Chapter III (3)

County Banks shall be subject to examination and supervision by the Government of the United States.

These observations may be crude, but certainly they are worthy of consideration. Is the general idea not worthy of attention?

Perhaps much that has been suggested should be eliminated entirely; much probably should be changed; much more perhaps should be added.

Time and trial of the system would bring to mind many good ideas. Consider it and see if a little thought given to the matter won’t make it look feasible and open up a much wider field for thought than merely the idea of a people’s bank.

What are the possibilities of some such system? Not only what are the possibilities, but if you please, what are the probabilities as to the results that would follow such a system?

It will settle the Trust Question because, it will take the control of money from the men who are interested in the Trusts, and thus enable competition to the Trusts to borrow money with which to go into business in opposition to them.

It would hardly be possible, under present conditions, for a person or syndicate to sell bonds to supply the money with which to go into business in competition with the Standard Oil Company. The men who are in control of the money market would not dare to incur the ill will of such a powerful influence as that which is behind the Standard, by buying bonds of a rival concern. The men who are interested in such gigantic Trusts are the ones who control the money of the Country. So it is with competing lines of railroads. The men who now are in control of the through lines of railroad have too much influence over the money market to permit competing lines to be built.

Give to the Government banking power, with local County Banks, and the currency question will settle itself. The much talked of standard of value will become fixed. The currency will be made as elastic as the exigencies of the times shall demand.

We will have not only gold and silver for a basis but as well all of the broad acres of fertile land, the mines, the grain, the horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, in fact everything that goes upon the assessor’s book will stand behind the dollar. For the County and the Government will guarantee it.

It will be elastic because each particular locality will have the power to issue emergency currency to meet the immediate needs of the community. The County with all its property will stand behind it, and surely all of the land and property in the County will furnish a sufficient security to make good a sufficient volume of currency to get the product of farm, or mine or manufactory to the market.

It will furnish a security to the depositor and thus keep the money which should be in circulation from being hoarded; for the man who has a little money will have no fear of depositing it. A banking law recently enacted in Oklahoma has been much praised because the state guarantees the deposits. How much better would be a law which provides that in return for the guarantee of the deposits the State shall take down the profits of the business. Is it right that the State should take all the risk of losses and not share in the profits?

It will settle the much disputed Tariff Question, because the profits arising from the banking business will probably pay all the running expenses of the Government, and leave a balance besides.

If this should prove to be true the Custom house can be abolished and there will be no necessity of levying tribute on imports.

It will settle the question of Internal Revenue taxes, for the Government will need no longer to shock the tender sensibility of the Prohibitionist by levying tribute on the vile Demon to support itself.

It may, eventually, lead to the Government ownership in such a gradual manner that it will not unsettle the business interests of the Country, for as the revenues produced from the profits of the banking business increase in excess of the expenses of Government, the same can be invested in bonds and stocks of the Public Utilities from time to time, until after a number of years they would naturally be absorbed by the Government.

The local tax collector can be discharged and our direct tax on lands and chattels will cease, as the profit to each County will more than pay the expenses of the County, including State taxes.

Examine the published and sworn statement of all the local banks in your County, and figure a reasonable rate of interest on the deposits alone, not including capital stock and other sources of revenue, and you will find a profit per annum of more than sufficient to defray the expenses of your County, including maintenance of schools and roads and bridges.

This scheme may seem visionary at first, and not feasible, but think it over. Don’t dismiss the idea without a thought. Surely it is worth some consideration. Perhaps you may get some good idea from it.

Bankers will dismiss the idea, of course, as not being worthy of consideration. Money lenders will oppose it. Large capitalists will treat it lightly. To the man, however, who is interested in Government of the people, by the people, for the people, free from any personal advantage, it will surely merit your consideration.

Governments are formed to regulate society and to protect the weak against the strong. That was the prime object of Government. That which vitally affects the public is proper subject of legislation. If a wrong is being perpetrated it should be righted by law. The people have the right to expect this to be done. They have it in their power to regulate this greatest of all necessities, money.

