university, in company with a 4
+ fellow student, arrived in Lincoln 4
4 this morning after trudging on 4
4 foot all the way from Arapahoe, 4
4 Furnas county, Nebraska. 4
4 The two are footsore but none 4
4 the worse for their 150-mile 4
4 tramp. 4
4 Mr. Ressler spent a week en 4
4 route. The journey was under- 4
4 taken more as a lark than any- 4
4 thing else and the two young 4
♦ men worked for their meals as 4
4 they journeyed through the state. 4
4 The boys' homes are west of 4
4 Arapahoe. 4
*44 4-444444444444' 444444."*
MR. CONNORS WILL
BE CHICKEN KING
New York. Sept. 15.—Democratic
politicians have heard with interest
-during the last few days that William
J. Conners has set out to have him
self crowned "chicken king.”
Not satisfied with being state chair
man and having the freight handling
contracts for all the big steam/hip
lines on the Great Lakes he has started
a chicken farm, which promises within
a few years to make him a rival of the
beef trust.
At present he has 30.000 chickens and
15,000 ducks, but that is only the be
ginning. Before the end of the year
he will have at least 100,000 chickens
•and almost half as many ducks and
will be in a position to help materially
in supplying the markets of New
York, Philadelphia and Buffalo. In
fact, it is his intention to branch out
until he is able to supply most of the
big hotels in the East with poultry and
a large part of the East with eggs.
MATRIMONY COLLEGE NEEDED.
Topeka. Kan., i t. 15.—A college of
matrimony is the need cf this country
to prevent degeneracy in the race, ac
cording to Professor W. Blaekmar, of
Kansas university, in an address be
fore the superintendents of Kansas
charitable institutions.
"The tims Is coming,” said Professor
Blaekmar, "when the course will be of
fered in our public schools preparatory
to matrimony, in which young men
and women will be taught some im
portant matters relative to the mar
riage relation." He thinks such a
■course in the public schools would be
-exceptionally beneficial..
mm? decision
I HELPED SAYS BECK
Standard Attorney Declares
Reversal of Fine Boomed
Stocks in Europe.
__
I Now York. Sept. If —James M. Beck, at
torney for the Standard Oil Co., who ar
rived from Europe on the White Star Line
Steamship Majestic, and said that during
his sojourn in Europe the effect of the
reversal of the $29,000,000 fine Imposed by
Judge Landis was everywhere apparent.
“The huge fine created consternation
among Europeans holding American se
curities,” said Mr. Beck. “It was felt In
every market of the world, and was not
removed until the news was flashed over
by the cable that the decision had been
reversed."
The effect of this news Mr. Beck de
clared, was to restore confidence In
American securities and boom stock val
ues. Mr. Beck remarked on the scarcity
of American tourists in Europe.
“I have made many trips to Europe,”
he said, “but in no summer have I seen
such a dearth of travelers from the
United States. Many of the largest hotels
in France, Switzerland and Italy have re
mained practically empty all summer."
WEALTHY AFFINITY
CARRIED THE KEY TO
WRONGED WIFE’S HOME
Des Moines. Ia.. Sept. IB.—Mrs. S. G.
Van Auken, wife of a prominent at
torney, secured a divorce this morning,
alleging that her husband has an affin
ity in the person of a wealthy widow
whom he once represented in Import
ant litigation.
The wife asserted that Van Auken
permitted the affinity to carry a ko
to his house while his wife was visit
ing the city and that when she came
i home she found her husband’s love had
fled.
Mrs. Van Auken was given alimony
of $10,000. The case is causing a great
scandal because of the prominence of
the parties.
INVENTOR TURNS TO
SAVING, INSTEAD OF
DESTROYING, LIFE
New York, Sept. 15.—Hudson Maxim,
inventor of the Maxim smokeless pow
der and torpedoes, which are the most
powerful life destroying agents in the
history of the world, suddenly has
turned his line of effort from the field
of death and is working assiduously
along lines entirely opposite. His pres
ent efforts are being devoted to perfec
tion of a device that will cure all dis
eases with a solution of chlorine, pass
ed through the human body by the aid
of electricity.
Already drawings of the cabinet In
which the treatment Is to be adminis
tered have been filed in the patent of
fice and the inventor expects soon to
be granted his patent.
