davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
THE BOHEMIAN DISPUTE.
Statement OF the Rev. Mr. PrOut's Attitude
Toward His Opponents.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: My
stand is simply this: | am not against atheists
having an atheistic school for their own
children If they so desire. but | am against
a school attended and supported by Chris
tians, Jews and atheists alike and having in
il teachers who abuse their position and
imbue the minds of the children with ideas
that God does not exist or that going to
church is foolish.
am also against the newspapers that
revile religion and God and the names OF
good, respectable citizens. These periodicals
are conducted in a manner that the American
public would by no means stand for.
In the matter of the library dispute. there
is only one book that l had excluded, and
that was the poet Machar's. / did this be-
cause he held up to ridicule Christ upon the
cross. As for lola and Oscar Wilde. I and
the other Presbyterian clergymen present
voted against them. but they we're retained
because the majority were in favor OF it. and
] personally submitted to the committees
decision without protesting.
here repeat that | am against abuses and
have never attack ed the morality and the
law abiding spirit OF the Bohemian colony at
large. This is what the antagonistic local
papers are trying to make out. and thus they
are trying TO prejudice the minds of the peo-
pie against me.
My stand is the same as that which the
Rev. Pisek was forced to take a number OF
years ago. JOHN E. PRoUr.
Rector OF St. Johns Church.
NEW YORK. December 3.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
Tale OF an Innocent Brooklynite.

To THR EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir: l have lately
taken up golhng for exercise. and last Sunday.
accompanied by a friend, went up 10 the Van
Cortlandt Park golf links. When we arrived at the
grounds no one was at the starting point except
one man, a gentlemanly looking fellow, who, when
| began to address the ball for the drive. criticised
my method Of doing II. OF course. as both my
friend and myself are-I believe the golnng YER
nacular is-"duners." We had no reason TO become
offended when he offered 10 show US now to swing
the club. After We had made our drives he asked
permission 10 accompany US around the links.
and as he seemed 10 be a good fellow we had no
objection 10 his accompanying us. He taught us
how to make several strokes, but 1t was not until
We were nearing the final hole that he lntimated,
nor did we guess. that he was an Instructor. Then.
OF course. We knew what was going 10 happen.
We were "stung but could not well rub the smart
ing In public without exciting undue attention. so
when he calmly announced that his time was worth
s. an hour we paid him without undue comment.
Don't you think that II instructors are TO fire.
Quent the links they should have a bell tied to
them. in order that they may not take advantage
OF unwary beginners I think that they should be
compelled 10 pay a license and TO wear a badge.
Especially Is this protection due the ladies. This
practice OF trapping suckers" In this manner Is a
common one. and l think It should be stopped.
BROOKLYN, December 9. n. G.. S.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
lImpostors at the Vatican.

Why should the Vatican be infeste
upon occasion by persons to whom at
home, that is TO say here in New York,
every decent door is closed? We recog-
nize the scope and comprehensiveness
that may be ascribed to the doctrine of
Infallibility, but the unaided magma
ton cannot compass how it is that the
most conspicuous of ourunpunished felons
are welcomed now and then to special
audience by the Holy Father.
The citizen of this town who happens
to be in Rome during Easter or at some
approximate season is apt to be startled
by the court gossip that circulates in the
morning corridors and which sets forth
that his Holiness Plus Y. is to-day re-
ceiving in special and private audience
at the Vatican Mr.. So-and-So of New
York. The visitor can hardly believe
his ears. He asks himself, Why should
a nan whose name at home is a house
hold word for everything that may be
achieved outside of the penitentiary,
who is known only as a blackmailer and
a public thief, why should such a man
IdNo Jlld NVtTtG W llc pItTcItC Vi lnc
Pope of Rome on terms which, in theory
at least, are enjoyed only by persons
of the most honorable station and ap-
proved distinction? We have had the
question answered in a fashion to satisfy
the exigencies of fantasy and of humor,
but never in a manner to mitigate the
sense of shame and humiliation with
which it impresses all right minded
people. Why should the Pope, whatever
the degree of his Inconsistencies and
however impervious the shield of his
dignity and Of his inherent nobility, why
should the Pope be exposed to even the
remotest contact with such men? One
could readily understand it if they came
as penitents, imploring spiritual succor
and pardon for their crimes, breathing
expiation and restitution, conformably to
a religious belief. But they do nothing
Of the kind. They enter the sacred
presence clad in the full panoply of their
unmatched ~effrontery, and they leave it
with an air of vulgar exaltation which
finds its ven in many ensuing hours in
barrooms and Hobbies.
What is the power which breaks down
for them the barriers and the restrictions
with which prudence, propriety and
reverend custom have hedged about the
person of the supreme Pontiff? Would
that those illustrious statesmen and
Princes Of the Church the Cardinals
RAMPoLLA, SAToLLI and MERRY lei VAL
would deign to lift the veill
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
Past"