One hears a great deal said about the necessaries of life. We talk of raiment to clothe us, houses to shelter us, food to satisfy our hunger and fuel to keep us warm, as the necessaries of life, but none of these things can be counted as any more necessary than money, for before we can procure these things we must first have money. It is the first necessity of life. Is it not proper that it should be put under the control of our Government and its control taken out of the hands of the few?

Let all the people control, by means of a proper Government, this first great necessity.

People’s banks will protect the depositor and make his deposit secure.

People’s banks will relieve the borrower from the money shark and usurer, as a fixed legal rate of interest only will be charged.

Let us have people’s banks, and the power of money, which is now given by the millions of depositors in this Country to a few men, will be taken out of the hands of the few and returned to the people through their Government. Wall Street will be transferred to Washington.

Let us have people’s banks and the investor will not be crushed to the wall by a panic, as they will be a thing of the past. Investments will be more stable and more secure.

The standard of value will be fixed for all time, tariff laws will need no amending and changing from time to time, and cause restlessness and uneasiness in the public mind, and every man will have an even chance with every other man in his race for a livelihood.

_A DWELLER WITH THE PAST._

From cabin crude on lonely height—
Eyes piercing keen the solitude—
She gazes at the scarce-worn pass,
Where shadows ceaseless bend and brood.

A soft caress, a word or two,—
The pleasuring thing danced on its way;
But to her, guileless child, it seemed
That blossoms bright fell from the day.

She sighs, the sputtering wick burns low,
The night wind bends the long hill grass,
And the soul of that fleeting bygone day
Glides noiseless o’er the rock-ribbed pass.
Ricardo Minor.

Clippings from Exchanges

OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN.

An old Yankee fisherman up in Maine said to his son who was starting out to seek his fortune, “Sonnie, mind what I tell ye, in this here world you’ve either got to cut bait or fish.” Oscar Hammerstein, humorist, father of six children, plunger, man of business, cigar machine inventor, real estate speculator, vaudeville manager, composer, theater builder and impresario, is one of the men who fishes.

He fishes where he pleases, when he pleases, and how he pleases. “He wants what he wants when he wants it,” and what’s more he gets it. When he wants to do a thing he asks Oscar Hammerstein’s advice. If Oscar Hammerstein says go ahead he goes ahead.

This man has the faculty of disembodying himself. He looks upon himself objectively. He has implicit confidence in Oscar Hammerstein—in his judgment, in his courage, in his indomitable perseverance, in his star. The psychologists talk about the subliminal self. It is some such self which is Oscar Hammerstein’s guide, philosopher, friend, and mentor.

I asked Mr. Hammerstein if he had a Board of Directors. He replied, “Certainly; see that long table there with all those chairs round it? Those chairs are my directors. I sit at the head of that table and vote myself a salary of $150,000 and my Directors pass it unanimously. I suggest; they approve.”

One day about forty-three years ago a rich father Hammerstein in Berlin cruelly beat a young Hammerstein with a skate strap. That young Hammerstein was Oscar, and he decided he had had enough of that sort of thing. Taking his father’s violin he escaped from the music room where he was imprisoned. Selling the violin for thirty dollars he bought a steerage passage on a sailing ship bound for America. He says of this incident:

“I landed on these shores covered with vermin and without a cent. After a time I came to a sign which read, ‘Cigar Makers Wanted. Paid While You Learn.’ So I went in and applied for a job—not because I had any passion for making cigars, but because I didn’t want to starve.” Within a short time this two-dollar-a-week cigar maker’s apprentice had invented a machine for binding cigar fillers which he sold for $6,000.

His many inventions have revolutionized the entire cigar making industry. He has now a music room and a machine shop. After three in the afternoon he divides his time between composing and inventing. Mr. Hammerstein is a man who makes and loses fortunes. The last time he went under was about ten years ago, when his great three part Olympia Theater failed utterly. He said, “That cleaned me out—lost one million and a half. I realized that after the things were sold at auction I wouldn’t have a dollar. Even to pay the rent for my modest apartment was a problem.”

“What did you do?”

“Do! I lit a cigar and took a long walk.”

“How did you feel—discouraged?”

