rwjmt - ,!--..
VST.
i .
MARCH "31, 1905
.-
before the public under repeated and", recent for
midable indictments in specific terms for "methods
which are morally iniquitous and socially destruc
tive' and that "the acceptance of such a gift in
volves the constituents of the board in a rolation
implying honor toward the donor and subjects the
broad to the charge of ignoring the moral issues
involved." In conclusion the protest says- "We
the undersigned, therefore protest against any
action by which our church may even seem to
be compromised, and we plead with the officers of
the board to decline the gift or to return it, if
it has been accepted." Among the signers are
Daniel Evans, Cambridge; Edward F. Sanderson,
Trovidence, R. I.; George N. Gutterson, Derry, N.
H.; N. Van Der Pyl, Marblehead, Mass.; Reuben
Thomas, Brookline and James S. Williamson,
Haverhill.
AN INTERESTING study of the- government's
emigration tables for January, 1904, is made
by a writer for the Chicago Record-Herald. This
writer says: "First it is to be noted that the total
immigration for the month was 66,328, as against
28,624 4n 1904, 31,851 in 1903, 23,229 in 1902, 18,
297 in 1901 and 16,785 in 1900. It will be observed
that it stands quite alone because of its magnitude,
and there are notable peculiarities in the appor
tionment among races or countries. This will be
appreciated after an examination of the follow
ing table, which gives a comparison of the Italian,
Austrian and Russian immigration for the month
cf January in the years named:
1902. 1903. 1904. 1905.
Italy 5,961 8,140 6,340 7,964
Austria-Hungary .v.... 7,773 9,402 5,669 19,523
Russia ....4,048 6,171 7,176 15,743
IT IS POINTED OUT by this same authority that
these figures show that "there was a very
remarkable increase for Austria-Hungary and Rus
sia, between 1904 and 1905, and that Italy did not
gain in anything like the same degree. It should
be understood, however, that under normal condi
tions the Italian immigration is relatively small in
January and very large in the spring months, and
that it has led the list in recent fiscal years. But
even with this qualification it is a significant fact
that the percentages of increase should be what
they are. Out of a total of 53,212 for Europe and
a gratid total of 56,265 Russia and Austria-Hungary
contribute 35,266. In combination w4th the
outclassed Italy they make up nearly 77 per cent
of the entire immigration and more than 8(1 per
cent of the immigration from Europe. Outside
the three leaders, we have only three countries or
regions contributing more than a thousand each,
as follows: England, 3,474; Germany, 1,424, and
the West Indies, 1,184. Irish, Scotch, Swedes, Nor
wegians and Danes figure up only 2,289 all told.
Taken, separately they are negligible factors, quite
lost in the great tide from the interior of the con
tinent." UNDER date of March 19, the Des Moines, Iowa,
correspondent for the New York World sent
1c that paper the following dispatch: "When Frank
Craig, a youth -who claims Centerville as his
home, appeared before Justice Duncan charged
with vagrancy he asked that a physician examine
him. 'I am told by doctors that I have two hearts,'
he said, 'and that if I do not have fresh air con
stantly I will die:' City Physician Miller and Dr.
Howard Gray looked the boy over and reported
that he had exactly the same heart pulsations on
right and left sides, and there was every external
evidence of two hearts working. They asked to be
given custody of Craig that his case might be in
vestigated by the medical department of Drake
University and other colleges. The young man
was turned overv to their custody. Doctors say
medical books record three or four such cases."
ES BROWNSON of Brooklyn, writing to the
. Brooklyn Eagle, says: "One policyholder
of the Equitable who has promptly responded to
my advertisement Is the owner of a $5,000 paid
up policy. The amount of time and money which
he would feel justified in using to. protect that in
terest is, therefore, sharply limited. There are
hundreds of thousands of policyholders in the
same situation. In others words, the interest of
the policyholders-is widely scattered, and, on the
other liand, the interest1 of the stockholders i3
closely concentrated. Ncfw, the retirement of the
$100,000 worth of stock is a most excellent thing.
