GRAFT AND GRAFTER
ONE LITTLE HOMELY WORD
THAT CONVEYS MUCH.
MANY HUMBUGS IN DISGUISE
!Human Nature Much the Same in
All Ages—People Easily Deluded
Into Making Poor Invest
ments.
Cant phrases have been invented,
and words more noted for their force
than elegance, have become popular
-as expressive of common things. In
all that is slang, it is doubtful if there
is any better word than "graft." Long
boforo Chaucer indited what would
now be called "pigeon English," witty
Greeks and Romans indulged in their
aosthestic forms of vulgar expression,
and there can be little doubt that good
old Socrates impressed Pluto and
some of his other pupils with pungent
Idioms, and in turn was called by Aris
tophanes an impious old grafter.
it is quite evident that "graft" has a
place among euphonius words, and
■conveys an idea plainly and tersely.
'The famous Barnum, who said some
thing about the people anxious to be
humbugged had a pretty good idea of
human nature, and made the most out
of his knowledge. The business man
of to-day does not ignore the gullibili
ty of the masses, and yearly millions
■of dollars are spent in printers' ink to
convey to the people various kinds of
information that will stimulate the
letting goof dollars for the benefit of
the grafter.
Pick up a copy of any current Sun
day newspaper, farm journal, religious
publication, magazine or other period
ical and look over its pages! Graft is
•evident in each and every one. It is
•covered under the guise of artistic ad
vertising. Thousands of cure-alls, won
derful discoveries, great bargains from
bankrupt sales, exceptional chances
"for investment and Lord knows what
not, beams from the pages to catch
the eyes of the person who has not re
ceived sufficient lessons in the "school
of graft." The people like to be fooled.
There seems to be more or less av
arice in the makeup of most men, and
women, too. The getting of something
of value for little or nothing is a com
mon offer to gather in the dollars for
the benefit of the grafter.
For a few years a young man with
■ambition and a liking for work strug
gled along in the mercantile line in a
large central western city. He de
cided to enlarge. He needed money.
A splendid scheme presented it'self.
Why not get dollars needed to carry
on a big business from the people?
They needed a chance for investment.
He was just the fellow to help 'em
out. He organized a big cooperative
concern. He advertised broadcast.
Told of the wonderful possiblities of
his business, and lo! the dollars rolled
his way by the hundreds of thou
sands. Soon the government ended
his game. He was charged with using
the mails to defraud. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars were lost by
those who invested in his "coopera
tive society." Many similar schemes
are up for consideration day after
•day. The people never tire of them.
Just like buying a lottery ticket. There
is a chance to win, and as long as the
proposition looks good, the grafter
.flourishes.
The wise man, be he farmer or doc
tor, stockman or storekeeper, will
avoid jumping at such chances for in
vestment. Look out for the coopera
tive organizer. Beware of the grafters
-who want to interest you in their busi
ness affairs, and at the same time hold
the combination to the safe.
D. M. CARR
AGAINST PREMIUM GRAFT.
Laws Passed by Some States Prohibit
ing Prizes in Packages of Foodstuffs.
Some classes of people when they
•wish to purchase goods, look more aft
er so-called bargains than quality, and
quite often the bargains prove expen
sive. It seems that the getting of
something for nothing is attractive to
the average person. Of late years
there has grown up a practice among
manufacturers of staple articles, par
ticularly in the food line, of giving a
prize with each package of their goods.
It is apparent that there is an inclina
tion towards gambling in the make
up of most people, and this spirit is
appealed to largely by the giver of
prizes. The purchaser seems to over
look the fact that he receives nothing
•other than he pays for. Whatever ar
ticle is given as a premium represents
BO much money value and certainly
the manufacturer does not lose by
the operation.. The value of what is
given must be made up by either the
rretailer or the consumer, and it is gen
erally tiie consumer who pays the
•cost.
Retail grocers, as well as the peo
ple in general, have cause to be thank
ful to the lawmakers of some states
for making it illegal to place premiums
In packages of foodstuffs. Such a law
Is now in force in the state of Nebras
ka. Premium and prize giving has
tieen a cause of trouble and disturb
ance, and has resulted in the making
•of inferior goods, palming off their
poor productions, relying more upon
the prize given to secure trade than
the merit of goods. The wise house
iwife in whatever state she may live
■will be careful to discriminate between
quality, and quality backed up by
prizes. It is well when you buy arti
cles in the food line to avoid buying
anything which has a prize attach
toent. You are compelled to not alone
pay for the goods that you require, but
the prize as well.