“Felt fine! Discouraged, not a bit! I’ve never in my life felt discouraged or despondent. I’m something of a victim of melancholy, but that has nothing whatever to do with external events. It comes over me when my affairs are prospering most. But I’ve never been afraid of anybody or anything.

“What I did is too long a story. But mark this! If you have an honest conviction as to the right thing to do you can do it! If you have absolute faith in yourself, other people are bound to have faith in you. No question about it.”

Later one of Mr. Hammerstein’s assistants told me one thing he did in this emergency. He sold his grand piano and with the proceeds as his capital started the great Victoria vaudeville theater on Long Acre Square. Its out of the way site alone irrevocably condemned it to failure in the opinion of all the theatrical experts except its builder. One of his sons is now running it with immense success.

“I have only one partner,” continued Mr. Hammerstein—“my knowledge of human nature. I have the greatest conductor in the world—Campanini. I went to Europe and saw him conduct and decided I must have him. I met him and made him believe in me and he came. He had never heard of Oscar Hammerstein. I didn’t show him my bank book. It wouldn’t have impressed him if I had. It was the same way with Madame Melba and with all the others. They liked me, they believed in me, and they came with me. They won’t sing for a man they don’t believe in, no matter how many thousands he may offer them.

“When I started this opera house over here my friends were on the point of engaging a cell for me at Matteawan. Now my opera is a great success. With the exception of Caruso the Metropolitan singers can’t compare with mine. Of course, there’s not much money in this business. If money was what I wanted I should sell suspenders or shoe strings.

“No, I never asked or took anybody’s advice about anything in my life. Why should I? I know my own affairs better than anybody else can. I have no secretary. I have no bookkeeper. Of course I have a treasurer to handle the funds. I haven’t even a stenographer.”

“Why should I sit here and waste my time dictating letters about matters that don’t concern me to people that don’t interest me. When a letter really requires an answer I write a few lines in pencil on the letter itself and send it back to the writer. Here’s my letter file,” pointing to a capacious waste-basket, “and a very good one it makes. I never could understand why people should feel obliged to answer letters. All sorts of people write me about their affairs—not mine! Why should I spend my time writing people about their own affairs? Of course, helping people who deserve it is quite another matter.

“One quality that has always helped me immensely is my faculty—absolutely—to wipe the past from my mind. I look only to the future. I work only for the future. I drag no dead weights after me. But, no man knows why he does things. He can’t help expressing what is in him. The genius or talent or aptitude or whatever you call it, that is born in him is bound to come out no matter what his outward circumstances. The people who never discover their bent have none to discover. If you are a reporter and you don’t like the way your fountain pen works you make it work better. You invent another pen; and then, before you know it, you find yourself a pen manufacturer.”

With twinkling eyes and one of his contagious, boyish laughs Mr. Hammerstein got up from his desk and said, “Now I must excuse myself to attend one of those Directors’ meetings I was telling you about.”—Lyman Beecher Stowe.

A MAGIC MOMENT.

(By Lilian Whiting.)

I love you, love you! only this
I have to say;
All other visions, hopes and dreams
Must go their way.

Your lightest word outweighs for me
The universe beside;
My thought responds to all your own
As ocean’s tide

Unfailingly leaps up to meet
The moon’s sure call;
Or as the stars in evening skies
Must shine for all.

Life is no longer drift and dream,
But vivified;
And all its radiance, all its faiths,
Are multiplied.

Music and magic lay their spell
Upon the days
That dawn in rose and wane in gold
And purple haze.

O wondrous spirit-call that came
From out the air
To make all life forevermore
Divinely fair.
—Harper’s Bazaar.

KEEP POPULIST CHICKS AT HOME.

The editor of the Lawton Weekly Democrat, in commenting on the election said, “Some time ago we borrowed a Rooster from the News-Republican, to use in celebrating the Democratic victory we just knew was going to take place November 3rd. However, about 9 o’clock Tuesday night our Rooster began to feel unwell and we called in medical assistance, sat up with him all night; but shortly before noon on Wednesday he turned over on his back and uttered a feeble good bye. Like many other democrats we realize now the mistake we made in borrowing too much from the Republican party. We are now searching for an egg from which to hatch one of those stout healthy roosters of the pure Jeffersonian Breed.”

