Chapter XIII: Part 13

Special counsel for the State of Missouri will make application
before the New York courts to compel Henry H. Rogers to answer
questions in the inquiry the State of Missouri has been making
into Standard Oil methods.

In the United States Circuit Court at Chicago yesterday, Judge
Landis gave a decision that the Interstate Commerce Committee
has the power to compel witnesses to answer questions in
the hearing of Street’s Western Stable Car Line before the
commission.

At Oklahoma City, Okla., yesterday, the assistant
attorney-general began to take testimony in the ouster case
against the Standard and other oil companies. A wholesale oil
dealer testified that he had been instructed to get samples of
oil shipped if he had to steal them; and also that there had
never been any competition between the Standard Oil and the
Waters-Pierce Company in Oklahoma.

At Albany yesterday, Senator Saxe’s bill to impose a tax on
personal property wherever found, a measure designed to wipe
out tax dodging by rich New Yorkers who establish their legal
residence elsewhere, was passed in the Senate and goes to the
Governor.

At Aiken, S. C., yesterday, Professor S. P. Langley, Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution, died of paralysis.

March 1.—Senator Foraker in the Senate yesterday made a speech, lasting three hours, in which he attacked the Hepburn railroad rate bill.

For several hours last evening the city of Springfield, Ohio,
was in the hands of a mob which burned two houses and partly
destroyed a dozen others. All of these houses were inhabited by
negroes. Hundreds of negroes have fled from the city.

The annual report of the Pennsylvania Railroad shows a net
income for the year 1905 of more than $38,000,000, an increase
of about $10,000,000 as compared with 1904. The operating
expenses were reduced and traffic increased.

At the annual meeting of the Equitable Life Assurance Society
yesterday the directors were informed that counsel of the
society were definitely engaged in working out a plan of
mutualization.

Richard A. McCurdy, former president of the Mutual Life
Insurance Company sails for Europe today for an indefinite stay
abroad.

William Nelson Cromwell reappeared yesterday before the Senate
Committee of Interoceanic Canals and admitted that he drew the
monetary agreement entered into between the Republic of Panama
and Secretary of War Taft. This agreement caused criticism
in the Senate recently because in fact it was a treaty made
without consulting that body.

At Washington the Foreign Relations Committee finished its
work on the Santo Domingo treaty and reported it to the Senate.
The Republicans voted solidly for the report and the Democrats
against it.

The Independence League of New York State has decided to
perfect an organization in every assembly district in the
State of New York. In William R. Hearst’s address at Albany
he said: “The fundamental idea of the Independence League is
independence of boss control, of corporate control and of any
party subject to boss rule and corporation control.”

Yesterday the Senate in executive session ratified the treaty
between the United States and Japan relating to copyrights of
works of literature and art.

March 2.—It is reported from Washington that the President has been conferring with Senators, Representatives, members of the Interstate Commerce Commission and members of his Cabinet on the question of the Hepburn railroad rate bill, and he is willing to accept three or four amendments of the bill if they will strengthen it for trial before the courts.

At Springfield, Ohio, the state militia charged the mob and
dispersed it. The members of the Commercial Club of that city
met to take action for the enforcement of the law, and said in
speeches that the present conditions were due to politicians
catering to negroes and low whites, and lax police and court
methods.

John F. Wallace, formerly chief engineer of the Panama Canal
Commission, becomes an employee of the George Westinghouse
Company at a salary of $50,000 per year. Mr. Wallace is to
assist in building electric railways paralleling steam railways
in many parts of the country.

It is reported from Washington that our Government takes a very
serious and gloomy view of the situation at Algeciras, and
would not be surprised to see the Moroccan conference end in a
rupture.

The existence of a Mutual Life policy-holders’ movement of
world-wide scope, at the head of which will undoubtedly be
Stuyvesant Fish, became known yesterday through the exchange
of telegrams between Lord Northcliffe, formerly Sir Alfred
Harmsworth, and Mr. Fish. Lord Northcliffe is chairman of the
British protection committee of the Mutual Life policy holders.

