Perth Amboy evening news. [volume], January 28, 1909, LAST EDITION, Image 6

About Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959

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EDITORIAL PAGE OF THE NEW8.
ΤίΠ'ΚΛηΑΥ. JANTABY !», ίΟΟ».
Per HAroboyEveningNews
Founded 1ST» IB the Perth Aniboy
Republican.
Aji Independent newspaper, publiahe*
eyery afternoon, except Sunday·
by the ΡΕΚΤΗ AMBOY EVENTfK
NEWS COMPANY. Ne. !8« Stat'
•treet, Perth Ainboy, N. 1.
i LOGAN Cl.EVENQKR Bdlto;
D. P. OLMTTEAD .. Buatne·· Munagei
TERMS OK fSUbSCRIPTION:
THE EVENING NEWS I· on «aie a
new» «land* end delivered by reg»
lar carrier· In Perth Amboy. Koutl
Amboj, WooilbrlOgc. Hooeevelt. Tot
tenvllle and «urrounrtlng town" fO'
two cent· per copy, ten cent· a week
forty cents a month. It 35 for ·>:
month·, and 14.89 per year.
Long Distance Telephone II
Entered at Poet Office ae Second
el»·· mattur.
TO OUR HEADERS:—If you do not re
ct'lve your paper regularly, w
would consider It β favor Ir yo<
would report the matter at once.
No attention paid to unalgned romaii
nlcatlon·.
VOLUME XXIX. NO. 163.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2t>, 180».
FACTS ABOUT PEBTH AMBOY.
Population, 30,000.
23 miles from New York.
Ocean fit earners can dock in from 8
to 40 feet of water.
Channel 21 feet deep at low waie
lending up the bay from Sandy Hook.
Daily steamer service to New York.
Has four railroads, the Pennsylvanie
Central Railroad of New Jersey, Le
high Valley and the Ktat.en island Rap
Id Transit. Branches running in al
directions affording almost an un li m
ited number of excellent factory sites
Has two telegraph and two tele
phone companies.
One electric light company and on<
gas company.
Two daily newspapers.
Federal j»oetoffice building.
Public Library.
Seven grammar schools and ens higl
school, which is on tbe approved lis1
of all the leading universities in tb<
country; four parochial schools and ι
business college.
flhiirrthAu n·? nil d#» η otni nations.
A city hospital.
Municipal water works.
A prominent center for trolleys i(
all part» of the mete.
Richest clay deposits in the conntij
in the immediate vicinity.
Splendid theatrical advantage·.
Βυιηο of the leading industrie* ure
-American Smelting it Refining Com
pany's smelter; Raritan Coppet Worki
smelter; Barber Aepha.lt Works; Unitefl
Lead works; Pardee Steel works anc
tile works; five terra «otta plants
within immediate vicinity; numciout
brick and flreprooflng works; ceramif
work»; Chesebrongh Vaseline Works,
Marcy Stove Works; two dry dock com
panies, together with shipyards anc
inariuo railway·; standard Under
ground Cable Company; Boeesler S
Haeslacher Chemical Works; enserj
mills; coke and cigar factories; ce
ment stone works; eoal shipping piers;
Rosenthal handkerchief factory: ce·
ment works; machine shops and iron
foundries.
Tax rate 1.Λ0.
For further particulars address
ALBERT LFON, Secretary oi th<
lîoard of Trade.
7 —^
CITY OOVEBNMENT
MAYOR—Albert Bollschweiler. D.
ALDERMEN—William D. VoorheM,
P., second vard, aldermau-atlarge;
Samuel W. Horn «by, h.j first ward:
Bernard M. Gannon. D., second ward;
Richard J. Galvin, B.( third ward;
George T. Larson, R., fourth ward; Law
renee J. Dalton, D., fifth ward; Stepher
Schultz, R., sixth ward.
Regular meetings the first and thlrr
Monday nights or each month.
CITY < LEKK—Wilbur LaRoe, D.
COLLECTOR OF BEVENUE—Bieb
ard F. White, D.
TREASURER—C. P. Convcry, D.
