Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 10, 1904, Page 2

— erald-Review. By ©. E. KILEY. GRAND RAPIDS, - MINNESOTA. The last survivor of the noble Six Hundred is dead—again. Lo you suppose any young woman with sense would marry Thaw if he had no money? An English lord is to become a monk. Probably tired of making a monkey of himself. “Poets should let their hair grow,” says a contemporary, with an air of authority. Can they stop it? Two war correspondents are report- ed killed. In the meantime, the oth- ers are merely killing time and space. Princess Louise denies that she is insane, but has not yet been heard to remark that she is not somewhat im- proper. Platinum can be drawn into wire so fine that it is invisible to the naked eye. It seems to be something like a -cent beefsteak. Kansas City has an “Au Fait” club. It is a secret organization. Probably he secret is to find out what the ; name means. Fashionable Englishmen now wear seams pressed in their coats, Also a many of them seem to have es in their minds. A 38-year-old boy of Machias, Me., walked eight miles over rough country roads the other day. That boy will erow up to be a great actor. good good vivacious Savannah Press tells hat “all industrious men are la- orer: Especially that large class which labors under a delusion. The reason women can’t believe n have souls is that they don’t get 2 more excited over baby’s new toqgth than over a stock market panic. The editor of the New York Herald is doing Jerusalem. If the Jerusalem- ites find him out they will make his sojourn there one grand, sweet song of backsheesh. Pictures of John D. Rockefeller’s 4zew strong box now going the rounds make plain at least one of the reasons it is so difficult to get any of hn D.’s money. Japan has floated another loan of 60,000,000 at 6 per cent, and put an- tk mortgage on her import duties, of which shows that war is ex- as well as hell. 3oston bueket shop has failed, lost $1,000,000 on the recent n securities. This is the first on record’ that a bucket shop had something to lose. be fact that most of the great men tory were of lowly birth may be ng to the average man, but no less a fact that most of the men of history were, too. comes over seas that Sir will not challenge for the a cup again next year. Well, we suppose we shall have to the cup, just as we have been Word That Chicago professor who says a reduces strength has evidently r seen the way a man kicks a rocking chair after he has cracked his ikle against it in the dark.—Cincin- The djibboh is a picturesque gar- ment which is to supplant the kimono. lt comes from Egypt and Cleopatra wore one. It recommends itself to American women because no one can wear it and wash dishes. A Chicago poet’s wife wants a divorce from him because he has an abhorrence of soap and is otherwise objectionable. That he is zot alto- gether an abandoned character, how- ever, is clear from the fact that he does not insist on reading his poems to her. As a precaution against a sudden drop in the temperature, says an au- thority, it is well to be provided with a copy of a reputable newspaper, which should be folded to the proper size and thrust up under the vest as a back warmer. Now is the time.to subscribe. The Japanese now admit that they lost a battleship several months ago when the war correspondents report- ed the matter and were officially pro- claimed by the Japanese government to be liars. It is pretty safe, after all, to take it for granted that the war correspondents know a good deal about what is going on. Much as all might wish it other- wise, Russia's inclination to remain away from The Hague so long as she has a war on her hands has the merit of consistency. The cause of peace will make no great strides, more’s the pity, so long as nations talk peacé and make war. We read with melancholy interest that Mr. Henry N. Goldfogle, bachelor, eandidate for congressman in New York, who kissed 5,000 babies during his campaign, was defeated by the married Mr. Elverson. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT REVIEWS THE AFFAIRS OF THE NATION. HINTS FOR THE LAWMAKERS GRANTING OF REBATES TO SHIPPERS BY RAILROADS MUST STOP. WAY TO DEAL WITH, TRUSTS PRESIDENT HOPES TO SEE PHIL- IPPINES ON SAME FOOTING AS CUBA. President Roosevelt in his annual mes- sage to congress refers to the continued prosperity of the country, which he at- tributes primarily to the high individual average of our citizenship taken to- ether with our great natural resources, But an important factor therein is the working of our long-continued govern- mental policies, which, he declares, the people have emphatically approved. The enlargement of the scope of the functions of the national government re- quired by our development as a nation involves, of course, increase of expense; present prosperity justifies expenditures for permanent improvements far greater than would be wise in hard times. The president, however, urges congress to ex- ercise great care to guard against ex- travagance and unnecessary increase in ordinary expenses of the government. The “president devotes considerable space to the subject of capital and labor. He says: “The relations of capital and labor, and especially organized capital and organized labor, to each other and