March 3.—John R. Walsh, president of the Chicago National Bank, which failed December 18, 1905, was arrested yesterday on a Federal warrant charging him with violation of the national banking laws in making false reports to the Controller of Currency and with conversion to his own use of bank funds amounting to $3,000,000. He was released after giving a bond of $50,000.

At Meridian, Miss., a tornado swept through the business centre
of the town, destroying $5,000,000 of property and about
thirteen lives.

Springfield, Ohio, is quiet after two nights of rioting and
incendiary fires. The state militia is still on duty.

At Chicago, executives of all the Eastern railways in session
failed to settle the differential rate controversy. On account
of the attitude of the Erie Railroad it seems impossible to
avert a rate war. Every line except the Erie voted for the
arbitration of the question.

The Senate Committee of the Philippines voted to smother the
Philippine tariff bill yesterday. It is said that efforts will
be made to have the measure reconsidered or called before the
Senate.

Commissioner of Public Works, J. M. Patterson, of Chicago,
yesterday gave his resignation to Mayor Dunne. Mr. Patterson
says he has become a convert to Socialism.

March 4.—A delegation representing practically all life insurance companies doing business in the United States will go to Albany on March 9, the day set for the hearing of the bills that the insurance investigation has presented, to state the case of the companies before the Legislature.

Ex-Governor James Stephen Hogg died yesterday at Houston, Tex.
at the age of 55.

March 5.—It is reported that on the evening before his death the late Ex-Governor Hogg said: “I want no monument of stone, but let my children plant at the head of my grave a pecan tree, and at the foot a walnut tree, and when these trees shall bear, let the pecans and walnuts be given out among the plain people of Texas that they may plant them and make Texas a land of trees.”

At St. Augustine, Fla., yesterday, Lieutenant-General John M.
Schofield, retired, died of cerebral hemorrhage at the age of
75.

March 6.—In the House of Representatives at Washington, John Sharp Williams attacked the President and the Attorney-General and introduced a resolution, which was passed by the House, inquiring whether the Department of Justice had instituted criminal prosecutions against any of the individuals or corporations adjudged by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Northern Securities case to have violated the anti-trust laws.

The Enterprise Transportation Company, carrying freight between
New York and Fall River, Mass., appeared before the Interstate
Commerce Commission in New York City, complaining that the
trunk lines out of New York refused to make through freight
rate arrangements with the Enterprise Transportation Company.
Lawyers representing nearly all the big railroads were present.

March 7.—Andrew Hamilton, who was legislative agent for the New York Life Insurance Company at Albany, returned yesterday to New York. On the steamship he was registered as “H. A. Milton.”

The suit of the State of Kansas against the Standard Oil
Company was dismissed by the Supreme Court of Kansas on March
5th. This ends, so far as present litigation is concerned, the
movement begun a year ago by Kansas against the Standard Oil
Company and re-establishes that corporation in the position it
held previous to the effort made to exclude it from the state.

Yesterday District-Attorney Jerome of New York City appeared
before the grand jury and asked that indictments be found
against the despoilers of the life insurance companies.

In the 20th annual report of the Boston Chamber of Commerce,
published yesterday, it is pointed out that Boston has become
re-established as the second port of the country.

March 8.—W. H. Moore, Municipal Ownership candidate for Mayor of Seattle, was elected on a platform pledged to municipal ownership of public utilities.

All over the Dominion of Canada the banks are collecting
American silver money and shipping it to Montreal, whence it
is shipped to Washington and changed for gold. The removal of
American silver from Canada will be a good thing for the banks
and profitable for the government. The banks will be paid of ⅜
of one per cent for collecting it and the government will bear
all transportation charges. It is estimated that the government
will clear at least one-half of a million dollars.

It is reported that Andrew Hamilton, the legislative agent for
the New York Life Insurance Company, who has just returned
from Paris, consulted with District-Attorney Jerome before his
return to find out just what his chances were with the law.

It has been learned that the National City Bank and the Hanover
Bank were the only two New York Banks who received yesterday
their allotment of a special deposit of $10,000,000 of
government funds which Secretary Shaw last week announced. The
news has caused much talk and criticism in banking circles.

