davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
RIGHTS OVERHEAD.

Word comes from Germany that military and
legal authorities are seriously considering the
novel questions Of aerial sovereignty and tres
mass which are suggested by the increasingly
successful development Of aerial navigation.
1t is pointed out that the airships OF one coun-
try could in time of peace easily sail over an
other country and thus give opportunities for
spying upon and photographing its defensive
Notifications. Therefore 1t is urged that aerial
navigation should be regulated by strict legis-
lation, and that national sovereignty and control
should be asserted over the air above the ma
tionaI domain. One military writer goes so far
as to demand that the military guardians of
country should be authorized to fire upon and
destroy any foreign airship detected in tres
passing across the atmospheric frontier.
Whether or not this latter extreme measure
shall ever be sanctioned, the whole matter is by
no means visionary or fantastic On the con-
trary, it undoubtedly is of practical Importance
and pertinence, in private as well as public af-
fairs, spying upon Notifications is a serious
matter. If visitors are properly forbidden to
make photographs or sketches Of forts when
walking or riding about them on the ground it
would certainly be most Objectionable TO have
bird's-eye photographs Of them taken from bal
looms Such practices would make impossible
any secrecy concerning plans OF defence, eX-
ceptinc in underground works. 1t would seem
legitimate, therefore for nations TO protect
themselves from such spying in somes way
against both foreign and domestic airships,
tbough to do SO In a satisfactory manner may
not prove an easy thing. To forbid any foreign
airshir, TO cross the frontier would be an ex-
treme measure, almost prohibitory Of aerial
navigation To forbid cruising or passing within
q certain distance of any Notifications would be
more reasonable, but then 1t would be necessary
TO take into consideration the possibility of a
balloons being carried by air currents out Of its
intended course and into the forbidden zone.
The question Of private rights overhead is also
pertinent and is in some respects already urgent.
Theoretically a landowner owns the ground
beneath him to the centre Of the earth, and
at least controls the air above him TO an
indefinite height. He can thus secure en-
tire privacy by inclosing his grounds with a
high fence or hedge But that privacy would
be destroyed If his neighbors and the general
public were permitted to cruise about overhead,
looking down upon the contents Of every inclos-
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
A CONFUSING STRIKE.

It is a ~'Trious commentary on the present
complicated relations between capital and labor
in many industries and occupations that gen
eral strike OF telegraph operators can be called
and not one person, perhaps, in every hundred
thousand indirectly affected by the silencing OF
the wires know what really caused the friction
between the men and the employing companies.
Mr. NeiIl the federal Commissioner of Labor,
who is supposed to keep informed Of what is
going on within his jurisdiction, and who
recently helped to compose some local troubles
In California between the Western Union COM
pany and its telegraphers, frankly admitted on
Saturday that he did not understand 1.-The issue
or exact cause" of the threatened general
strike 1t was conceded by President Small of
the Commercial Telegraphers' Union that the
workers going out in Chicago and other cities
took that action without the sanction of the
national union. They failed to furnish any in
telligibIe reason for striking, and so far the
public, though put to serious inconvenience by
the INTERRUPTION of communication, is practl-
cally unaware Of the real causes of the strike.
The reported demands formulated in Chicago
after the strike there was in progress are ob-
viousIy after thoughts, not figuring In the ac-
tual clash between the men and the companies.
Sympathy can be based only on understanding
and knowledge. and the telegrapherS owe II TO
themselves to show that they have had material
grievances against IuelI OIhCA"AoO
they can expect little moral support They Oc-
cupy q peculiar position in that they fulfil
semi-public function-a function exercised by
the government In many other countries They
supplement the postal service in keeping open
the lines of communication, and the suspension
of teIegTaphic deliveri>S gravely handicapS
business and commerce, injuring hundreds OF
thousands who are in no way responsible for
the complaints which the operators are trying
to have redressed There should be an obvious
and patent justification for strike which af-
fects so many innocent bystanders." So far as
we can observe difference over wages or
hours of labor primarily involved: nor does
there seem TO have been any very direct and
unmistakable issue between uniOnism and nom
unionism. If the telegraphers are striking TO
compel the companies to close the service to
non-union men it will be well TO have that point
made clear Then the public can take its bear
ings and decide whether not it is prepared to
endure with patience the hardshipS of an inter-
ruption Of communications simply for the pur-
pose of having the abstract issue Of closed shop
and open shop fought out
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
A DANGEROUS MAN.