WRIGHT FLIES 70
MINUTES; SPEED OF
40 MILES AN HOUR
Washington. Sept. 15.—In a flight
lasting one hour. 10 minutes and 26 sec
onds, Orville Wright late yesterday
surpassed all his previous exploits for
a time and distance flight for heavier
than-air machines. Two flights were
made at Fort Meyer yesterday, the first
being of 10 minutes and 50 seconds’ du
ration for the purpose of showing
what rate of speed he had been travel
ing during his long flights of the past
three days. The test demonstrated, ac
cording to the aviator’s calculations,
that the speed of the aeroplane during
the record breaking flights of Wednes
day and Thursday was 39.55 miles an
hour.
LAY SUNSPOTS
TO ELECTRICITY
Pittsburg. Pa., Sept. 15.—Attracted
by probably the most remarkable au
rora borealis ever witnessed in this sec
tion of the country. Dr. John A. Bra
shear, the well known astronomer, Iasi
night made a measurement of an im
mense sun spot he had just photo
graphed. This spot covers 2,250,000,000
square miles of the surface of the sun
and has a temperature estimated at
60,000 degrees above zero.
Professor Brashear believes there is
a close connection between the aurora
borealis and sun spots. He predicts
magnetic disturbances will follow.
Wires Are "Off Watch.”
Chicago. Sept. 15.—The prediction of
Dr. Brashear was confirmed today at
the headquarters of the telegraph com
panies. Yesterday afternoon wires east
and north of Chicago went down for an
hour or more. Although they improved
later, there was a repetition of the
trouble at night and today telegraphic
communication is being frequently in
terrupted by earth currents.
MISSOURI RIVER BOAT
STRIKES SNAG AND SINKS
Kansas City, ' to., Sept. 15.—The
freight and passe-,ger steamer Tennes
see, bound from St. Louis for Kansas
City, struck a snag in the, Missouri
river five miles south of here and sunk
in nine feet of water. The few pas
sengers aboard and the crew reached
the shore in safety. There was but lit
tle excitement. The steamer carried a
heavy cargo of freight and it is be
lteved the damage to this will prove
heavy.
The Tennessee is owned by Kansas
City merchants, who recently installed
a freight line on the Missouri to over
come what they believed to be exces
sive railway charges.
MERRY- GO -ROUNDER
JAILED FOR SHOOTING
Iowa City. la.. Sept. 15.—H. H. Cham
biess, proprietor of a merry-go-round at
the street fair shot Ed. Poggenpohl, of
Iowa City in the leg- last night.
Chambloss is in Jail charged with at
tempted murder.
INDICTED FOR
ALLEGED FRAUD
Quincy. 111.. Sept. 15.—The United
States grand jury here today returned
joint indictments against the Illinois
Terminal Railway company and Illinois
Glass company, of Alton, for alleged
frauds In transcontinental shipments.
There were 12 counts in the ind’etment
and the Illinois terminal railway Is
also specifically indicted undi-r six
counts for doing an interstat i com
merce business without tiling schedules
I with the interstate commerce cornmjs
> sloners.
MURDERER’S PLEA IS '
INSANITY, OF COURSE
August Eberhard Will Be Put on
Trial Next Week for
Killing Aunt.
“■“■»
Hackensack, N. J.. Sept. 14—Augus
tus Eberhard, the young grocer's clerk
who Is charged with the murder of his j
aunt, Mrs. Ottlllie Eberhard, whom he j
lured to a lbnely spot at Rochelle park,
on July 16 last, and after killing her, |
robbed the body of $2,240, will be placed
on trial here next week. The case will
be called Monday and It is expected the
trial will proceed without delay.
The cold blooded character of the
murder caused the crime to be widely
discussed throughout the country and
the trial will be followed with close In
terest. The murdered woman had but
recently arrived in this country from
Germany. According to the story told
by young Eberhard he had persuaded
his aunt to turn her possessions into ;
cash and come to America in order <
that he might marry her daughter. j
Upon their arrival in New York he ob- |
tained rooms for them and then sug- |
gested a trip across the river Into New
Jersey. A blinding storm came up
while they were walking along the rail
road tracks on the New Jersey side,
and this aided the designs of the mur
derer. As the two unsuspecting women
were plodding along In front of him,
he drew his revolver, took careful aim
and fired. Mrs. Eberhard fell at the
first shot, but to make sure of her !
death the assassin fired another shot
into her body as It lay on the tracks.