In a special message to the Senate and the House the President
said that the action of both houses in passing the resolution
directing the Interstate Commerce Commission to investigate the
subject of railroad rate discriminations and monopolies in
coal and oil was hasty, ill-considered and ineffective.

_Foreign News_

February 9.—Mutiny is said to continue in the Russian Black Sea fleet. Admiral Chouknin is wounded by a woman at Sevastopol. Siberian plague has broken out among the Russian troops in Manchuria.

Professor Cattier, a prominent Belgian, publishes a book
stating that King Leopold has received $15,000,000 graft from
the rubber trade of the Congo Free State.

Passengers from Venezuela say President Castro is actively
preparing for war with France. The people do not agree with the
President’s views and a revolution may follow.

The negro inhabitants of the Transvaal and Orange River
Colonies, South Africa, are demanding of England all the
political rights enjoyed by the whites.

The Colonial Minister of France presents to the Council of
Ministers, a plan for the political, administrative and
economic reorganization of the French Congo.

Because of recent disorders, King Charles dissolves the
Portuguese Parliament.

Fifty-five miners are drowned in a gold mine at Johannesburg,
Transvaal.

The foreign representatives unite in demanding that the Shah
investigate conditions in the Province of Shiraz, Southern
Persia. Reports from other parts of Persia also show strong
feeling against the Shah.

February 10.—A bomb kills four gendarmes at Warsaw. Assaults on police continue throughout Russian Poland.

The English garrison at Tibet is reported surrounded by hostile
tribes.

The Irish members of Parliament again elect John Redmond
chairman of the Irish Parliamentary party.

An armed expedition is sent against the religious fanatics of
Natal.

February 12.—The general opinion at Algeciras is that France and Germany will reach an agreement on the Moroccan question.

General fear of another uprising and massacre in China is
expressed by despatches from different parts of that country.

A proclamation is issued by the Governor-General at Odessa
declaring the Russian Government will put to death any one
found with deadly implements.

Ex-Premier Balfour, of England, declares his policy to be one
to build up British industries by maintaining a larger foreign
market for manufacturers.

The Imperial Protestant Federation sends a petition to King
Edward, of England, asking him to refuse consent to the
marriage of Princess Ena to King Alfonso of Spain.

The new railroad over the Andes Mountains between Santiago,
Chili, and Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic, begins operations.

February 13.—Another revolution is started in Santo Domingo.

St. Petersburg police save one of the Government banks from a
mob of revolutionists. Another armed revolt is frustrated at
Kharkoff, Russia. Many political prisoners are being sent to
Siberia.

Reforms are being agitated in Persia which may result in that
country’s being given a constitution.

Despatches from Algeciras state that the United States will
finally settle the dispute between France and Germany over the
Moroccan question.

Venezuela offers to arbitrate her differences with France.

The British Parliament meets preliminary to the formal opening
on Feb. 19.

February 14.—Balfour and Chamberlain agree on a protective policy for England. This will have no effect at this time, as a new Parliament overwhelmingly in favor of free trade has just been elected.

Despatches from Algeciras indicate that the American delegates
to the Moroccan conference are gradually bringing France and
Germany to a settlement of their dispute.

The secret has leaked out that America, England and Japan have
had a secret agreement concerning China since the close of the
Russo-Japanese war.

A monument at El Caney in honor of the Americans who lost their
lives during the siege of Santiago is unveiled.

February 15.—Fearing an outbreak in China, two of Admiral Sigsbee’s cruisers are sent to reinforce the American Far Eastern fleet.

St. Petersburg reports show that the Russian Terrorists hire
boys to throw bombs.

The situation at Algeciras is unchanged.

February 17.—The Czar of Russia prevents a disruption of his Cabinet by bringing about peace between Premier Witte and Interior Minister Durnovo. General Linevitch turns over his command of the Russian troops in the far East to Gen. Grodekoff. St. Petersburg police arrest a band of Terrorists and discover enough poisons to kill half the population of St. Petersburg.