It always has been and always will be a menace
to the soundness of the company and the security
of the policyholders. My object, then, as an in
dividual policyholder Is to record my protest
against having the stockholders act as judge and
jury in their own case and as buyers and sellers of
The Commoner.
SeitortSJ?SperJff.buylnB as dlrcors and selling
Sol Who ,?lderf ? ,s also W obJect t0 allowother
SS?,10 havo a voIco m thI ma"or and
of ?inn ? G my protest- As l0Q6 as the control
1 f!V n?'i00,000'000 worth oC sots It will bo
or i lh,reat t0 th0 welfarG l "ie policyhold
Snnv TfT,8t,C011strIct thG business of the com
ES ?P Is not th0 caso wlth the stock in the
?n i th, present Elders It is impossible to
tell whose hands it may fall into in the future.
5i i? . wish on my Parfc to confiscate the
stockholders property even for the benefit of the
policyholders. We are perfectly willing to pay a
fair price for it, and, for my part, I only want
my fellow policyholders to have an opportunity
to say so. Surely the worth of $100,000 worth of.
stock limited in dividend to 7 per cent per annum
is not a very difficult problem to solve, and the
existence of a large and representative association
of policyholders would bo a very great help in
securlhg the retirement of the stock at a fair valu
ation." SINCE the publication of Mr. Brownson's letter,
a compromise has been effected between the
Alexander Interests and the Hyde Interests, which
is in the nature of some concession to the policy
holders. It is agreed that the policyholders shall
elect 28 of the 54 directors, thus placing them in
small majority. This does not appear to be en
tirely satisfactory, but it is plain to be seen that
the Equitable sees the "handwriting on the wall"
and will soon be compelled to give its policy
holders a clearly controlling voice in the directo
rate. The time Is passed when a few men can
use for their own profit hundreds of millions of
assets held in trust for others.
THE NEW YORK legislature passed a bill pro
viding that divorce suits might be brought
by persons living outside of the state, when the
' offense was committed in New York state and the
defendant resided there. Governor Higgins vetoed
the bill and in his veto message said: "This would
involve a radical change in the policy of the 'state
governing actions for a divorce. It is not clear
to my mind that any good, purpose would be served
by the amendment. Its unquestioned effect would
t beto open the doors of our courts to non-residents
of this state seeking divorces from our residents,
and thereby to increase greatly the number of di
vorce decrees already too numerous, and to break
down the standard maintained by this state in
regard to actions brought to dissolve the marriage
tie. It would, in my judgment, be a step back
ward for the state of New York to leave the high
ground it has hitherto occupied in this important
matter of domestic morals. Doubtless a lawyer
may argue that the amendment is consistent and
proper. Indeed, of all the judges whose opinions
I have been able to obtain on this point, but one
advised me that, in his judgment, it would be
against sound legal policy for me to approve this
amendment. I have, however, come to the con
clusion that the plea of legal consistency Is of
little weight when compared with the duty of
maintaining ' unshaken the present conservative
position of the state on the divorce question."
WASHINGTON dispatches say that Secretary
Hay will do no more work until late in the
fall and if his health then be not greatly improved,
he will retire from the cabinet. The Washington
correspondent for the New York World says: "It is
practically certain that Mr. Hay will be succeeded
by Secretary Taft, who will be the real head of
the state department while Mr. Hay is away. The
president doubts that Mr. Hay will ever be strong
enough to resume his official duties, and he al
ready has selected Mr. Taft as his successor,
barring some political contingency which now is
unforeseen. Surgeon-General Rixey, who has been
attending Mr. Hay for years, is by no means con
fident that the long rest which he has ordered will
result in the complete restoration of his health.