To n EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir; In his
message as II is printed In the Congressional
Record the President quotes Judge Holt Of
the New York District Court as having stated
that the Interstate Commerce act was past
in 1857: and a few lines below again cites the
same authority to the effect thai Congress
has repeatedly past Legislation endeavoring
to put a stop to this evil. " &c.
Will not THE Sun brow a little light on this
matter and tell us why. II this act was past =
land presumably over 80 long ago. it should
be nvoked as having power to prevent the
granting Of rebates now? And by the same
token. what sort Of prohibitory value might
that extraordinary Congressional legislation
be expected to possess which is not merely
past. but repeatedly past? Surely this
indicates a speculative degree OF obsolescence
which sounds phenomenal to those who were
brought up in the old fashioned notion that
the past il past"
II you should feel disposed to ask him.
Judge Holt might be moved to tell us why he
processes so much surprise at the inefioiency
of such very dead legislation.
ALBERT d. WILSON.
BRONxvILLE. December q
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
Brazilian Railways.
NEW YORK. December o.

The BrasRi0n ReVfeg says that the coming
Brazilian Administration will be a railroad one.
Dr. Alfonso Penna has been deeply impressed dur
ing his tour OF the Interior by the want OF COM
munication that restricts development practically
TO a strip OF coast.
soon be q great awakening. projects for through
lines from north TO south OF Brazil and from east
to west being already in preparation: the nrst by
the powerful Ethelberga Syndicate, an association
Of London and French bankers responsible for
most OF the state loans OF 1904 and 1905, and the
latter by the Great Western Brazil Railway. one
OF the most enterprlsing and best directed concerns
in the country. The Great Western has already
sent It's engineers TO study the route between
PesqueiTa. the terminus of the old san Francisco
Government line, and the Tocantins, with the idea
Of Ultimately extending right across the continent
to africa on the Pacific. on this programme
American engineers and American railway supplies
will be in demand.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

PKART's last Polar expedition, 10 the kind
OF man whom learned lawyers delight to
honor. He Is rs firmly resolved to have the
rooster in dispute as PEARY was TO gain the
North Pole. This is his ultimatum to
BEDNAR:
Il don't care for the cost. I am not going TO let
BRDNAR beat me. l sent my brother LEWIS $50
TO pay his car fare from California so that he can
identify that rooster"
In a preliminary action before Squire
CASEY each side had five witnesses, and
nothing but the death of the fowl or the
decree OF the court of last resort will end
the feud. To the cynic the stake is not
worth fighting about. But more than a
growing cock is involved in the oontro-
versy. Veracity, the right Of property
and family pride are at issue, and what is
mere lucre compared with theseP And
then there's the stern joy OF conflict. What
though the lawyers get the substance of
the htigants. as in the deathless cause in
Rutland county, Vermont, where two farm
ers fought through several terms Of court
over a lour barrel worth rs cents. Any
body can compromise a case, il the lawyers
are willing: but it requires character to
stay in the fight for principle, and only men
Of moral courage will struggle over a roos-
ter. h same spirit which fires the parties
to the celebrated case in Pennsylvania has
led forlorn hopes, held besieged cities and
overturned monarchies. May the best man
win
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