It is discovered that China has placed orders with German
manufacturers for 1,000,000 small arms and 100 cannon.

Venezuela completes all preparations for war. The Venezuelan
Government appoints Guzman Garbiras to succeed M.
Veloz-Goiticoa as Minister to the United States.

February 18.—Clement Armand Fallières, recently elected President of the French Republic, assumes his duties.

The Russian Government orders the Governor General of East
Siberia to prevent Capt. Einar Mikkelson from hoisting the
American flag on any island which he may discover in the Arctic
Ocean north of East Siberia and between Wrangel Land and the
Parry Islands.

The body of the late King Christian IX of Denmark is entombed
in Roskelde’s cathedral, Copenhagen.

A despatch from Shanghai, China, states that nothing is known
there of conditions requiring the sending of United States
troops to that Country. The Methodist Foreign Missionary
Society receives reports from its head missionaries at
different Chinese cities stating that there is no danger of
disturbances. The Southern Baptist Missionary Board, through
its secretary, cables its missionaries to take refuge in the
nearest seaports, where they can be under the protection of
foreign consulates.

The King of Hungary prepares to dissolve the Diet when it
assembles today.

February 19.—The Hungarian Diet is dissolved by armed troops and police.

Another anti-Jewish riot occurs at Vietka, Russia. Most of the
city is burned, but no deaths are reported.

The “General Memorandum” issued by Admiral Nelson to his
captains at Trafalgar is found at Merton.

The mutineers of the Russian battleships _Kniaz Potemkin_, who
were sentenced to death, have had their sentences commuted to
imprisonment.

King Edward opens the newly elected English Parliament. In his
speech the King expresses a desire that the government of the
country shall be carried on in a spirit regardful of the wishes
of the Irish people.

February 20.—Germany rejects the final proposal of France for a settlement of the Moroccan controversy. The points in dispute will now come before the delegates of all the Powers.

A company of British mounted infantry and three officers are
massacred by fanatics in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria.

A despatch from Ekaterinodar, Ciscaucasia, states that a fight
is in progress between a detachment of Russian soldiers and 600
mutinous Kuban Cossacks.

Members of the Hungarian Diet decide to accept the dissolution
of that body without protest.

The British House of Commons records its determination to
resist any proposals which will create any system of protection.

The Russian Government is trying many prisoners for
participating in a movement to overthrow the Government. The
political dissatisfaction throughout the Empire seems to be as
great as at the beginning of the late revolution.

February 21.—Ambassador White, head of the American delegation to the Algeciras conference, expresses the opinion that France and Germany will reach an agreement on the Moroccan question.

Attacks upon Catholic missions are made by Chinese in several
of the southeastern provinces of China.

The British House of Commons pledges a system of intelligent
self-government for Ireland.

February 22.—German Reichstag passes a bill to extend reciprocal tariff rates to the United States until June 30, 1907.

Fear that the Algeciras conference will end without France
and Germany reaching an agreement on the Moroccan question is
expressed by the French press.

People returning from China declare that the situation is very
critical and a revolution is feared. The feeling against the
present government is strong and the boycott of American goods
is rigidly enforced.

Religious fanatics destroy a French post in Sokoto, Central
Africa.

February 23.—The American Minister to China states that he sees very little reason for apprehension over China’s affairs. Wu Ting Fang, former Minister to the United States, says China is passing through a crisis. He justifies the boycott of American goods. All missionaries are advised by Assistant Secretary of State Bacon to move to places where they can be protected.

Despatches from Algeciras state that the fear of war over
Germany’s rejection of France’s proposals on the Moroccan
question is growing less.

Bills providing for general suffrage are introduced in the
Lower House of the Austrian Parliament.

Reports from St. Petersburg state that Count Witte has not
resigned.

A revolt against the Turkish Government is reported to be
spreading in Yemen, Turkish Arabia.

February 24.—W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., is attacked by a mob near Pisa, Italy, after his automobile runs down and injures a boy.

Active preparations are being made at Manila for any trouble
with China.