to the public come second only in im- portance to the intimate relations of family life. Our peculiar form of gov- ernment, with its sharp division of au- thority between the nation and the sev- eral states, has been on the whole far more advantageous to our development than a more strongly centralized govern- ment. But it is undoubtedly responsible for much of the difficulty, of meeting with adequate legislation the new prob- lems presented by the total change in in- dustrial conditions on this continent during the last half century. In actual practice it has proved exceedingly diffi- cult, and in many cases impossible, to get unanimity of wise action among the various states on these subjects. From the very nature of the case this is espe- cially true of the laws affecting the em- ployment of capital in huge masses. “With regard to labor the problem is no less important, but it is simpler. As long as the states retain primary con- trol of the police power, the circum- stances must be altogether extreme which require interference by the fed- eral authorities, whether in the way of safeguarding the rights of labor or in the way of seeing that wrong is not done by unruly persons who shield themselves behind the name of labor. . . I be- lieve that under modern industrial con- ditions it is often necessary, and even where not necessary it is often wise, that there should be oganization of labor in order better to secure the rights of the individual wageworker. All encourage- ment should be given to any such or- ganization, so long as_ it with a due and decent regard for the rights of others. But when any labor union seeks improper ends by improper means, all good citizens, and more espe- cially all honorable public servants, must oppose the wrongdoing as resolutely as they would oppose the wrongdoing of any great corporation. Wageworkers have an entire right to organize, and by all peaceful and honorable means to en- deavor to persuade their fellows to join with them in organizations. They have a legal’ right, which, according to cir- cumstances, may or may not be a moral right, to refuse to work in company with men who decline to join their or- ganizations. They have under no cir- cumstances the right to commit violence upon those, whether capitalists or wage- workers, who refuse to support their or- ganization, or who side with those with whom they are at odds, for mob rule is intolerable in any form.”’ The president strongly favors the enact- ment of a stringent employer’s Hability law. The wage-workers, he says, ure peculiarly entitled to the protection and encouragement of the law. The president regards the ever-increas- ing casualty list upon our railroads as a matter of grave public concern, and ur- gently recommends action by congress. The passage of a law requiring the adop- tion of the block signal system is earnest- ly recommended, and also a law limiting the hours of labor for railroad employes in train service upon railroads engaged in interstate commerce. There is no objection, says, to government employes belonging to unions, but the governmeat carnot discriminate for or against non-union en- ployers. Moreover, it is a very grave impropriety for government employes to band together to extort improperly high salaries from the government. Letter carriers should be amply paid, but their payment must be obtained by arguing their claims honorably before congress, and not by banding together for the de- feat of those congressmen who refuse to give promises which they cannot in con- science give. The administration has al-~ ready taken steps to prevent and punish abuses of this nature; but, the president believes, it will be wise for congress to supplement this action by Jegislation. . Muck can oe done by the government in labor matters merely vy siving publicity to certain conditions. The bureau of la- bor has done excellent work of this kind in many different directioas. he president says that he will shortly lay before congress in a special message the full report of the investization cf the pet of labor into the Colorado niining strike. In dealing with great ogee, eo" the the president president says the need fo! e govern- ment to act directly is far ater than in the case of labor, because great cor- porations can become such only by en- gaging in interstate commerce, and_in- terstate commerce is peculiarly the field of the general government. He con- tinues: “It is an ahsurdity to expect to eliminate the abuses in_ great corpora- tions by state action. It is difficult to be patient with an argument that such matters should be left to the states, be- cause more than one state pursues the policy of creating on easy terms corpora- tions which are never operated within that state at all, but in other states whose laws they ignore. The national ‘government alone can deal adequately with these great corporations. To try to deal -with them in an intemperate, destructive or demagogic spirit would, in all probability, mean that nothing what- ever would be accomplished, and that with absolute certainty. that if anything were accomplished it would be of a harmful nature. Great corporations are necessary, but they must be managed with due regard to the interests of the public as a whole. Where this can be done under