sorbed in other business, not only the
theoretical head. but the actual inspira-
ton Of the machinery was otherwise
engaged, and to all intents and purposes
unavailable. Perish the thought that
we purpose to condemn even the most
insignificant manifestation Of error or
futility. We yield to none in eagerness
and confidence when it come to asserting
that the incident would have been flaw
less indeed had the President himself,
or his accomplished subordinate, the
chief of the General Staff, been free to
give undivided personal attention to
the expedition. But this ia a matter
Of fact and not Of hslcyon speculation;
wherefore we venture to suggest that
the crisis in Cuba so far az concerns
the army's part in that now memorable
drama. was enacted with something
less than -fiawlessness.' Had not the
naval storeships been on hand to remedy
the Summers deficiencies, our troops
would have found themselves on pain
fully short commons.
We are far from sure, in fact, that
the Shafter expedition of 1898, organized
and despatched in great haste and under
circumstances of bewildering confusion,
was not better equipped and more COM
pletely self-sustaining In all essential
respects than the military expedition
Of a few weeks ago represented by tho
Snmner
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
The santo Domingo Treaty.

While the original Santo Domingo
treaty has not yet been definitely with
drawn, it is generally understood that
its case is practically hopeless and that
a new draft will be substituted. It ID
believed that a treaty can now be drawn
in a form avoiding the assumption Of
certain responsibilities which we're re-
garded as Objectionable in the earlier
convention.
Under the terms of the treaty sub
mitted on February is, 1905, the United
States agreed TO attempt the adjust
ment of all the obligations of the Domin-
lean Government, foreign as well as
domestic, the adjustment Of the pay
ment and the conditions OF amortization;
the consideration of conflicting and UNI
reasonable claims and the determination
Of the validity and amount Of all pending
claims" The objections to the enter
prise and to the necessary steps for
its execution were many and serious.
While the open opposition came from
the Democratic side, it was no secret
that a considerable degree of Republican
buppOIJ was lot u uuInDtT VI TcdSOHb
somewhat less than half hearted.
The possible and perhaps probable
substitution of a new treaty is the result
Of efforts made by agents Of the Domin-
lean Government to clear the situation
through a refunding of the debts of the
island. II is said that conditional ar
rangements have been made with the
creditors for a settlement of all claims
'on a basis which will scale the debts of
the island to an average of about sixty
cents on the dollar and for their accept
ance Of a new bond issue in place of the
various outstanding bonds and unliqui-
dated claims. 1t is also said that sim
liar conditional arrangements have been
made for the financing of the new bond
issue.
While there would doubtless still re-
main in many minds a question of the
wisdom of concerning ourselves so ac-
lively in the financial affairs Of our neigh
bors, the most serious objections would
be removed by the projected scheme.
The United States would still continue
to act as a depositary for a portion of the
customs of the island. Proper
restrictions and safeguards could be
provided by treaty agreement and the
whole matter reduced to a mere routine
proceeding. The alternative OF our in
reference would probably be serious dis
order in the island and possibly serious
complications with Europe.
The projected arrangement is a big i'm
provement over the original plan, and if
it can be carried out there is every prob
ability that a treaty providing for it
would be approved by a safe majority.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
A Crying Need OF National Defence

President ROOSEVELT in that part of
his message devoted TO the needs Of the
army and navy observes that the mobil-
ization and despatch of troops required
to garrison Cuba upon the retirement of
President PALMA was "a fine demonstra-
ton of the value and efficiency of the
General staff" 1t is a proper judgment
and highly gratifying to the national
pride, but suppose the General STAFF
were called upon to man u costly and
complicated coast defences in the emer-
n Of a threat Of war by a strong
naval Power, what then?
II is an unpleasant duty to acknowl-
edge that the General STAFF, in spite OF
its fine organization and intelligent direo-
ton, would be unequal to the emergency
in fact, its impotency could not be
concealed from domestic critics or the
foreign enemy, and the fault is at the
door of Congress, which has fatuously
failed to pass the Hull bill for the in
crease and reorganization Of the artillery
corps. At this time there is no recon-
mendation in the Presidential message
more important than the following:
There should soon be an Increase in the number
Of men for our coast defences; these men should he
OF the right type and properly trained; and there
should thereto re be an increase Of pay for certain
skilled grades. especially in the coast artillery
Commercial bodies in the coast cities
have petitioned Congress to act favor
ably upon the Hull bill, dwelling upon
the disparity between the guns in their
defence works and the men TO handle
them: chiefs Of staff, chiefs Of artillery
and division and department command
ers have reported time and again that
the crying need of the coast artillery is
officers and men; President ROOSEVELT
has addressed Congress on the subject / n
o special letter, pointing u that 1T was
due to the securely defended condition
Of the Japanese ports that the Japanese
fleet vas free to seek out and watch its
proper objective, the Russian fleet; but
the admirable and urgent Hull bill is still
unfinished business.
In behalf Of it Secretary TAFT ap-
peared before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs on March "a last, and
made this portentous statement:
Many Of our guns are simply oiled or under
tsrpAultn. or are laid up and not used at all. II
We were called upon to 20 into q war We should
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
Brutal Indifference Of the Aldermen.

