Chapter XIII: Part 13

January 30.—The Russian revolutionists assassinate Gen. Griaznoff, Chief of Staff of the Viceroy of the Caucasus at Tiflis. Tiflis is placed under martial law. Fighting is said to be in progress between the Armenians and Tatars in the Caucasus.

Frederick VIII, eldest son of the late King Christian, is
proclaimed King of Denmark.

January 31.—Japan urges England to reorganize her army.

1,000,000 persons are reported starving in Japan

Fierce fighting continues in the Caucasus between Tatars and
Armenians.

Russia is seriously divided over the elections to the Duma.
Censorship of the press is rigidly enforced.

February 1.—Serious fights take place in Paris between the police and the congregations of Roman Catholic churches. The operation of the new law separating the Church and State causes the trouble.

British policy-holders in the Mutual Life Insurance Co. pass
resolutions demanding representation, and that the company
increase its securities in that country.

The conference on the Moroccan question continues at Algeciras,
Spain.

The entire Italian Cabinet resigns because the Chamber of
Deputies refuses it a vote of confidence. A new Cabinet will be
formed at once.

Fire destroys buildings in Panama valued at $500,000.

February 2.—Church riots continue in Paris. China is reported on the brink of a revolution. Anti-foreign feeling grows, and trouble is feared.

The Czar of Russia receives a deputation of peasants and
promises them assistance.

February 3.—Reports from Venezuela state that President Castro has ordered any French warship seen in Venezuelan waters to be fired upon.

The German Government declares that the failure of the
Algeciras conference to reach an agreement on the Moroccan
question will not lead to war between Germany and France.

Dispatches from Santo Domingo indicate that absolute peace has
been restored.

Chinese loot the home of Rev. Dr. Beattie at Fati, China.

Fights over the separation of Church and State continue in
France.

February 4.—The boycott of American goods continues in China, and another massacre of foreigners is feared at Canton.

Japan plans to increase the tonnage of her navy to 400,000 tons
by the end of 1908.

February 6.—The agitation against Americans increases in China.

The elections to the Russian National Assembly are set for
April 7. The opening session will be held April 28.

Advices from Vladivostok show that the Russian revolution has
not been stamped out.

February 7.—The Emperor of Corea asks the Powers to exercise a joint protectorate over Corea in respect to her foreign affairs.

Conditions in the Eastern provinces of Russia show little
improvement. Fighting continues.

Fifty men are killed in a riot at Oruro, Bolivia.

Recent events in China led the Powers to reconsider withdrawing
their troops acting as legation guards.

Chinese revolutionists loot missions at Changpu, near Amoy. The
missionaries escaped to the home of the local Governor.

The betrothal of King Alfonso, of Spain, to Princess Ena, of
Battenberg, is officially announced at Madrid.

Dispatches from Algeciras, assert that the Moroccan conference
will reach an agreement. It is understood that Germany will
concede most of France’s claims.

Yin Tchang, the Chinese Minister to Germany, states that the
anti-foreign outbreaks in China are evidence of the awakening
of a new national spirit. He says China will no longer tolerate
foreign aggression, and will not allow the Chinese abroad to
be treated as an inferior race. The Minister thinks no one
power will care to force a war with China, as she can now put a
modern army, of 200,000 men, in the field.

_Along the Firing Line_

BY THE CIRCULATION MANAGER

There isn’t much to say this month about circulation work except that results have been highly satisfactory. We appreciate the loyalty and energy of our friends, and extend sincere thanks for their help. January was our best month, but at this writing (Feb. 8) the indications are that February will be still better. A great many subscriptions expired with the February number. Some weeks ago we sent out a postal card notice asking for renewal and one new subscriber. The prompt replies to this card made us throw up our hats and give three cheers for the Old Guard. Nearly every one who replied sent one to four new subscriptions with his renewal.

* * * * *

Remember that the subscription price is now $1.50, but as a favor to our present subscribers we will accept renewals and new subscriptions at the dollar rate until March 31. Get in before the time limit expires.

* * * * *

I made reference last month to Mr. Forrest’s advertisement and the results up to January 4—only a few days after the January number was placed on sale. Since then Mr. Forrest has received several thousand coupons, and more are coming in every mail. He writes me that the conference is assured, and that it will be a grand success. Mr. Bentley’s club organization movement is going right along and he expects to call a conference at St. Louis about May 1. I have suggested that he and Mr. Forrest join forces and hold but one conference. I can give no details of Mr. Bentley’s work, except that he is in touch with Populists in 1,800 counties out of some 2,800.

