A Good Beginning

A GOOD BEGINNING.

The United States courts are doing a good thing in Alabama and Georgia in the matter of breaking up the horrors of the convict camps. Through this convict camp scheme, it appears that a system of peonage worse than slavery has been built up in the South, under which black men and women are not only held in bondage, but actually whipped to death by brutal contractors. One of these brutes in Alabama has just been sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of ten counts, but as the sentences are to run concurrently the actual time is reduced to five years. This is none to much, but possibly sufficient for a lesson.

The way of working this scheme to get control of colored men was to trump up charges against them, take them before a justice of the peace, fine them heavily and sell them into service to work out the fine. Once having control of them, means were found to keep them at work year after year. This amounts to imprisonment for debt on a civil contract and the United States court ruled it unconstitutional. It is to be hoped this is the beginning of the end of this kind of slavery. The decision of the United States court will probably result in the repeal of the state laws authorizing this disposition of prisoners.

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It is now claimed that various congressmen have been concerned with officials of the post office department in working grafts. The president proposes to get after these grafters also and make an example of some of them if possible. There is little question but the working on grafts is a no inconsiderable part of the business of office holding with many of the professionals. The public is considered an altogether proper and fit subject for plunder and withal an easy mark. The conscience of the country is extremely dull on all such matters. About the only thing that many are disposed to censure any grafter for is getting caught in his grafting. If he is shrewd enough to do it and not get caught he is looked upon as a mighty cute, keen, sharp fellow worthy of commendation and at least half praise: But if he is caught he is considered easy and a fool. The crime he has committed is given little adverse criticism, but that the criminal was so slow as to get caught leads to his being ostracised from the smart political set.

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Now it is said the agricultural department needs investigation. It seems that officials in that department have been arranging rake offs for themselves in the matter of seed contracts. It is also claimed that the contractors with the connivance of the officials, have been putting up packages to be sent the farmers which packages are not only short in weight, but not the kind of seed the labels indicate. Probably what is now happening to the post office department will soon be up to the agricultural department. Let no guilty man escape.

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The democrats of Iowa have held a state convention and indicated that they have had their fill of 16 to 1. There appeared to be two factions in the convention, but they were both anti-Bryan. Among other things said by those who controlled the convention may be quoted the following: "To attempt to galvanize it (16 to 1) into life is to be false to the spirit of 1896. The spirit taketh alive, but the letter killeth––let this text shed light on your deliberations. The paramount issue of 1900 must wait."

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Prof. Clark, the political economist of Columbia University, who is lecturing at the University of Chicago, sees in the capitalistic monopolies and the partial labor monopolies an instrument of danger to the consumer. There is a disposition, he says, for these two classes of monopolists to strike hands and grind the consumer. Production, he declares, is the true basis of distribution of wages, and returns, and any other method of filing these is dangerous to the consumer.

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The sending of the European squadron of the United States navy to the famous Kiel regatta has greatly pleased the German Emperor. The American visitors have been shown every courtesy and Emperor William has telegraphed to President Roosevelt his appreciation of the honor of the visit. Undoubtedly the visit is worth all it will cost. Such international courtesies are quite as valuable from the national view-point as similar courtesies in private lift are to individuals.

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If some adviser of Gov. Beckham wrote his apology or defense of conditions in Breathitt county then said adviser ought to be compelled to live for a time in that county under the conditions of J. B. Marcum's last year of residence there. If the governor prepared it himself then the Breathitt assassins and arsonists apparently have little to fear form the governor.

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The coal operators and dealers of Chicago who were arrested, tried, found guilty and fined through the work of State's Attorney Deneen, for conspiracy to raise the price of coal, are said to be using their influence to defeat his ambition to be the republican candidate for governor. If his action against the coal conspirators be the only thing that can be brought against him, then the people will do well to see that he is not only nominated but elected.

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THE KINGDOM OF THE TOBACCO TRUST.

The year's consumption of tobacco in the United States alone includes seven billions of cigars, ten billions of cigarettes, and two hundred and eighty millions of pounds of manufactured tobacco. The one item of smoking and chewing tobacco, exclusive of cigars, cigarettes and snuff, registers an annual over-all value of more than $500,000,000. In addition, England smokes six billions, Japan three billions, and China one and one-half billions of cigarettes every twelvemonth. This outside cigarette-puffing burns up forty-five millions of pounds of tobacco and put about $4,000,000 into the bank account of the American grower, giving the giant balance to the Trust.––Everybody's Magazine.

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LIVED TOGETHER ONLY A MONTH

BUT THAT WAS SUFFICIENT TO ENTITLE WIFE TO DIVORCE

On the Ground of Cruelty––An Ypsilanti Divorce Case

Judge Kinne granted a divorce Monday in minutes which can be expressed with one figure. The parties concerned are residents of Ypsilanti and the case was not contested. Elizabeth Barringer was granted a divorce from Philip Barringer to whom she was married in December, 1902. She left him on the first of January following, having lived with him nearly a month. Barringer is telephone lineman and was given a hard reputation by his girl wife, who was granted a divorce on the ground of cruelty. The wife swore that her husband during the honeymoon month they lived together, struck her, called her all sorts of vile names and left her with even worse afflictions. Her mother, Mrs. Lawerence, swore to practically the same things. No other witnesses were sworn although there were other present to testify on the wife's side of the case.

The woman seemed scarcely more than seventeen or eighteen years of age. Judge Kinne asked her why she married such a man. She said she did not know he was the kind of a man he proved to be although she had been acquainted with him three years previous to her marriage.

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MISS GRANGER FINISHES SEASON

WILL BE STARRED IN MISS BOB WHITE

Which Opens in August–She Has Made a Decided Hit in the East

Miss Luella Marion Granger has finished her engagement with "The Strollers' and has been engaged by Messrs. Nixon & Zimmerman for the role of Miss Schuyler in Willard Spencer's "Miss Bob White." Her last appearance with "The Strollers' was the night in Bohemia in Atlantic City June 26.

A paper of that city speaks of her as follows:

"Luella Marion Granger, that bright vivacious bit of femininity, whose delightful manoeuvers and charming manner have so thoroughly endeared her to the theatre-going public, the Messrs. Nixon & Zimmerman have selected her for the difficult role of Miss Schuyler in the forthcoming revival of Willard Spencer's comedy opera, "Miss Bob White," which will inaugurate its winter tour in the city early in August. She made quite a hit with the newspaper men last night."

Miss Granger appears to have finished as much of a favorite with her managers as with the public and her success in the new role is considered assured.

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A little life may be sacrificed to hour's delay. Cholera infantum, dysentery, diarrhea come suddenly. One safe plan is to have Dr. Fowler's Extract of Wild Strawberry always at hand.