TIIK NORFOLK WKKKLY NKWS.JOtMN.\L. { FRlUAY. DKCKMUKK 1M1 , 1911.
\
THE PASSPORTS
THE TREATY CONTROVERSY HAS
LASTED THIRTY YEARS.
BUT NEGOTIATIONS ARE OFF
Russia's Attitude Toward the United
States In Matter Has Been Insult.
Ing The Matter of Trade Did Not
Bribe Uncle Sam.
lly JAMEi A. CDGiniTON.
,1'SSIA , uniHt ndnilt the American
prlnelp.c of equality before the
law when she deals with Amerl-
can cltl/4-iiH. That Is the mean-
of tlio action taken by the IIOUHC of
representatives whi'ii It voted to abro
gate thu Russian treaty by a majority
of 800 to 1. Per moro than thirty
years there has been controversy be
tween the two natloiiH n to honoring
American passports. ItUHHln insisting
oa her right to question our citizens as
to their religious belief before admit
ting tlnm and excluding Jews. Catho
lic priests and Protestant missionaries
Practically every American secretary
of Ktatc has protested against this attl
ludc , but nothing has cnm ; > of It. Now
the congress proposes to taUe decisive
action. President Taft has stnled tlmt
diplomatic negotiations are guln fur-
ward and that he \\lll roinniiiiil ate
with congress later In regard thereto
The Principle Involved.
The primary principle of American-
Is in la that "all men are created eipri. ' '
This is the first proposition laid down
lu the Declaration of Independence.
There has been a lot of nonsense writ
ten und Hpokcn concerning It , but tin
derstood In the sense In which It was
adopted It Is true today nnd eternally
/The / Declaration of Independence Is
a political document ; therefore this
statement that "all men are created
equal" should bo understood In n polltl
V cal sense. It means that men .ire equal
before the law. It applies to all Ameri
can citizens not only as to their treat
ment by our own government , but by
all other governments. There can be
no discrimination. Another American
principle ! H that the law shall know no
difference of race or religion. That Is
only n further application of political
equality. This also applies not only to
our own government , but to all other
governments In their treatment of
American citizens.
If we permit any government with
which we have treaty relations to dis
criminate between American citizens
because of race or religion It Is as
though we did It ourselves. Our own
government participates in the dis
crimination. It is bound to protect all
American citizens , to safeguard their
persons , their properties and their
rights , in whatever part of the world
they may be. If any nation violates
the person , property or rights of an
American citizen the American gov
ernment is bound to demand and ob
tain reparation , even to the point of
going to war. Now. Russia for forty
years has been denying and violating
the rights of a certain portion of our
citizens. As Congressman Sulzer said
"This Is not a Jewish question. It lc
an American question. " The shame of
It is that we have permitted this dis
crimination so long. There is nothing
left but to abrogate the treaty. It Is
a matter of national Integrity.
Russia's Attitude Insulting ; .
In her Insulting attitude toward
American Jews , Catholics and mission
nrlcs Russia has not only violated the
fundamental principles of our govern
ment , but she has violated the treaty
The language of that instrument Is an
follows :
There slinll lie between the territories of
the high contracting parties a reciprocal
liberty of commerce and navigation. The
Inhabitants of their respective states shall
mutually have liberty to enter the ports ,
places anil rlvcis of the territories of
each party wherever foreign commerce Is
permitted.
They sluill be nt liberty to sojourn and
resldu In nil pai ts whatsoever of said ter
ritories In order to attend to their affair * ,
and they Khali enjoy to that effect the
name security and protection us natives of
the country wherein they reside on con
dition of their submitting to the laws and
ordinances there prevailing and particu
larly to the regulations In force concern-
tr.r ; oomnieicc.
For nearly forty years after the
adoption of the treaty there was little
friction over the matter of passports.