Such an egg cannot be found in any hen house save the Populist and such a chicken if turned loose in the Democratic flock, like Bryan who was hatched in the Populist hen house, will soon be killed.—Peoples’ Voice, Norman, Okla.

* * * * *

HARRIMAN BLOCKED.

For once E. H. Harriman has found himself blocked. The laws of Texas protect investors by prohibiting mergers with large systems, and Texas laws further require that all railroads within her borders shall be owned and operated by local corporations. Every State in the Union could have protected its citizens by such laws and prevented gigantic mergers of Harriman, Hill et al.

The anti-corporation wave that is sweeping over the Lone Star State will not quickly subside and if Harriman thinks that he can re-arrange the laws of Texas to suit his convenience he fails to realize that he must reckon with a people who are not owned by monopoly.

The Espee does not select the Governor of Texas at a dinner in New York a year in advance of the election, neither does it control the Railroad Commission, the Legislature or the Courts of that State. It is one of the chief beneficiaries of the system of centralism that has been fastened upon some of the States, notably California and Nevada.

It is gratifying to know that there is one State strong enough to check the octopus and prevent a combine of the railroad lines within its borders to the injury of the many and the benefit of the few.—The San Bernardina (Cal.) Free Press.

* * * * *

THE HUNTING SEASON.

Today ushers in the season of the sportsman’s delight. From now on for the next few weeks the popping of guns will be heard throughout the land, and the wild life of field and wood will spend its days in bewildered trepidation.

Thus man returns to the primal instinct that drove him forth to forage for his daily provender in the era before agriculture and stock yards began to supply his needs in a scientific manner.

It must seem strange to the birds and beasts, this sudden explosion of humanity. Could they reason, what would be their judgment of beings who find pleasure in inflicting pain and death on inoffensive creatures? In their own struggle for existence they have their tragedies, but these are based upon the necessities of nature. Man’s invasion of their haunts with snare and gun is too often wanton.

As civilization progresses the hunting passion will disappear. Already we are learning to value the birds for their usefulness as destroyers of harmful insects, and coming to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the life that belongs to the little wild animals in our woods. The camera is superseding the shotgun; intelligent study and understanding are taking the place of senseless destruction. The invention of gun powder was an epoch-making event, but the world will be happier when we have outgrown its use.—Louisville Herald.

* * * * *

WALL STREET PICKS THE GOAT.

Charles W. Morse, found guilty of misapplying the funds of the National Bank of North America and of falsifying the books of the bank, has been sentenced to serve fifteen years in the federal prison at Atlanta. As has been said, this is one way of guaranteeing bank deposits.

But what about those other bankers in New York who have been guilty of precisely the same kind of offenses for which Morse is to be punished? Why is it that the other high financiers whose criminal banking methods were largely responsible for the recent panic that left a trail of ruin throughout the country are permitted to go unpunished?

Is it because the big Wall Street interests wanted to make Morse the goat, just as they have made a special crusade against Heinze?

Can it be that criminal bankers are not to be punished unless they have the ill luck to be particularly offensive to the New York banking and stock gambling trust?—Buffalo (N. Y.) Republic.

ONWARD!

By Park Benjamin.

Press on! there’s no such word as fail;
Press nobly on! the goal is near—
Ascend the mountain! breast the gale!
Look upward, onward—never fear!
Why shouldst thou faint? Heaven rules above.
Though storm and vapor intervene
The sun shines on, whose name is love,
Serenely o’er life’s shadowed scene.

Press on! If Fortune plays thee false
Today, tomorrow she’ll be true;
Whom now she sinks she now exalts,
Taking old gifts and granting new.
The wisdom of the present hour
Makes up for follies past and gone;
To weakness strength succeeds, and power
From frailty springs—press on! press on!
—The Carpenter.

A PIPE DREAM.

The Atlanta Georgian in its Tuesday edition contains an editorial headed “A Misleading Epigram,” anent Tom Watson’s splendid speech to the Farmers’ Union convention in New Orleans.