COMPTROLLER — John F. Ten
Broeck, R,
RECORDER—H. E. PickerBgill. B.'
CITY ATTORNEY—C. C. Hommann
».
CITY PHYSICIAN—Dr. Μ. β. Mein
zer, D.
HEALTH OFFICER—Dr. J. L. Lund
D.
8DPT. OF POLICE—P. J. Burke.
CHIEF OF FIRE DEPT.—George Ε
Mead.
OVERSEER OF POOR—-Cornelia
Lyons, D.
CITY SURVEYOR - Samuel J. Ms
son, D.
STREET COMMISSIONER—Georg
M. Adair, P.
HABBOH MASTER—William Flynn
I).
TIMEKEEPER-William Tice.
BOARD OF A SS ESSORS—W. A
C'rowell, I).; Math Weirnp, D.; Jos. Mae
nopust, D.
COM. OF ASSM "Γ8 FOB 8TREF/
TMPHOVKMRNTH- Matthew Smith II
JJenry Toft, D.; W. P. O'llara, D.
TRUSTEES (IF PUBLIC LI BRA H"!
—Francix W. Kitchel, Pres.; Henry W
Jones, Trea».; (v. J. Mc< orinick, Hecy
Fritz lioyler, Itev. J. Zielinski. "Ei
offmio, the mayor anil superintended
of public schools. Regular meeting
sec.jud Tuesday of t-Hch month.
BOARD OF EDUCATION—-John C
Arm-r, D., president; South R. Fairing
ton, R.; Martin Ratajczak, D.; F. A
Seaman, D ; George Moore, R.; M. i.
I -a r c ei;. R. Jeune Colyer, secretary
S, E. Sbull, city superintendent. Regu
1er meeting· the second Thursday ο
each month.
BOARD OF HEALTh—P. N. Ken
liedy, C. V. Sibley, D. Hnedeker, Α. Ρ
^Kennedy, Richard Henderson, Ott
Smith, J. Kreielsheiujer. C. E. Brew
liter, clerk. Regular meetings the firs
Tuesday eTeniug of each month. Ad
(litional meetings third Tuesday evenini
of June, July and August.
BOARD OF EXCISE—J. H. Mul
ehahey, D.; John Sesman, D.; C. Mesh
tow, P.; Fred it. Walker, H..; Wrc
Cheshire, 11.; Wilbur La Roe, clerk
Begular meetings first Thursday in eae)
month.
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSION
ERS Thomas J. Clark, R. president
Edwin G. Fraser ,D.; (.4. J. Haney, R.
C. D. Nnedeker, D.; Ira R. Crouse, R.
J. G. Barns, D., superintendent; J. Ν
St. John, B., asst. supt.; I. R. Tice, Β
clerk; S. J. Mason, P., engineer. Regi:
1er meetings the firat and third Wednei
days of each month.
ALMA BiAC FOR ΤΠΕ WKKK.
Sim Sun Mooi
rise* sets net
./an, 2« ... 7:20 5:0.'. 10.15
27 ... 7:Î0 i:0<| a. M
28 . .. 7:18 6:07 12:0
28 ... 7:18 β:09 1:1
SO ... 7:17 β:10 1:1
31* ... 7:18 4:11 3:3
Feb. t'... 7:2* 4:43 2:1
MOON CHASOnS Mi /A XT ART.
. Full moon. 8th; last quarter, 14th
anr moon. Zl«t; first quarter, Itt)
MONEY SAVERS
ίο dozen of men'· fine Outing
I Flannel l'ajamaa, fancy trimmed,
in a large assortment ■ ι Λ
of patterns, reg. price Ι I U
j 1.50, special I · I w
j ς dozen of men's heavy ribbed
Elastic Underwear, reg- ^ ^
11 mous MONARCH and LION
; Brands, made with attached and
Gannon&Sheehy
Look foi electrk st1«a
F IKE Ai ARM BOXES
23—liariiao Copper Works.
26—High and Lewis Sts.
.'27—Madison Ave. and Paterson St.
128—Market au<l First Ste.
>5—Smith and High St».
36—New Brunswick Ave. and New St.