Formerly the Itusslan attitude toward
the Jews was liberal. It has been
only since the "black hundreds. " the
infamous program and the massacre *
of Jewish citizens that the trouble
has arisen. It must not be supposed
that only American Jews have been
excluded. Those of other nations
have been kept out also. The millions
of Russian Jews that have come to this
rountry have made the question more
acute with us , however. Against these
Hebrews that have tied from the czar's
dominions the Husshin government
has been especially bitter. They could
not go back even to see their own
relatives.
Secretary Elaine's Protest.
Among the American secretaries of
Plate that have protested against the
Russian practice of ignoring our pass
ports were William M. Evarts. James
O. Rlalne and John Hay. In 1SS1 Mr
nialne wrote to John W. Foster , our
minister to St. Petersburg , as follows :
I need hardly enlarge on the point that
the government of the United States con
cludes Its treaties with foreign states for
the equal protection of all classes of
American cltlrens It can make absolute
ly no discrimination between them , what
ever be thi ir origin or creed So that they
nbldc hy the laws ot home or abroad. It
must give them due protection and ex
pect like protection for them. Any un
friendly or discriminatory act against
them on the part of a foreign power with
which wo are at peace would call for our
earnest remonstrance , whether a treaty
V existed or not
You wUI distinctly Impress upon blm
( tnn lltuMiin minister of foreign
that , legal-drill of thn HOverHgnty of Itun-
sin , wo do not milnnlt nny su Ki'Mlnns
touching the luws and ruslomi of the etn-
, > ln ixccpt where thoio lawn nnd oustimii
conflict with and destroy the rights of
Amerloii. citizens nn secured by treaty
otllc .tl ( > Ms You can further advise hint
that / can mnko no now treaty with
RusMn njr accept uny construction of our
Diluting treaty which shall discriminate
against nny cliui of American citizens on
account of thrlr rcllgloun faith.
That was thirty years ago , nnd the
condition Is now more intolerable than
It waa then. Our continued remon-
BtraticcH have been met by evasions ,
vnguo promises and other shifty de
vices of Itusslan diplomacy. Now the
time for action has come , nnd there
will be u showdown. The genius for
mendacity for which the ofllclal repre
sentatives of the czar are notorious
will have no further play HO fur as wo
are concerned. If n break means the
IOHS of our growing trade In IlURSla the
trade will have to go. Russia In an In
direct way has threatened thin , but if
nlie Imagines that the American nation
cun be hrihed with a little trade to
power. As n matter of fact , Russia
does take It upon herself HO to ques
tion us If we swk to enter her domain
A former ambassador to Turkey has
related that the same question was
once raised as to American and Kng
llsli missionaries In Turkey and tlmt
he had reason to believe the Russian
diplomatic representatives Inspired the
action These missionaries nere edu
cating the natives , nnd he believed that
Russia did not want any of the sur
rounding countries educated. Certain
ly she will not penult missionaries to
educate her own people. She objected
to the presence of William Morgan
Sinister , nn American , In Persia be
cause he was an iutluencc for democ
racy and nationalism In Persia There
Is a higher principle Involved In this
matter than any yet mentioned. It Is
that of progress , liberty nnd enlighten
incut. Russia tins set her face against
these things. Vet If the American na
tion has a mission In the world It Is to
lead all lands toward these goals. This
Is not involved In the formal and tech-
Photos of SuUer nnd Hammond copyright to American PITRB Association.
1. FORMER AM1JA8SADOR HOCKHIIJ. : _ > . AMUASRADOR GUILD ; 3.
JAOOH H. SCIIIFF ; 4. CONGRESSMAN SI'LXKR ; 0. JOHN HAYS
HAMMOND.
wink nt the denial of the rights of Its
citizens a rude awakening is In btoie
for her. We lo\e dollars , yes. but we
also love fair play.
Our Gratitude to Russia.
Nor do Americans forget the debt of
gratitude we owe Russia for her friend
ship In the days of the civil war. This
Issue , however. Involves a fundamen
tal principle that is above friendship.