the present laws it must be done. Where these laws come short others should be enacted to supplement them. “The bureau of ‘corporations has made careful preliminary investigation of many important corporations. It will make a special report on the beef industry. “The policy of the bureau is to accom- plish the purposes of its creation by co- operation, not antagonism; by making constructive legislation, not destructive prccerneon, the immediate object of its inquiri. by conservative investigation of law and fact, and by refusal to issue incomplete and hence necessarily inac- is conducted | ter still, the co: Sr iegitimate business. The bureau has made exhaustive ex- aminations into the legal condition under which corporate business is carrieq on in the various states, and into the vari- ous systems of corporate taxation in us« The president oe special attention tu the report of the chief of the bureau and urges congress to carefully consider the report and the recommendations it conteing: ue ae mgress is urged carefully to co: v whether the power of the bureau enoe constitutionally be extended to cover in- terstate transactions in insurance, The highways of commerce must be kept open to all on equal terms, says the president; and to do tnis it is necessary to put a complete stop to all rebates. Whether the shipper or the railroad is to blame makes no difference; the rebate must be stopped, the abuses of the pri- vate car and private terminal track and sidetrack systems must be stopped, and the legislation of the fifty-eighth’ con- ss which declares it to be unlawful or any person or corporation to offer, grant, give, solicit, accept, or receive any rebate, concession or discrimination in respect. of the transportation of any property in interstate or foreign com- merce whereby such property shall by any device waatever be transported at a less rate than that named in the tariffs published by the carriers must be en- forced, The president is of the opinion that while at present it would be undesirable, if not impracticable, finally to clothe the commission with general authority to fix railroad rates, he believes that as a fair security to shippers, the commission should be vested witn the power, where a given rate has been challenged and found to be unreasonable, to decide, sub- ject to judicialgreview. what shall be a reasonable rat@® to take‘its pldce. The most important legislative act now need- ed as regards the regulation of corpora- tions is an act to revise rates and regu- lations. The president devotes considerable space to the needs. of the city of Wash ington and suggestions as to desired leg- islation, ‘ The extensive scope of the work of the department of aericulture is dealt with at length. Congress appropriates annually $6,000,000 to carry on research into all the sciences of production. Tais work reaches every state and territory in the Union and the islands of the sea lately come under our flag. The world is carefully searched for new va s of grains, fruits, grasses, vegetables and shrubs, suitable to various localities in our country, and marked benefit to our producers hag resulted. The activities of our age in lines of research have reached the tillers of the soil and inspired them with ambition to know more of the principles that gov- ern the forces of nature with which they have to deal. Nearly half of the people of this country devote their ener; growing things from the soil. Until recent date little has been done to pre- pare these millions for their life work. The farmer had no opportunity for s cial training until congress made vision for it forty years ago. During these years great progress has _ been made. Over five thousand students are in attendance at our state agricultural colleges. The federal government ex- pends annually $10,000,000 toward their education and for research in Washing- ton and elsewhere. We sell $250,000,000 worth of animals and animal products to foreign coun- tries every year, in additign to supply- ing our own people more cheaply and abundantly than any other nation is able to provide for its people. We sell abroad about $6,000,000 -worth of plants and their products every year. During the two and a half years that have elapsed since the passage of the reclamation act rapid progress has been made in the surveys and examinations of the opportunities for reclamation in the thirteen states and three territories of the arid West. Construction has al- ready been begun on the largest and most important of the irrigation works, and plans are being completed for works which will utilize the funds now avail- able. The reclamation act has _ been found to be remarkably complete and effective, and so broad in its provisions that a wide range, of undertakings has been possible under it. The subject of forest reserves comes in for considerable of the president's at- tention. He says: ‘It is the cardinal principle of the forest reserve poli of this administration that the reserves are for use, Whatever interferes with the use of their resources is to be avoided by every possible means. But their re- sources must be used in such a wa as to make them permanent. The forest reserves themselves are of extreme value to the prsent as well as to the future welfare of all the Western