Newspaper Page Text
EDITORIAL PAGE
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN
Published Every Afternoon Except Sunday
By THE GEORGIAN COM PAN V
At 20 East Alabama St., Atlanta, Ga.
Entered as second-class matter at postofflce at Atlanta, under act of March 3. U7S.
Subscription Price—Delivered by carrier, 10 cents a week. By mall, $5.00 a year.
Payable in advance.
Z
The Truth About the
Standard Oil Letters.
Collier’s Weekly of October 5 says that FIVE of the 117
“Standard Oil" letters thus far published in Hearst's Magazine are
“forgeries.” It does not say that the five letters in question are
spurious. It does not indeed question the authenticity of the five
letters nor the accuracy of their text as published, nor the fact that
they were written, sent and received by the individuals named, and
at the time and for the reasons stated in Hearst’s Magazine.
What is it then that Collier’s Weekly means when it describes
these five out of 117 letters as “forgeries?” It makes the exact
statement that the PHOTOGRAPH It' REI’RODI (,‘TIONS in the
magazine of FIVE OF THE LETTERS show the use of a type
writer different from the one used in the Standard Oil offices. That
is all. Collier’s (incorporated), repeats the statement many times
(as though it expected a denial), and publishes a letter from a type
writer manufacturer to substantiate its statements.
The explanation is very simple. Every one knows that when
letters are put through a letter press, or when a carbon copy is
taken, the secondary copy is often slightly blurred. Every one
familiar with the photograving process knows that such a copy
will not photograph distinctly. The editors of Hearst’s Magazine
inform The Georgian that several of the “Standard Oil letters,”
while clear to the naked eye, could not be reproduced for the print
ing press without first recopying parts of the typewritten lines in
fresh typewriting, so that the print, would show as clearly in the
printed page of the magazine as in the original. In no other way
by the art of printing could WHAT PURPORTED TO BE A FAC
SIMILE OF AN ORIGINAL BE MADE TO LOOK LIKE THE
ORIGINAL. That is the whole story.
The Standard Dictionary defines a forgery as “the act of false
ly making or materially altering, with intent to defraud, any writ
ing which, if genuine, might be of legal efficacy or the foundation of
a legal liability.”
Now the great power and force and virtue of the “Standard
Oil” letters is due to their truth. Their publication was of grat
importance solely because the letters themselves revealed for the
first time the exact method used by the powerful, successful and cor
rupt corporation to control the Government of the United States.
The Standard Oil letters have shown how the source of all
power in this country is poisoned al the fountain head by the money
of criminal corporations, not so much to maintain in power a par
ticular political party as io keep in places of power in both parties
men willing to betray their party and their country to the cor
porations.
What mattered the face of typewriter used in the mere repro
duction in Hearst’s Magazine of five out of 117 Standard Oil letters
thus far printed when the letters themselves were absolutely au
thentic? when the guilty writers of the letters confessed sending
them and the recipients of all letters confessed receiving them.
Foraker never questioned his letters or certificates of deposit—but
retired to private life. Senator Bailey has decided to retire to
private life. He led the Democrats as Foraker led the Republicans
in the senate. Sibley never questioned his letters and he has been
retired to private life. Penrose does not deny his and is on his way
to private life
When shown on the witness stand, before the senate committee
on August 23, the entire batch of his letters published in the July
and August numbers of Hearst’s Magazine, Mr. Archhold admitted
the genuineness of every one except the Penrose letter (the copy of
which he said his secretary had been unable to find), but as to that
one he admitted the payment to Senator Penrose of $25,000, which
was the only important fact in the letter. And Senator Penrose
testified that he received the $25,000. His letter and acknowledg
ment is indeed in the current Hearst ’s Magazine. The more theSe
letters are read, examined and discussed the better for the country.
Collier’s Weekly says at the end of its article: “ Mr. Hearst has
many genuine facsimiles in his posession. Photographs were made
of genuine, original documents. Why is he using for
geries?”