No special consideration of any kind
whatever can be allowed to stand In
the way of u square deal to all Ameri
can citizens. That granted , the ancient
friendship will be resumed. Hut If we
must pay as the price of Russian
friendship nnd Russian trade the con
cession that tier oUiclalu can honor or
dishonor American passports , as the
whim strikes them , the cost Is too
high. Her trade and friendship are
not wortli it. The principle of equal
ity before the law is not open to barter.
Wo do not question our citizens as to
their religion , and no other government
can be permitted so to question them.
Their faith Is a matter between them
selves and their God. With it no earth
ly government has n right to interfere.
Upon that rock we must stand , what
ever happens. It is enough for nny
man beneath the protection of the stars
und stripes to show his passport nnd
say. " 1 am nn American citizen. " Ills
religion Is nobody's business. If I want
to travel in England , or France , or
Russia , and If I behave myself nnd
observe the laws of the lands through
which I pass , no bureaucrat has nny
right to question me as to the blood of
my father or mother or ns to whether
I believe In the Trinity , the Koran , or
baptism by Immersion. Those tilings
nre sacred to me. I do not submit
them to nny temporal government
whatsoever not even to my own gov
ernment , and much less to one that is
alien.
These arc fundamental rights of the
Individual. That Russia has violated
them for BO long is an outrage. It Is
nil the more reason why she should not
be permitted to violate them longer.
Hy every principle on which our na
tion Is founded , by every tradition and
by every Impulse of Americanism , we
are bound to protect them.
Bights of Man Are Concerned.
This Is not at all n question of
whether we like or dislike persons of
the Hebrew race. There are all sorts
of racial prejudices In the world. The
American nation is made up of prac
tically every nationality and well nigh
every creed. This is n mutter that far
transcends nny difference of that na
ture. It concerns the rights of man ,
the rights of American citizens. It
must be said for the American Jews ,
however , nnd we have ubout two mil
lions of them , that for the most part
they nre good citizens. But even that
Is a matter nslde. The fact that they
arc citizens at all Is enough. If even
the humblest nnd least worthy citizen
is denied his rights , then your rights
and mine nre not secure. If he may he
questioned ns to til's religion by an
nllen power you nnd 1 may be ques.
tloned as to our religion hy an alien
nlcal 1sMie between the two notions.
Yet In u higher sen o it is involved.
Russia has rigidly excluded mission
aries us well as Jews Have we quite
fultilled our duty to humanity , to free
speech and to < Ivili/.ntlon so long ns we
permit such n condition to exist ? Amer
ican nils-iionanes nre protected elte-
where. Why not lu Russia ?
Not Only Jews Affected.
Aside from this , however , which tuny
be objected to as more or less of a sen
timental rouMderntion. we can inMbt
and do insist that all American citizens
receive equal treatment before the laws
of our own and other lauds. On that
point our right is indubitable. That Is
Americanism in Its essence. Russia
cannot make fish of some and flesh of
others. If she admits one she must ad
mit all on equal terms. To the full rec
ognition of that principle our faith as
a nation is pledged.
Russia has refused to honor our pass
ports issued not only to naturalized
American Jews , but to native AmcrK
can Jews. She has refused those Is
sued to Catholics. Baptists and others.
Some of the stories of these exclusions
make one's blood boil. At lust they
have aroused the American nation
Mass meetings are being held through
out the land. Protestant churches are
among the foremost of those demand
ing that the rights of our Jewish citi
zens be guarded. On this point Amerl
cans are e ctirinlly a unit.
One of the must inspiring things hi
modern history is the intiuence exerted
on all IniiiN tiy the American Declara
tion of Independence. Never did a po
lit lea I d < i'-uneir ' : tiate such speedy and
wide-jii ' ' 'ill intltienie SinnIt was is
sued a ehaln ot republic * tins appeared
around tin- world nnd the process N
not itimpletfii l einiicriey : and m.
tlonnllsm ate Mveeim , ; : even the orient
And now r.'t'vs' , ! , . HJP ijiud Of ahsoln1
Isui. l < to tome fu : e to face with t' '
principle < > f t'Oi'uPtv ' before the law
Christmas at the Hospital.