37—State and Smith Bte.
i #3—Buckingham Ave. and Hartford St.
4ft—Commerce and Front Sts
ι 47—High and Washington Ste.
64—S(uie St. and Buckingham Ave.
ι 66—Hall Ave. and Charles St.
, 67 -State and Wayne St.».
188—Near ITnitea Lead Works.
>12—Washiugton and First Ste.
63— New Brunewiih Ave. and Elm St.
64—Smith St. and Wat eon Avt.
65—Commerce Rtid State Sts.
(72—Front and Smith Ste.
73—Water and Gordon Ste.
74—Kearny Ave. and Gordon St.
! 82—Smith and Herb -t St·.
83—Am boy Ave. and Washington St.
84—Lehigh Ave. and Stanford St.
86—Near City .Hospital.
»4—Maurer.
To seud In an alarm, open the door
of the box, and pull down the lever
ONCE ONLY, and let go. Stay at box
until firemeu arrive.
Bpedal Ο idle.
I 1 tap—Break in circuit. 2 taps
Fire under coutrol. 3 tap·—Fire out.
5 tape—Police call. 13 — Call for
Washington How; Co. 14—Call for Mc
C'lellan Engine Co. J 5—(Jail for Pro
tection Hook and Ladder. 16—Call for
Eagle Hose Co. 22—Call for Lincoln
Engine C'o. 44—Call for Garfield Hose
Company. 383—Call for entire depart
ment. In case of inability to sound
I alarm from a box, telephone police
[ head quarter·.
TIME OF HK.H WATER.
A. M. P. M.
Jan. 26 11.02 11:40
27 11:48 12:00
28 12 ; 46 1:02
2» 1:60 2:18
80 2:65 3:32
31 3:66 4.41
Feb. 1 4:62 0:40
coming Bvnrm
Jan. 29—District Meeting National
J Protective Legion, Dana Iiu.ll.
fan. 29 Ball, Ushers of Majestic
theatre, Washington hall.
Jan. 29—Lecture, "Ultimate Amer
ica." by John Merrltt Driver, High
I School auditorium.
.fan, 30—Cake Sale, Ladles' Aid S ο
ι ciety, St. Paul's German church.
Jan. 31—Unveiling of Statue of St.
1 Joseph, at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, at Hungarian R. C. church,
I Cortlandt. street.
Feb. 3—Ball. Puritan Athletic Club,
Washington Hall.
Feb 6—Masquerade, Thor Lodge.
Danish Brotherhood, Washington
Hall
Feb. 8— Lecture, "SU Steps to th<
Ivory Throne of Imperial Man
hood," Rev. Mr. Shoop, Presbyter
ian chapel.
Feb. 8 Rummage sale, Women'i
unristian Temperance union.
, Feb. 9—Open meeting, Board ol
ι Trade, Public Library Auditorium
Feb. 9- Ball, Orchestra of Majestic
' theatre, Washington hall.
Feb. 11—Bal], Benefit of Italian
Earthquitko Sufferers, Washing
ton hall.
Feb. 12—Ball, Woodmen of th<
World, Washington hall.
! Feb. 12 - Ball, ('«mp 31, Woodmet
Ί of the World, Washington hall.
Feb. 12—German Celebration It
honor of Abraham Lincoln's birth
, I day, Braga hall.
I Feb. 16—"In Old Kentucky," aus
pices of Society for the Preventlor
I of Cruelty to Animale, Majestb
theatre.
Feb. 15—Ball, Slovak George Wash
lngton Political Club, Obuck'i
hall.
Feb. 13— Reception and Dance
Companion Court Martha Wash
lngton, Independent Order oi
, Forester*.
Feb. 14—Anniversary Celebration o!
Braga Ladles Benevolent Society
Feb. 17—Ball, Court Standard No. Ill
Foresters of America, Waahingtoi
I Hall.
Feb. 18—Concert by «hoir, Presby·
1 terlan church.
Feb. 19—Masquerade Ball, Bragi
' Hinging Boclety. Braga hail.
Feb. 20—Cake Sale, Mite Society li
chapel of First, Presbyterlar
church.