Again let il be said that the new Commis-
sioner OF the Department Of Street Cleaning is
dangerous This thought which must
have crossed many minds the very week DR..
Bensel assumed his new Office and began clean
ing the streets at night is now confirmed by the
doctors apparent intention TO abolish the Of
fee which his private secretary and all that
gentIemen's predecessors have been enjoying
since time immemorial. What makes Comnis-
sioner BenseI's demand for his private secre-
tary's resignation peculiarly menacing to the
public welfare is the fact that the Commission
er has absolutely no fault 10 find with Mr.. Tom
linson except that his services are superfuous,
and, being superfuous, somewhat obstructive
In asking Mr. Tomlinson TO hle himself thence,
the eccentric doctor said:
The number Of men who have got into hot
water through their private secretaries is aInaz-
ing I can get through the work more quickly
with stenographer, / know more about what
is going and am not haunted by the fear
that a man who is In intimate relation with my
self as the head OF the department will have
wrong iGea about his position and make me re-
sponsibie for things it would be impossible TO
stand for.
The Commissioner doesn't appear to realize
that consistent application Of this principle
would shake the very foundations Of Society, or,
at least those OF the Fourteenth Street Society.
To discharge an honest loyal simply be-
cause he is drawing $4,000 a year for inter
fering with the work OF an inexpensive stenog-
rapher is a shrill prelude to hoarse Anarchy.
Shall commissioners be allowed TO dictate their
own correspondence, TO know what is going on
in their departments, to rid themselves OF
haunting fears, and thereby TO make their regi-
ments OF subordinates work as smoothly as a
machine If this policy is TO send host of old
favorites scurrying into the unskilled labor mar
ket? In the name Of all that is traditional and
rNo7n- ynf nuld n
run the decimation Of payroll benefciaries
throughout the entire city government, and the
blighting of hundreds of minor dynasties from
Tcttenville to Wakefield; and all this simply for
the sake Of little less dirt in the streets, bet
ter managed Schools more efficient police hon.
est accountants, more reasonable condemnation
prices and few other trifesi
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
MORE uAcEDorIAy ATROCITIES.

While the attention of the world is turned
IN Morocco and the vigorous action OF France
toward that disorderly land more serious
troubles in Macedonia are ignored 1hal Is
largely no doubt because the Morocco dnalr
is acute. while the disturbances in MACEDONIA
are chronic-though a chronic trouble may nave
fits of exacerbation making it for the tIhe
more violent than the acute. IL we are 10 oe
lieve 4 correspondent of 1.-The London Times
whose authority is described as unlmpeacn-
able, affairs in the Lumber Room of Europe
are in a dreadful state, and there is danger OF a
situation worse than that which led to the last
war between Greece and Turkey.
AS usual the trouble is interractal and Is trl-
partite. involving Greeks, Serbs and Bulgars-
The storm centres are at MOnastir ana hdS-
toria and the plan of campaign seems TO De
nothing short Of exterminaton. Thus. near haS-
torfa. the Greeks killed off so many or the
Bulgarian men-shootng them as they worked
in the fieIds-that all the surviving men de-
cided to enigrate. chiefly TO America. leaving
the women and children to work in the fields
until they could be sent for to join them.
Thereupon the Greeks, we are told continued
their murders and massacreS, making the
women and children their victims instead OF the
men, Several villages were burned and all
the inhabitants slaughtered. There were Turk
ish authorities and troops near by. but they
did nothing TO stop the atrocities my should
a follower of the Prophet care when Giaours
are ridding the world Of each other? OF course
each of the three Christian" powers Involved
aims TO secure Macedonia for itself. and re-
CARDS the determination Of all the Inhabitants
but those of its own race as an essential. or
at anv rate an effective. step in that direction;
while Turkey naturally holds that the more the
christians" kill each other off, the easier and
more assured will be Moslem control OF the
country.
By way of contrast and perhaps OF sugges-
ZION It comes to mind that it is still less than
score Of years since Austria-Hungary was fn-
trusted with the task Of pacifying and govern
ing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prior to that time
those two provinces were far and away the
worst in all the Turkish Empire for disorder
illness and sheer deviltry. Since that time they
have been conspicuously orderly and law-abid-
ing and prosperous to boot The provinces
now enjoy practical home rule. save for the
fact that military governor presdes over the
government, and there is talk of establishing
a separate parliament for them, similar TO that
of Croatia. In BRIEF the provinces rank by the
side of Egypt as an example Of successful ad-
ministration. It would be a blessing If some
such disposition could be made Of Macedonia.
but the trouble, perhaps the insuperable OBJ
stacle is tlNt the powers would not be willing
to let any one Of their number thus take pos
session Of so much coveted country as Mace
dOIlia.
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
THE ALABAMA RATE CASE.