During the course of Mr. Watson’s speech he had occasion to coin the following epigram: “If the farmers are the backbone of the country, we have a complicated case of spinal trouble.”

The Georgian goes on to say that the farmer of today is in better shape than ever before. If this statement had been made two, or even one, year ago, it could have been overlooked.

To say that the farmer is in good shape now, or words to that effect, is a great deal more misleading than the above epigram. The writer lives in one of the very best and most progressive farming sections of the state. He comes in daily contact with the farmer. Taking the conditions that exist here as an example, we find the farmers as a whole in worse shape than they have been in several years. As a consequence of this those who depend on the farmer, as most everybody does in the small towns, are in worse shape than the farmer. The Georgian gives as a reason for the good condition in which the farmer finds himself, that they are diversifying their crops. Our observation that his failure to diversify is the main cause of his helpless condition now. Too much cotton has broken, in a sense, the backbone of the country, and, as Mr. Watson remarks, it is afflicted with a complicated case of spinal trouble.

The Georgian merely has a pipe dream of what should be, and what would be if the farmer would diversify, and arrives at the conclusion that it already exists.—Royston Record.

THE CURSE OF THE NATION.

The banker organizes a national bank having $100,000 capital, with which he buys $100,000 of United States bonds, “on which he draws interest in advance and pays no tax.” The government engraves, prints, and sends him notes to be used as money, to the face value of the bonds. Nominally these notes cost him $5.00 a thousand. He lends them out at from six to ten per cent on the thousand, or from sixty to one hundred dollars on the thousand. Then by a system of bank credits, which would be incredible if it were not so capable of proof, he multiplies his loans until he draws interest on NINE times more money than he ever put into his business.

To cap the climax, he gets the Government to surrender its revenue to his keeping, lends out these millions also, ... DRAWING ANOTHER INTEREST FROM THE TAX PAYERS WHOSE OWN MONEY HE IS LENDING BACK TO THEM.

What a mockery of equal and exact justice! What do you think of your old party representatives’ business ability, who issue United States bonds at 2, 3, or 4 per cent and turn around and loan it to the bankers at one-half of one per cent? With their twenty-five per cent reserves loaned to other banks and loaned to the gamblers of Wall street, as well as to the ones operating a gambling hell of the like kind in every large city, sending call money to eighty and more per cent. “And at last the chickens come home to roost, ... when the bogus dollars come to the doors of the bank clamoring for recognition and redemption, these silk hat thieves get together, refuse to honor their own notes, refuse to pay depositors, decline to cash checks; issue a nasty Clearing House Certificate, compel the business world to accept it as money, and thus MAKE ANOTHER PROFIT OUT OF THE WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THEIR OWN DISHONESTY.” The United States bonds are a first liability of the Government. The National Bank notes are a second liability, and these pawnbrokers of a nation’s energy and productiveness propose a third liability based on your deposits and their capital, called for euphony, asset currency (asses’ money). This is the way they want to get the elastic currency (rubber money) whereby the exceeding hard work of the banker is to sign his name to thousand dollar bills and get in exchange your hard labor, inventive ability, and its products. They tell you to “work hard, save your money, and put it in the bank.” Why should your government tax you for their benefit, when you can do it directly without them? “Is it ‘equal and exact justice’ to allow six thousand national bankers to turn your credit into a mint for themselves, at your expense? Is there any defense of a system which turns Government credit and cash over to a favored few?” “They say their issue of money is good,” but your Government issuing money to you direct is “repudiation and national dishonor.” “Money is the life-blood of trade.” Will you leave in the hands of these pawnbrokers the power to cut your business in half, curtail enterprise, reduce the workers’ wages, and diminish thereby the markets of the country?

The Peoples’ Party position on the money question is based on the United States Supreme Court’s decision, in The Legal Tender cases of 1862 and 1863, as well as the Supreme Courts of nineteen Northern States.—Ohio Liberty Bell.

The Lamb In the Rain

How sweet a tune it was to cuddle down to
Under the big star quilt that grandma made,
The rain upon the roof! enough to drown you—
And we made out, you know, we were afraid.