' Feb. 21—Annual Ball, Waahingtoi
' "Hose A Chemical Company, Wash
' lngton hall.
Feb. 22—Supper, ladles' Auxiliary
of Simpson M. K. church.
I i Feb. 22—Celebration, Sons of Zlon
ί I Braga hall.
II Feb. 26—Tenth Annlverwary Cela
bratlon Junior League, Danish M
< Β. church.
' March 2'—Ball. Worklngmen's Sing
lng Society Mannerc.hor, Washing
ton hall.
March 17—Ball, Brotherhood ef Bail
road Trainmen, Washington Ball.
Apr. 12—Minstrel Show, Marlon A
1 C., Majestic Theatre.
' Apr. 20- -Concert, "The Roae Mai
1 den," Perth Amboy Choral Socle
■ ty, Majestic theatre.
I Glady»- My brother i· Jut awfal
I He can't sate a cent. Harold—Be hM
j aave4 · tea spot of nlu far the Ihi
ateM η» nth·.—New Y«rfc BeraM
The only way to meet competltloi
; to te advertlaa.
IS HEBRON INSSANE?
Discussing the case of Alexander Herron, the Metnchph mur
• »
derer, the Hadnon Observer s»ye:
"Once more the emotionalists are at work, and there is little
doubt that they will save from execution Alexander Herron, the bru
tal Middlesex county murderer, who was to die, this week', in the
cleotrie chair.
"This, notwithstanding the question of the man's sanity, was
passed upon during the trial. This, in spite of the fact that Governor
Fort, with sound, common sense, refused to interfere in the convict's
behalf and read the bueybodies u lesson on the 'insanity dodge,'
which should have done them some good, but did not.
"An ancient law, dating nearly back to Henry the Eighth, gov
erns such cases and gives the meddlers a standing. Some may have
forgotten it. It reads:
" 'If a man, in his sound memory, commits κ capital offense,
and before arraignment for it, he beeomcs mad, he ought not to be
arraigned for it, because he is not able to plead to it with that ad
vice and caution (hat he ought.
"And if, after he has pleaded, the prisoner becomes mad, lie shall
not be tried; for how can he make his defense?
"If, after he is tried and found gnfMy, he loses his senses before
judgment, judgment shall not tie pronounced; and if, after judg
ment, he becomes of nonsane memory, execution shall he stayed; for, ,
perad venture, says the humanity of the English law, had the prisoner
been of sound memory, he might have alleged something in stay of j
judgment or execution.' j
" Herron, the emotionalists say, 'sits about his cell as if in a|
stupor, and is absolutely listless and unconcerned, lie does not act. j
like a rational man. conscious of the punishment which is shortly to '
befall him.'
"Well, naturally, a man who lia* committed ,·ι brutal crime, who ι.
has gone through the ordeal of a trial, who has been pronounced
!sane and guilty, and sentenced to die, cannot be expected to carry)'
himself like a rational human being, on his way to lodge or a husk-1 ,
ι ing bee. lie might be expected to lose interest in life and to mope j '
around, with singular thoughts in his head, made up of what hue ι j
1 gone and what is to come. ;,
"But, this state of mind, we submit, is not the real madness ι
which the architects of the ancient common law had in mind when j '
! they built their humane rules to guide the courts, else every attempt i,
j at capital punishment would have been defeated from the beginning j
i of modern civilization.
"An application is to be made to the court for a commission to
; inquire into Herron's sanity. Several doctors are ready to swear that
he is at present non compos mentis. That settles it. lie will go to
the asylum for a while and then some smart lawyer will get him out,
land he will walk around as an encouragement to more murder."
UP TO DATE CITY GOVERNMENT.
