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APRIL 41913
The Commoner.
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TJE United States were visited with terrible
disasters recently. Beginning March 21,
with the Alabama and Louisiana cyclone where
sixty persons were killed, there were storms that
struck thirteen states resulting in property loss
in Illinois and Indiana alone that amounted to
one million dollars. Then camo the Omaha and
Nebraska storm on Sunday, March 23. In that
storm in Omaha alone, 110 persons lost their
lives and more than GOO houses were totally
destroyed while 1,699 houses wore partially
destroyed. The property loss will be at least
ten million dollars and 2,179 people were made
homeless. Then came the Ohio and Indiana
floods which damaged the city of Dayton, O., par
ticularly. A Chicago dispatch, carried by the
Associated Press and dated March 26th, says:
"Three thousand perished in the deluge-swept
portion of the Ohio yesterday and today. Prob
ably half a million people were made, homeless
by the floods in Indiana and Ohio and property
damage in both states will be at least $100,
000,000. The figures were compiled late today
from reports received here frdm various points
in the stricken district. Further reports may
increase the number of dead and it is unlikely
that any decrease in financial loss may be ex
pected. An additional horror was reported early
this evening from a Dayton fire, which seemed
widespread and probably uncontrollable in view
of the paralysis of the water plant, and probably
brought a horrible death to many "who .sought
to escape danger by climbing to upper floors of
buildings. Following1 are revised figures of the
dead. Ohio Dayton, 2,000; Pique, 540, Dela
ware, 100; Middleton, 100; Sidney, 50; Hamil
ton, 12; Tippecanoe, 3; Tlffln,50; Fremont, 11;
scattering, 200. Total, 3,066. Indiana Peru,
150; Newcastle, 3;. Lafayette, 2; Indiaiiapolis,
14;' Noblesville, 2; scattering, 25. Total, 96.
Grand total, 3,262." Later reports materially
decrease the number of dead.
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REFERRING to Dr. Friedmann, the St. Louis
Times says: The action of the United
States government In deciding to give the Fried
mann tuberculosis "cure" an official test will
be commended by all unbiased individuals. If
the Berlin physician has a remedy for the white
plague, it is of the utmost importance that the
fact should be demonstrated. If he is a self
deceived man, the promotion of scientific truth
demands that the facts should be ascertained,
in a matter which is of such vital interest to
millions of people. If he should belong to that
class of men who are willing to deceive others,
the unkindness of ignoring him would be as
nothing compared with a demonstration setting
this fact before the public. As yet the con
sensus of opinion does not appear to be at .all
favorable to Dr. Friedmann. Fellow scientists
in Europe did not accept his "discovery," and
conservative men in the United States have
asserted that the Friedmann method of bring
ing himself and his case before the public has
not been in accordance with accepted practices.
This may be due in part to proessional limita
tions in point of view. It may be duo to a con
scientious desire to spare the world any un
necessary disappointment. The fact which should
not be overlooked is that all great discoveries
have had to combat the incredulity of those
who should have been in, the best position to
recognize them. What was impracticable and
impossible yesterday becomes an established
fact today. The government has nothing to
lose in testing the Friedmann "cure," and in
a matter of such potential importance, the
truth should be ascertained by the highest court
and in the most thorough manner.
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TOUCHING the action of the New York board
of health in denying Dr. Friedmann the
opportunity to demonstrate his treatment for
tuberculosis the Chicago .Record-Herald says:
It looks like a piece of cheap gallery politics.
The medical profession in the United States has
no reason for cold-shouldering him. It has no
grounds to convict him before he has been
tried. Dr. TTrledmann is a man of high standing
in the medical world of Germany. Even his
detractors admit that he is a brilliant scientist,
though personally eccentric. That the German
government failed to take official cognizance of
Dr. Friedmann's discovery is no ground for
pouncing upon a noted scientist and branding
him another Dr. Cook. The motives of govern
ments, and especially of monarchical govern
ments, are not always of the purest. Royalty
often re-cognizes or fails to recognize in accord
not with merit but diplomacy. Before a scien
tist, or poet, or artist gains official recognition
in Germany ho not Infrequently has to run tho
grfuntlet of race and caste scrutiny. Such was
the casewlth tho poet Heine, and, In a smaller
degree, with the dramatist Ludwig Fulda. Tho
affiliations with one or another political party,
the views on society which the poet or scientist
may hold also enter into consideration. Nor
are the cables, which sneak dotractingly of Dr.
Friedmann, to be taken too seriously. Cables
often reflect official sentiment. Friedmann was
slighted by tho Gorman government, and the
cables paint him black. Dr. Cook was honored
by tho Danish government, and the cables
praised him. In the United States we know no
caste nor race differences. Nor are a man's
political faith or social views obstacles to his
winning fame as a scientist. Hurt by official
neglect in his own country, Dr. Friedmann turns
to the United States for an unbiased and un
prejudiced hearing. We should give him that
hearing and then judge hlra on his merits.
HERE is a striking story told in a Marlon,
Ohio, dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Found not guilty of murder, Viteo Beneditto,
fourteen years old, who admitted he killed An
tonio Stefano, his mother's paramour, fell on
his knees as the verdict was read and sobbing,
kissed the hands of each juror. Tho scene In
tho crowded courtroom was dramatic, as a new
form of tho unwritten law was upheld. Bene
ditto, a handsome lad, moved hundreds of spec
tators, Judge Scofield and the jury to tears.