* * * * *

Organizations on a smaller scale are springing up all over the country. In Pennsylvania the Referendum Party is beginning active operations. A preliminary committee on organization has been appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen:

Clarence V. Tiers, chairman, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

Clement V. Horn, Wilkinsburg, Pa.,

H. F. Lea, Bellevue, Pa.,

H. W. Noren, Allegheny, Pa.,

Walter Becker, Allegheny, Pa.,

John C. Innes, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

George D. Porter, Philadelphia, Pa.,

John E. Joos, Allegheny, Pa.,

Nathaniel Green, Swissvale, Pa.,

J. Ludwig Koethen, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.,

Hon. W. F. Hill (Master State Grange), Chambersburg, Pa.,

James William Newlin (Member of Constitutional Convention 1873), Philadelphia, Pa.

Headquarters are located at Pittsburgh. Address communications to Lock Box 305, Pittsburgh, Pa. The Referendum Party requests the active co-operation and financial support of all who favor:

First.—The calling of a Constitutional Convention to revise the
State Constitution;

Second.—Granting to the people the right to veto unjust laws or
ordinances by direct vote; this right to be exercised only if a
vote is demanded on any law or ordinance, by petition signed by
two per centum of the voters of the State or locality affected.

Third.—Granting to the people the right to enact, by direct
majority, needed laws which their Legislature fails or refuses
to enact.

Regarding candidates it is announced that—

It is the intention of the Referendum Party to nominate for the
election of November 6, 1906, a complete state ticket including
candidates for the Legislature (Senators and Representatives)
but the State Executive Committee suggest that, unless
exceptionally strong, aggressive, independent candidates for
either branch of the Legislature can be nominated, it would
be advisable for local committees to indorse (by filing
nomination papers) candidates of some other party who would
pledge their support to the principles of the Referendum Party
as stated above.

After the election the Referendum Party will be entitled to a
regular place on official ballots in every district where it
polled two per centum of the largest vote cast. For this reason
it is most desirable that it nominate a candidate in every
Legislative district within the State. The forming of local
organizations in the Referendum Party should therefore begin at
once.

* * * * *

The People’s Party State Central Committee of Kansas met at Topeka, February 2, and directed Chairman Babb and Secretary Fowler to call a State convention some time in July. Chairman Babb and some other members of the committee favored the organization of a voters’ league to question and secure pledges from candidates on the old party tickets, making no third party nominations—something on the plan devised by George H. Shibley, editor of the _Referendum News_, Washington, D. C. The committee was not, however, a unit on this point, several of the members insisting upon making straight People’s Party nominations. This, it seems likely, will be done.

* * * * *

“Union for the Common Good” is the name of a new organization just starting in Kansas. Rev. O. H. Truman, La Crosse, is one of the moving spirits. In the manifesto sent out by this new aspirant for political honors the committee say:

_Whereas_, undisputed proofs of corporate greed, unscrupulous
and law-defying, have recently multiplied; and certainties
that “Boss” domination has largely prevailed in city and state
politics, frequently dictating to the people from low resorts,
encouraging graft and other corruptions to fester and flourish;
and also the great exchanges for disposing of stocks and bonds
and grain have long displaced the law of supply and demand
by their gambling methods, resulting in frequent failures,
suicides, and loss to all but the unscrupulous few; and

_Whereas_, the people, at last aroused and indignant, are now
demanding redress and prevention of further wrong;

_Therefore_, we deem it timely to organize into a society those
having a strong definite purpose to reclaim all monetary,
political, and other rights and interests from the greedy grasp
of the few to the promotion of the Common Good.

Civilization advances by evolution and revolution. Evolution
makes slow progress over a long period of time, while
Revolution advances rapidly in a short space of time.

Revolutions are caused by giant evils which must be overthrown
suddenly or not at all.

America has passed through two revolutions, and we are now
entering a third, equal in importance and greater in character
than either of the others.

The great evils that now threaten our existence are
intemperance, trusts, and political corruption.

We are to choose between Socialism and Christian Government;
nothing else is presented and nothing else is worthy of our
attention.

Socialists have gathered much valuable information; but their
leadership would dethrone God from our nation and overturn all
our history.

Christian Government would fulfill prophecy in giving Christ
the kingdom of this world, and would be in line with national
experience.

Socialism is an ideal as yet untried, without a code of morals
to preserve from corruption. In Christian Government the
legislative, executive and judicial powers would be directly
tested by the teachings of Christ.

The demands of complete Socialism are too radical for this
crisis or for any single movement. Masses of men can be moved
only so far at any one time; and revolutions are no exception
to this universal rule. To attempt more is to cause reaction
and loss.

Christian Government would accept the possible while striving
for the Christ ideal of perfection.

Nearly all revolutions have resulted in war and we believe that
complete Socialism for this crisis would be no exception to
that rule.