The EVENING NEWS has frequently stated that the <>I<1 city
charter is one of the gréaient hindrances Perth Amboy has. Tt is |
entirely out of date and was adopted sit a time when this place was a
country town. Other i-ities have adopted more up to date forms of
governments ; why not. Perth Amboy? AV.* quote tin; following from
the Newark Morning Star:
"Elizabeth lins retained the old-fashioned style of municipal
government, with the departments run by committees of the Com
; mou Council. Newark discarded that archaic plan many years ago
! and set up an independent board of works to hove charge of streets,
I sewers and water supply. Two years ago Patersou partly followed!
suit, much to the disgust of the small fry politicians of that town, ι
Elizabeth now seeks th<- saine kind of municipal government., and will ,
ask· the legislature to grant, the necessary authority to make the
change. It might be said of Newark that the era of government im
j provement began only after the old system of aldermanie control ;md
I maladministration had been ended."
No one denies that Newark is one of the best governed cities in
I the country. It is also admitted thnt Elizabeth is progressive. These I
! cities are not laboring under the disadvantage of charters adopted,
when they were mere villages. They would not be where they are
ι now if they were. Admitting that state laws have wiped out a great
many features in Perth Amboy's charter, this has only tended to
confuse matters. There is already a question whether or not the
I city should have sis councilmen as well as six aldermen in the gov
erning body. Other problems, equally as puzzling, arise. Why
I does not Perth Amboy join her sister cities in their efforts t<> im
j prove their form of government so as to conform more closely to
; modern ideas?
WHY THE NEW TROLLEY LINE.
Discussing the proposed trolley line between this eirj and Eliza
beth, the Trenton Times says:
"Announcement that the Traction Development Company has
recently been incorporated to build a trolley line between Elizabeth
and Perth Amboy will probably be offered as proof thnt. the new fran
chise law is not preventing trolley extension. Hut the conditions are ^
peculiar along the line of the projected road. The Standard Oil Com
pany has just built a great plant just south of Elizabeth, awl within a
very few years it will be a city of 8,000 or 10,000 inhabitants. Trans- j
portation facilities are needed. No one who compares the rapid
! trolley development of eight or ten years ago with present condi
tions will need to be told that the limited franchise law has resulted
; in the refusal of capitalists to place their money in trolley enter
prises that offer no immediate returns. Fortunately Trenton and this
section of the state is well provided for, but there are sections badly
; in need of better transportation facilit ies, and these must wait until
! they grow big enough to offer assurance that original investors can
'hope to get their money back, with interest, within twenty years."
SUPPORTING THE* SCHOOLS.
Governor Fort backs up liia stand upon the financial situation in
this etate in a convincing manner. He points out tJint even with
state expenses there would still be a handsome ftum left to be divided
among the school districts of the state.
There is really 110 reason why the state should levy a tax especi- i
ally for the public schools. The educational system in this state is I
under local control and the people are supposed to look after their ;
own districts. The state's income for some time past has been so
great, however, that it was decided to distribute the money among,
the schools to lessen the local taxation. Now that tl»· income of the
state is not so great, and as the expenses have naturally increased j
J along with our population and growth, it is not unusual that the j
j state should want to use some* of this surplus income from the rail !
; roads. If it is not for slate use there is no excuse for the state taxing1
the railroads, as Governor Port points out.
It is quite evident that the governor has made a study of the
matter and that he has picked out the best way to solve the problem
now before the legislature.
David Baird, the Camden leader, is conspicuous at Treut.on dur- !
! iu(i the present session of the legislature, by his absence. He ha*
packed hie grip and departed ou a vacation. As for Théodore '
Btrong—oh, well, he haa retired from politico, anyway.
1809 —The Lincoln Centenary — 1909
Lincoln as Legislator
► ♦
Not · "Political Failure."
The Common People
Voted For Him- Lifelong
Contest With Douglas J·
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ «
By James A. Ldjerion
Copyright. 1000, by the
American Prest A*oii«(l«»
WHEN Lincoln was nominat
ed for the presidency lile
foe» objected that he was
almost without official cx
i>erlence, that be bad served only a
tew terms In the Illinois legislature
iud one term In congress and thai be
was practically a failure tn politics,
als course In congress having driven
lira into private life for many years
iud hie radical sentiments In the de
bate with Douglas having defeated
iliu for the eeuutoreblp. They also
irged against him the fact that he had
jeen beat*n for senator on a previous
>ccasion, making two defeats for one
>ffice. Many other things did they al
ego which seemed like very large >ib
itucles then and look like very small
mes now.