Then he went In pursuit of his cousin
and tried to kill her. She ran down ,
the tracks and escaped, while the mur- |
derer fled from the scene of his crime.
It was more than a week before young
Eberhard was found. In his confession
he stated that during that week he had
traveled as far west as Chicago, but !
had been Irresistibly attracted again to
the scene of his crime. When found
he was suffering from a slight bullet
wound, which he had Inflicted upon
himself to give strength to a story he
had concocted to the effect that he and
his aunt had been attacked by Italians
while walking along the railroad
tracks. But a severe quizzing by the
police broke down his story and he Is
said to have made a full confession. ■
Nearly all of the money of his aunt !
was found where he said he had burled
It. i
Insanity undoubtedly will be the de
fense of the young self confessed mur
derer when he Is placed on trial. His
father. It Is said, will testify that In
sanity Is hereditary In his family and
that the sister of young Eberhard is
now confined in an insane asylum.
The local authorities and the men
guarding Eberhard say they can see
no traces of insanity. Nevertheless, it
is probable that a commission may be
appointed to examine the prisoner's ■
mental condition.
JEAN VALJEAN OF THE
WEST ARRESTED AGAIN
Kansas City, Sept. 14.—Charles W.
Anderson, who was released from the
federal prison at Fort Leavenworth less
than a year ago on a pardon from
President Roosevelt. 20.000 people of
Kansas City and vicinity having signed
a petition for his pardon, was arrested
for running a gambling house.
Ten years ago, when but a boy, he
was sentenced to prison from Okla
homa for complicity in a postofflce rob
bery. After serving two years time he
escaped and later came to Kansas City,
prospered In business as William Jan
uary and finally married a young wo
man without telling her the story of his
misdeeds.
A year ago a discharged fellow pris
oner met Anderson In the street and
after blackmailing him for a while
turned him over to the Federal author
ities for a reward of $50.
After Anderson’s pardon some citi
zens started him in business again, but
he soon gave It up and opened a poker
room.
JILTS MISS GOODRICH
BECAUSE SHE MIXED
UP WITH GOODWIN
Philadelphia, Pa.. Sept. 14.—Nat
Goodwin’s former leading woman Is not
to wed J. Harry MacMillan, the $20,
000,000 mining operator of Reno, Nev.,
after all, and behind the announcement
from San Francisco that he broke off
the engagement there Is a story. It
seems that In an alleged suit for di
vorce which Maxine Elliott is about to
file. Miss Goodrich Is named, and that
a copy of the bill of complaint found
Its way Into the hands of Mrs. J. H.
MacMillan, of Berkeley. It further Is
reported that Mrs. MacMillan thereup
on summoned her son and made a de
mand which resulted In his announce
ment that his engagement to Misa
Goodrich had been broken off.
PRESIDENT TESTS TENT
HE’LL USE IN AFRICA
Oyster Bay, Sept. 14.—Many visitors
drove out to Sagamore hill to get a
glimpse of the president. They were much
interested in a peculiar looking tent which
stood on the president’s lawn. It is the
tent he will take to Africa next spring.
The tent is about 10x12 feet, just larga
enough to furnish ample accommodation
for the president and his son, Kermit. II
Is of a special grade of oilskin, with an
extra covering of canvas, and was built,
it is said, especially for the trip.
The president was so enthusiastic aboul
the tent that he unfolded it last night
and had it erected. He was anxious tc
see if it was properly waterproof and
took advantage of the shower last night
to give it a good test.
He worked about the tent like a boy,
tightening ropes here and there. He
seemed to be well pleased with the tent
and that portion of the camping outfit
which has arrived, but he will leave the
tent on his grounds until he starts for
Washington to give it a thorough test.
RIVER STEAMER BURNS.
Memphis, Tenn., >pi. 14.—The rivei
steamer Peter V.c-e. plying between
Memphis and up: Mississippi ports,
caught lire a .'ihort cb Lance ab^v tt*
city today and wi.s beached • od
No. 8. A small panic pre* • . , :>.g
the passengers, but no on'-. • "*ired.
DREYFUS’ ASSAILANT
GETS ACQUITTAL
Paris, Sept. 14.—Louis A. Grogori to
day was acquitted ot t:-.e charge of at
tempting to kill Major Alfred Dreyfus
last June.
NEW HOO HOO SNARK.
Chicago, Sept. It.—Platt B. Walker,
of Minneapolis, today was elected
snark of the universe at the closing
session of the Concatenated Order of
Hoo Hooa.