To THE EDITOR OF THB SUN-Sfr, Believing
that the situation in regard TO the police and FIRE
c~haplains has been misunderstood by the Finance
COMMITTEES OF the Board Of Aldermen, I requested
10 address that body and give my views on the
subject. From the president and members Of the
board l learned that | could not talk TO the city
fathers without the unanimous consent OF the
board. Only heads Of departments and members
may address that august body.
This information may be of public interest, and
II seems to me that any reputable citizen should be
granted a hearing on any matter pertaining TO the
public good. and the Aldermen, the closest repre-
sentatives OF the people In the city government, In
my humble opinion should be the last 70 refuse.
JOHN p. NJ, CNEIL.
NEW YORK. December 7.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
some Flaws In the FIawIess.

President ROOSEVELT seems to have
been misinformed as regards certain of
the more or less important details Of the
-crisis in Cuba" At least. it would seem
80 in view of the following utterance in
his message:
The readiness and efficiency OF both the army
and navy In dealing with the recent sudden crisis
In Cuba Illustrate afresh their value to the nation.
This readiness and efficiency would have been
very much less had Il not been for the existence OF
she General STAFF In the army and the General
Board In the navy: both are essential TO the proper
development and use OF our military forces anoat
and ashore. The troops that were sent 10 Cuba
were handled nawlessly."
OF course, there is nothing to be said
by way of criticism in connection with
the navy. The conduct Of that branch
of the service was in all respects, us Mr..
ROOSEVELT aptly describes it, "Aawless."
Our ships appeared upon the scene
exactly at the critical moment. We
are 10 sure, however, hat "hawless"
applies at all points to the army's part
In the affair, for il seems to be pretty
generally believed hat the transport
Sumner did not sail on time, not by a
week at least, and that ever then she
left behind a very considerable proper
ton OF the CONN issary stores which,
according to programme, she had been
expected to take. There seems little
doubt that the army authorities in charge
of the Sumner found it necessary, en-
reaching Havana, to borrow very freely
from the naval authorities there in
respect Of meat and other supplies indis-
pensable TO the military ration.
We can see that it would be unfair to
charge this coRtrot'mps to the General
staff of the army, which the President
lauds in terms of enthusiasm. With
General J. FRANKLIN BELL in Cuba, and
with Mr.. ROOSEVELT temporarily alb
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

Awful Reproesive Policy % Book ana
Magazine Publishers.

V.
10 the EDiroh OF u ouN-on. ~
letter IN IHE SUNDAY sun wiI unoouD'euiy
interest more tnan one genius VINO 10 mu-
uen IN some secret corner Oh Ihls Tenhol9e
lessiy successiui country Oh ours ~ ~
common oenei that genius VIII nsNo rs
own way that II VIII somehow tIiuInpn'
so IL wiz, II circumstance put nan IaVor -
But no genius mas YET existed VINO eouN
plunge his head through a stone wall.
He must then either admit deiest anu
sink down INTO darkness with NE SONG uh
sung. lower his standards Cwhlch ne wiz nVs
dol or continue TO clothe mis- peioVeo iuols
without Joy. or recompense. or nope pc
ieat 10 not a WORD NAT Is rensheu sne
days. To hint that your work Is NOT success
ful Is TO draw too close a counterten ol n-
competence. For, does not merN lnevI.aoty
come TO the surface and assume us n1'ui"'
splendorE
so We believe until TINS tenoerese Oh az
Illusions 10 crushed by the master nlhu ,.
tine modern puonsner' Inc puonv' soIseu
to sickness with breakfast 1000 notion Goes
not know and cannot realize what Is oelns
Kept from us taoie' Inc sources Oh n"o'a.uio
are ever the same; the thoughts whlcn
throobed In the distant ages and touched ING
hearts OF men touch them now Inc Joys snu
sorrows Of the world wlAl never oinhlnlsh. Lney
wiz never lose tnelr holu on our sy"pa'"'eo'
Beauty VIII never cease 10 inspire US,
anu even IN america even an.u = So"
monuments OF enterprise; smio .no ciasn
ana roar OF business the strain ano s.russlS
ior victory and power: anlu ,ne me.eri
luxury there are men whose sous some'Aies
move Out Toward the innhNe. inere ~
men VINO sun oeheve y h.eis,u,e, ~
yearn LOT that magic "eno wnicn ensn open
LOT tnem the suohni'y u mys'ers nu
nature
cucn men wonoer ny nverstuio nv
oeins written tney "onueI MY u uo
noe produce a poe. 10 savc u sNNnne
Aoequate expression lney 40 Y NOV I'M
oesween mem sna mel Mou,a"sn. ,he
punhshef anu ns hspneu Heu'en""'' 10y
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