And then you wondered—and the thought would wake you
Wide awake a moment with its pain,
If there could be—and how your heart would ache you—
A little lamb somewhere out in the rain.

And so, when mother came—how mothers love you!
To kiss her good-night kiss, you’d question low
And when she told you—bending there above you—
“All little lambs are in,” you knew ’twas so.

How in your very heart of hearts you’d thank her!
For all your little throat just ached to weep;
Then, with a few deep breaths that dragged their anchor,
Your tender heart and you were fast asleep.

Again the rain upon the roof is beating;
O Heart, dear Heart, I hear you where I am;
And all your mother-soul’s incessant bleating
For yours—your own unsheltered little lamb!

But look, dear Heart, dear Heart, one bends above you
With more than mother-tenderness to kiss
Your soul into assurance; mother love you?—
Ah, gentler than her gentlest love is this!

Look, to His Heart your little one lies closer
Than even to your own heart hath it been!
Confide it, little mater dolorosa,
And rest; for know “All little lambs are in.”

White Springs, Fla.

THOS. E. WATSON, AUTHOR OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY.]

POPULISM WILL SWEEP THE COUNTRY.

Greenville, Pa., Nov. 19, 1908.

Hon. Tom Watson,

Thomson, Ga.

Dear Sir:

Allow me to congratulate you on the grand fight that you made in Georgia. Would to God that such a fight could be made in every state in the Union. It would, and I believe that it will anyhow, sweep the country within a shorter time than most of us dream of. Down at heart the great mass of the people are Populists and what a people are at heart is bound to reach the head in time.

The sophistry of Mr. Bryan having now been exploded, Populism will again get its old time consideration. Millions of voters were, by Mr. Bryan’s boyhood days’ stand, led to believe that he was really a Populist, which now stands so plainly refuted that no man ought longer be fooled unless he wants to be.

The suggestion on your part to call a conference would, I believe, prove a good move. As a meeting place, the farther South and West, the better. It would bring you closer to the great mass of voters who know more what Populism means than we do of the East and North.

What little I can do for the cause, I shall most gladly do. Always at your command, allowed my name to be used here in the last election as a candidate for Assembly. Got 138 votes in the county; more than enough that our party will hereafter have a place on the ticket without having to get out a petition.

With best wishes and a God speed you in the noble work engaged, I am,

Very truly yours,
WILLIAM LOOSER.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD ISSUE ALL MONEY.

Military Home, Dayton, O.

Oct. 20, 1908.

Thomas E. Watson,

Thomsan, Ga.

Sir:

You know as well as I do that were it not for England’s paper money, Napoleon would not have lost the battle of Waterloo. Would it not be wise, and acceptable to all, to, in your speeches, advocate the issue of Greenbacks exclusively by the Federal Government? Answer, Yes or No.

Respectfully,
CAPT. A. R. TITUS.

(Yes.)

ONLY QUESTION WORTH WHILE.

Denver, Col., Oct. 13, 1908.

Hon. Thomas E. Watson,

Thomson, Ga.

Friend Watson:

I want to compliment you on the splendid work you are doing in your publications. I am glad you give space to the money question, for it is really the only question worth while. With an insufficient money supply no economic system, however good, will succeed. No matter how high an ethical standard we may have or how industrious the people may be, poverty will stalk through the land if we do not have a money volume equal to our money needs. Our money shortage begets interest and the consumer pays all interest in commercial transactions. What is our money shortage? I place it at not less than fifteen billion. We could use thirteen billion for the one purpose of conserving wealth, and we could certainly use two billion in active circulation. Our bank deposits were more than thirteen billion, and we had less than three billion in circulation. The fact that we can and do use credit to help out the money shortage, does not alter the fact that we should have tangible money to use instead of being forced to use credit, which always carries with it the =interest= charge.

But enough of this. No answer expected, though I do appreciate a letter from you. I know your time is too precious. A man that writes for millions now and millions yet to come can not afford to write to one lone person, and I think you are =writing for the ages=.