The answer is that he is not. At least five out of the 117 letters
so far published (and possibly a few others yet to come, as we are
informed by the editors of Hearst’s Magazine) are slightly blurred,
requiring re-copying before effective reproduction is possible. But
there is nothing blurred in the public mind about the truth and
meaning of the letters and no one has questioned the high public
service rendered by the publication of the letters, except the guilty
men who have been exposed and a few others who unhappily are
tortured by the envy, malice and hatred in their hearts.
Cheaper Credit For I'armors
Ambassador Myron Herrick is doing a notable work in bringing
to the notice of the American people the admirable methods em
ployed in France to finance the farmers of that country.
In Paris there is a financial institution known as the Credit
Foncier, which lends money to farmers at an average interest rate
of 4 3-10 per cent. It gels its money from general investors at
about 3 per cent. Last January it offered to the public a hundred
million-dollar issue of 3 per cent bonds; the issue was enormously
oversubscribed. The p’ublic came running with two billion dollars
in its hand a convincing demonstration of the high esteem in which
the French people hold their farm securities
The Land sell alt en and Kittensehai'ten of Germany furnish spe
cial facilities for the financing of.small i’arming enterprises. These
German farmers' banks are mostly run on a co-operative basis.
They have*been tested and seasoned with the prosperous experi
ence of a century or two.
Americans pay nearly twice as much for their farm credits as
Europeans do. The average gross interest rate on farm loans in
the United States is about > 1-2 per cent.
Since the total farm debt in this country amounts to something
over six billions. American farmers pay in annual interest charges
about SSIO,OOO,OOO—WHICH WAS ABOUT EQUAL To THE
VALUE OF THE WHOLE WHEAT CLOP OF THE COUNTRY
| LAST YEAR.
It, therefore. Ambassador Herrick can procure the introduc
tion into the 1 nili*d Slates of the F reueh or Berman system of rural
credits he will save our farmers half the value of their wheat crop
and will immensely stimulate the whole body of American agri
culture.
The Atlanta Georgian
THE SPENDTHRIFT I
! By HAL COFFMAN. !
In the pictures above the artist shows the hand of the spendthrift. The hand that )
throws money away recklessly and vaihly is later sure to be reaching out in appeal for :
! the nickels of charity, the dole bestowed by those who did not wantonly waste.
■ ■ • ■ ■ ■ - ■ - .. ...
How to Build a Fortune
The Basis of It.
By THOMAS TAPPER.’
A NY one can save money and •
21 thus lay the foundation of a
fortune who will follow the
great rule of the game. This is the
rule;
Spend loss than you earn.
And this is the only rule. You
stand between what you earn and
what you spend. If, In the passing
of the money from one hand to the
other, nothing stays with you, no
fortune, not even a small one, can
be yours. If something can be
made to stay, you are sure of an
independence.
To the young man or woman who
sincerely considers the building of
a little fortune, two problems pre
sent themselves for close study.
They are these:
Two Problems.
1 Earning capacity, and how to
increase it.
2. Expenses and how to govern I
them.
The increase of earnings depends
on industry, increase of knowledge
and initiative. The governim nt of
expenses depends on study ami
judgment.
As every living organism has a
parasite tnat feeds on it and tends
to destroy it. so the family or per
sonal income is. reduced and de
stroyed by its parasite.
The name of this bug is Waste,
it is necessary, then, tor any one
"ho purposes seriously to manage
his money in such a manner as to
set sonic of it aside, to begin to
study this parasite—Waste.
If you are serious in your inten
tion to begin to put something
aside for the future, do not bo rash
about it. Yon have lived to the
present moment without doing this.
Take a little time to examine the
situation You know now exactly
the amount you earn, but you prob
ably do not know anywhere near as
exactly just what you do with it.
Watch the Balance!
A month devoted to watching
yourself is the best beginning you
can make, it may be monotonous
to keep an exact account of every .
cent tor a few weeks, but it is a bit
of « xperhneutul science tiiat will
set you straight.
Against every legitimate expense
you have, set its amount, ami
watch the balance.
FRIDAY. O(TOBER 4. 1912.
"But. there is no balance; not a •
cent’.’’
Very well, then, you must start
in again.
As a rule, however, the most
humble of us do have a balance
that is charge 1 to Wast<>.
n ——
S- aIIf
I CfX-'*
s*'■ '' ■■■
THOMAS TAPPER.