Dropping to his knees and with hands raised
he cried: "I only did what you men would have
.done to a man who stole your mother and broke
up your home." The boy came hero from .his
father's homo In Freeport, 111., to Induce his
mother to leave Stefano. The mother told the
court today that Stefano used lovo drops to
keep her devoted to him.
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A STORY that makes tho heart beat faster is
told in a most interesting way by the New
York American: James J. Lynch and Thomas
Morris, of Yonkers, had been chums for thirty
years, but were not bound by blood ties until
recently. Lynch is a contractor and Morris a
manufacturer, but Lynch -assumed both roles
and contracted to manufacture a new lease of
life for Morris. By delivering to his chum ono
pint of good Lynch blood he saved Morris's life.
Lynch had been visiting Morris every day since
the latter became ill, several days ago. Re
cently he arrived at the usual hour. "Hello,
Tom!" he said. "Hello, Jim!" replied the in
valid, weakly. "Can't you 'tend to your busi
ness instead of bothering with a poor sick
fool?" "Not today," said Lynch. "You've been
appointed a nobleman. You're going to get
some blue blood in your family the blood of
the Lynches, descendants of the royal Lynches,
of County" "Hush your blarney," said
Morris. What do you mean?" "I mean the
families are to be united." "There's no chil
dren old enough to be united." "Then we'll
unite the blood of the ancient kings ourselves,"
said Lynch, removing his coat. It was in tho
Morris home at No. 73 Buena Vista avenue,
Yonkers. Lynch calmly lay down beside tho
patient. The doctor, E. I. Harrington, came in
in time to prevent the patient from dangerous
excitement. He explained that a transfusion
of blood was absolutely necessary. The sick
man reached out a feeble hand that was warm
ly clasped in that of his lifelong friend
Quickly an incision was made in a vein of Mor
ris's wrist, and another in an artery of Lynch'
arm. The arms were bound together and the
blood flowed from the poworful healthy man to
the invalid. "That was a fine sacrifice" said
ono of the doctors, as Lynch was leaving. "A
sacrifice of family pride, yes," replied Lynch,
with his incorrigible humor. "But as to blood,
I was inoroly returning what I took out of him
as a boy." The invalid's eye flashed In do fiance,
but he had only strength enough to grin grate
fully. & j? &
I POSTMASTERS have received copies of a
. general order providing for the Installation
of the collect-on-dellvery system for the parcel
post. The Omaha World-Herald says: The
now rule provides that after July I, 1913, pack
ages may be sent by parcel post, C. O. D., pro
vided that the full amount of the postago on
the package Is paid and 10 cents in parcol post
stamps In addition to the amount required for
postage, be attached to tho package. Upon de
livery of tho package the person to whom It Is
addressed must pay the charges on the packago
and sign a receipt, which also servos as an appli
cation for a money order. This tag, together
with the amount collected, Is returned to tho
money order department, whore a monoy order
is made out to the sender of the package and
forwarded In a penalty onvclope, the monoy
order serving the sender of the package as a
receipt for the goods. No goods bo sent may bo
examined until the charges on the packago have
been paid. No packago can bo roturned after
delivery. This new branch of tho parcel post
service will undoubtedly Increase tho business,
and it Is estimated by some that It will In time
entirely do away with tho express business In
tho United States. Any package so sent is In
sured for It's value, which shall not exceed $100,
without extra charge. C. O. D. packages may
be received by and sent to money order officei
only.
i)5 ?
NOW they are talking about White House
weddings and some one has prepared tho
following list of marriages that have taken
placo at the executive mansion: 1811 Lucy
Payne Washington, sister of Mrs. Madison, and
Judgo Todd, of Kentucky; 1812, Anna Todd,
cousin of Mrs. Madison, and Representative
John G. Jackson, of Virginia; 1820, Maria
Monroe, daughter of President Monroe, and
Lawrence Gouveneur, secretary to President
Monroe; 1826, John Adams, son of President
John Quincy Adams, and his cousin, Helen
Jackson; 1829-37, Jackson administration,
Delia Lewis, a friend of President Jackson, and
Alphonse Joseph Yver Pageot, attache of French
legation; Mary Easton, niece of President Jack
son, and Lucien B. Polk; Emily Martin, a con
nection of tho Jackson family, and Lewis Ran
dolph; 1-842, Elizabeth Tyler, daughter of Presi
dent Tyler, and William Waller; 1874, Ellen
Wronshall Grant, daughter of President Grant,
and Algernon C. F. Sartorls; 1878, Emily Piatt,
nieco of President Hayes, and General Russell
Hastings; 1886, President Grovor Cleveland
and Frances Folsom; 1906, Alice Roosevelt,
daughter of President Roosevelt, and Repre
sentative Nicholas Longworth.
LIKE MNOOLN
Buffalo (N. Y.) Times: In depth of thought,
in felicity of expression, the Wilson inaugural
stands side by side with the best speeches of
Abraham Lincoln. The fajnous Lincolnian
passage about "tho mystic chords of memory,"
and the awakening of noble purpose by the
better angels of our nature, is irrestibly called
to mind by such a paragraph as this: "The
feelings with which we face this new age of
right and opportunity sweep across our heart
strings like some air out of God's own presence,
where Justice and mercy are reconciled and the
judge and the brother are one. We know our
task to be no mere task of politics, but a task
which shall search us through and through,
whether we be able to understand our time and
the need, of our people, whether wo be indeed
their spokesmen and interpreters, whether we
hare the pure heart to comprehend and the rec
tified will to choose our high course of action.''
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