ORVILLE WRIGHT
SMASHES RECORD
“Flies” in a Sharp Wind for 66
Minutes While Crowds
Cheer.
Washington, £>. C., Sept. It.—Orville
(Vright yesterday broke the world's
tecorh for time and distance for a
heavier than air flying macliine, which
he established the previous day.
In a flight requiring great skill, on
account of a 10-mile wind, he circled
around the drill giounds of Fort Meyer
58 times in 66 minutes and 12 seconds,
exceeding the time of his other rec
ord by 3 minutes, 37 seconds. The
flight was witnessed by nearly 1,00#
persons.
Throughout the day the weather was
threatening. At 5 o’clock Mr. Wright
announced that he was ready. The
wind was blowing only about three
miles an hour when Mr. Wright pre
pared to make his flight. The mounted
soldiers who keep the field clear dur
ing the flights took their places, and
Mr. Wright started the motor. At 5:08
o'clock Mr. Wright signaled C. E. Tay
lor, his mechanic, to release the ma
chine. The aeroplane rose immediately
from the single starting rail. It con
tinued to climb higher with each suc
cessive round of the field until It
readied 75 feet.
Under Perfect Control.
For the first three rounds the ma
chine flew as evenly as on its pre
vious flights, but from that time on
It was seen to pitch at the turns as
the breeze from the west hit it as the
machine moved from the northern end
of the field to the southern end. where
the "aero garage" is located. When
ever the machine pitched it could be
plainly seen from below that It re
sponded promptly to every move of the
levers by the operator.
One of Mr. Wright's assistants j
marked the time in large figures at
Intervals on the root of a shed in or
der that Mr. Wright might see how
long he had been In the air. A gust
of wind unusually strong struck the
aerial flyer during the 42d round and it !
plunged sharply, causing the crowd to !
exclaim In alarm. Mr. 'Wright then 1
brought his machine lower, but on the I
53d round he reached an altitude of
200 feet.
When Mr. Wright completed the 54th
round he had beaten his record of the
previous day. which had broken the j
world's record. The crowd gave a lusty ’
1 cheer, but Mr. Wright was too busy
manipulating the levers to wave his i
cap.
Mr. Wright came down on the north
ern end of the field at the end of the
68th round, landing easily. The cavalry
squad on duty to protect the machine
formed a cordon around it and Major
, Squler, acting chief signal officer,
pressed forward to congratulate the
j aviator.
BOGUS PRIEST RUNS
BEGGING SCHOOL!
- i
Chicago, Sept. 14.—Revels conducted |
1 under the cloak of religion, imorallty
hidden by pretended charities, little boy
and girl orphans beaten for the most
trivial of offenses under the guise of
discipline—these are some of the
charges made In the Harrison street po- j
lice station when the ‘‘nuns’’ who were
j captured In the raid on St. Joseph's
home for orphans, 203 Thirty-sixth st., I
I were questioned by Inspector Wheeler
I in an effort to learn of the whereabouts J
of "Father” Antonio de Lublcz. .
Antonio de Lublcz is a bogus priest
and had no known connection with any
church. He conducted the orphanage
as a private enterprise, luring the
j young women Into the place and com
' pelllng them to adopt the habit of sis
ters of charity In order to beg for him.
; It is generally believed that the girls j
\ were Imposed upon through their own ]
Ignorance of the church and the world. .
The three girl “nuns" who were taken
to the Harrison street,annex when the
! raid was made, Seraphlna Zepondek,
j 17 years old; Fldellzos Vlozlo, 20 years
old. and Cary Barzdlzlck, 19 years old, ;
refused to talk about the treatment
they and the dozen orphans cared for
I In the home received, but the man's
wife declared they were mistreated.
* When the "nuns,” who were sent out to
I beg In the stores and In the streets,
returned In the evening they were told
to lay $12 on the table of the manager
| of the borne, It Is said. Often when
j they were unable to do this. It is
, charged, he would horsewhip them.
| "Father" de Lublcz escaped after the
| raid on Ills place.
HARRIMAN MAY FOUND
SCHOOL FOR POOR BOYS
Middletown, N. Y., Sept. 14.—If a
! project contemplated by E. H. Harrl
man Is carried out. worthy young men
| who are destitute of the means to se
■ cure an education will be enabled to
equip themselves for occupations In life
through the generosity of the railroad
man. It Is stated by friends of Mr.