We called attention the other day TO the
statement made by the Hon Thomas G. Jones,
district Judge for the Middle District Of Ala
banaa, on granting a modification OF the pre-
Iirninary injunctions issued by him to suspend
the operation Of the Alabama passenger and
freight rate laws pending a determination of
their constitutionality. In that statement the
Judge referred very feelingly 10 the abuse
IeveIIed at him in Alabama as nullifer of
state rights and an enemy or the people.
Among other things. he said:
As citizen and Judge I have been panied
st the threats 10 turn the guns which the
United States furnishes our citizen soldiery for
the protection Of the flag and the execution OF
the laws OF the United States, against the
officers Of this court If they attempt 10 execute
the process which IL is the sworn duty of this
court under the Constitution and laws OF tne
limited States 10 issue in cases Of this
kind II is a wicked thing 70 excite the
passions Of the people against the authority OF
obtained thereby, If procured by overawing
them or preventing the execution of their orders,
that end is accomplished az rearfui cost and
inficts q fatal stab upon the liberties Of the
people
Judge Jones has served Alabama in war and
ia peace, has been Speaker Of the lower branch
OF the Legislature and Governor Of the state,
and is now, as he has always been, Demo
crat in politics. Against no man could the
charge of being prejudiced against the state
copy OF his opinion in the railroad cases which
has Just reached us shows that he gave the
whole subject thorough and impartial consid-
Grafton and that his conclusions were based on
what he considered an unavoidable interpreta-
;ion Of the law. He did not modify the injunc-
tons Of his motion under any pressure Of
local sentiment: and he told the plaintiffs, who
themselves asked for the modification, that the
court would have exhausted al the power the
'iaw gives for the execution of its processes, If
you had insisted the protection OF its writs.'
Judge Jones was in no way affected by popu-
La clamor-e4 post facto elamor at that. For
Il is evident that but for the subsequent agita-
ton IN North Carolina and Virginia the Ala
.ama authorities would have accepted the sit
uation and made no efforts 10 impair the force
= -, sa5E1ctions issued last May. In Judge
Joliess opinion the significant statement APP
pears that the counsel for the Alabama Rail-
road Commission 'soid not resist the issue of
the preliminary injunctions" The inspiration
OF reoenf criticism OF the judges course ar-
pears, therefore TO have been political, not le-
~~i Ak6 Judge Jones is right In describing 1t
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13

