The Death Trust and War Preparations
The death trust is the name given by the Illinois Medical Association to a combination that has increased the price of anti-toxin one hundred per cent. The medical society declares that the anti-toxin trust is nothing more nor less than a traffic in human life. Three concerns which manufacture and practically control the anti-toxin supply of almost the entire country have seen fit arbitrarily to advance the price of their product to the extent above stated. This commodity is now used extensively in the treatment of diphtheria, and there is no reason to suppose that it had been produced in the past at a loss. The increase now is but another illustration of commercial greed, irrespective of the consequences to those concerned; and whether the remedy does all that is claimed for it or not, the action of its producers has been rightly termed by the medical society a "death trust." Japan and Russia continue to negotiate over their differences in Manchuria and Korea, and at the same time both continue preparations for war. The tone of the press has been a little more hopeful during the past week in view of the fact that the czar is declared to be personally opposed to war. However, Japan feels that her very existence is at stake because of the continual aggressive moves of Russia, and that she might as well go to war now as in the future. She feels that Russia is growing stronger every month in the East, and that some day the deadly contest must come. It is reported that Russia has made some concessions to the Japanese demands; but that Japan is not satisfied. Turkey is again concentrating troops near the Bulgarian frontier. There have been declarations on the part of Macedonian sympathizers that the trouble would be resumed in the spring, and for this reason Turkey is keeping her troops in readiness for the expected outbreak. She also fears that Bulgaria may assist the insurgents, as that country has been advising Turkey that she did not regard Turkey's attempts to enforce better conditions in the Balkans as being carried on in good faith. A Turkish powder magazine in the Kumanova district has been blown up, and thirty Turkish troops were killed. It is reported that this was the work of Bulgarians. A new device for communication between vessels at sea, for the purpose of avoiding collisions, has recently been perfected by Prof. Elisha Gray. A telephone is located in the wheelhouse, with a receiver on each side of the ship. It has been pronounced a complete success by those who have witnessed the tests. By its use the tolling of a bell can be distinctly heard for several miles under the sea, and the direction from which the sound comes is also indicated. The British expedition in Thibet is now in a portion of the country that has never been explored. It finds great difficulty in transporting its supplies, and the cold is intense. The natives are said to be friendly, but the officials of Thibet are strongly opposed to the progress of the expedition, and it is understood that Russia is influencing them to bar its progress. There have been some preparations for armed resistance. Pneumonia is epidemic in New York City. In the past week 272 deaths from that disease were reported. During the same time 85 deaths from typhoid were reported from Butler, Pa. Pittsburg had 496 cases in 26 days. Other large eastern cities are suffering from these diseases also. Spain has decided to reorganize her navy. Her new naval program provides for the immediate construction of four cruisers and forty auxiliary vessels, and the reorganization of the entire service. Altogether about $66,000,000 is involved, of which $16,000,000 will be devoted to arsenals. Theater-goers are manifesting much nervousness as a result of the recent terrible catastrophe in the Iroquois Theater in Chicago. Theatrical attendance is falling off considerably, and many theatrical companies on the road are disbanding, leaving a large portion of their companies stranded. German posts in German Southwest Africa are being hard pressed by the warriors of a large tribe. The German forces are declared to be inadequate, and there is much apprehension over the situation. The Colombians are still threatening to give battle to Panama, and the forces of the new republic are said to be prepared for resistance.