WEALTH CONCENTRATION EVIL.
Operation of Injurious Trusts Can Be
Curtailed by Efforts of the
Masses.
An evil that at present is receiving
more than ordinary attention in the
press is the concentration of vast
amounts of money in the hands of
corporations. The accumulation of
wealth by individuals when controlled
by natural law, will inevitably become
divided. The millionaire who has a
family, at his death will apportion to
each member a share of his wealth.
Even though these divisions may be
increased by work and by speculation
and investment by the children, they
in return will divide the accumula
tions among their offspring and even
tually, it matters not how great the
fortunes of any one of the family
may become, it is only a matter of
time until there is a scattering of the
money, and a great portion of it, will
pass from the members of the family.
On the other hand, corporation meth
ods mean the building of a system
that prevents the operation of the
natural law. In other words corpora
tions are machines that work con
tinuously. and when one part is brok
en it is replaced by a new one. Thus
the accumulation goes on. The death
of Rockefeller will not result in a
discontinuance of the Standard Oil
company; the death of the present
stockholders of any of the large trust
companies, banks or insurance com
panies will make little difference in
their existence. All will go ahead.
The safeguards of corporations in
many cases are excellent. But the
inclination to control trade by the
crushing out of smaller concerns and
the destruction of legitimate compe
tition and the controlling of prices,
seems against public policy. All
classes are compelled to pay prices
dictated by these trusts for the goods
produced. Each year finds new com
binations to control trade. It is the
centralization of capital that makes
such operations possible. The person
who assists in concentrating money in
large financial centers does his part
toward helping along such combines.
Ic is only by individual action on the
part of every small producer and lab
orer in the country that conditions j
can be changed . Stand by every home I
industry and do your part toward j
keeping money in circulation at home, !
and thus bring about conditions that I
will make the operations oft usts and
combinations impossible.
SCIENCE OF TOWN KILLING.
Unwise Booming and Maintaining Ex
orbitant Prices an Effective Way.
There Is a county seat town in one
of the central western states that has
a population of about 3,000. It is sur
rounded by one of the richest farming
countries. For years this town has
been at a standstill. If anything it
is retrograding, and even farm values
near it are lowering, while poorer land
some 20 miles away is advancing.
Why should such a condition exist?
The answer is plain. A dozen years
ago there was a boom. With the booin
real estate went to the top notch.
Keeping pace with the boom the
prices of products in that town went
up. There was a collapse in real es
tate values, but the merchants re
mained, and kept up the high-price
habit. That is they wanted more than
an equitable share of profit. Another
town was started 20 miles away. Some
of the farmers went there. It was
found that the merchants were selling
goods at a lower price. The stock
buyer and the grainbuyer paid a few
cents a hundred more for their pur
chases. The habit of trading at the
new town grew. The business men of
the old town couldn't learn a lesson.
Before they knew it their customers
were leaving them. So it has been
since then. The merchants have been
plodding along. The money that
should be retained in the town went
elsewhere. Much of it went to build
up the competing town.
Mistakes like this one are made
frequently. Towns become dead
places instead of live ones. In fact,
some towns are so dead that the farm
ers who withdrew their trade from
them are suffering in decreased farm
values. They take no interest in
these places, other than to visit them
now and then. Unhealthy booms, un
healthy prices made by the merchants,
and which are foolishly maintained,
are quite certain to kill a town even
though it may be a county seat and
have some advantages nearby towns
may not have.
Support Home Newspapers.
The country newspaper is a power
in the land. Its place can never be
filled by the big daily papers or the
bulky magazines or agricultural jour
nals. It fills a field entirely its own.
It is the barometer of the place in
which it is published. Its news pages
represent the life of the people, and
its advertising pages should reflect
the business activity of the town. It
is the duty of every good citizen to
give his support to the local press.
Particularly the business men should
patronize it with a view of bettering
his trade. It is not money wasted to
use advertising space in it. One good
merchant in the town who under
stands how to advertise rightly, can
bring trade to the town that will help
every other business man in it. But
, all should do their part, and the store
keeper who docs not give his home
paper the support it merits is not the
wisest kind of a business man.