public land states. They powerfully affect the use and disposal of the public lands. They are of special importance because they preserve the water supply and the sup- ply. of timber for domestic purposes, and so promote settlement under the rec: lamation act. Indeed, they are essen- tial to the welfare of every one of the great interests of the West.” The president calls attention to the confusion which exists in government forest matters because the work is scat- tered among three independent organiza- tions and urges that the forest work be concentrated in the department of agriculture where the greater part of the work is now done and where prac- tically all the trained foresters of the government are employed. The president urges that he be au- thorized to ‘set aside c n portions of the forest reserves for the preservation of the bison, the wapiti and other large beasts once so abundant in gur woods and mountains and our great plains, and now tending toward extinction. The pension bureau, according to the president, has never in its history been managed in a more satisfactory manner than is now the case. The progress of the Indians toward civilization, though not rapid, is per- haps all that could be hoped for in view of the circumstances, The appoint- ment of a fleld assistant to the commis- sioner of Indian affairs would, the presi- dent believes, bring the agents into closer touch with the Indian office in Wash- ington and with the co-operation thus secured the Indian office would, in a measure fuller than eyer before, lift up the savage toward that self-help and self-reliance which constitute the man. In the postoffice department the serv- ice has increased in efficiency, and condi- tions as to revenue and expenditure con- tinue satisfactory. The increase of rev- enue during the year was $9,355,181.10, or 6.9 per cent, the total receipts amount- F ing to $143,382,624.34. The expenditures were $152,362,116.70, an increase of about 9 per cent over the previous year, being thus $8,979,492.36 in excess of the current revenue. Included in these exp was a total appropriation of $12,956,687.35 for the continuation and extension of the rural ee the Large as this expenditure fas beef the beneficent results attained in extending free distribution of mails to the residents of the rural districts have justified the wisdom of the outlay. On the 1st of October, 1904, there were 27,138 rural*routes established, serving approxi- mately 12,000,000 people, and there were pending at that time 3,857 petitions for new routes. The president points out needed im- provements in our consular system, The enactment of a national quarantine law is urged. The president calls attention to the ex- travagance in printing and expresses the opinion that no appreciable harm would he caused by, and much benefit would ac- crue from, decreasing the amount of printing now done by at least one-half. Congress is urged to give especial at- tention to the currency question. The question of the retirement of the green- backs and the problem of securing in our currency such elasticity as is consistent with safety are urged for consideration. Every silver dollar should be made re- deemable in gold at the option of the pees says the Sanaa Encouragement of our merchant by_legislation is recommended. Ae The growing importance of the Orient as a field for American exports is pointed out and recommendations made looking a eaten Oe cae peas nthe subject of immigration the 3 ident says: “There is no danger of Need ing too many immigrants of the right kind. It makes no difference from what county they come.: If they are sound in body and in mind, and above all. if they are of good Character, they should be welcomed with cordial hospitality ” Fraudulent naturalization is denounced @s a curse to our government and the evis! he ni ation laws! a agal brib Mead cormntior in federal tions is recommended. The president reviews at length exist- ing conditions in Alaska and makes 4 number of recommendations as to legis- lation made necessary by the growth and development of the territory. In treating of our foreign policy and of the attitude that this great nation should assume in tne world at large, says the president. it is absolutely necessary to consider the army and navy, and the congress, a which the thought of the nation finds its expression, should keep ever vividly in mind the funda- mental fact that it is impossible to treat our foreign policy, whether this policy takes saape in the effort to secure jus- tice for others or justice for ourselv save as conditioned upon the attitude we are willing to take toward our navy. It is not merely unwise it is contempt- ible, for a nation. as for an individual, to use high-sounding language to pro- claim its purposes, or to take positions which are ridiculous if unsupported by potential force, and then to refuse to provide this force. If there is no inten- tion of providing: and of keeping the force necessary to back up a strong atti- tude, then it is far better not to assume such an attitude, The steady aim of this nation, as of all enlightened nations, should’ be to strive to bring ever nearer the day when tnere shall prevail throughout the world the peace of justice. The goal to set be- fore us as a nation is the