Sunday Concerts
Editor The Georgian:
1 have read the news item in
your paper regarding the Sunday
concerts at the Auditorium. I have
been attending these concerts with
much pleasure. 1 think it is a mis
take for tite association to take a
collection during the recitals. They
would do far better to ask a nomi
nal sum and announce this fact in
the papers instead of the way the)
are doing at present.
• The announcements heretofore
have stated that these concerts
were free, and as a result many
who attend same were embarrassed
on account of these collections in
not being provided with small
change. I ant sure that charging a
nominal sum would aiot reduce the
attendance ami it would do away
with the present arrangement,
which is nothing more or less than
deception. XV. G. ENNEN
Atlanta, Ga.
What is Waste?
It is a two-fold proposition with
a P. S. at the end.
1. It is paying too much for what
tve purchase; that is, not getting
the worth of our money.
2. It is living bevond our means;
that is, contracting for more than
we are justified in allowing our
selves.
P. S. Jt is purchasing useless
things; that is, it is taxing our
selves heavily byway of our habits.
To consider these two proposi
tions and the P. S. brings us face
to face with the subject of econo
my, which is the right administra
tion of our affairs. Or. the proper
use of money, time and strength.
A person earning money receives
it for what he does w’ith his
strength of mind and body. This is
the best part of him, and the mon
ey lie receives should be regarded
as an equivalent for this best part
of him.
He should respect it for what he
has given for it. The moment he
respects it he w ill become a good
steward of it. He will realize that
there, is no justice to himself, or
to those who depend on him, in
unwise expenditure of it. The first
care he will henceforth take will be
to get as near his money’s worth
as he possibly can in every pur
chase.
Measuring the Income.
Next, if lie feels that lie is work
ing as hard as he can and is earn
ing all his work is worth, he will
not burden himself beyond what is
right. This means, very simply,
that he will not contract to pay
more for rent, clothes, food, and
so on. than his income justifies.
And for the P. S., a month or two
of very careful study of exactly
what he does with his money will
show him what his habits cost. He
may take all the care he can with
items one and two. but if he spends
money uselessly he can not be even
a moderate success.
To consider these things puts
before him the simple conditions
that underlie How to Build a For
tune. Without studying them it i. 4
not possible to learn to what ex-i
tent judgment and strict uttenJ
tfon will aid hhn in his effort.
THE HOME PAPER
Garrett P. Serviss
Writes on
Ignorance Still Blights the
Minds of Millions |L
Despite Science IL
The World is Still Full of Superstitions
and Errors Which Manacle the Hu
man Faculties.
By GARRETT P. SERVISS.
AVERY curious fact, filling a y
strange gap in the history of
the infamous ilmperor Nero,
has just been brought to light at
the Paris Academy of Inscriptions
by M. Constans. Not only does it
solve a historic puzzle, but at the
same time it shows, in the most
graphic manner, the wonderful in
fluence once exercised by conietls
over the human imagination.
In the year 60 A. D. a brilliant
comet made its appearance in the
sky, and the Roman world was
thrown into the state of nervous
apprehension and vague terror
which such apparitions always
caused in those days. It probably
made its entry suddenly, like the
mysterious “Comet A” of 1910,
which, many readers will remem
ber, shone like a plume of fire in
the sunset sky at a moment when
the astronomers were all looking
in another direction for the oncom
ing comet of Halley.
In Nero’s time nobody knew
anything about the real nature of
comets. There were no mathemati
cians capable of calculating' their
orbits, and the spectroscopes with
which we now serenely proceed to
analyze them and detect their gas
eous secrets would then have been
regarded as the machinery of
witches and necromancers. Never
theless, men had in those days very
definite, though very erroneous,
ideas about comets. They believed,
among other things, that a comet
foretold the death of some ruler
who happened to be reigning in
the year of its appearance.
Difficult to Comprehend
Such Childish Acts.
Nero evidently felt tljgt the blaz
ing messenger in the heavens had _
its fiery eye fixed specially upon
him, and as he had jU§t begun to
taste the delights of unlimited pow
er, he was in no mood" to be sud
denly translated from the earth.
