Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, July 14, 1900, Page 6

Neen eee ee en nn Ta Rfedfelooforforfonfoos eee 4 Or Under a Spell. ooo CHAPTER XXXVI.—(Continued.) “What do you mean? ’asked the young man, haughtily- “I neither un- and you nor your story, woman. t power could you have over Rob- ert Clive : “The power of one who held his hon- or in her hands—the power of one who, by a word, could disgrace his name— the name that ke would have left @ proud legacy to his chillren—the power of one who could at this moment cast children, dishonored and penni- upon a cruel world. My power, k? Ha, ha! Mr. Clive, it is too great for even the haughty master of Clive Towers to defy his father’s grave. Now, what are your terms? How will you treat with me?” “As the itress, the hypocrite, the would-be despot that you are!” ex- ¢] ed Herbert, fiercely. “Leave the room, woman—leave my presence!—1 defy you to do your worst!” The slender form of the housekeeper trembled with passion. her's name, your father’s ye, your father’s children, all sel, know my power, before an- other sun has set! Scorned and dis- honored, who will look upon the once | haughty C s? Once more, think— think of your father’s honor!—your | father, who guarded his secret for your sake, for five-and-twenty-years—think of him!” 5 “I ean think of nothing.” exclaimed | Herbert—“nothing but the silent devil : you have harbored in your breast for | twenty years! Begone, I say, woman, and do your worst! Spit out what ven- ' om you please upon the grave of your | benefactor, who fed and sheltered you | —on the children of the sainted woman | who befriended you! I ask nothing} :—I will hear nothing from you!” | very night—aye, very | she panted like some furious “[ will go to the lawy I will put my information in his I will ruin you, shame you, dis you and yours foreve Already the | nd I will give : t whisper has gone forth, {ta thousand tongues! The story shall ; be in every mouth, on every lip, before eve eye! You defy Ah, Mr. en yout | e whom not defy! answered Herbert m about the waist of his; ‘, and motioning the en- to the door. “If my l you, I donot! Go, I say! house, never to return. Do your Any compromise with such as you would be the basest dis- honor! I have done no wrong, I fear no evil, and, for/the rest, I_scorn to parley with you. Go, 1s: You have . mw enough, already, in blight- by your mysterious threats, the - flower at my side. Go! This it least, I am master of Clive and if it be my last command roof, I tell you to leave it cl you defy ¢ , rd y th she said, trembling with pas- », and woe unto Clive Tow- s 1 within its walls when Re- ecca Wyllis leaves it in wrath! Woe, woe—a hundred times wee!” CHAPTER XXXVI. True Steel. Late that same evening Dr. Bond sat alone in his cosy study. He was} glancing at a letter he hade received that day—a letter written in a dainty, feminine hand, and bearing the post- mark of off Swiss town. “Poor little girl!’ murmured the doc- tor to himself. “She never forgets a promise. She writes to the old man, as she he would, though I can see the heartbreak in every line. Ah, well, well, I feel as if it will all come right, though human passion is an awful thing to pit against human happiness! dark demon generally carries the a fearful ek rang out into the air, that made e cool doctor spring from his chair— the name of heaven, what is that? Yoctor, doctor—oh, doctor! There's a sick woman out here on the road,” the little mulatto, entering, with of es open to their fullest s a-callin for you.” n I come in?” said a sepulchral at the door, and the tall form of h, looking like some ghastly, ash- en corpse, appeared on the threshold. “Let me come in and—and die—die in I have it—I have it!” and she rv package above her head with a wild triumph. “Look to it, Har- ry Bond; you were her friend, her lovy- Look to it, that I may die in peace! sttled her as she stole out in the darkness! I tere it from her bosom! a ha! Rizpah has not been hing all these weeks in vain! 1 would have clawed him from the earth if he had carried it to the grave with him; but she had it—the wild-cat, the panthress! She would have kept he nest m with the rotten secret! but I have it. Oh, my boy, my boy, the wild wolf that reared you was! true— true to the last!” “Rizpah, Rizpah!” the doctor caught the tottering woman in his arms, “what have you done? What is this you have done? Good God, there is blood on your clothes!” ye, e!” was the feeble, though still fierce answer; “blood, blood—her Dlocd! We fought each other for our own! I met her in the darkness— she, the false servant, of whom the stars told—the woman that Robert Clive feared! J met ber, and I dragzed it from her breast! Look to it, I say— Jook to it. Harry Bond, that I may die in peace!” The doctor picked up the paper thar had fallen from the dying woman's grasp. Vor weeks and weeks Rizpah had been dying it was worn and time-stained, torn end bicrred; but it was the paper that had laid on Mobert Clive’s breast, can- kering avd po'soning life for five-and- Secret RRR H for it reaches to i Her Heart’s By Jean WARNER, ; twenty years—it was the secret that Wyllis had torn from his dying hold— | it Was the marriage certificate of Basil Clive and Sybil Lee. “Is it right—is it right?’ asked the quivering, ashen lips of the woman be- fore him—‘ t right? Tell me, quick! If I could live—oh, God, if I could only live!” “It is all right,’ said the doctor, soothingly. “Poor Rizpah! may heav- en judge you more mercifully than earth. You have, mad and bloddy though the deed may have been, re- stored your boy to his rights. This pa- per raakes the son of Basil Clive and Sybil Lee the heir of Clive Towers.” “My boy. my boy!’ murmured poor Rizpah. “Tell him that I did it. Tell him that I waited, I watched, I never wearied—that in the dead of night I crept around Clive Towers, like—like a vengeful ghost, till I knew that she— she, the false, silent womhn—had the secret of Robert Clive; and then—then the blood-red star was. shining—the star of fate, of doom—and,I—I felt my blood warm and my hand strong, and I—I throttled her as she walked in the darkness! I—I Come nearer, Harry Bond—come nearer. I—I cannot see you. Tell him, my boy, my nursling— that I was true—true to the last. When he is great, and rich, and honored, let him think of— O, Lord, I suff-r! I—I. Her eyes are on me, but I—I do not fear. Let the boy think of the wild | wolf that nursed him, that reared him, that lived for h’m, and—and died for— for him—died for him alone!” She fell back, ’mid the lounge pil- lows, writhing in the death agony, her livid lips stil rivirg to articulate the | loved one’s name, her hands motioning | wildly towards the paper the doctor | held in his hand. | “It is all right,” he wh’s~erel. “Poor, | deluded Rizpah! May God judge you | more mere’fully than man. It is all | right.” | | “Right! right!’—she sprang up with | a dying effort while her sunken eyes seemed to glitter with supernatural fire. “Aye, it is right! Have not the stars told me of this hour for five-and- twenty years—the blo ed star, the star of triumph, of ju , of death! Aye, aye! [ have lived to see if. And I charge you, Harry Bond, in the ‘name of Sybil Lee, to see that my boy—that her boy—has his own. I charge you with my—my dying breath!” aught the tottering form gaunt, and pless. Rizpah’s hour of triumph had been her last. That same night, a hideous, livid corpse was found on the forest path, leading by the haunted hollow—a slen- | der, black-robed woman, whose light- | grey eyes were protruding horribly from their bloody sockets—whose ev- ery feature wa nies of a terrible death. There were dark purple ops, and the white, slender hands still clutched in their stiff fingers shreds of gray hair, that told of a fearful struz- gle between the mad woman and her victim. But the purpose that had lived in Rizpah’s breast for years had nerved her murder with fearful power, and Mr: had fallen a victim to her own venge- ful purpose, even she was bending her steps toward Lawyer Grey’s to tell him all. Before the inquest was held at Clive Towers, Dr. Bond sought an interview with Herbert Clive. He found the young man in his father’s study, pale, stern, yet com- posed. He had never looked so manly, so handsome, so fitting a “master” in the home of his birth. All his boyish light- the impulsive eagerness of other eemed gos Care and sorrow. doubt and danger, had come to the glad child of fortune, and moulded him into a man, whose sterling metal needed even further proof, After the first greetings, cordial, al- thorgh grave, as befitted the occasion, were over, Herbert himself began the conversation. “I am glad you have come, doctor. There is an old standing pledge of friendship between us, and that I now call upon you to redeem. I have come home to find a shadow resting upon me and mine—a cloud upon my father’s memory—a suspicion resting upon his grave. This unfortunate woman who has just met so terrible a death, taunt- ed me last evening with words that my blood would boil to repeat. She dared to propose to me—to the son of Robert Clive—a compromise, a disgraceful compromise, that alene could shield my dead father’s name from obloquy!” “You