Make Good Packing Paper.
Old newspapers make excellent
packing paper, in which to put things
in storage, as printng ink is disliked
by InsecU.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1907
FOURTH EFFORT
WAS SUCCESSFUL
BUFFALO POLICE HEADQUAR
TERS IS PREY FOR FIREBUGS.
EIGHT FIREMEN WERE HURT.
Cupola of the Structure Fell Through
the Roof and Top Floor —Many Im
portant Documents and Rec
ords Were Destroyed.
Buffalo, N. Y. Police headquar
ters was ruined Friday by a fire
discovered in the lavatory and which
spread rapidly through the top floors.
All of the 30 prisoners were removed
in safety. This is the fourth time the
building has been on fire within a few
months.
Police records, the rogues' gallery
and many important documents, in
cluding the original copy of Leon
Czolgosz's confession of the assassi
nation of President McKinley were
destroyed. The fire was of incendiary
origin. Two companies of firemen
were caught in the collapse of the roof
anil cupola and eight men were seri
ously injured. None will die.
At 2:30 p. m. Police Commissioner
Zeller picked up a blazing newspaper
in a hallway. Half an hour later a po
lice messenger found a blazing win
dow brush in the store room. He had
just reached the commissioners' room,
with the smouldering brush when
there was a cry of fire from the street
and flames were found shooting over
the main entrance and from the win
dows of the fourth floor.
The prisoners were handcuffed to
gether and marched to the jail. The
firemen soon had the flames under
control and were working on the third
floor when the cupola toppled over
and crashed through the roof and top
floor. The firemen caught in the
crash were released after 20 minutes
of hard work. The building was prac
tically destroyed. The loss is esti
mated at SIOO,OOO.
A GREAT LABOR WAR BREWING.
English Railway Employes Vote in
Favor of a General Strike.
London, England.—Notwithstanding
the powerfuj influences that have been
at work for some time past in the
hope of averting trouble in the British
railroad world, there seems to be but
little probability of preventing a strike
which will have the most serious con
sequences to the traveling public and
the men and companies involved, as
well as to commercial interests gener
ally.
The action taken Friday by the ex
ecutive committee of the Amalgamat
ed Society of Railway Servants in
passing a resolution to call a general
strike leaves little or no hope for a
favorable outcome. This society al
ways has been looked upon as one ot
the most conservative of the labor
unions and its leader, Richard Bell.'M.
P., has been noted* for his efforts to
prevent strikes and for his utterances
in favor of the rights of capital, as
well as the rights of the workingman.
Consequently the resolution is not
taken lightly, and in view of these dec
larations and the determined stand
taken by the society since the griev
ances of the men were first voiced, it
does not seem likely that the men will
withdraw from their present position.
While there is a long list of al
leged grievances, the principal one
has turned on recognition of the union
and this the railroad companies,
whose spokesman is Lord Claude
Hamilton, are determined not to con
cede. The general strike, however,
under the rules of the society and the
requirements of the law, cannot take
place for some weeks.
The railroads charge that the pres
ent agitation is due to the growth of
socialism,
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Volume of New Business in Iron ana
Steel Is Restricted by Mon
etary Stringency.
New York City.—R. G. Dun &
Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says:
Contraction has followed the finan
cial crisis of last week, but only to
the extent compelled by inability to
raise money. There is no evidence
that confidence has been permanently
impaired; on the contrary, gratifica
tion is felt that the nation was so
strongly fortified by a decade of un
exampled prosperity that the severe
strain made no deeper impression.
Many contemplated developments
have been postponed, and merchants
find rates for commercial paper al
most prohibitive, yet retail trade is
stimulated by more seasonable tem
per iture. Collections improve with
the movement of the crops to market.
Conditions in the Iron and steel in
dustry are not materially altered ex
cept that new business is smaller.
Mills continue well occupied on old
contracts as a rule and as there have
been no cancellations it is probable
that no extensive reduction in activity
will take place this year. A fair ton
nage of rails is wanted for home roads
and export and shipyards are using
plates freely, yet the volume of new
business is restricted by financial
stringency. Coke output is at the
maximum and large contracts are re
ported for future delivery.