There was a gigantic Christmas
tree at the state insane hospital on
Christinas night , Dr. Johnson , the su
perintendent , seeing to it that every
patient was remembered with a gift.
A feature which made Christmas a
pleasant one at the hospital was the
fact that the new building has Just
been finished. The dining room was
occupied Sunday for the first time.
The balance of the building will bo
ready for the early part of next week.
This building has been under con
struction for several years. It is in
this structure that the infirmary is
located , with the new water treat
ment as an addition to the institu
tion's equipment.
Steel Trust Gets Extension.
Trenton , N. J. , Dec. 26. United
States District Attorney Vreeland in
the United tSntes circuit court announced -
nounced today a further extension of
time had been granted for the filing
of an answer In the suit of the gov
ernment for the dissolution of the
United States Steel corporation. The
time was extended from the first Mon
day In January to February 1 , in the
CIIHO of the United States Steel corpo
ration Itself and for twenty-flvo or
thirty other defendants lu the case.
Patterson a Suicide.
Plnlnflold. N. J. . Dec. L'fi. William
Patterson of Lincoln. Neb. , a friend
of William Jennings llrynn , who dis
appeared from his daughter's homo
here on Sunday morning last , was
found dead today with hln throat cut
near a quarry In North Plalnfleld. A
bloody razor lay hy his side and the
police say that It is n case of suicide.
Drought to the Hospital.
West Point. Neb. Dee. 'M. Carl
PrucBS of lleemer , an old set
tler and one of the most substantial
farmers of Cumlng county , aged 00
years , \vnn adjudged Insane and con
veyed by Sheriff Herman to Norfolk.
Mr. Pruoss has suffered for the last
twelve months from a stroke of
paralysis , which Is supposed to have
affected his mind. Ho Is noted as
being a most energetic nnd exem
plary citizen , a good , husband nnd
father , and Ills misfortune IB regret
ted by the entire community. Uist
week he attempted to commit suicide
by drowning.
Girl Not Slain ; Just a Rooster.
Olathe , Kan. , Dec. 2G. Hloodstnlns
in a deserted mill In this city which
for two days kept county authorities
busy running down n supposed mur
der clue , were today found to bo tin-
work of smallboys , who ns a hoax
slew a rooster , spattered his blood
about the deserted building and upon
a hea\y iron bar found there.
Hairpins and strands of woman's
hair found in the mil ) also nre be
lieved to have been placed there by
the Jokers. The authorities had
dragged several ponds in the vicinity.
GOTCH TO MEET MUNROE.
Champion Wrestler Reaches Kansas
City to Finish Training.
Kansas City , Mo. , Dec. 20. Frank
A. Gotch , champion wrestler of the
world , arrived hero from Humboldt ,
la , , this afternoon to complete his
training for his match with Alee Mun-
roe , champion of Great Britain , hero
tomorrow night. Neither Gotcli nor
Munroe has ever been defeated in a
championship bout , and their meeting
tomorrow night has aroused much in
terest.
Packers Plead Immunity Bath.
Chicago , Dec. 26. When the trial
of the ten Chicago meat packers un
der indictment for criminal violation
of the Sherman law was resumed be
fore United States District Judge
George A. Carpenter today , counsel
for the defense sprung a surprise on
the government by reviving the fa
mous immunity plea under which
seven of the packers escaped possible
conviction several years ago.
Attorney John S. Miller , who suc
cessfully raised this point in the for
mer proceedings , us.ed , the argument
today in a motion to have the court
exclude all testimony in regard to the
transactions of the packers prior to
July 1 , 1905. Ho said this testimony
would bo incompetent in the present
trial.
Judge Carpenter intimated that he
had passed on practically the same
question when ho denied the plea of
abatement before the beginning of
the trial , and he said he was not dis
posed to change his decision unless
some new points were raised.
Counsel for the defense agreed to
put their argument in writing and
submit to the court before the close
of the day. Judge Carpenter an
nounced ho would defer his ruling on
the motion.
Tells of Packers' Meeting.