Harrlman here that previous to his de
parture for the vest he signified a de
I sire to build a school for the free edu
| cation of boys. With this object In
j view he has consulted some well known
educators. The school probably will be
I located in Orange county, near Arden,
where the Harrlman estates comprise
many thousand acres.
444444444444*4444444444444
4 4
4 HIGHWAYMEN TAKE 4
4: MAN’S TOBACCO POUCH 4
4 4
4 Storm Lake, la.. Sept. 14.— 4
4 While Jas. Kevane. a wealthy 4
4 farmer living In Scott township. 4
4 this county, was returning home 4
4 from this city, he had quite an 4
4 experience with some highway- 4
4 men. 4
4 He had Just finished deliver- 4
4 ing some corn to L. J. Metcalf 4
4 and had received a check for 4
4 $180 and had it cashed. En route 4
4 home two men rushed out from 4
■ 4 a corn field, one held ,‘he team 4
4 and the other beat his head with 4
4 the spoke of a wagon wheel. In 4
4 an inner pocket of his coat they 4
4 found a receptacle which they 4
4 supposed was his wallet and 4
4 then ran for the corn field. It 4
4 was. however .only what he car- 4
4 rled lip “fine cut'' tobacco in, 4
4 and the money he carried was 4
4 left. 4
ONTARIO HAS FOREST FIRES.
! ' * william, Ont., Sept. 14.—Today
-ho le country along the line of the
Duluth extension of the Canadian
Northern railway, running to the
United States border from Arrow River
to Hymers, appears to be on fire. Al
ready thousands of dollars worth of
damage have been done to timber.
Port Arthur, Ont., Sept. 14.:—Bush
fires surround Port Arthur and Fort
William, the firemen and citizens fight
ing the flames. The whole country east
land west Is ablaze. The fire is gaining
( great headway and the city is shrouded
la smoke.
JOHN d:s lawyers
FILE ADROIT REPLY
IN BIO OIL SUIT
Contest Right of Government
to Take Case to the
Supreme Court.
Chicago, 111., Sept. 12.—Counsel for
the Standard Oil company of Indiana,
In an answer filed today to the petition
of the government's attorneys for the
rehearing of the appeal from Judge
Landis' Judgment fining the company
$29,240,000 for violations of the anti-re
bate laws, upheld the decision of
Judges Grosscup, Baker and Seaman of
the United States circuit court of ap
peals, reversing the Judgment and lift
ing the burden of the enormous fine, as
good law amply Justified by the rec
ords In the case.
Point by point, the answer takes up
the arguments of the petition for re
heaGng. which set forth the alleged er
ronC and asserts that the suggestion of
the government's counsel that a re
hearing be granted In order to certify
the question to the federal supreme
court is not a proper one because there
was no division of opinion among the
Judges of the reviewing court.
In the petition for rehearing the re
viewing Judges are charged with as
suming thht Judge Landis attempted
to try and punish the Standard Oil
company of New Jersey in the original
proceedings, which were against the
Standard Oil company of Indiana. On
this point the answer declares it to be
a matter of no consequence whether
the trial court referred to the New I
Jersey company or the Indianti com
pany as not "a virgin offender.”
“The real point is,” says the an
swer, “did the trial court, in imposing'
punishment, take Into consideration the
relation between the Standard OH com-1
pany of New Jersey and the Standard'
OH company of Indiana, and did It base.
Its fine upon the wealth of the Stand-]
ard OH company of New Jersey and Its
ability to pay, instead of upon the;
wealth of the Standard Oil company of]
Indiana and its ability to pay?”
To determine this question the Stand-"
ard Oil attorneys assert that a few,
sentences extracted by the government,
counsel from the words of Judge Lan
dis are not sufficient, and quote at'
length from Judge Landis’ opinion to
show that he referred to the New Jer
sey corporation as the "real defendant”
and to the Indiana company as “the'
nominal defendant."' ,
On the question of knowledge of the
lawful rate on the part of the defend
ant shipper, which was one of the
points on which great emphasis was
laid In the petition for rehearing, the
answer asserts that the exceptions of
the government’s counsel are based on
a misapprehension of the opinion and
record of the case.
The exclusion of certain evidence and
the question of Intent are discussed ln:
detail. It Is asserted that the reviewing'
court was Justified in the ruling which,
it made.