Director General Ivanoff, of the Vistula Railroad, is
assassinated at Warsaw, Russia.

The Spanish Government distributes money in the famine stricken
provinces to relieve the sufferings of the people and prevent
disorders.

The German Foreign Office states that there is little danger
of war between Germany and France over the Moroccan question.
French despatches say about the same.

February 25.—More riots occur at Warsaw and Odessa, Russia. Six persons are killed and 15 wounded.

The customs war between Austria and Servia ends. Servia agrees
to Austria’s demands.

Secretary Root says the United States has no right to interfere
with conditions in the Congo Free State, Africa.

President Castro, of Venezuela, declares he will clear his
country of all foreigners, break up the Monroe Doctrine and
humble France.

Canada will appoint a commission to investigate life insurance
business in Canada.

Two packages of dynamite are found at a gate of the Forbidden
City, Peking, China.

February 26.—Despatches from Shanghai, China, tell of the murder of missionaries at Nan-Chang. Six Jesuits and two members of an English family are reported murdered. The remaining foreigners escaped to Kiu-Kiang in boats. Several missions at Nan-Chang and Kiang-se were destroyed, among them the American.

February 27.—The Americans who escaped the Nan-Chang, China, massacre are reported safe at Kiu-Kiang.

Cossacks knout several prisoners to death at Odessa, Russia.

Ex-Premier Balfour is elected to the British Parliament from
London.

Duchess Sophie Charlotte, of Oldenburg, and Prince Eitel
Frederick, second son of the Emperor of Germany, are married at
Berlin. The Emperor also celebrates his silver wedding.

France asks the Czar of Russia to use his influence to get
Germany to agree to France’s terms on the Moroccan question.

Premier Witte reopens negotiations to determine the extent of a
proposed agreement with England.

Japanese officers assume control of the Imperial War College
and the Trade and Commercial Schools at Canton, China. The
United States English and French war vessels sail for different
Chinese ports to protect foreigners.

February 28.—Duchess Sophia Charlotte Oldenburg, the daughter of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Prince Eitel Frederick, the second son of the Emperor of Germany, were married yesterday in the chapel of the palace at Berlin.

President Caceres, of Santo Domingo, in a message to his
Congress, recommends the revision of the Constitution, of the
import and export duties, the improvement of the ports and
public roads, the enactment of laws benefiting agriculture, the
free administration of justice and other improvements becoming
a civilized nation. He recommends to Congress also the study
of the treaty now before the United States Senate and declares
that it is necessary to the welfare of his republic.

The leading papers of St. Petersburg evince no satisfaction
over the announcement of the date of the meeting of the Duma.
It is said that the Duma will be prorogued almost immediately
until autumn.

Premier Witte has become an advocate of an Anglo-Russian
understanding and it is reported that negotiations are about
to be opened in London to determine the extent of a proposed
agreement. If they are successful the new grouping of the
Powers will check Germany’s ambition.

It is reported from St. Petersburg that Russia is using all her
influence at Berlin to prevent a rupture between France and
Germany.

The French officials at the Moroccan Conference at Algeciras
do not look favorably upon the Berlin report that Germany will
make concessions if France will also yield something. The
French say that they have made concessions to which Germany has
not responded.

It is reported from Manila that Japanese officers have
assumed control of the imperial war college and the trade and
commercial schools at Canton, China.

The battleship _Ohio_, flagship of the American fleet at the
Asiatic station, has sailed for Hong Kong, where it will dock
and make repairs, so as to be ready for possible emergencies.

A telegram from Odessa states that in the village of Ivanislaw,
in the Province of Kherson, 50 Cossacks and 70 gunners appeared
a few days ago under orders from a police official and knouted
13 peasants. One of these peasants went mad and others are
dying. A schoolmaster became insane after witnessing the scene.
The sole offense chargeable against the villagers was their
re-election of communal representatives which was in conformity
with the ukase of Dec. 24 last.

March 1.—The reactionary policy of Interior Minister Durnovo received a setback yesterday when the action of the St. Petersburg police in closing the central bureau of the Constitutional Democracy was disowned by the Government. Permission was given for the reopening of the bureau.