Albert II. Veeder , attorney for
Swift & Co. slnco the organization
of the company lu 18S5 , was the first
witness called by the government. Ho
admitted that the packers in 1900 ,
1901 and 1902 had an organization
which met in rooms adjoining his of
fice , and that his son , Henry Veeder ,
acted ns secretary of the organiza
tion for two years. Ho said ho never
heard the name of the organization
and had no knowledge of the business
transacted at the meetings held every
Tuesday afternoon.
These are the meetings at which the
government contends the price of
meat was fixed by the old packers'
pool prior to the organization of the
National Packing company in 1903.
New Paving to be Done.
Norfolk avenue from Seventh street
west to Fourteenth , and Ninth street
from Norfolk avenue north to Pros
pect , are to be paved.
The city council passed an ordi
nance providing for this , In accord
ance with a petition that had been
submitted by property owners. The
next step will bo the voting of bonds
and the selection of material with
which to pave the street intersections.
The new district is paving district
No. 2.
Knights Observe Christmas.
An impressive ceremony was ob
served in Masonic hall at 11 o'clock
Christmas morning by Damascus com-
mandery No. 20 , Knights Templar.
The regular Christmas program was
carried out in full , a notable feature
being the presence of Col. S. W.
Hayes , who had not been present at
the commandery Christmas exercises
for many years. Col. Hayes made a"
brief address.
"I consider It a privilege to meet
with you , " ho said. "I may not be
with you again next year , because 1
have lived long past the allotted time
of man , but if I am physically able I
will bo with you again next year. "
A card of regret was received from
Joseph Alberry of Omaha , who has
not failed to bo present at the com-
mandery's Christmas exercises since
they were first Instituted here.
The first speaker was A. II. Vlele ,
who responded to "What Wo Are
Hero For. " "The Knights' Declara
tion" was the subject of C. II. Hrlght
of Wa.Mie , who followed Mr. Vlele
1' . II Davis spoke of "The Night of
Toda > " ; llev John Melmnker , "Tho
Prince of I'eaco" ; I ) . Ilees responded
to the grand master's toast.
Night letters conveying Christmas
greetings were sent to Knights Rlx ,
Dean and Feather , \\lio are wintering
In California.
Trainmen Give Annual Party.
About 200 collides of merrymakers
enjoyed the twenty-fourth annual ball
of the Ilrotherhood of Railway Train-
linen , given at Marqunrdt hall Christ
mas night. The dancing continued un
til 1IO ! : ; In the morning and every
body had a great time. U was one
of the most successful balls ever given
by the railroad men nnd the train
men's ball Is always the electric
lighted , liU-milc-nn-hour limited of the
Christmas reason In Norfolk. It has
right of wny.
Nearly everybody In Norfolk was on
hand , ilnslness men nnd professional
men and mil road men brought their
wives and found It n delightful end
ing to a merry Christmas. The deco
rations were elaborate. Vogot's or
chestra furnished the music.
The following trainmen had the ball
In charge :
Maxtor of ceremonies R. C. Dem-
man ; assistants , K. V. llulac , G. D.
Illy.
Committee of arrangements W. H.
llackett , Fred Goodheart , H. T.
Drown , R.C. . Demmon , Henry Ken
nedy , G. W. Patterson.
Invitation committee 10. W. Stans-
berry , 11. C. Uecker , G. R. llarney , F.
R. Dobnoy , C. Nelson , W. A. llruce.
Floor committee M. K. Pangle , M.
O'Sullivan , M. D. Perry , A. H. Me-
Laughlin , L. J. Knapp , G. llindownld ,
R. M. Wray , K. M. Kennedy , D. P. Me-
Grune , J. W. Merriam , L. Halversteln ,
it. J. Sornberger , W. H. Ryan , J. F.
McGrane , 15. F. Klentz.
Reception committee Messrs. W.
II. Hackett , J. F. McGrane , William
Heck , R. L. Nichols , O. P. List , C. R.
Cox , W. R. nitney , A. D. Smiley , G.