Pay of 3,000 Men Is Reduced.
Watertown, N. Y. —The New York
Air Brake Co. issued notice Fri
day that, commencing November 1
and until further notice, the salaries
of all employes from superintendent
down will be reduced 10 per cent. The
company employs 3,000 men.
1,000 Railroad Shopmen Discharged.
Milwaukee, Wis. —Roswell P. Mil
ler, chairman of the board of di
rectors of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul road, issued an order Friday
discharging 1,000 employes of the lo
comotive and car building depart
ments in the shops ber«
WELL KNOWN ACTOR MISSING
HE DISAPPEARS AFTER BEING IN
DICTED FOR FELONIES.
His Friends Claim that He Has Been
Hounded by Blackmailers and May
Have Been Kidnaped.
New York City.—The disappear
ance of Raymond Hitchcock, following
his indictment by the grand jury,
which had heard the stories of three
little girls, was the absorbing topic
Thursday on Broadway, where those
who had known the star intimately
during his ten years on the stage ad
vanced half a dozen theories in expla
nation of his default.
The actor's closest friends, who
have energetically defended his name
since he became involved in trouble,
are divided in opinion. Many insisted
that, drlveri desperate by serious ac
cusations, he had. committed suicide.
Others were satisfied that he had
been spirited away and possibly mur
dered by men who had practiced
blackmail on the comedian and who
feared exposure if the case against
their victim came to trial.
This theory was voiced by Herman
Fromine, the missing man's attorney,
and by Mrs. Hitchcock, who though
near collapse through worry, has con
tinued to play at the theatre where
both were engaged, until Wednesday,
when Hitchcock failed to appear at
the matinee.
Mr. Promme said: "Hitchcock did
not go away of his own accord. He
has been either kidnaped or murdered
by the band of blackmailers by whom
he has been annoyed, threatened and
hounded for two years.
Hitchcock's troubles have assumed
several phases. He first caused the
arrest of a boy who, he alleged, had
attempted to blackmail him. Disclos
ures in the case led to Hitchcock's ar
rest and he was arraigned Monday.
The case went over until Thursday
anil he was released on $3,000 bail.
Meantime the grand jury returned six
indictments against the actor, some
of them charging criminal assault and
abduction. When the original case
was called yesterday and the defend
ant failed to appear his counsel asked
that the bond lie continued for one
week. The district attorney's assist
ant made no objection and the magis
trate set the hearing for next Wednes
day.
SOLDIERS KILLED REDSKINS.
Unruly Navajos Made Trouble in
Southern Utah.
Washington, D. C.—ln a battle be
tween United States troops and Indi
ans in southern Utah several days ago
three Indians were killed and another
wounded. The news was conveyed to
the Indian bureau Thursday in a tele
gram from Superintendent Shelton, of
the San Juan agency.
The army command consisted of
four officers, 74 men and three Indian
scouts. The telegram to the Indian
bureau, which was dated at Ship Rock,
N. M., follows:
"The troops have returned from
southern Utah. They arrested Bylillie
and nine other Indians. Three others
were killed and one, wounded while
shooting at the Indian police and sol
diers. The Indians are quiet and I
don't anticipate further trouble."
The Indians taken into custody are
part of a band of Navajos that have
been making trouble on the Navajo
reservation. For some time a number
of Indians under the leadership of By
lillie have been creating disturbance.
Superintendent Shelton says that
Bylillie lives on the south side of the
San Juan river in Utah, about 40 miles
north of the San Juan agency, and the
Indian has for some time past been
making general opposition to the adop
tion of the white man's methods, go
ing so far as to threaten to kill the
agent and some of his assistants.
When some of the friendly Indians
visited Bylillie he refused to talk with
them, but challenged them to a fight.
The friendly Indians, who compose the
vast majority of the Navajos, regard
him as a wizard and one of them who
died a few months ago attributed his
illness to the witchcraft of the disaf
fected leader.
RAILROAD TIED UP BY A STRIKE.
Freight Traffic on the Huntingdon &
Broad Top Road Is at a Standstill.