Λβ for the charge that he was a po
Ulcal failure, a close examination re
reals the fact that It was Lincoln's
wnesty alone which caused his r«
erses. In congress he was too hon
'st to approve all the administration's
)OlIcy regarding the Mexican war.
H'hen he ran for senator the flrst tluie
ie lacked a few votes of having
■nough to elect him and magnanl
nonsly threw his strength to Lyman
rtnmbtill in order (hat a innu at least
>art way right might be elected.
Vhen running against Douglas, LI11
•oln had the bravery to declare "Ilie
latlon could not endure half slave and
ialf free." This and other bold utter
mces lost him the senatorshlp, but:
;alned htm the presidency. Indeed,
he retained bis honesty nil mac mow.
A man who <»n go through eight year»
of an average legislature and keei>
honest U worthy of higher tiling*. An
other remarkable thing about Lincoln's
legislative career Is that be introduced
few bills. The business of the average
legislator Is to Introduce a whole grist
of bills he knows cannot pass, Just as
the business of the average legislature
is to enact a grist of laws that cannot
be enforced. 'J'he fact thai Lincoln
kept free from the creation of surplus
rubbage of this sort Is another mark
of his unusual ijuallty.
Outside of keeping bis character und
rising above the deadly bill Introduc
ing habit Lincoln'* most conspicuous
service In the legislature was in get
ting the capital removed to Spring·
Held. When lis entered the body it
met at Vandaila. The removal strug
gle came a few years later, and Lin
coln led the Springfield forcée. Any
one who has cvver been through η coun
ty scat Ugbt can arrive at some idea
of a state capital w.'ir by multiplying
one county by all (he counties In the
state. Nearly every city and budding
hamlet in Illinois wanted that plum,
and it took hard work and general
ship to land it. Springfield then con
sisted of a few houses and a Jorge
number of ambitions. For such -a
town to ask for the state capita) ex
hibited gall of α high quality, but to
capture it away from all the other
competitors took executive ability and
sleepless endeavor Toe credit for the
I . - !
The common people believed in
Lincoln.
nvesllgntion reveals the unusual fact
bat each of Mr. Lincoln's defeats left
liim stronger, not weaker. He wan ,
building bit: political house on the I
rock of principle, not on the nantis of
temporary succeas.
For this reason the charge of ofli
•lal inexperience did not hurt him. It
Is all right to hold office if one at the
sunae time can hold his self respect,
but w hen he has to barter the one for
the other he is not apt to go higher.
Long fealty to η cause is a greater j
recouimeudatlou to the people than |
long tenure of place.
Lincoln was twenty-three when he !
Urst ran for the legislature and twen- [
ty-flve when he was first olecled. That
initial defeat, he often raId after- !
ward, was the only one he ever *uf-1
fered In a direct appeal to the people.
So much for the charge that he was
"a political failure."
The common people believed In Lin
coln. They voted for him nt every op
portunity. In this llrst race he got
practically all the volets In New Sa
lem, where he lived, although It was
Democratic, while he was a Whig.
Lincoln was only beaten that time by
people who did not know him. Never
again waa he defeated by popular
vote. The only thing that enabled
Douglas to win in the contest for the
senatornlilp waa a gerrymander iu the
legislature. Had direct election of aen
aie<rs then obtained Abraham l.lncolie
would have been United State» senator
from Illinois and not Stephen A.
Douglas, for Lincoln beat Douglas
about 4,00fl.
When Lincoln was In the legislature,
however, the senatorial contest wa'i
nearly a quarter of a century away. He
served In the body eight years. A su
preme mark of his greatness la that
achievement «as ebiefiy giiveu to Lin
coln.
Owe of tbe plnoes )u the rave was
Jacksonville, with the redoubtable
Stephen A. Douglas as Its champlou.