Yours with best wishes,
RICHARD WOLFE.

WE ALSO WISH IT.

Luzerne, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1908.

Hon. Thomas E. Watson,

Thomson, Ga.

Dear Sir:

I wish it were possible for you to make sufficient inroads in the South to help build up a great new party which would have some honest convictions as to the people’s right to rule themselves, a democracy of vital grip.

Success to you,
GEO. THOMAS.

A FINE LETTER FROM MRS. MARION TODD.

Springport, Mich., Dec. 16, 1908.

My Dear Mr. Watson:

Anything that appears to have your endorsement is worthy of consideration, and, as the language of Dr. S. Leland, in your last Magazine, in his speech refers to woman in an offensive manner, I inflict this article upon you and consider it only fair that it be placed before the same readers. Dr. Leland refers to woman in the following language:

“They will be anything for love, and if they can’t get that * * * some will rush into the lecture field—join the Salvation Army—form Women’s Rights Societies, and do deeds that make the angels weep.”

It’s not surprising that women join the Salvation Army, since it’s an Army that has done more good than all the churches on earth have ever done; but what really puzzles me is how Dr. Leland happened to know that the angels weep because women rush into the lecture field—form Women’s Rights Societies, etc. Was he so close to the angels that he could hear the rustle of their wings? There is no known record of angels weeping over woman suffrage societies, etc. The only thing that approaches a record of weeping angels is, that Lucifer, in his tilt with heavenly comrades, =might= have wept, not because of woman suffrage societies, evidently, but probably because he happened to be kicked over the battlements of Glory. We hope Dr. Leland, who is now dead, found better favor in the beyond than did Lucifer, since he was no doubt as good a man would like to find a place could be.

Dr. Leland informs us that “true women are not public brawlers”—otherwise lecturers. The poor, dear man! Did he think a public lecturer had to be a brawler? The sainted Mary E. Willard was a public lecturer, imagine her a public brawler! She did more good than and left an Influence superior to that of any man in the nation. Her name is found upon the scroll of honor, where many a man would like to find a place. Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth is a =public speaker=. Let all men uncover their heads at the mention of her name.

Dr. Leland says: “Administrative faculties are not hers.”

Without a trial how could he know she was so deficient? Man has demonstrated his ability in that line; God forbid that woman develops the same kind if the opportunity ever occurs.

Public plunder and panics, the murder of babies in workshop and factory, a Congress, so corrupt that trusts and corporations rule the land—such is the administration of man. Dr. Leland says the forum is no place for her silver voice, but the rotten reign of man makes it the most appropriate place, for the cesspool will not cleanse itself. We are informed further that “woman discusses =not= the course of the planets.” What the discussion of the planets has to do with the right of suffrage is not exactly clear, as I believe there are a few voters who are unqualified to discuss the course of the planets. In case it has a bearing, I would announce that it was a woman who drew the world’s prize in competition with the wisest in this line but a short time ago. The Doctor said:

“She guides =no= vessels through the night and tempest across the trackless sea.” But she does greater things. She possesses the heart and heroism to jeopardize her life in rescuing the shipwrecked. We have many a Grace Darling, we have many a Florence Nightingale, who have manifested greater bravery and brain than required to guide a vessel. But this latter charge will not hold today.

Finally, as a clincher, the Doctor stated that “the strength of Milton’s poetic vision is far beyond her delicate perception, she would have been affrighted at that fiery sea upon whose flaming billows—

‘Satan, with head above the waves
And eyes that sparkling blazed.’”

We =again= find the Doctor an =incompetent= judge of woman. A wife who has to encounter a drunken husband time after time, and who lives in terror of her life, is used to blazing eyes and bleared eyes, and all kinds. She would prefer to meet Satan, any time, for there is no record of his being a “drunk.”

Woman asks for the ballot that she may vote this worst of hells out of her life. Yet we find men who respect her so much they would withhold this privilege of defense.

Such chivalry is sick and needs medicine.

(Mrs.) Marion Todd.