refused, then?” said the doctor, eyeing the young man keenly. “I ordered her from the door,” an- swered Herbert, haughtily. “Whatev- er may come upon me, I make no terms with Gishonor. I scorn any safety that must be purchased by aught so debasing as a bribe.” “Bravely said!” exclaimed the doc- tor, grasping the young man’s hand cor- dially. “You ring out true to any blow, my friend, and I'd give every- thing I am worth, to shield you from the heavy one that awaits you. But you are no weak woman, to need an anodyne, and I speak to you as 2 man toa man. Here is the secret of which this wretched woman gained posses- sion—the sceret which your father guafded for five-and-twenty years, the secret that destroyed his happiness, that caused him to die at last wretch- ed and conscience-stricken, Here it is. I give it to you, Herbert Clive, to do with it what you will.” Be nc doctor inp sat ae ane torn, paper—Rizpah’s ing charge— the marriage certificate of Basil Clive and Sybil Lee. hand It lay there, stiff, and | s distorted by the ago- | | with an emotion he could not repress. marks | around the throat that seemed almost | like the prints of a wild beast’s tal- | five-and-twenty | Wytis | He saw the young man’s face pale, even to the lips, as he looked upon it; but there was no faltering in the voice, no shrinking in the dark, clear eye. “This means that the man of whom 1 have once or twice heard my father speak is the rightful heir?” “The rightful heir,’ repeated Dr. Bond, gravely. “Basil Clive, the elder, left no will, and his entire property de- scended to the heir-at-law. This cer- tificate was committed to your father by his uncle on his death-bed, with the charge that he should do justice to his unknown son. But"— The doctor paused. It was hard to condemn the dead father to the living son. It was hard to say to Herbert Clive that the strong, stern being who had given him life had darkened that life with the stain of dishonor. “I see, I see!” replied the young man, in a topve that grew hcarse, despite his efforts to master it. “I see now the hold this woman had on my father. My father! Oh, God, my poor, poor father!” No anger, no reproach, no condemna- tion—only infinite pity, tenderness, sorrow for the dead. Dr. Bond felt like clasping the young hero to his heart, and holding him there like a son. For a moment there was silence, then Herbert spoke again, clearly and calmly: “There is, of course, sir, but one thing to be done, and that is justice— complete and immediate justice.” “It was your father’s dying word,” said the doctor, softly—‘justice!” “T am glad of it,” continued Herbert, “though I would not have needed this solemn mandate to shape my course. 1 will see Lawyer Grey and relinquish all my claim to Clive Towers at once, in favor of the lawful heir. Do you know aught of this—this Basil Clive? He is a stranger to me.” “Have you never seen him?” asked the doctor, evasively. “Never to my knowledge,’ answered Herbert, simply. “I have heard my father speak of him as a wild, reckless man.” “He felt himsetf to be a wronged man,” said the doctor. “I have met him, and know Basil Clive to have a noble generous heart, that will respond | at once to sentiments such as you have | manifested. For this reason, and be- | cause I have your interest truly at heart, T would act as a mediator be- tween you. Let there be no formal in- ion of the iron hand of the As friends and kinsmen, let this } matter be amicably arranged between you. It will be better for the living, and”—the doctor laid his hand in a friendly manner on Herbert’s shoulder, | while his voice softened into tender- ness—“and far better for the dezd!” “As you pleas: " answered Her- bert, simply. “I—I will shrink from no pain or mortification that awaits me; but—but,” the clear voice shook slight- ly, “my dead father’s memory is sa- cred to me.- I—I would shield it if pos- sible at any cost—save that of justice. | I leave you to make what arrange- ments your generous and disinterested | friendship may suggest—I leave you to | make what terms you please with Ba- | sis Clive. From this moment I relin- | quish all claim to Clive Towers; and, with my broken-hearted sister, I will | seek another and humbler home. Thank heaven, I have youth, health, energy, and, I trust, talents enough to gain an honest livelihood, wherever my fortune may be cast!” “Nobly spoken, my friend—nobly spoken! Let me help you,” said the doctor, clasping the young man’s hand “I am an old man, with none to care for—with nore to aid. If God had blessed my barren life with a son like you, I would feel that, come fortune or misfortune, riches