He goes no further than fo say that he 'hopes'
Mr. Hay will be sufficiently benefitted to take up
his work again by the. time congress convenes next
fall The attack of falntness to which Mr. Hay
succumbed as he was sailing from Npw York yes
terday is accepted as an indication, that he is
weaker than had been supposed. As. soon as ho
returns from his two months' cruise Mr, Hay will,
bv Dr Rixey's orders, go to his summer home at
Lake Sunapee, N. H., where he will stay untiL
lust before congress convenes. His conditipn then
will determine whether he is to remain in the
Mhinet While he is at his summer home Mr.
mv will not be bothered with official cares. Dur
ing the three months that Mr. Taft is to be away
state department matters of importanco will bo
taken up directly with tho prcsldont by Acting
Secretary Loomls, and questions of great moment,
if any ariso, will bo decided at tho cabinet meet
ings." ,. ,
JJJ
HARRY S. NEW of Indianapolis has boon
chosen as vlco chairman of the republican
national committee. Ho was chosen by Mr. Cor
telyou and will servo until tho committoo shall
choose a successor to Mr. Cortclyou. It was re
ported tnat Vlco President Fairbanks was op
posed to the selection of Mr. New, but tho Wash
ington correspondent for tho Cincinnati Enquirer
says that he Is authorized to announco that Mr.
New s appointment is agreeablo to Mr. Fairbanks.
This correspondent adds: "There is no question
but that in his capacity as the nominal head of tho
ruling body of tho republican party Mr. New
would bo able to bo of material assistance to one
or another of the candidates for tho 1908 nomina
tion. But it remains to be developed whether ho
will exert his influence in any particular direction.
In a large sense ho Is the representative of tho
national administration, and 1C the president and
Postmaster General Cortelyou should determine in
tho course of time to support a certain man
for the nomination, 'Mr. New no doubt would do
all in his power to aid that Individual's interest.
More than ono politician believes tho prcsldont
would prefer to see Secretary of War William H.
Taft nominated as against anybody else. Others
think former Secretary of War Ellhu Root is- his
first choico."
HARRY S. NEW has been tho Indianapolis
member of tho republican national commit
tee during two presidential campaigns. The En
quirer correspondent says: "Ho is tho son of Hon.
John C. New, for many years ono of tho republi
can leaders of tho Hooslor state, and consul-general
at London during President Harrison's admin
istration. Tho new vice chairman Is 47 year old,
and inherited from his father a predilection for
politics. In Indiana it is generally understood ho
is not at all enthusiastic over Vice President Fair
banks as a. presidential candidate. As acting
chairman of the committee he will play a promi
nent part In making the arrangements for the next
republican convention. Accompanying Mr. Cor
telyou's announcement of the appointment of
Harry S. New as vico chairman of tho committee,
was a statement that ho had designated Represen
tative J. W. Babcock a member of the committee
for the state of Wisconsin. Mr. Babcock will fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Postmaster
General Henry C. Payne, who served on the com
mittee for twenty years. This appointment may
not be especially pleasing to the LaFolletto organi
zation, which camo very near defeating Babcock
for re-election last fall. But It Is hoped the vete
ran representative will be able to restore harmony
between the two factions in the Badger state."
MILWAUKEE dispatches Indicate that the se
lection of Mr. Babcock does not meet with
unanimous approval in Wisconsin. The Milwau
kee correspondent for the Chicago Record-Herald,
under date of March 21, says: "The appointment of
Congressman Babcock as member of the republi
can national committee from Wisconsin to, succeed
Henry C. Payne has caused a stir among tho
friends of Governor LaFollette, who say that Mr.
Babcock does not represent the republicans of
Wisconsin. Some go so far as to say he does not
represent either faction. A state senator said
today that the congressman was repudiated by tho
republican party and received only a few hundred
plurality In his district, whore Roosevelt received
16,000. The whole republican state central com
mittee asked for the appointment of W. H. Connor,
the chairman of that committee. It is intimated
that efforts in the direction of a change will bo
made."
THE correspondent of the London Mail at Port
Arthur describes an incident of tho siege of
the fortress, when after a disastrous attempt to
capture a Russian position, a Japanese reserve reg
iment was ordered to renew tho attempt. Not a
man stirred. The major in command advanced
alone,, vainly calling to his men to follow. He was
soon ldfled and, after a time the regiment, ap
parently' struck with remorse, advanced to the as
sault, which completely failed. The regiment wa3
sent back to 'the rear, punished with forced- drills
and compelled tq listen to services in memory of
its dead major before it was allowed to go to tho
front again.
H
h 4
,'U
I
II
II
t
1
v
If&iul.K'.--