* * * * *

A VICTIM OF MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

Dear Mr. Watson:

I am requested to write out the details of the execution of a Confederate soldier at Morton, Mississippi, in July, 1863. I will endeavor to do so to the best of my recollection; and I think that what I shall write will be substantially correct, because the incident is frescoed upon my memory.

During the siege of Vicksburg, General Joseph E. Johnson was placed in command of the Army in Mississippi which was being organized outside to relieve General Pemberton. General W. H. T. Walker commanded a division in said Army. His command consisted of the brigares of Guist, Wilson, McNair, Ector and Gregg. I was on the staff of General Gregg. We were for some time at Yazoo City preparing to move on the rear of General Grant, who was then closely besieging Vicksburg. When we got ready and our large supply train prepared (which we expected to take into Vicksburg), we marched from Yazoo City towards the Big Black Creek and encamped some days at a little hamlet called Vernon, a few miles West of Canton. While in camp there, one day a regiment of cavalry passed along the road, by the side of which the 46th Georgia Regiment was encamped. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Peyton Colquitt, who was afterwards killed at Chickamauga. Some one recognized a man in the cavalry who formerly belonged to the 46th Georgia. The soldier had deserted from the latter regiment whilst it was on the Georgia coast, and joined this regiment of cavalry. He was arrested—charges preferred against him for desertion. He was tried by a court martial which was sitting at Vernon.

The man was convicted, but no publication was then made of the results of the trial, but the findings were regularly forwarded to General Johnson’s headquarters, and then we broke camp and moved down to the Big Black for the purpose of crossing to attack General Grant. Indeed, we reached the point to cross on the night of July 3rd, and the engineer corps was preparing to throw the pontoons across, when news came that Vicksburg had surrendered. Then we commenced our retrograde movement towards Jackson—passing through Clinton, Mississippi, en route. Sherman was sent in pursuit and we reached Jackson one day ahead of him and went into the works which had been prepared for the defense of Jackson.

Sherman immediately extended his besieging lines with both flanks resting on Pearl River, forming a semi-circle, leaving the Eastern side of the city open for our retreat. I think we remained there one week before retreating. General Johnson found it impossible to keep Sherman from crossing the river and getting in his rear and, therefore, evacuated the works and took up his line of march one night towards Meridian. After we were some distance on the road beyond Brandon, a terrific rain-storm came on, with heavy thunder and lightning. The rain was so heavy and the night so dark the troops scarcely march, encountering here and there wagons and artillery stuck in the mud.

We reached Morton about daylight and went into camp. The sun rose in all its brightness and intensity of July heat. The troops were drying off and preparing their camp for cooking, etc., when this convicted soldier struggled up to the provost guard and said to the Major in command: “Well, Major, I got lost last night but am up as soon as I could find you.” The officer turned over to the guard and said: “I am sorry you came up for orders have been issued that you must be shot today at one o’clock p. m.”

When General Walker learned of this incident, his sympathies were aroused and he and Major Cumming mounted their horses and rode to General Johnson’s headquarters. General Walker dismounted, recited the facts to his superior officer and interceded for the poor fellow. The only reply was: “General Walker, my orders must be obeyed.” The latter saluted and replied, “General, they shall be,” and mounted his horse. With tears in his eyes he instructed Major Cumming to have Major Schauff (I do not know that I spell this name correctly) make a detail for the execution and carry it out at 1 o’clock promptly.

He then ordered the division out to witness the execution. The brigade formed three sides of a square in a large old field flanked by second growth of pines; the grave had been dug in the center of it, his coffin resting on the further side from the firing squad. The condemned man asked not to be blindfolded; his hands were tied behind his back, he knelt on his coffin, and in the presence of the whole division, including his old 46th Georgia Regiment and his comrades therein, and was shot to death, placed in his box, or coffin, and was buried right there in that old field.

The saddest part of it was that the testimony showed he had been so good and gallant soldier in his adopted regiment, and he stated the only reason he left the 46th Georgia was that he got tired of inaction down on the coast and wanted to be where he could do some fighting. He also stated that he had a wife and child at home in Georgia.

I wish I knew his name and Company, but I do not. Major Cumming may.

I think these facts are substantially correct, and hope they will be of some service to you.