A dispatch from St. Petersburg says that the financial
embarrassments of Russia are increased by the necessity of
paying Japan for the maintenance of Russian prisoners.

The new general tariff and conventional tariffs between Russia
and Germany, France, and Austria-Hungary go into effect today.

March 2.—It is reported from Shanghai that the Chinese Government has decided to instruct its ministers abroad to assure the Powers that there is no cause for uneasiness in the present situation in China and that there are no signs of an anti-foreign movement.

March 3.—As the result of a series of special councils composed of forty high dignitaries presided over by the Czar, the main guarantees of liberty have been granted to the Russian people and a manifesto is to be coded and incorporated in the laws of the empire.

March 4.—A terrific cyclone swept over the Society and Cook’s Islands in the Pacific Ocean on February 7 and 8. It is said 10,000 persons perished. The damage to property is estimated at a million dollars.

March 5.—At Tokio a bill was introduced in the Diet providing for the nationalization of the railways, and authorizing the government to compel companies to sell out to it at a price based on the cost of building plus twenty times the average profits for the last three years.

March 6.—It is reported that the Germans have refused any concessions at the Moroccan conference at Algeciras. Russia proposed that France and Spain control the policing of Morocco. France was willing to accept the proposition, which was indorsed by Spain, Portugal and England. Herr von Radowitz, chief German delegate, opposed the proposal.

The editor of a Barcelona (Spain) daily paper was sentenced to
eight years’ imprisonment for printing an insulting dispatch
concerning King Alfonso.

March 7.—An imperial manifesto has been published setting forth the decisions of the imperial council with regard to the execution of the Czar’s manifesto of last October. The manifesto reveals the purpose of the government to keep a firm check on the Duma. The imperial veto is absolute. The Czar controls the upper house; and the ministers have power to legislate when the parliament is not sitting.

The Rouvier Ministry of France is defeated in the Chamber
of Deputies by a combination against the Anti-Clericals and
immediately resigns.

March 8.—Reported from Berlin, intense indignation and mortification are shown at Russia’s action in throwing off her reserve and standing by France in the proposition that the control of the police of Morocco shall be entrusted to France and Spain. It is said that no more concessions can be obtained and that Germany must now show her hand and back down; that Von Radowitz, representing Germany at Morocco, will be sacrificed. There is also talk of Von Buelow’s resignation.

_BY The Circulation Manager_]

January was our best month for subscriptions at the time I wrote for the March number, but I guessed that February would be better still—and I guessed correctly. Although January had 27 business days, as against 22 in February (Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays cut in on the little, short month), yet we received nearly fifty-one per cent more renewals and new subscriptions in the latter month. And if we may judge the March business by the first three days (I write this March 4), the stormy month will bring more subscriptions than January and February combined. It may possibly be a case of “coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb”—but I do not think so. Our subscribers, agents, and clubbing newspapers are showing a much greater interest than formerly—and as the list grows our field of opportunity broadens.

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One would naturally suppose that every subscription received would narrow our field—but it doesn’t. On the contrary. I can imagine a state of affairs—a list so large—that every subscriber secured would make it harder to get another, for we can’t expect every man, woman and child to take any one publication. But no magazine ever reached that dizzy height. Practically every subscriber we get is a missionary who brings in at least one convert within the year, and many of them send in dozens of new subscriptions. I need hardly use space in saying that we thoroughly appreciate these kindnesses and endeavor to show our appreciation by making WATSON’S MAGAZINE better and better each month. That’s a foregone conclusion.

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Temporarily, however, we are embarrassed by the great influx of subscriptions, and for a little while we ask the kind indulgence of our friends. Everything shall be taken care of, but for a few weeks there may be some delays. It takes time to train new subscription clerks.