attainment of the peace of justice. the peace which comes when each nation js not merely safeguarded in its own rights. but scru- pulously recognizes and performs its duty toward others, The eternal vigilance which is the price of liberty must be exercised, sometimes to guard against outside foes, although of course far more often to guard against our own selfish and thoug‘atless short- co} gs. A great free people owes it to itself and to all mankind not to sink fate helplessness before the powers of ev: We are in every way endeavoring to help on, with cordial good will, every movement which will tend to bring us into more friendly relations with the rest of mankind. In pursuance of this policy the president says he will ortly lay before the senate treaties of arbitration with the powers whicn are willing to en- ter into ese treaties with us. It is not true, says the president, that the United States fe any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western hemisphere save such as are for their welfare that this country desires is to see neighboring countries stable, orderly prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themsel well can count upon our hearty friendship. In asserting the Monroe doctrine, in taking such steps as we have taken in regard to Cuba, Vene- zuela and Panama. and in endeavoring to circumscribe the theater of war in the Far East, and to secure the open door in China, we have acted in our own in- terest as well as in the interest of hu- manity at large. Even when it is not possible to secure in other nations the observance of the principles which we accept as axiomatic. it is necessary for us firmly to insist upon the rights of our own citizens with- out regard to their creed or race, with- out regard to whether they were born here or abroad. The strong arm of the government in enforcing respect for its just rights in international matters is the navy. The president earnestly recommends that there be no halt in the work of upbuild- ing the American navy. There is no more patriotic duty before us as a people than to keep the navy adequate to the needs of this country’s position. The president urges the need of increasing our fleet of battleships. Our army, the president says, has been reduced to the minimum at which it ts possible to keep it with due regard to its efficiency. In the Philippine islands there has been during the past year a continuation of the steady progress which has obtained ever since our troops definitely got the upper hand of the insurgents. The Phil- ippine people contain many elements o good, and some elements which we have a right to hope stand for progress. At pent they are utterly incapable of ex- sting in independence at all or of build- ing up a civilization of their own. The president continues: “I firmly believe that we can help them to rise higher and higher in the scale of civilization and of capacity for self-government, and I most earnestly hope that in the end they may be able to stand, if not entire- ly alone, yet in gome such relation to the United States as Cuba now stands. This end is not yet in sight and it may he indefinitely postponed if our people are foolish enough to turn the attention of the Filipinos away from the problems of achieving moral and material prosperity, of working for a stable, orderly and just government, and toward foolish and dan- gerous intrigues for a complete inde- pendence for which they are as yet to- tally unfit. On the other hand, our peo- ple must keep steadily before their minds the fact that the justification for our stay in the Philippines must ultimately rest chiefly upon the good we are able to do in the islands. I do not overlook the fact that in the development of our in- terests in the Pacific ocean and along its coasts the Philippines have played and will play an important part, and that our interests have been served in more than one way by the possession of the isiand: But our chief reason for continuing to hold them must be. that we ought in good faith to try to do our share of the world’s work, and this par- ticular piece of work has been imposed upon us by the results of the war with Spain.” In concluding, the president says: “Every measure taken concerning .the ds should be taken primarily with a view to their advantage. We should certainly give them lower tariff rates on their exports to the United States: if this is not done it will be a wrong to extend our shipping laws to them. I earnestly hope for the immediate enact- ment into law of the legislation now pending to encourage American capital to seek investment in the islands in rail- roads, in factories, in plantations, and in lumbering and minin; The Forestry Movement. The basic princivle of forestry is to get the greatest possible use out of the for- est. It is opposed to the old idea of lum- bering by cutting the forest clean. leav- ing behind a mass of debris, for fire to complete the destruction. It is also op- posed to the sentimental notion that the forest should be retained as a thing ot beauty and is best treated when left alone. The forester,contemplates the for- est as a crop, just as the farmer does is wheat and corn, to be harvested when ripe, but in such a way as to get a prof- jtable return and at the same time per: petuate