Huntingdon, Pa. —No relief has
yet been afforded in the tieup of
the freight transportation on the Hunt
ingdon & Broad Top railroad. The
brotherhood trainmen, including engi
neers, firemen, conductors and brake
men, who went on strike nearly a
week ago for an increase in wages
equal to those paid by the Pennsylva
nia Railroad Co., say they are determ
ined to hold out until their demands
are acceded to. Daily meetings are
held both here and at Saxton, the loca
tion of the company's big shops. All
the bituminous coal mines in the
Broad Top region are idle.
Support is being given by the coal
miners to the railroad strikers, the
former declaring that they will not
load a pound of coal unless the cars
are handled by organized labor. A
number of non-union trainmen arrived
here Wednesday night from Philadel
phia and are working freight trains oc
casionally between stations 011 the
Huntingdon & Bound Top road only.
The brotherhood men assert that
they have the means to forestall the
railroad company from getting out
through freight until their demands
are granted. The force of the state
constabulary is being augmented, al
though no violence has yet occurred.
Surgery May Brighten Dull Minds.
Pittsburg, Pa. Surgery may be
resorted to to brighten the minds of
backward pupils in the Pittsburg pub
lic schools. It is planned to have
physicians perform operations on pu
pils who are behind in their lessons
and whost deficiency is found to be
caused by physical ailments.
City Goes on the Water Wagon.
Knoxville, Tenn.—More than 100
saloons in Knoxville closed last
night as a result of the application of
the law by which cities of Tennessee
can reincorporate without having the
Baloon.
"Mcom"' & *Lloyd |
I WE have the best stocked p
general store in the county
and if you are looking for re- fl
liable goods at reasonable
prices, we are ready to serve j|
I you with, the best to be found.
Our reputation for trust
worthy goods and fair dealing
is too well known to sell any
but high grade goods. g
Our stock of Queensware and Igl
China ware is selected with H
a great care and we have soma
|j of the most handsome dishes
| ever shown in this section,
I both in imported and domestic
makes. We invite you to visit
us and look our goods over.
II Balcom & Lloyd. J
mMtkmkmkm.stkdikmmmk gjj
LOOK ELSEWHERE BUT DON'T FORGET
|| THESE PRICES AND FACTS AT ft
1 |LaBAR'S.| I
I* ' ZIZIZZIZ3ZZI 8
|| W« carry in stock » ||
§| the largest line of Car- -, -ffWBBBBW'
Ig pets, Linoleums and '(nSSSnI B fci
Mattings of all kinds L aSSse®
ever brought to this | .--v . fiililllLlli B 112
W town. Also a big line J f'
I. A very large line ot -FOR THE IJj
Lace Curtains that can- • fj
m f c" M any COHFDRIM LODGING !
ii ii
Art Squares and of fine books In a chcfce lUbrjury
H Rugs of all sizes and select the Ideal pattern of CM<>l?e* J J
Wl kind, from the cheap- Wernicke "Elastfc" Boofccas* JM
jM est to the best Furnished with bevel French I IN
kg plate or leaded glass doors. I M
|| Diniflg Chairs, ro " " Ll •* ||
|| Rockers and GEO. J. L^BAR,
High Chairs. s»i« Agent for Cameron County. I fej
112 1 A large and elegant —————J K
fjj line of Tufted and El
|g Drop-head Couches. Beauties and at bargain prices.
I * S3O Bedroom Suits, C)E S4O Sideboard, quar- CQfl fcj
solid oak at JcO tered oak .pOU PI
ff S2B Bedroom Suits, Ol $32 Sideboard, quar- £2
|| solid oak at SZI • tered oak {Ff|
$26 Bed room Suits, Of| $22 Sideboard, quar- W
|| solid oak at U tered oak, 4HU ||
|| A large line of Dressers front Chiffoniers of all kinds and ||
II $8 up. I all pi? ces.
lu The finest line of Sewing Machines on the tnai&ct, ||
JJ the "DOMESTIC" and "ELDRIDGE.' At. drop- gj
fl heads and warranted.
A fine line of Dishes, common grade and China, in /
*3 sets and by the piece.
M As I keep a full line of everything that goes to |9
M make up a good Furniture store, it is useless to enum- ||
M erate them all. H
|| Please call and see for yourself that lam tcJliug ||
ik * you the truth, and if you don't buy, there is no hafm g*
done, as it is no trouble to show goods.
\\ GEO. J .LaBAR. I
UKrDESR.TiLK.IKrO. M
3