or poverty, sickness | or health, life would not have been lived in vain. Leave Clive Towers if you will, in my hands, and be sure | tkat your trust wil! not be abused. But do nothing in haste. Take your time. Youth is always headlong. At sixty-five, we learn the wisest and hardest lesson is to wait.” CHAPTER XXXVIII. False Friends and True, It was about two weeks after the events narrated in our last chapter that a yourg officer, dressed in a hand- some uniform, rode up the avenue reading to Greylawns, and, dismount- ing at the door, was warmly welcomed by Miss Marian. “This is indeed, an unexpected pleas- ure,” she said, leading him into the parlor. “I thought you were exiled for six months, at least, Licutenant. Do sit down here by the fire and ex- plain your appearance.” “I received the most singular note from Fannie.” Menton Forest replied, in an amazed tone, “and I came on at once to ask for an explanation. Is anything wrong at Clive Towers?’ “Dear me, wrong?” repeated Miss Marian, meaningly. “Have you not heard? But I forget—you have been away so long, and everything has been kept as quiet as possible. You know Mr. Robert Clive is dead?” “I heard that,” answered Fenton, quickly; “but he left Fannie—that is, he left a handsome estate to his chil- dren. She writes me all sorts of sen- timental nonsense about poverty and disgrace.” “Poor girl!’ murmured Miss Marian, soltly; “ it is very hard for her to bear. But pride must have a fall. I always felt the grandeur of the Clives was built on a very shaky foundation. | There kave been all sorts of rumors floating slout for the last three months, but no one could say anything was positively wrong until Mr. Clive’s death, He took to opium-eating, you know, and, oh, died most wretchedly! Then the housekeeper, Mrs. Wyliis, who was always in his confidence, was found strangled in the woods, and though it was all laid to some wild gipsy or mulatto woman’s door, there are whispers about that Herbert Clive knows more about it than he chooses to tell. There were family secrets in the woman’s possession that it would | not do tg let loose. And Dr. Bond is at the Towers now, though he will | give no explanation of his presence there. And Herbert and Fannie went off this morning, goodness knows where, and they say there is another heir coming from Europe, and that these Clives never had any right to place at all. Oh, dear! they have teen the talk of the country for miles | around, and they will never be able to hold up their heads again.” “This is what her note means, then.” said Ferton, rising and pacing the room, excitedly. “Poverty and dis- grace! Why couldn’t they keep the matter hushed up? What is the use of blowing the affair all over the coun- try? A pretty mess for a man of hon- or *o he mixed up in?” “I do hope, for your sake, Fenton, that there was nothing serious be- tween you and Miss Fannie!” said Ma- rian, kindly. “Of course, she is a dear, sweet, lovely girl; but, as things are now, she couldn’t expect—” Miss Marian paused. It was rather a difficult sentence for ber to con- clude. “Oh, she doesn’t,” said Fenton, hast- ily, tearing the little note he held into minute fragments. “She doesn’t ex- pect, of course, that—in fact, she knows I’m a poor devil of a fellow, and—well, in short, it was only a pleasant flirtation; nothing serious at all—notking serious. But I did think, thovgh,” and a malicious gleam shot into the dark-brown eyes that poor Farrie had thouxht wells of truth—“I really did think that you and Herbert were going to make a match of it, till that golden-haired: houri came on and bewitcked him. As it turns out, you had a lucky escape. What will be- come of the poor fellow, anyhow? Friends and fortune gone at one swoop!” “I never would have thought of Her- bert Clive under any circumstances,” said Miss Marian, scornfully. “Fan- nie was a dear little creature, but there was always something about her that I couldn’t exactly trust. You may depend upon it, they would have hushed up this matter if they could., It had to break out, and I, for one, am surprised that they kept it dark 60: long. I’ve had my _ suspicions—and well founded ones they were—for months”—Miss Marian pursed up her mouth and shook her head sagely, as she repeated—‘for months and months.” (To Be Continued.) OREGON MIN TOWN. Plans for Its Rapid Brilding in s Few MonthsSurvey of Site Com pleted March 10. Two months ago the only building at the junction of Clear and Granite creeks was a log cabin 10x12 feet, owned by Ed Benson, and built in the days when the creeks swarmed with placer miners. Now the site is occu- pied