the*crop. This is the principle back of the forest movement in the Jnited States, and it is to spread this idea, particularly among, those persons who have the greatest need of forest products, that this congress is called. It is the greatest single effort yet planned in this country to instill in our people the lesson that certain European nations took to heart several centuries ago in connection with their forests, which they turned from threatened destruction into a national asset, while still older coun- tries failed to heed a like warning of disappearing forests and became arid and fruitless. It is to teach the people to take home to themselves the part that the forest plays in their daily lives that this and previous forest meetings of a national character have been arranged,—to point out to them that reckless lumbering und the denuding of steep hillsides have much to do with bringing the disastrous floods of recent years, such as the one in the Southern Appalachian mountains, where sixteen million dollars’ worth of property ‘was destroyed in two weeks. It is known that forest fires in the United States an- nually destroy from twenty-five million dollars’ to fifty million dollars’ worth of timber and other property. The pur of the forest movement is to avert these tremendous disasters by stamping out the multitude of lesser evils that_unite to cause them.—H. M. Suter. in Review of Reviews. Relative Advantages. in t do you think is better,” asked the thoughtful girl, ‘‘wealth or social po- ee sy dear,” answered Miss Cayenne, “with money to give entertainments you can get f°. the FOES Scorn eae tocratic 01 joes, iuanre mention in the financial new: Washington S' SRNR _ JAP DEFEAT RENNENKAMPFF SAID TO HAVE SCORED AGAINST THE ENEMY. NOT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED RUSSIANS CAPTURE TWENTY- FOUR GUNS IN ROUT OF JAPS. MAKE GENERAL ASSAULT SOON PORT ARTHUR TO BE ATTACKED AND EASY VICTORY EX- PECTED. Mukden, Dec. 7. — The report that Gen. Rennenkampff has administered a heavy defeat to the Japanese con- tinues to circulate among the Russian troops, but as yet has not been of- ficially confirmed. To the earlier rumor mentioned above there is add- ed the report that the Russians have succeeded in carrying off twenty-four guns which they captured in the rout of the Japanese but at first unable to remove owing to a cross-fire from the Japanese forces. There was no general change in conditions at the front yesterday. The price of wood is increasing, though other fuel is becoming more plentiful and cheaper. The _ prices charged for food by local merchants are exceedingly high, owing to the slowness of the arrival of supplies from Russia. General Assault Soon. Tokio, Dec. 7.—The Russians night- ly are attacking 203-Meter hill in an endeavor to retake the summit of the ground in contention. The Japanese are increasing their defenses on the position and have succeeded so far in repelling all assaults. The Russians have suffered the heaviest losses and it is estimated that they have sacri- ficed 3,000 men in their efforts to re- capture the ground, which the Japan- ese are confident of their ability to hold. Observations indicate that the gar- rison is feeling the shortage of men. All indications point to an early general assault, although the date when it will begin is kept secret. It is expected that the next general as- sault will prove successful. Warships Are Hit. The Port Arthur besiegers report @s follows: “On Saturday, Dec. 3, our naval guns bombarded the enemy ships. The Pobeida (battleship) was struck six times, a vessel of the Retvizan, (battleship) type was hit eight times, and on other ships sixteen shells took effect. On Monday, following the same plan, the Pobeida was hit seven times, thé Poltava (battleship) eleven times, and the Retvizan eleven times. At about 3 in the afternoon one of our shells struck a magazine south of Peivu mountain, causing A Heavy Explosion. The conflagration which followed was not extinguished for two hours. “The same day our heavy guns were directed at the enemy’ hips. The Peresviet (battleship) was struck twice and two more shells were lodged in other ships. A vessel of the Pol- tava type was observed to be on fire for one hour, sending up a great vol- ume of smake. “The attacking operations against the Sungshu mountain and the forts to the eastward are carried on day and night. [wo 36-milimeter quick-firers were captured Sunday in a half-moon fort defendin®a counterscarp on Rih- lung mountain.” Russians Have Confidence. St. Petersburg, Dec. 7. — Although the war office and the admiralty are still without direct news from Port Arthur, confidence in the ability of the fortress to hold out continues to be expressed. The reports from Tokio of the shelling of the battleships and of heavy losses by the Russians in an attempt to recapture 203-Meter hill are considered misleading. Accord- ing to a high officer of the general staff the warships would be able to seek shtlter from the fire from 203- Meter hill by anchoring behind Tiger’s Tail peninsula. Reports that the Rus- sians are clearing the mine fields out- side the harbor are regarded as the best indication that the squadron is preparing to move out to this anchor- age, where it will be secure under the protection of shore batteries. Japs Get Drop on Ships. Tokio, Dec. 7.