I'oor Pougius! He nai unquestiona
bly an «droit jfolltieian sud a titan of
unusual ability. Among the ordinary
run of horse trading politicians he
would have been pre-eminent. The
only trouble with htm was that be was
pitted against a man. His was the
faIe of the imitation when if meets the
real thing. Lincoln boat Douglas In
the rare for a wife, in the conte»t for
the Plate capital. In the campaign for
the presidency and really in the can
vas for tbe senatorshlp, for, while
Douglas received the empty honor,
Lincoln had the glory and tbe popular
vote. The "I.ittle Giant" hud the shell
of the «'oeoauut, but the big giant hxU
the meat and the milk.
During Lincoln's legislative service
Illinois was on tbe boom. Xlie Inter
nal improvement mania *«a in fr.ll
force. There was little or no money
In sight, but the legislature capitalised
the great expectations of tiie future
and appropriated millions. The world
has never seen such exuberant flnan
ciera as the legislators of a new state.
Ordinarily they have uot vuough real
money among theui to atari, a small
country newspaper, yet the large and
generous way they mortgage the fu
ture and give away the people's sub
stance makes Wall street look small
end ironaervatlve in comparison.
! It must bo admitted that Lincoln
' wns about the leader of this sort of
boom legislation hi Illinois. Tie want
id to be known as the De Witt, ('lie
ton of the new commonwealth. Soum
unkind critics have said that be came
nearer to being Its John Law, but that
le net fair True, mot rurtj nu..»
gatiee dM almost bankrupt the mtate.
But who could bave foreseen the pei>l«
of 1837? The people demanded them
internal improvement», elected thell
represenfetlree on that sort of plat
form. and In the legislature itself
there wat practical unanimity lu push
ing tbeee bill·. The purpoae was «o«d.
It grew out ot I be right aplrlt- that ot
optimism and construction. The only
trouble waa that the Illinois legislator·
»f that early day were not lilgh finan
cier* arid hod not learned how 1o water
•tuck. Lincoln never did know any
thing about (Innnee, either public or
private. But he alwaya belonged to
the constructive side nnd placed th·
nation aboTe self, and that 1» more
than moct financial experts can boast.
; In bis last two legislatures Lincoln
wan the Whig candidate for speaker,
which made him the minority leader
of the house. He was on Importent
committees and was regarded not only '
β» one of the most convincing debet
trs of the body, but, better eliil, ne one
nt lis most effective working member».
Ills service lit congru·:) did not hvjçln
till 1847, nix years after be left the
leginlature. That it was so long de
layed was not his fault. He tried to
get In earlier, but there were too many
other able and ambitions men in hi*
district. As a result throe or fonr of
them had to take "turn about," and
Lincoln-* turn came last.
If Abraham Lincoln bad remained In
Congress more than one term Ijc would
have become a leader, Just as he had
been In the legislature. It requires
long servlre to gain prominence in
cither house iu Washington. Mr. Lie
coin was mncb more to the front than
the average new member. He valued
fame as a debater and a wit, bis
speeches were made campaign docu
ment», he was soon known as the beet
story teller in congress, and he wan
winning bis way in more solid and
substantial thing». I.Ike mom of the
conscientious VV'blga «if his day, how
ever, he was not in full accord with
the Mexican war Several great and
good American stHfeeuien have com
mitted political haraklrl by opposing
some of Tlnclo SauTs wars. In this
very struggle Thomas for win, one of
the Krenteei. stump orators in Ameri
can history, prepared the oven for his
political cremation. Nor was he Uie
only one. Lincoln himself was forced
out of public life for practically ten
years. That be survived and was able
to reenter at all showed bis hold on
the people of Illinois. Ule dlatrlcf,
which bod been Whig, was changed
permanently to Democratic. We preach
and practice free speeeh iu this > ouu
try—except iu wartime. This is one
, reason why the sooner war is ended
forever the better. Anything that pre
vents* liberty of thought uud expre»·
sion Is a false thlug.