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Our one weakness heretofore has been lack of proper organization to keep in touch with and look after the interests of the news-dealers. This has been remedied by placing a thoroughly competent man in charge of the news-dealer circulation. A complete roster of the news-dealers is being made and every effort will be put forth to increase news-stand sales. The tens of thousands of booksellers and news-dealers throughout the United States, supplied by the American News Company and its branches, constitute an army of distribution which has taken many years and an immense sum of money to raise and equip. We want to make use of that army to the best advantage of our patrons, the dealers and ourselves. Probably more than one-half of the reading public buys regularly of news-dealers, and a much larger percentage buys occasionally. Wherever our friends prefer to buy of the dealer, we earnestly wish them to do so; and if at any time there is any difficulty in securing Watson’s at the news stands, write us about it. We are now equipped to take care of all complaints of this character promptly.

There is, however, an immense reading public receiving mail on R. F. D. routes—yet it is only thirteen years ago that Mr. Watson, after a hard fight, secured a small appropriation in Congress to be used in experiments with rural free delivery of mail—real “rural” delivery, not the kind Mr. Wanamaker had tried in the small towns previously. But even after Mr. Watson got the appropriation, Cleveland’s Postmaster-General refused to use it. “Scandalous use of the people’s money,” he doubtless argued, “and, besides, it might develop into something which would hurt the express companies.” To Mr. Watson is due the credit for securing the first appropriation for rural free delivery. He is the father. But we must give the devil his due—the Republican Party built up the system Mr. Watson originated. Well, that party never was afraid to spend the people’s money.

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Now, these R. F. D. patrons get mail at their respective doors every weekday. They need not, and do not, go often to the nearest village or town. Hence, they cannot so well depend upon news-dealers for WATSON’S. They are best served by subscribing and having Uncle Sam’s mail-carrier bring it to the door.

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The news-stand buyer pays thirty cents a year more for WATSON’S than does his rural brother—but he invests a much smaller amount each time, so the two sacrifices (but it isn’t exactly correct to call buying WATSON’S a “sacrifice”) are about equal. This calls to mind a suggestion, that has been made several times, to allow taxes to be paid in instalments. Cold-blooded figures say that it is exactly the same whether one pays a $24 tax in one payment, or in four of $6 each, or in 12 of $2 each; but actual experience says, No; there is a difference.

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Funny, isn’t it, how the Republican Party denounces some proposition as a Populistic vagary—and then turns ’round and does the very thing it has denounced! In 1896 we were told that the people would have none of silver—those “fifty-cent dollars”; yet between 1897 and 1903 the Republican Party coined more silver than in any other seven years of the country’s history. Not “free coinage,” of course, but that Sherman silver which was stacked up in vaults, and which no one wanted.

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Public ownership was denounced as “confiscation,” anarchy, socialism, paternalism, and so on. But Teddy and Uncle Sam went into the railroad business down in Panama, and only recently that fat boy, Taft, bought 300 acres of coal lands at Batan, Philippine Islands, for $50,000, money voted by Congress for the purpose, and it is given out flatly that “it is the intention of the Government not to relinquish title to the mines.” They will be leased to competitive bidders. The Secretary of War is drawing a bill to provide for this leasing, and says, oh, ye gods, listen: That the Government will regulate the price of coal in the Philippines!

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Didn’t we hear something about the impossibility of doing such a stunt as “regulating prices” away back in 1896 and later? Couldn’t regulate the price of silver by letting it into the mints at $1.39 plus an ounce. Oh, no! Seems to me we ought to have an “International agreement” on the price of coal. Otherwise, what’s to prevent those disreputable “furriners” from dumping their pauper-mined coal into the Philippines, and carrying away every ounce of our gold?

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Who said the People’s Party is dead? Out in Coal City, Ill., the Populists recently nominated the following village ticket:

The People’s Party met in Borella’s Hall and made the following
nominations: For trustees, two years, John McNamara, Peter
Bono, and Axtel Anderson. For village clerk, Edward Fulton. For
police magistrate, Frank Francis. For library directors, James
Leish and Walter Palmer.