The Christian and moral sentiment of the nation is now
sufficiently strong, if aroused and united, to accomplish its
work by the moral power of the ballot without resorting to war.

What measures do we propose for the present crisis, and what
remedies do we suggest for existing evils?

American society may be roughly divided into three great
classes: A small, wealthy class at the top; a great mass of
laborers at the bottom; and a medium Christian and moral class
in the middle. The church middle class thus holds the balance
of power, and is responsible for safe leadership and moral
results.

The Christian and moral forces of the nation must now be
organized into a moral society for the express purpose
of leading this reform movement and developing Christian
Government.

At the outset of our organization we need consider only those
remedial measures to which all research and all demands are
now pointing; and our specialty as a society is to urge and
aid the careful testing of the best means of relief from a
dangerous condition, and also to aid in fullest adoption and
application of measures approved after trial. The key phrases
or watch words for our organization are these: “Thorough
Testing” and “The Common Good.”

We favor a fair and safe trial of municipal and other Public
Ownership, as it seems to be in harmony with the destiny of our
country and the spirit of the age.

State incorporation having been tested and found wanting, we
urge national incorporation instead, including reasonable
restrictions, and also liability to forfeiture if lawless.

We favor the election of United States Senators by direct vote
of the people; also a thorough test of the initiative and
referendum and the imperative mandate.

Any person of good moral character may become a member of this
society by accepting the constitution and paying one dollar
a year to the national society, or a life membership fee of
twenty dollars.

Each member of the society shall have a vote, by mail or
otherwise, for all officers of the national society, and on all
principles and policies adopted.

O. H. TRUMAN
J. M. McARTHUR
J. ORVILLE WALTON
BELLE FORD WALTON
E. H. H. GATES

Committee.

Men and women are requested to send names and fees for
membership. The money will be used for organizing and reported
to the society. Direct to

O. H. TRUMAN, La Crosse, Kan.

* * * * *

Our Advertising Manager, Ted Flaacke, is one of the Old Guard greenbackers; but not until recently could I convince him that _some_ advertisers would “turn him down” because of the politics of WATSON’S MAGAZINE. Even then I didn’t do the convincing—but Ted knows now that I was right. He tried to get an ad. from a certain baking powder concern that was mixed up in a scandal over in Missouri not so long ago. Its product is claimed to be “absolutely pure,” but the Missourians were “shown” that some of its agents couldn’t truthfully say as much of themselves or their concern.

I’m right glad Ted got the icy stare. We need the money, no doubt—but “alum baking powders” won’t seriously impair our digestion. And we’ll feel better not to have had the ad., after all.

“Why, Flaacke,” said the man who places the advertising, “if WATSON’S MAGAZINE had a million circulation and the rate was a dollar a page, I doubt if we would use it.”

Yet some poor, simple souls still think business men—big, brainy, successful business men—never mix politics and business. They do. And I trust our people will not forget it.

* * * * *

Ever notice how a late train keeps falling behind and getting later and later the farther she goes?

Well, we had an experience similar last month with the February number. A combination of circumstances made it certain that we should be a few days late—say two or three. But in our wildest dreams we never imagined being over two weeks late. One after another something new arose to still further delay us.

I can sympathize now with the railroad station agent who is obliged to tell passenger after passenger that “No. 23 is 40 minutes late.... Yes, she’s due here at 11:44.... Yes, that would bring her here about 12:24.” And so on and on and on. From Mr. Watson’s editorials, however, I take it that station agents on the Southern Railway give out no information regarding late trains. Maybe they will after Hon. Hoke Smith is inaugurated governor.

* * * * *

Anybody inquire why the February WATSON’S didn’t come? My dear friend, you would think so if you could see the stacks of letters and postal cards which poured in—hundreds and hundreds; yes, thousands, I believe. It made us a great amount of additional work and worry, but—

On the whole, we’re rather glad the February number was late, because it gave us conclusive proof of the high esteem in which WATSON’S MAGAZINE is held. People don’t worry and write postal cards and letters about publications in which they are not interested, that’s a cinch.

A few of the Old Guard were frightened. They thought we’d suspended! I can’t blame them for that. It has always been a rocky road for any radical publication, and especially so if it advocates Populism. But WATSON’S MAGAZINE will be an exception. Nothing but the accomplishment of the reforms for which it stands could kill it. That might, by removing the necessity for such a magazine, but not necessarily. The discontent of the masses is too great now not to furnish a most fertile field for Mr. Watson’s teachings—and his influence is growing at a tremendous pace. Even his enemies admit that. And that means a pronounced success for WATSON’S MAGAZINE.