W. McDonald , U. J. Sornberger ; Mesdames -
dames W. IJ. Hackett , J. F. .McGrane ,
William Reck , R. 1. . Nichols , O. P.
List , C. R. Cox , W. R. nitney , A. D.
Smiley , G. W. McDonald , H. J. Sorn
berger.
Talking of Another Fight.
Salt Lake City , Utah , Dec. 20.
Jack Curley of Chicago , manager of
Jim Flyun , the Pueblo heavyweight ,
announced today that lie would guar
antee Jack Johnson $20,000 for his
share of the purse win , loose or
draw for a finish with Flynn for the
heavyweight championship of the
world. Curley declared ho would se
lect Nevada as the battleground , as
he insisted that the fight would be a
finish , and he did not think it could
bo staged elsewhere.
Local sporting men declare that the
proposal to stage another battle In
Reno would bring out the inhabitants
of that town with riot guns. Curley
expects to leave for Chicago to con
fer with Johnson after the Flynn-Ca-
poni bout , scheduled here for tomor
row night.
Reno Neb. , Dec. 26. From a legal
standpoint there is nothing to pre
vent the staging of the proposed
Flynn-Johnson battle on Nevada soil.
The law enacted in 1897 for the fight
promoters of the Corhett-Fitzslmmons
bout is still in force.
The announcement from Salt Lake
will be received with mixed feelings
by Nevada people. Many believe that
so long as the law permitting finish
fights is in force interference should
not be tolerated. On the other hand ,
there are many who are ot the opin
ion that public decency would bo violated
lated should the right be allowed , and
there is no doubt but there would ba
a strong demonstration of disapproval
in case the promoters endeavored to
bring the men together in Nevada.
Chicago , Dec. 26. Jack Johnson to
day positively asserted that ho would
not fight Jim Flynn for less than a
$30,000 purse.
"I am willing to meet Flynn any
where in the world , " he said , "but the
purse must bo $30,000. "
RUSSIA INTRODUCES A BILL.
Measure of Prohibitive Tariff Aimed at
the United States.
St. Petersburg , Dec. 27. A supple
mentary bill In which government pro
posal of a frankly prohibitive charac
ter is included , was introduced by the
nationalists into the duma today. It
is aimed directly at the United States.
According to the terms of the pro
posed enactment , American citizens of
the Jewish religion are to bo totally
excluded from Russia , and in the second
end place customs duties are to bo
raised by 100 per cent unless the Rus
sian normal schedule Is lower than
the American. In that case a duty
equalling the American duty will bo
collected.
The author of the bill states that
the provision is necessary in order to
deal with the importation of American
agricultural machinery. The remain
ing points of the proposed bill correspond
spend In virtually every particular with
the bill Introduced on Dec. 22 by ex-
President Guchkoff , providing for tar
iff schedules applicable to the United
States at the expiration of the Russo-
American commerce and navigation
treaty of 1832.
WHOLE CREW WENT DOWN.
Gibraltar , Dec. 27. Still another
vessel , the German steamer Chios ,
foundered with nearly all hands during
the recent storm In the bay of Discay.
The Chios , belonging to the German
Lovante line , was proceeding from
Hamburg to Alexandria on last Thurs
day when she wns caught In the hur
ricane and sank with all but two of
her crew. The first oficer and one
sailor were rescued by a passing ves
sel.
ji Preparing President's
Message to Congress
* * * < j
' < \ Special Arrangements Against System Whereby Newspaper
Leakage of Contents Be- Readers Have Message as
fore Proper Time. Soon ns Delivered.
_
* *
public In general has lltUc erne
THIO Idea of the work tlmt at
taches to the preparation of the
president's annual meoHnge to
congress , a document which In looked
upou as being of the greatest Import.
There is no general rule ns to when
the president's annual message Is to bo
completed. The net of compiling and
writing nnd therefore the completion
lies with the individual occupant of the
White House himself nnd In the past
lias averaged about one week prior to
the assembling of congress ,
Ex-President Roosevelt possessed the
reputation of getting Ills facts together
and the document out of the way early.