by the rapidly-growing town of Lawton. The survey of the town site was completed March 10. Three feet of snow covered the ground while the survey was in progress. J. MeCarthy completed the first building, Feb. 25, nearly two weeks befere the town was laid out. Lawton now has fifteen busi- ness buildings under way or nearing completion. Besides these, there are several tents that are usod for business and for dwelings. Home building has been retarded be- cause of the scarcity of lumber, the saw mills giving preference to the or- ders of those who are getting ready for business. Rough lumber is held at $14 per 1,000 feet. and No. 1 flooring, kiln-dried, at $30. Between $20,000 and $30,000 has been invested in build- gz in two months. If present plans are carried out many more buildings will be erected during the spring and summer. Thifty-seven lots have been sold on Spokane avenue, the purchaser in each case agreeing to build within three months. Performance of this clause of the contract depends upon whether the growth of the town will justify further building. Much work will be done this summer to beautify the town. Spokane avenue will be graveled its entire length Clear creek will be moved 460 feet, to its original chanrel, from which it was diverted years ago by the placer min- ers. About 1,200 feet west of town and 300 feet above it, in the hills, is a lak ewhich is available for*water sup- ply. Electric lights and municipal or- ganization will probably come in the fall. Lawton will draw its trade from the mining properties, which are at its doors.—Portiand Oregonian. From the Mare’s Mouth. Sir Robert Finlay, the new attorney general, like most counsel with a large practice, knows what it is to receive a disconcerting reply from an apparently guileless witness, and tells a good sto- ry against himself in illustration. He w engaged in a case of breach of warranty of a horse, the age of the animal being the chief matter in con- troversy, and he had to cross-examine a hostler, a yokel, with every appear- ance of rustic simplicity. “Upon what authority do you swear to the age of the mare?” he asked. “I’m sure of it,” was the reply. Half a dozen more questions failed to elicit any more specific answer. “But how do you know?’ thundered Sir Robert, at last. “I had it from the mare’s own mouth!” replied the hostler—London Chronicle. Perils of Translation. The translating of the English spir- itual songs into the foreign languages often causes ludicrous readings, which are quite equal to any of the slangy ir- reverence of the impudent young American. A certain missionary relates that he got an Indian scholar to assist him in translating into the Indian vernacular the hymn— Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. Imagine his surprise and chagrin to read the following loose lines: Very old stone, split for my benefit, Let me get under one of your frag- meats. —Memphis Scimitar. It Cut Both Ways. “A penny for your thoughts, Miss Clambake.” “Why dou’t you say something orig- inal. Mr. Sawhorse?’ “Why don’t you think something original, Miss Clambake?’—Cleveland Plain Dealer. Dramatic Expansion. “Do you think ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ can hold the public another season?” “Oh, yes; we've introduced a planta- tion cake-walk this year.”—Chicago Record. People don’t go to the sea much to see the shore as they do see the sea. A VEEK OF GREAT EVENTS THE KANSAS CITY CONVENTION THE GREATEST IN THE PARTY’S HISTORY. Governor Lind’s Determination to Com- pel the Standard Oil Company to Pay Its Share of Taxes in This State—The Railroad Commission Declares the Sale ofthe St. Paul and Duluth Void—More Involved of a Public Nature Than the Railroads Care to Have the Public Know—Miscellaneous Volitical Com- ment Covering the Events of an Inter- esting Week. Reform Press Bureau, St. Paul, July 9, 1900. It is impossible to give anything like a reliable forecast of the work of the Kansas City convention. Suffice it to say that the convention was the largest and most enthusiastic of any ever held under the auspices of the Democratic party. This augurs immensely for suc- cess, not only in the nation but in Min- nesota all along the line. With a united party, with Bryan as the matchless standard bearer, with is- sues that stir men’s hearts and with a cause that is righteous and just, how can we fail! When Governor Lind, some weeks ago, reminded the Republican secretary of state that by doing his full duty in the enforcement of the Somerville law the state treasury would be enriched many thousands of dollars he did that which cannot fail to