Some call it the decadence of party spirit, but others believe it a recovery from partisan insanity—this independent attitude of men who formerly wore a party collar with meekness, if not with actual pride. A year or more ago Dr. Engelhard, of Rising City, Neb., expressed it in the picturesque language of the West, thus: “I am now a political maverick.” At a recent dinner of the Wisconsin Society of New York, Representative Henry C. Adams, of the Badger State, pleading for the “insurgents” who are in rebellion, not “against good government but against bad government,” graphically described the political situation of today as follows:

“Party feeling has run to the lowest ebb ever known in
American politics. It is hard work to tell a Democrat from
a Republican. The South is swinging toward protection. New
England is flirting with free trade. Pittsburg goes Democratic.
New York City barely escapes the rule of a Socialist.
Missouri sends Republicans to Congress. Folk is cheered by
Republicans. La Follette is voted for by Democrats. The House
of Representatives votes almost unanimously for the President’s
rate bill, and a Republican committee gives it in charge of a
Senator from South Carolina to report to the Senate.”

In Mr. Edgerton’s excellent article on “Farmers’ Organizations” (February number) he failed to mention a very strong one in the grain belt—the American Society of Equity, with headquarters at Indianapolis. It claims a membership of over 200,000 farmers, and its president, J. A. Everitt, asserts that its members will hold their wheat for $1.00 and other cereals correspondingly—and that they expect to win. Let’s hope they may.

* * * * *

But let’s think a little. That won’t cut down railroad dividends, or make kerosene and rent any cheaper; and it _will_ make bread higher. So suppose the Farmers’ Union, down South, pushes cotton up to 15 cents; and the American Society of Equity pushes wheat up to a dollar; and the “Big 6” here wins its fight for an 8-hour day at 9 hours’ pay—won’t all these wealth-producers, after matters get readjusted, be about where they were before? I’m not throwing cold water on the efforts of any of these organizations, for I glory in their fighting proclivities—but I can’t see any permanent advantage accruing to any of them so long as the railroads and the banks are armed with letters of marque and reprisal, and legally empowered to rob every actual producer and every consumer. Each of these organizations carefully avoids politics. Is that wise? Possibly; but I can’t see it that way.

* * * * *

“How shall I remit for subscriptions?” ask a number of agents. Well, most anything that will bring the money will do, but we have this preference: A United States Post Office Money Order, made out to TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE. That will give us your name on the order, making it easy to trace errors—and our bank charges no exchange for handling. But we never refuse cheques, drafts, express orders, currency, or postage stamps, if sent us in good condition.

“But,” I hear a chorus of voices saying, “we thought you’d changed the name, and just now you said ‘Tom Watson’s Magazine.’” Just so, I did. That is the name of the corporation which publishes WATSON’S MAGAZINE. The corporation known as Tom Watson’s Magazine has not changed its name. It has five offices: President, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and cashier. These offices are held by three Populists, as follows:

_President_, Thomas E. Watson.

_Vice-President and Treasurer_, H. C. S. Stimpson.

_Secretary and Cashier_, C. Q. de France.

I need not introduce Mr. Watson. Mr. Stimpson is secretary of the People’s Party in New York State; and I am secretary of the National Committee.

Don’t make your remittance payable to any of the officers, but simply to the company, Tom Watson’s Magazine, and address your communications to the Magazine—not to individuals.

* * * * *

Of Vital Importance to Patriotic Citizens

National Documents

a collection of notable state papers chronologically arranged to form a documentary history of this country. It opens with the first Virginia Charter of 1606 and closes with the Panama Canal Act of 1904, and comprises all the important diplomatic treaties, official proclamations and legislative acts in American history.

Settle All Disputes Intelligently

You can trace from the original sources the development of this country as an independent power. Never before have these sources been brought together for your benefit. The volume contains 504 pages and a complete index enabling the reader to turn readily to any subject in which he may be interested. Bound in an artistic green crash cloth, stamped in gold. Printed in a plain, readable type on an opaque featherweight paper.

_As a Special Offer to the readers of WATSON’S MAGAZINE, we will send this book postpaid and the Magazine for one year for $2.20._ Your order and remittance should be sent direct to =TOM WATSON’S MAGAZINE, 121 W. 42d St. N. Y.=

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