The late Presidents McKlnley nnd
Cleveland both used to make It their
rule to complete mich duties as early
as ten days In advance of the time re
quired. There nre times , however ,
when clrcumstnnces will arise which
will cntuo delay in the work , niul it Is
frequently not completed until the last
moment. This does not mean , however
or , that the whole work upon the men-
sage Is dclnyed until the last moment.
It might be said that the actual work
of composition requires but n compar
atively short time , from one to four
weeks , but the main work of construct
ing the message may extend through
out the year.
Whatever affects the public welfare
will therefore very likely become H
part of the presidential message. There
are few In our millions of population
who do not stop to read some portion
of It at least , nnd because it Is an olll-
clal expression of opinion and recom
mendation It will be treated in the
most guarded manner.
Mode of Structure Similar.
Tlie individual presidents , even back
to Washington , have not varied much
In their mode of structure of the mes
sage , though they have shown various
literary qualities.
Usually after the gathering of data
they will make a plain .statement , of
the conditions of a subject , followed
by a resume of the causes giving rise
to those conditions. In an argument
for or against any particular topic it
Is the usual practice not only to weigh
each point , but to array the facts nud
data on their proper side of the bal
ance much the snmc ns would a judge
in presenting n case to a Jury. It has
frequently been the case that such ar
guments have turned the tide of legis
lation in favor of the presidential poli
cies.
It is really one of the purposes of
these messages to bo the medium
through which nn executive is to free
ly express his ofllchil opinions and
upon these opinions to base his recom
mendations and suggest the outlines
for general legislation which he may
deem desirable.
Herein does the president often call
upon his official advisers for Ktigges-
tions. If there is n subject which per
tains more particularly to any one ex
ecutive department lie will sometimes
call the head of that department into
consultation. There are occasions also
when nn executive will discuss certain
subjects in regular cabinet meetings to
secure n general outline of action , nnd
it is not unusual that he will draw up
the whole message In skeleton form
and present it directly to the cabinet
oflicers for general discussion.
Just how much the president has to
say in this great document depends
entirely on the state of public affairs.
There have been some annual messages
containing as many as 75.000 words ,
while the conditions and recommenda
tions for some years have been such
as to be treated with as small n num
ber as 15,000. The message of Presi
dent Taft of last year was an unusual
ly lone one and In Its bound form pre
sented the appearance of a book.
Rut. whether the president's message
be long or short , it Is not the number
of words which Indicates the labor In
volved. Concentrated thought Is a
requisite , but the effort to guard against
misinterpretation or a possible shiftIng -
Ing of the sense to suit the enemies of
the administration's policies is equally
essential. It means n solid construc
tion.
Absolute Secrecy.
When an executive begins the actual
work of writing his annual message
but one man is selected to help him.
Not only must this clerk be exception
ally well qualified for such work , but
he understands that absolute secrecy
Is enjoined.
The president usually dictates once
each day or perhaps twice , as time per
mits. Carefully arranged notes form
the basis of this dictation , nnd there
are also all kinds of Information within
call. It may be on his desk or in one
of the departments or reachable by
telegraph. The total dictation for a
day's work usually fills the best part
of n notebook , which means that the
stenographer must transcribe anywhere
from 3.000 to 8.000 words on his type
writer.
As far ns the nctunl writing goes ,
these characteristics vnry nlso with the
presidents. The styles of President
Tnft nnd the late Mr McKlnley nre
very similar , nnd their methods of do
ing the work nre also alike.
President Taft's dictation is slow ,
even and carefully delivered. From
two to five hours a day nre generally
taken up with this work during the
time of actual writing. The whole
mosaago looks llko a voluminous docu
ment In Ita typewritten form , const- !
luting n pile of 'JfiO or moro pngen. In
thin shape It goes to Undo Sam's big
prlntery not. however , as does the or
dinary public document.
Special arrnngempntH nro mndo
ngulnat possible leakage of Itii contents
to the public ears before thn tltno net
for Its reading In congrcsH. An as
sistant secretary cnrrles the manu
script to the government printing of
fice nnd delivers It In pemon to thu
public printer. In that olllce It Is dl
vided Into sections.