ura that was omen TO the sky It might be a
serious grievance for man thus TO De spleu
upon In the doing of some out OF doors WORK
which for business reasons it was desirable OF
necessary to keep secret and when ne hau
natural right to keep secret 1t would De al
intolerable annoyance for people on their own
lawns and gardens or in private social gather
ings in the open air to be subjected to the spy
ing and eavesdropping Of intruders floating just
overhead. The question of trespass has already
been acutely raised in connection with respoh-
sibility for damages inflicted by the dragging OF
balloon anchors and drag ropes across HOUSES
and gardens and By the smashing descent or ar
ships thereon. The invasion of legitimate prl-
vacy is a scarcely less serious matter than the
destruction Of property.
We have said that to forbid airships TO cross
national boundaries would be almost prohlbltory
of aerial navigation. To forbid their crossing
over other peoples land would be entirely so, Tor
il would manifestly be impossible for an airship
TO confine its fight TO the air above public roads
The matter may largely turn upon the elevation
of fight It would be intOlerable to nave ar
ships skimming along only few feet or yards
above private grounds while it might be quite
unobiectionahle to have them pass over at the
height of mile. An analogy might be drawn
between the air and the sea by declaring all air
above a certain height to be public and 1ree I'D
all, Just the ocean beyond certain shoIo
limit is declared to be the high seas But theh
there would be no assurance that meteorologlcai
conditions would not often force vessels 10 de-
scend below the limit. and we should expect tia'
the sort of people who now run automobiles
thirty miles an hour and insist they were going
only ten would cruise around at the height or
hundred yards and then be ready to make am
dayit that they were at least a mile high The
case is complicated and will prove difficult 10
deal with satisfactorily, but there can De no
doubt that some ordered action Will have 10 Dc
taken upon it, IN both public and private IN
both domestic and foreign affairs.
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
MAILER HERE SOON.
o. II. Kahn Says He WiU Take
CHARGE of Metropolitan an December.

Otto II. Kahn. in confirming yesterday The Trio-
uue's exclusive cable message several weeks ago
as to Gustav Mahlers engagement musical
director for the Metropolitan Opera House. said
that Herr Mailer might arrive in this country as
early as December. Mozart would be played (un-
der Herr MahIer's direction) Mr.. Kahn intimated
There are no loose ends to speak,. Mr.
Kahn said, 'on the question Of Herr Mahler's en-
gagement. The only doubt Is as TO when he will be
able 10 get away. There are many formahues TO
be gone through. his successor as director or
the Vienna Imperial Opera House has not yet
been appointed. There Is doubt 70 his ability
TO obtain his discharge. however and he is on per-
fectly good terms with court interests IN vienna
Il imagine. nevertheless that TO a man OF his
earnestness the restrictions in Vienna must have
hampered him somewhat. Over here he Will nave
fuller rein.
Asked whether. in view Of Herr Mahler's re-
ported prediIection for the works OF Wagner and
Mozart French and Italian opera would he suoor-
dinated. Mr.. Kahn said:
There will be Wagner and Mozart. or course
but others as we'll We have virtually never had
Mozart over here
Asked as TO the accident In which Herr Con
REDS automobile abroad killed woman. Mr.
Kahn said:
That Mr. Conried in the automobile IS
proof that he was well enough 20 be up and about
Mr. Conried was driving the machine, however
The chauffeur was held for the death and probably
win be fined They could do more than this
even in America
Mr.. Kahn said that Mr. Conried was expected
back here next month.
VIII SaIome be reproduced under Herr Nah
ler's direction here?' asked
Now that said Mr.. Kahn smiling. rs on the
knees of tho gods
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
DEFENDS JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.
Daughter Says Franks Attacks Are Inspired
by Jealousy-His Father Alive

Chicago Aug 12.-Mrs. Harold Fowler McCor-
mick the daughter of John D. Rockefeller. yes
teriay defended her father against his youngest
brother. Frank Rockefeller.
Jealousy" she said. brought about by my
uncIes signal lack of business ability, is the cause
OF the viuperation he has heaped upon my father
Ny father holds malice against him. II may
not be consistent with the usual picture drawn of
my father but he holds malice against no man.
My uncles failure TO profit by the fortune OF
my father and his repeated failures in business
have been wormwood and gall TO him. The bit
terness has grown from year to year. 10 has
taken for its objective point the brother who has
prospered.'
Mrs. Mccormick says it is true that her grand
father Is alive.
Between my father and my grandfather there
always existed the respect and love that should
prevail between father and SON My grandfather
watched with the keenest interest the successes
of his SON.
Mrs Mccormick said that her grandfather's
health responsible in large degree for his
being out Of range OF the public eye.
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
ENGLISH UNIVERSITY Reform.