On the point of the number of of
fenses which the petition for rehearing
asserted was obscure In the opinion of
the reviewing court, the answer con
tends that the government’s counsel
has raised a cloud where there was
none and that the ruling of the court
clearly shows that the number of of
fenses was regulated by the settle
ments and the payments, of which'
there were 36. and not by car loads,
numbering 1,462, on which the fine was,
predicated.
COMMODITY CLAUSE
IS KNOCKED OUT
Philadelphia. Pa.. Sept. 12.—'The com
modities clause of the HepDurn rail
road act today was declared to be un
constitutional by the United States
circuit court for the eastern district of
Pennsylvania.
The clause provides that after May 1,
1908, it shall be unlawful for any rail
road company to transport from one
state to another or to any foreign
country any article or commodity,
manufactured, mined or produced by It
or under its authority, directly or indi
rectly, except such articles or com
modities as may be necessary for its
use in the conduct of its business as a
common carrier.
The clause exempts timber ana its
manufactured products, and is aimed
particularly at railroads owning coal
mines. .
The decision is rendered in the case
of the government against the Jersey
I Central and six other railroads owning
90 per cent of the unmined anthracite
coal. Judges Gray and Dallas held the
clause unconstitutional. Judge Huffing
ton dissented but did not. flle an opin
ion.
Bonaparta Argue*.
The case was considered so import
ant that Attorney General Bonaparte
came to this city and personally made
the principal argument in behulf of the
government. Prior to the clause going
into effect the anthracite coal carrying
railroads went before the Interstate
Commerce commission and declared
they could not comply with the clause
wl'hout making great sacrifices. It was
pointed out that because of the then
existing financial stringency, the com
panies could not dispose of their coal
properties except at a tremendous loss.
They further declared their conviction
that the clause was unconstitutional.
Thereupon the government agreed not
to enforce the clause until a decision
was had upon the law points involving
its constitutionality.
The railroads in their answers to the
government’s compTaint, gave seven
chief reasons why the clause was re
pugnant to the constitution, among
them being that it was confiscatory,
discriminating and prohibition and not
regulation; that It deprived the rail
roads of “liberty and property,” and
violated the right reserved to states.
The court holds the commodities
clause is not regulation of commerce
within proper meaning of the words
us°d in the commerce clause of the
. constitution and therefore not within
the power granted by the latter clause.
PLAYS WITH SKULL BROKEN.
Philadelphia. Sept. 12.—Playing ball
and engaging in other boyish sports,
Harry Parsons. 6 years. 4957 Stiles st.,
failed to realize that his skull was
fractured, when lie was struck by a
bicycle, until the next day when he
suffered a splitting headache with a
peculiar dizziness.
LIVE STOCK CASE DOCKETED.
Washington, Sept. 12.—The case of
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail
road and other Western railroads ter
minating in Chicago against the Inter
state Commerce commission, involving
the right of the commission to fix ter
minal charges on live stock In Chicago,
has been docketed in the supreme court
of the United States.
London, Sept. 12.—A severe gale
caused many casualties among smaller
sraft along the coast. The schooner
Phyllis Gray, laden with coal, went
aground and turned turtle near Croy
den. The ereyt of slxjTien were lo»L
__________
FARMERS COMMEND
THE ROOSEVELT PLAN
Letters in Quantities Reach the
President—Wallace Is
Enthusiastic.
Washington, Sept. 12—Whatever may
be said o£ President Roosevelt’s com
mission plan for the uplift of the farm
er ami the betterment of conditions of
farm life, it cannot be disputed that it
has aroused attention. Even the move
ment for the conservation of natural
resources has not stirred up the inter
est and discussion that the movement
for the benefit of farm life has. It
is not merely being widely discussed
by the press. President Roosevelt is
getting large numbers of letters relat
ing to his plan and most of such let
ters come from farmers themselves,
who are seemingly awake to the im
portance of the project. These letters
are being sent to Washington by Mr.
Roosevelt to Gifford PInchot, who is
one of the commission, and they wilt
be presented to the entire commission
when it holds its first meeting, as it
will do at an early date.
Generally, the letters express warm
approval of the commission idea and
many of them make valuable sugges
tions as to how farm conditions can be ;
improved upon. Through most of the
letters there runs a note of longing for !
better schools and Hitter opportunities
for neighbors to meet together, en
gage in discussion, hear lectures and
the like. Retter opportunities for read
ing are also urged as needful in many
instances. The idea of co-operation is
put prominently to the front and many
of the letters speak out plainly against
the middlemen. It is plainly felt that
the farmer Is being mulcted of undua
sums by tbe elevator men, the stock
dealers, the creameries and the retail
ers. Many suggestions of co-operative
companies in communities for the pur
pose of buying and selling to advantage
are made.