—The effective bom- bardment of the Russian battleships in Port Arthur, which began on Satur- day last, was one of the results of the capture of 203-Meter hill. Up to that time the warships had been able to seek shelter from the Japanese fire under Peiyu mountain, but the cap- ture of 203-Meter hill enabled the Jap- anese to train their guns on the Rus- sian vessels, with the result that a number of them have been set on fire and the others must either put to sea or suffer irreparable damage. ‘ Big Battle Seems Distant. Mukden, Dec. 7.—Everything now indicates that the prospect of an im- mediate encounter on a large scale has passed. During the fighting be- low Tsinkhetchen the Russian loss was 25 men killed and 123 wounded, including two officers. Seventeen Japanese prisoners were taken, one of whom committed suicide. — PANIC AT MATINEE. Slight Blaze From Light Wire Alarms Audience. Norfolk, Neb., Dec. 7. — A serious panic oecurred at the Norfolk auditor- ium at a matinee at which “Cinder- ella” was being presented. A score of persons were badly trampled, but no one was killed. The panic was caused by a slight blaze from an elec- trie light wire. Some person turned in a fire alarm and at the same time a man in the gallery shouted “fire.” In a moment the the parquette was a mass of crushing people trying to reach the exits. These were found closed, which added to the excite- ment. The blaze was quickly ex- tinguished, but the surging crowd continued to rush for the doors. The firemen finally quieted the audience, but not until a large number had re- ceived serious injuries, mostly be be- ing trampled upon. The theater man- agement says the doors were not locked and could have been easily opened but for the frenzied condition of the audience. BANDIT ELUDES SHERIFF. Express Car Robber Still at Large — Big Reward Offered. Los Angeles, Cal.; Dec., 7.—-Notwith- standing scores of |deputy sheriffs and police officers are aiding in the search of the bandit who Monday looted the Wells-Fargo express car at Daggett, Cal., after shooting Messenger Rob- erts, he is still believed to be at large. Rewards aggregating $2,300 have been offered for his capture. Messe: Roberts is still alive, but with s' chance of recovering. VICTIM OF APOPLEXY. Prominent Author and Athiecte Very Suddenly. New York, Dec. 7.-—William Blaikie, xty-one, well known la thor and athlete and advocate of pt ys ical culture, was stricken with apo- piexy at his home here, and died he- fore a physician could be summoned He had been in the best of health. Mr. Blaikie was the author of scveral books on physical culture and lectured on that subject. Dies CHICAGO BROKER ACQUITTED. Verdict Is Not Guilty in Chandler Em- bezzlement Case. Chicago, Dec. 7. — Judge McEwen yesterday instructed the jury to re- turn a verdict of not guilty against Frank R. Chandler, the bankrupt mortgage broker who the embezzlement of $1,500 from Mrs. Mary Brownell of Bridgewater, Mas: and similar accounts from others made investments through his gage bank. s indicted for who mort- ARRESTED IN CANADA, Omaha Man Charged With Rodning Women of Cash and Jewet Detroit, Mich., Dec. 7. —- Aibert § Allan of Omaha, Neb., S arrest at Belle River, Ont., a small villege about twenty-five miles from this by a Chicago deiective on the cha o* larceny of $2,000 in cash, and aceds, bonds and other securities valued at $30,000, from Mis. Annie H. daskins of Omaha. FRANCIS WiLL TOUR WORLD Woerld’s Fair President to Retura V‘is- its of Foreign Dignitaries. St. Louis, Dee 7.—It is announced that David R. Francis, president cf the Louisiana Purchase exposition, is te make a tour of the world to repay the visits of foreign dignitaries and to express the gratitude of St. Louis aud the national government for the liber- nations and exhidit- PLAGUE THREATENS RUSSIA. Fear That Cholera May Spread North- ward From Ceucasia. Erivan, Trans-Caucasia, Dec. 7.—In view of the reported spread of cholera extraordinary precautions are being taken to improve the sanitary, condi-. tions of Erivan, which is the star’’ 2 point of the railroad, it being feared that the epidemic may be carried northward to the heart of Russia. BOAT CAUSES TROUBLE. Roche ard Sinnet Charged With Un- lawfully Shipping Yack*s to Russia. London, Dec. 7.—Summonses have been issued at Bow street police court against Burk Roche and Mr. Sinnet in connection with the delivery of the turbine yacht Caroline to the Rus- sians at Libau early in October last. The action was taken at the instance of the public prosecutor. STRUCK BY TROLLEY CAR. Business Man of Northern Michigan Dies of His Injuries. Houghton, Mich., Dee. 7. — Daniel Twohy, aged sixty-five, a business man of Highway, is dead at the Northern Michigan nospital as the result of in- juries received at the Rhode ‘siand mine Sunday night when he was struck by an interurban streat car ‘n a blinding snow storm. NEW EXTRADITION TREATY. One Is Signed by Secretary Hay and the Cuban Minister. Washington, Dec. 7.—Secreiary Hay and Mr. Quesada, the Cuban minister, yesterday signe’ a supplementary ex- tradition treaty, which does not affect the present treaty, but provides ce:tain changes in «he Spanish text d-emed advisable by the Cubgn government. , 2