redound to his ma- terial advantage when he comes to seek the suffrages of tho people at the polls this fall. winced and said he could not see wherein it was any of the governor’s business to be pointing out his plain duty and bidding him perform it, but what of that! The governor saw that the law wasn’t being enforced, that the state was being deprived of money that was justly its due, and as long as the secretary didn’t know enoagh to act for himself, the people are not going to blame Governor Lind for coming to his rescue, even if it did involve an exer- cise of authority not strictly within his province. On the contrary, they will reward him as a servant, who, like the man who carried the message to Garcia, doesn’t need to be told what to do, but goes ahead and does it. Now comes another matter in which Governor Lind doés credit to himself by performing an act, not necessarily with- in his province, but nevertheless of great importance to the state. The Standard Oil company is a cor- poration; incorporated under the laws of this state, and having general offices in the city of Minneapolis. In a com- munication addressed to the Hennepin county assessor Governor Lind points out that this corporation has a stated capital of $500,000 and is as clearly sub- ject to taxation as any other corporation in Hennepin county, notwithstanding the fact that it has escaped such tax- ation during all the years in which it has been reaping profits from a mon- opoly of the business of this state. To assist the assessor in reaching a proper valuation the governor says: ‘‘Under the provisions of the Standard Oil trust it appears that one of the terms of the agreement was that corporations, to be called the Standard Oil company of the state in which they incorporated, should be incorporated from time to time in the several states of the Union as the trustees might direct and as the business interests of the trast might suggest; that the capitalization of the state corporation should be the equivalent of its property and instru- mentalities for carrying on business in the state; and that so soon as the new corporation was incorporated, pursuant to this agreement, the stock of the cor- poration in excess of the number of shares equal to the number pf directors of the corporation should be transferred tothe trustees of the Standard Oil trast who would issue in lieu thereof trust certificates for the face value of the shares so deposited. These trust certificates, it appears, are now quoted at from three to five times their face value.’” Now, if the Hennepin assessor will only follow the governor’s suggestion and enter up for taxation, at a fair val- uation, the property of this grasping institution the gain to the state will simply be enormous, for under a recent ruling of the United States supreme court the assessor can and should enter up the property for at least six years of the time during which it has been de- linquent. In this connection it might be inter- esting to note that Governor Lind ad- dressed his letter to the Hennepin as- sessor on the very day that the Repub- jican convention nominated for the im- portant office of railroad commissioner one of the Standard Oil company’s hired men at Two Harbors. Some statesmen there are, some pol- iticians, whose influence ceases the moment they retire from active public service. Not so with Tom Reed. From his lawyer’s office in New York he con- tinues to express himself on all public questions, and it is remarkable to ob- serve with what consideration his words are received. For example, the Kein ex-speaker is known ne have ab- jutely no sympathy with expan- sionist policy of the McKinley admin- ject itisdue chiefly to his turned against the ticket who other- wise might have been enthusiastic in | | its support. In one instance, at least, a man who gave $10,000 tothe Republi- To be sure the secretary | can campaign fund four years ago has told his friends that he will give nothing this year and he attributes his change of heart solely to the reasoning and position of Mr. Reed. It is good news that Editor Hearst of the New York Journal and San Fran- cisco Examiner gives to the Democracy ofthe country and especially of the West this week. It is the announce- ment of a new journal in Chicago, to be inaugurated at once, to be known as the ‘‘Chicago American,’’ and to be de- ' voted, under Mr. Hearst’s management, tothe furtherance of American ideas and principles and the support, as the best representative of these ideas and principles of the Democratic party and the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bzyan. Itis