The consolidation of rural schools, so
as to do away with the district school,
and have township high schools, meets
with much favor. The Importance of
good roads is dwelt upon more than
any other one subject. Good roads are
urged in connection with the consolida
tion of schools, the township library,
the extension of the advantages of
rural free delivery and other steps for
the improvement of conditions in the
agricultural sections. It seems to be
the idea of many who write to the
president that It the people of a town
ship or neighborhood could have a
library where they could obtain books
and where also they could meet to con
sider any matters of Interest to them,
as well as having lectures and enter
tainments. much zest would be added to
life in the average community. Tt>
make it possible for the people of a
neighborhood to gather frequently and
readily, good roads are essential.
In one case a hired man writes at
length. He does not paint a glowing
picture of the life of the hired hand.
He tells what his experience for years
has been and says he has found the
eight-hour day is in force on the farm,
eight-hours before noon and eight
flours after noon. This writer is plainly
of the opinion there is room for im
provement.
Wallace Gives Approval.
An earnest letter has been received
by the president from Henry Wallace,
of Des Motnes. who Is one of the mem
bers of the commission. Mr. Wallace
says: “I am glad to accept the ap
pointment which has come to me so
unexpectedly, and to give the best ser
vice which time and strength will per
mit. I am exceedingly glad that you
have put yourself behind this move
ment for the betterment of the social
and industrial life of the farming com
munity. There are sections in some
portions of the Western states in which
the farmer’s life is almost ideal; but
there are other sections, notably in the
South, in the extreme West and in
much of the territory In the Eastern
states, in which there is very great
need of Improvement. Of course help
must come from the farmers them
selves, but the fact that you hava
brought it before the people in this
public way will do very much to stim
ulate farmers to improve their condi
tion. I am grateful to you for the op
portunity to aid in pushing forward
this movement.”
NEW RACE OF HOGS.
At the Illinois station a series of ex
periments, now In the final stage, aims to
Increase gains at decreased cost, recog
nizing the fact that large gains are not al
ways inexpensive. The work, which will
be bulletined shortly, is being carried on
for the benefit of a new race of pork pro
ducers occupying small farms, equipped
with building requirements and other ap
purtenances and pushing the breeding
herd to its full capacity by raising two
crops annually. It means abandonment
of the practice of using young gilts for
breeding purposes and letting them run
with fattening hogs during the period of
growth and gestation, a practice largely
responsible for small litters. All through,
this wor k nothing but pure-bred stock haa
been used, a practice that will be urged
on the hog specialist of the future, as by
following that method he can breed up
by the process of selection.
"There never will fye a scarcity of pork
in this country," predicted Professor Diet
rich, who Is in charge of the work, “be
cause the possibilities of expanding pro
duction are so great. When the new sys
tem Is worked out 11 am confident hog
growing will become an attractive propo
sition where the squeal of swine is now
scarcely heard. We have known so little
about the hog in the past that the infor
mation about to be published will be a
veritable surprise and it is litting that Ill
inois, essentially a pork producing state,
should be responsible for the era of en
lightenment."
A Usurer.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
A story Is told by a lawyer of Little
Rock, Ark., about the sad case of a
native of that town who sought Justice
by reason of the theft of a horse be
longing to him. As, however, the man
who took the animal returned It to the
owner, the lawyer advised the ag
grieved one to let the matter drop
“Can't I have him arrested for usury,
then?" demanded the man. indignantly.
"What on earth do you mean?”
"Daggone it. mister, he used the hoss,
didn't he? Yes. sir, he used him
mighty hard by the looks of him.”
Lord Wolseley, who has just passed
his 75th birthday, has probably had
more narrow escapes from death than
any other living British ofP.cer. In his
younger days he was so daring that he
earned from the Ashantis the title of
"The General Who Never Stops.”
Trofessor E. D. Campbell, director of
the chemical laboratories In the Uni
verslty of Michigan, lost his sight 1$
years ago through an accident. In
spite of his affliction he has taken a
high place in education and haa made
original researches of much value,
especially in the chemistry of iron atu)
cement.