Original Manuscript Destroyed.
Knoll group of compositors , printers
nud proofreaders who handle the va
rious Hcftlons will know only the con
tents of their sections , for which they
will bo held strictly responsible.
It In safe to say that no editor ever
grilled n manuscript moro critically or
more unmercifully than docs the prcsl
dent when ho reads the proof of his
imvisngo. When that Is completed the
original manuscript is destroyed at tint
White House. When the corrected
proof Is returned to the public printer ,
each time being conveyed by nn assist
ant secretary , the work of preparing the
message In its completed form begliiH.
Printed on heavy white paper lit
large readlblo type , with generous mar
gins on all sides of each pngo , the mes
sage forms volume varying from 'JOO
to MX ) pages , nine Indies wide by sev
enteen inches long. It IN bound In a
black flexible leather cover , labeled In
gilt letters. Uvery copy that Is print
r < l at the government printing olllce is
accounted for by register presses ,
which record each impression made.
These , having been checked up , are de
livered nt the executive otllccs and
carefully stored nway until ready for
use.
Enough copies are bound in book
form to supply each member of the
cabinet nnd each member of tin ; sen
ate and house with one. Hnough are
printed on newspaper proof sheets d >
supply each newspaper In the United
States which may care to publish the
message in full. Altogether about
. " ,000 copies are run oft" .
There nre only two copies made
which are termed official copies.
These are the copies which are formally -
ly signed by the president and presented -
sented to the vice president as presid
ing olllcer of the senate and the speak
er of the benne of representatives.
Old Custom Changed.
In Washington's and Jefferson's time
it used to be the custom for the chief
executive personally to write hla own
message nnd rend it himself before the
Joint assembly of the congress. This
was In accord with that clause of the
constitution which provides that the
president shall communicate with coo-
gress In writing.
So far ns the construction of the of-
llclal copies of the message was con-
i crncd , such a custom prevailed until
quite recently. Those copies , which
were delivered to the vice president
and the speaker , were entirely hand
written , voluminous documents that
looked endless to the spectators as the
reading clerks sometimes struggled
uncertainly through them. Within the
post two years , however , that clause
has been construed to mean any kind
of writing , hand or machine , so that
tile big presses at the government
printing office now do the writing In
a few hours for both copies , where It
used to require n few dnys for each.
By fnr the greater port of these
ri.OOO copies nre proof shcctn. which
arc sent in advance to the various
newspapers throughout the country
under what Is termed the syndicate
system. Each copy is headed with the
announcement that it is to bo released
for publication on a certain date.
This in newspaper circles means that
It is not to be printed before that date.
Ordinarily the publication before the
release date on the part of any news
paper publisher would mean a com
plete violation of the code of ethics in
the newspaper world , but such a violation
lation under these conditions would
mean a fnr more serious matter to
that paper In Its future career. Thus
! > y this system citl/.ens In any part of
the country may read the president's
message In full n few hours after it
has been read on the floor of the
house and senate.
New Musical Instrument.
A new stringed musical Instrument
Is reported to have been devised by a
Japanese violin maker In the city of
Nagoya The invention Is named the
relkln and seems HUely to supersede
the snmlscn. It has the shape of a
guitar , save In the neck , which is the
only part resembling a samlsen. There
are four string to it. nnd by manipula
tion of the keys the Instrument can be
made to do the work of several saml
sen The Inventor has plnyed his rei
kin in an orchestra of Japanese Instru
ments and showed ( hut It is a success
In every \vny Me says that the Idea
came to him when he was touring
through Europe bict venr
A General Snow.
Snow began falling early after mid
night nil the way from Norfolk to
Chicago. At Omaha it was snowing
hard this morning and the tempera
ture was 22 degrees above zero. Re
ports from Grand Island nnd points
between there and Chicago showed
that snow was falling throughout that
area. In the country around St. Louis
it was raining.