The movement for reform of the two great
English universities concerning which our
London correspondent wrote most interestingly
the other day, is OF high significance to the edu-
cational world, and TO something more. The
present proposal is that royal commission
shall inquire into the endowment government.
administration and teaching of Oxford and
Cambridge and their constituent colleges. This
follows close upon direct appeals made by the
chancellors of the two universities for the con-
tribution Of liberal funds for the improvement
of their equipment and the strengthening of
their teaching The conviction is gaining
ground, and is already widespread to be
dominant. that both the universities need to be
brought more closely and efficiently in touch
with modern scientific developments-a convic-
ton which. we have no doubt. has been mate
rally strengthened by the establishment Of the
Rhodes scholarships at Oxford and the con-
seauent incursion of numerous students who
have been graduated from particularly ''up-to-
date colleges.
There is little room for doubt that there is
need that much shall be done. Oxford and
Cambridge have for centuries been and still are
the centres OF English scholastic and intellect
ual life. But they should be the centres Of that
life In its widest sense-eentres of study and
research in both pure and applied science in
all their branches, as well as of the humanties
There is of course. Or should be, no thought of
discardlng the humanities and transforming
the universities into mere glorified technical
schools There should be-we expect that there
will be-no discarding of the literary, philo-
sophical, classical and similar studies which at
present dominate the curricula. That would
be catastrophe. But while leaving these I'M
touched, or even while enlarging and strength
ening them, it should be possible to complement
them with g worthy development of those de-
partments which have thus far been neglected
1t is to be supposed that the university au-
thorities are not only willing but eager to do
this as soon as the necessary means are pro-
vided. The neglect Of the practical sciences
has not been intentional or desired. But the
universities were fully developed as centres of
aumanistic study long before the discovery or
development of modern sciences, and while
they have been able TO maintain the former
they have not had the means to keep pace with
the times in the latter.
We have said that the proposed reform is ot
significance beyond the limits of the purely edu-
cational world 1t affects the social and Do
litcal life OF the kingdom n well. The uni
New-York tribune., 1907-08-13
CHILDREN AWAIT CALL.
Three Thousand Depend on Gener-
Gus for Fresh Air Outing

-Four weeks OF the season Of the Tribune Fresh
Air Fund remain The children must oe home oy
Septenber IN order 10 begin school on the tol-
lowing Monday Four thousand names s-il remain
on the lists revised last week OF the c1dren tnac
missionaries nurses and charitable society agents
desire 20 send TO the country This nu1n9er re-
mains from the 16.7d0 registered in June
From present Indications 10fa OF the +t'7 can o
sent with the money on hand and reasonaoly ex-
pectet- The question that csnfronts me manager
of the Fresh Air Fund is what shall % done WIN
the 3.O00 for whom no provision mas Seen Il1ds- @
unless there is received within the next fortnight al
least S0C10
Invitations will be accepud tickets ordered Ius'
as reuidfv as the receipts viii warrant and best
OF all a date will Be set for the outing OF tne
children This would light up many palid ace.
Many a sad eye would brighten ar the prospect y
the dream OF year being realized The Aeart oI
many q mother would beat quicker u she couII
learn that her child. was 70 have tEe o-7ss5s
which her neighbOr's child has hs1- A-SSloa2Iles
and other Iaborers would rejoice II 'H7F coo-
carry the good news To the Cverheat=d ana over
crowded tenements where the benefc-2ri7s q ne
Tribune Fresh Air Fund are born and I'VE
Some OF the orgauiza riOnS whose Cnl-ren caIilo-
All he sent unless additional funds are received as
Kings Daughters Of Harlem, the jacob 4 hl-s @
Settlement the Union Settlement the th2Eily u
ganization Society. the Young Women SL.--slLaH @
Association Emmanuel chapel Harl,11 11 r11LSe'
Greenwich House and the Evange-s-lc rent OONl
mittee z-- .,--
-Four parties went TO the country yeste-1ay. COM
prfslng sixty-two children in all L"eh-E "stl -
farm of the ChiIdren's Aid Society ten 20 C1-Eos
Hail y Y and twelve TO Stamford conn "As.s
tbey- viii stay az camp OF the Chil1r7n A1