Accordingly, he cast about for a
means of averting the peril. Very
likely he was assisted by some as
tronomer, for the astronomers of
that age were not scrupulous about
lending their countenance to super
stition. and. in fact, most of them
were little better than astrologers,
and they were probably as much
afraid of comets as anybody else.
The device finally hit upon, ac
cording to M. Constans, Was to
reckon the year 60 —the year of
the comet —as having already ex
pired as far as Nero’s incumbency
of the tribunitian office (which was
the official sphere of the early em
perors) was concerned. Thus it was
thought that dust might be thrown
in the comet's eyes and that, find
ing Nero out of reach, it would
either go away without a victim or
content itself with some barbarian
king. All that Nero had to do,
after having ignored the remainder
of the fatal year 60. was to issue a
decree beginning a new principate
for himself with the year 61. This
was done, and the consequent dis
crepancy has, until recently, greatly
exercised historians.
It is difficult for us to compre-
I he Needle and Thread
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
Copyright, 1912. by American-Journal-Examiner.
''T'MIE Needle and Thread one day were wed.
A The Thimble acted as Priest;
A Paper of Pins, and the Scissors twins,
Were among the guests at the feast.
That dandy trim, the Bodkin slim.
1 Danced with Miss Tape-Measure,
But he stepped on her trail, and she called him a what
And that put an end to their pleasure.
Wrinkled and fat the Beeswax sat '■
And talked with the Needle-Case.
“ 1 am glad." she said, "that my niece, the Thread.
Has married into this race.
"Iler mother, the Spool, was a dull old fool,
And the Needle and Thread were shy;
> The result, you can see, came all through me—
I taught her to catch his eye.’’
The Emery-Ball just there had a fall—
She had danced too long al one time,
And that put a stop to the merry hop,
And that brings an end to my rhyme.
• hend, in our time, the state of
mind which could lead a ereat ruler
and his advisers to perform so
childish an act. But let us not ar
rogate too much honor to ourselves
on that account. For suppose that
we had been living in the days of
Nero—what would we have thought
about it then? Is it not likely that
we might have admired and ap
plauded the sagacity of the emper
or who had shown himself able to
defeat even the designs of heaven?
We Look on Nature as
Vast Field of Knowledge.
Nero was popular at that time,
for the wicked side of his nature
had not yet declared itself, and
very likely this incident of the
comet exalted his authority and in
fluence, because in all times it ha,
been by playing, consciously or un
consciously, upon the imagination
of the crowd that unscrupulous
men have fortified their power.
Nero seems to have thought that
he had rendered himself immune
by tricking the comet, for after the
year 60 he gave way to his natural
Instincts and began the career of
crime and debauchery that has
made his name a byword.
The undeniable fact that, living
in the time of Nero, we would
have believed and acted with re
gard to such things as he and his
contemporaries did, should make us
seriously reflect upon the Immensi
ty of the debt that we owe to those
great and devoted men who, by the
labors of centuries, and often in the
face of the fiercest persecution,
gradually accumulated that body of
science which enables US to laugh
at the superstitions once enter
tained about comets and other
heavenly bodies, and to look upon
nature as simply a vast field of
knowledge to be gleaned, whose
riches we shall never exhaust, but
whose cultivation means for us the
strengthening and exalting of all
our faculties.
If there had never been a Co
pernicus, a Galileo, a Newton, a
Laplace, a Herschel; if the tele
scope and the spectroscope had
never been invented, the heavens
would have remained as myste
rious and as full of Imaginary ter
rors during the nineteenth century
as they were during the first cen
tury, and this now so brilliant
twentieth century would be but the
opening of another chapter in the
history of the Dark Ages.
Science Offers Discoveries
That Are Decried.
But the world is still full of su
perstitions and errors which mtn
acle the human faculties. Science
still offers discoveries that ai ■ de
cried and disregarded. Blank, stu
pid ignorance yet blights me mns
of minds. The great duty of a
who are fortunate enough to pos
sess a little light is TO SPT E 'D
IT. Knowledge is of little io' u
less it be disseminated. Educate
yourself, help, as best you cm.
educate others, and you "ill
making the best use of your ! '
and will render a return of 1
days of Nero impossible.