* * * * *

Thanks to the Old Guard, Watson’s Magazine gets subscribers at less cost than any other publication. Everywhere these old veterans are plugging away for subscribers and scarcely one of them will take a cent of commission for his work. Some of the other magazines are spending a fortune in newspaper advertising, and, of course, building up big lists; but we are well satisfied with a slower growth of subscriptions that will stay with us year after year. February is forging to the front in fine style and we shall more than double our list by the end of March.

* * * * *

“Figures won’t lie,” asserts the oracle. “Thet’s so,” retorts the plain, old, common-sense man, “but liars kin figger.” And the old fellow is right. Witness some of the stunts done by Carroll D. Wright as to the increased cost of living, and young Garfield’s showing of a net profit to the Beef Trust of a dollar, “marked down to 99 cents,” on each steer slaughtered.

My old colleague, T. H. Tibbles, Mr. Watson’s running mate in 1904, and now editor of a 25-cent-a-year Populist weekly at Omaha, Neb., _The Investigator_, was editor of the _Nebraska Independent_ when young Garfield made that justly famous report. As I recollect, Tibbles figured that the Beef Trust must have a secret railroad (not a rebate) to Mars and had smuggled in countless thousands of beef cattle from that little, old red planet, contrary to the Dingley Bill “in such case made and provided,” because—

There weren’t enough beef steers on this old earth of ours—and haven’t been since the days when Christ drove the “System” out of the Temple—to account for the Beef Trust’s fortune at 99 cents per.

I have never examined Tibbles as to his proficiency in arithmetic, but I’m willing to bet a hat—a wide-brim “Cady” (Eugene Wood, please analyze)—that Tibbles either made a Sherlock Holmes “deduction” regarding that Martian railroad, or—

Perish the thought, that the martyred President’s son—well, had been doing some “figgerin’” and other things.

* * * * *

I’ve been doing some real hard figgerin’. The P. O. D., which means in proper spelling, Post Office Department, insists that because we change to WATSON’S MAGAZINE, dropping the “Tom,” that we must apply for a new entry as second-class matter. Of course, as a matter of fact, as our legal friends remark—no, I won’t say that, in view of what Abe Hummel did and what Jerome is failing to do—our _lawyer_ friends, rather, we never have been “second-class.” That’s a way Madden has of irritating publishers. TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE always was _first-class_—now, wasn’t it?

At any rate, we have to tell the P. O. D. how many subscribers we have; how many we sell at news-stands, etc. Of the subscribers, we must show how many came direct, how many took a premium, how many subscribed through an agent or a newspaper clubbing with us.

It’s a big job to get this correct, because right now we’re swamped with new subscriptions and renewals. I think I got it right, however, and as the figures may interest you, I shall give you an idea what each State is doing.

Georgia still keeps far in the lead. Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois and Kansas follow in the order named, ranging from two to fifteen per cent of the total.

Florida, North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Indiana, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oklahoma—in the order named—have less than two and one or more than one per cent. of the total.

Washington, Virginia, New Jersey, Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, West Virginia, Montana, Massachusetts, Indian Territory, Idaho, Wisconsin, Oregon, North and South Dakota (tied), Connecticut, New Mexico, Maine, Arizona, Maryland, District of Columbia, Wyoming, Nevada, New Hampshire, Vermont, Canada and Rhode Island follow in the order named, each with one-tenth of one per cent. or more up to nine-tenths of one per cent.

And three-tenths of one per cent. of the total goes to Alaska, Cuba, Delaware, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, Utah and a number of European countries. WATSON’S MAGAZINE is not only national but international. Up in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Northwest Territory the radicals are enthusiastic over it. Uncle Sam’s soldiers and sailors are taking it in the far corners of the earth. The War Department has asked for subscription rates.

Yet WATSON’S MAGAZINE reaches more people in the Sunny Southland than most any other magazine, whether published south of Mason and Dixon’s line or north of it.

And it will bring business for the advertiser who wishes to break into the Southern field, because every subscriber and news stand buyer has confidence in Mr. Watson. Oh, dear, I forgot. Advertising isn’t my line at all. See Ted Flaacke about that. He knows. But I know I’m right, nevertheless.

_Chastened_

BY KATE G. LAFFITTE

I knew no love but hers, nor cared to know,
She grieved and did not hide from me her grief that this was so.
I shut my heart with jealous care about her glowing face,
Her voice, her eyes, her lips, her woman’s sweet and tender grace.
I snatched her hands away when she caressed a wounded dove,
I envied all she looked on, grudged each smile, and called it love.

She died, I saw her lying there so still and cold and sweet.
Her roses flung their fragrance unheeded at her feet;
I laid my face against her own, her white soul spoke to mine
And warm across my frozen heart a bright light seemed to shine.
With aching arms I drew a suffering world into my life
And, chastened, learned too late that I had never loved my wife.

* * * * *

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