Lincoln's chief sin against the g«>nlue
«if the Mexican war wan in the intro
duction of what wore known as the
"spot" resolutions, The reason h«
could not be f.irgl>en for them wit*
that ιhey i.-oald not be answered. They
put (he administration in a hole, h sit
liation in which no administration liken
to be. The Mexlcau war le a period in
oOr national history concerning which
most patriotic students do not « are to
lie too innuieitlve. f generally try to
'skip it myself—not tiie fighting. I mean,
but the faune» that led up to it. The
Hghrtng was rather ona aided, but wa«i
glorious from our viewpoint. But a«
for the things that produced it well,
why not talk about something ι·1ι·β'ί
Cue of Lincoln's most famous
speeches In congress wast that lu w bleh
he exploited General Cass as η ciiil
j tary hero. It belonged to the order
of campaign stump speeches, but was
I food of Its kind. The relation of caiu
| paign speeches to real oratory is about
the same a# that «if campaign songs to
real poetry. In fact, the average cam
paign as it haH been coudu'-ti-d is η
; peculiar combination of mendacity, pet
tifogging and barroom wit. This is its
public aspect. The inside part of It,
would usually put somebody Into th<»
penitentiary If it were public, (.'heap
I adulation of our candidate and « heap
abuse of the other have been the rule.
I Fortunately we are beginning t<^. es
! cape from the crasseal features of tl>«
I thing, lu Lincoln's day they were at.
their height. That was not his failli.
The tool of «■ampalgu oratory he took
a* he found it and us«h1 It effectually.
In this particular General Cue
speech Lincoln recounted hie own ex
ploits in the Black Hawk war. Mis
manner of handling the subject showed
a great and redeeming virtue he did
not take himself too seriously.
To understand Mr. Lincoln both in
this earlier pari uf his career and ;)t.
a later period It must be Itorue in nilncl
that in the best sense of the term be
was a politician. This was true of hlui
• s a Whig and later as a Republican.
Nor should it be forgotten that Mr.
IJncoln was a party man. He in
sisted on organlmtiou and on strength
ening the party at every possible
point. One of bis reasons for opp«>«
Ing any alliance with Judge Douglae
at the time Mr. Greeley and other In
fluential Republicans were urging
such a nnlou was that it would dis
integrate the party. In his candidacy
for the seuatorship and in both cam
paigns for the presidency he an
tiowiced hie fealty to the party plat
forms. In fact, he gave a very short
letter of acceptance, pointing to the
platform aa & «efficient declaration of
his principles. When u candidate for
president he not only made hia let
ters of acceptance abort, but: refrained
almost wholly from aiieechmaking or
from giving other jKilltlcal eiprea
; sioiiK. Thus he eliminated his per
sonal views as far as possible from
the eanTHM and put the party's view*
into the foreground.
j Abraham" Lincoln was a politician,
one of the greatest we bare seer,, bnt
he was a politician for country and
not for self.
i «$ YOU LIKE IT. I
With the opicera of mont. of' (lie
lodges lu&tallcf), the roenjberH way
no*· resume their usual work.
The men -who set in * pinochle
game a day or two ago, where Ihe.
one who lasted the longeut wae to
get the money, were all willing to
quit after they had played for four
teen bourn. They left the State
«treet cafe, where thé à'smfe took
place at 3 Α. Μ., tired but satisfied
that nobody hurt copped tue coin.
• A well-known «Jinjionwr of liquor
Hays you will always bite Vfrni·
tongue if you tell u lie early lu the
morning, lie toUl a woman an un
truth a day οι- two ago anil a abort
time later he bit hie Kinuue· He told
a NEWS reporter of bla airriiieut and
warned all who eve* stray from tfa«
atraight and narrow pafti to be care
ful. ■'■· ■ ·
The tnitb of the warning that
things ebeirftH b· done- pfonipTly baa
I·
ckH»in b*.en shown. A tuau ΙΙνΙηκ on
Washington street lied a pig which
was ready to bo eaten, and he told a
man who iloee Much J»l>« to p.ome and
kill the animal. The <W1 vat M.ruek
hut the killer did not appear. 1'MnaJl·- ί
ly I he ciwmr» bad the porker put to 1
deuth. After two we*kw had olapeeA JS ]
the man showed up to put the pig t«
tie.nth and wan greeted hy the an
roiinuemeat that tlue family hud
be«u entlng parte for several day·.