needless to say that the courageous and energetic Mr. Hearst will make of his new venture a complete success and that the Chicago American will during the coming cam- paign be of incalculable assistance to the supporters of Mr. Bryan. The railroad and warehouse commis- sion, nothing daunted by the ridicule of railway attorneys and railway interests, has come to the definite conclusion that the St. Paul and Duluth and Northern Pacific are competing lines of railway for the transportation of freight, mer- chandise and passengers from the city of Duluth to the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and that therefore the sale of the St. Pauland Duluth to the Northern Pacific Railroad company is in all respects in violation of the laws of the stateand void. That a great legal battle will follow as a result of this conclusion is already apparent and upon the issue more depends than the railroads would have the public believe. In fact, the contest will be one in which not only the country tributary to the two roads, but the entire state will be vitally interested. The St. Paul and Duluth, it must be remembered, is the only road doing business in Minnesota that lies wholly within the state. It is the only one, therefore, of all the roads operating between the Twin Cities and the head of the lakes that is amenable solely and exclusively tothe laws of this state and to the control of the railroad commission. All others originate with- out or extend beyond the borders of tha state and can toa great extent make themselves secure in their schedules of charges and prevent the wholesome in- terference of our state railway commission by alleging the carrying on of an interstate business. It is plain, therefore, that the absorption of the St. Paul and Duluth by the Northern Pacific would be a public mis- fortune. It was through the independ- ent character of the St. Paul and Du- luth that the decision in the New Ulm coal rate case, affecting the whole south- western portion of the state, was made possible. With the St. Paul and Du- luth merged in the Northern Pacific this eminently fair and timely decision would be void and of no effect, the Northern Pacific as an interstate line being in a position to ignore the com- mission’s ruling by setting up the plea of interstate business over which the commission could exercise no control. Viewed in this light the question be- comes a public oue, and the people of the state ought to appreciate the excel- lent judgment of Governor Lind in giv- ing them a commission that is ever alert to the public interests and doesn’t wait for proceedings to be instituted by private citizens, but takes up matters of this vital character on its own motion. We predict that when all of the com- mission’s grounds for action are made known there will be as pronounced a kick throughout the state against the consolidation of these two roads as there was against the pro- posed consolidation of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern some years ago. The Republicans in their platform say they favor a gross earnings tax on railroads. Sodothe Democrats. The only difference is this: The Republi- cans are satisfied with atax of 3 per cent; the Democrats insist that it shall be raised to 4 per cent. The people are with the Democrats; the railroads with the Republicans. General Moses E. Clapp: ‘The Re- publicans would rather nominate Van Sant than elect me.” The Sauk Center Avalanche sees in the-new men at the helm in state Re- publican politics great concern for cer- tain classes. Thus, all country mer- chants will be specially benefitted by the prominence given General S. E. Olsen, the department store prince, labor will ‘rejoice’? over the honors conferred on Magnate Tom Lowry, and every user of a shingle, a lath ora piece of board will be tickled to death that Tom Shevlin, head of the Minneapolis lumber trust, is to be national com- mitteeman. Sept. 6 is the date set for the allied forces to make up the ticket which will do the sweeping in November. The Windom Press, Republican, frankly admits that Lind has made so good a governor that he is entitled to another term if he wants it, The Litchfield Independent contends that the Republican state convention made a horrible mess of its work from the standpoint of geographical con. siderations. For example it points out that the nominees for governor and chief justice hail from the i counties of Winona and Olmstead. The candidate for attorney general and one of the nominees for raiiroad commis- sioner both come from the single county of Clay in the Red River valley. Meeker >»