Oh, give US a brittle marriage"
A fetteT that we may break
With comparative case
Whenever We please.
II we put up the proper stake.
Oh. give US a wife on trial.
And then II we do not like
The sample we've got.
As easy as not
We can give her the outward hike.
Oh, give us a trial husband,
And n we're dissatisfied.
We can let him 90
For another. you know.
To whom we may point with pride.
On. give us a home on trial.
A home that you read about.
And then II we ind
IL Is 10 the right kind,
The kicker may pack and move out.
On. give us a trial baby.
A bright little Growing cuss,
And then II we--say.
Goldarn your new way,
That baby belongs TO US.
Sect
". ]. LAMrroN.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Siv Fifty thou
sand dollars Is being spent where II will do the most
good TO make Boston more "liveable" for New
Workers. Mayor Fitzgerald says that the Hub
Is a Joke to all travellers because they can't have
a wee nippy" after II p. M, and the Legislatu re
agreed with him so far as to pass a bill which will
let some Of the hotels sell hot stun TIL midnight
and stlll not have to keep their eyes looking up the
street for the stern features OF the Hon. John Butln
Moran Of Me" fame. Tne voters are soon TO have
their say on the question,
Meanwhile, after theatre parties continue 20 MI
Ice tubs with bottles enough TO last them TIL the
thlr sly ho;rs are brdged. EXILE.
BOSTON, December 7,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
Economical Drinking.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUH-Sir: I have re-
Gently noted a kind OF graft In New York / never
saw before. The other evening at one OF the best
known and largest hotels In New York ! saw a man
at a table In the cafe order three or four rounds Of
drinks at different times as each newcomer APP
peared. When he went up TO the cashiers desk
20 pay. by Jove, he paid only one check. l saw
him tear the others up when he had got on the
street. Is there much Of that going on? Don't
the bar people know about IT. The man In this
case is a well to do citizen OF a suburban town. and
a friend OF his tells me he does that every chance
he gets. and he gets a good many. j. II. G.
NEW YORK, December 7.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08

Three OF the five members OF the com.
mittee appointed last summer to consider
the proposed merger OF the Andover Theo-
logical Seminary and the Harvard Divinity
School report in opposition to the plan;
the minority OF two holds that afiliatior
with Harvard is desirable. The seminary
has a glorious past. but its present is full Of
trouble and its future cloudy. II the An
dover men cannot agree to ask the Harvard
men to agree to take them in. il will take a
long time to get the Andover corpse into
the Harvard coffin.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
The Japanese System.

To TIE EDITOR or THE SUN-sir. In 1905 the
laws OF Japan did not permit a foreigner to hold
real estate in Japan, and II a Japanese corporation
borrowed money on bond or mortgage the pay.
ment thereof was q matter of honor, because a
trusteeship for alien bondholders was unknown 20
Japanese law.
The stringency due to the war with Russia may
have made them change all this. but nevertheless
the fact remains that they were willing for eleven
years 10 claim all the privileges OF English OF Amer.
lean citizens and give nothing in return.
NEW YORK, December 7. JUsTIrIA,