davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
SAYS SAN FRANCISCO
HAS FORFEITED CHANCES

SAWTELLE, Jan. 1.-[Editor Her.
add: Since writing the article regard
ing the proper location of the Panama
Canal exposition, lately published in
The Herald, 1 see President Taft has
recommended that the celebration be
held in San Francisco. That he should
so recommend if he believed present
moral and political conditions were to
continue there does not seem prob
able.
The president evidently expects that
the better class of the people in that
city will take the municipal control
from the hands of the grafters and
incompetents that now bear rule.
When here in the west President Taft
wrote beautiful toast for the city,
concluding with the following words:
May San Francisco's future growth
be as remarkable as her past, and her
civic righteousness and Individual hap
pinesss of her citizens keep pace
with it,
If the high aspiration for the city
could be realized at an early day there
would indeed be but one city on the
continent preferable to San Diego in
which to hold that great exposition.
But no appropriation for an expo
sition at San Francisco should be made
by state or nation while present moral
ana pOlltlcal conditions OBTAIN.
The electors of San Francisco have,
under the most tragic circumstances
conceivable, deliberately committed the
same sin against God and humanity
that was committed 1900 years ago
when in answer to Pilates question,
Whom shall I release unto you?' the
people answered, Release Barrabbas,
the robber, but cruelty the Christ"
Not until San Francisco shall be re-
deemed from the control of grafters,
robbers and assassins has the state or
nation a right to unite with that god
less city in inviting the peoples of the
world to become victims of, or partici-
pants in her immoralities and crimes,
since to make such an appropriation
would make the state and nation vol
untary participants in the city's league
with the criminal class.
STEPHEN II. TAFT.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
SAYS WOMAN SHOULD LEARN
TO BE HAPPY AND CONTENTED

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30.-[Editor
Herald: With regard to the ques-
tions and answers touching Miss Meth
ersole's play, "The Writing on the
WALL" in the present stage Of eYolu-
ton. "as many women are sacriticed
on the altar of virtue as of vice, so
we owe it to posterity that women
cease making martyrs of themselves
and study how to be happy though
married. Women should vote if they
want to, and do everything they can
toward regulation and reform. A man
who is afraid his wife has too much
learning is himself a slave
The slums are the sequels of slavish
ignorance and selfish government. The
asylums and prisons get the, recruits
there. Parents of these 'enfants ter
ribles" work early and late. Some
don't, and exist any old way. New
York and London are one in the con-
gestion of this type, but England Is
small and crowded, while the United
States Is different. In these times OF
trust owned commodities It's up to the
government to ease up. A little pa
ternalisnr works well sometimes.
reservations are allotted here ana
there to Indians; likewise in the bound
less west a poor family should be
given an acre to live on, on accommo-
dating terms. There are many SUM =
mers who wouldn't bulge; such could
ea sier he rounded up where they are
and regulated. To make an effort to
pet at the root of things is better than
looping off branches. =,
Among the intelligent and well bal
anced there is no domestic strife, and
there's nothing to forgive except mis-. mis-
takes. Woman certainly has TO over &
lool, more faults-but if there are 100
MANY on either side there's one re-
source~divorce. Those who are sur
feited by vice, wealth and idleness nies
look for pastures new and glarlng
TShn Snartans ordained that no girl
should m be married until she had dem
onstrated her ability nals in the biS gymn9e miqe
sium. A man should regard ms WIG WI.
as queen of home and mistress OF her-
self CO Common sense education is
wan Wanted. Aristotle, on being, asked ;
what he had learned from pnllosopiIy'
renIied; "To do without being com
landed what others do for fear of the
laws" WILLIAM f"
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
INFORMATION AS
TO BIBLES AUTHENTICITY

Los ANGELES. Dec. 31-TEditor
Herald: It would be great relief to
my mind if some one would reason
ably explain to me why there need be-
so many conflicting opinions regard
ing the meaning of the Bible. Some
where 1 have read that the book is so
plain that fool need not err therein
In Mr.. kits letter of the 2Sth he
speaks of the Living Word" Now. it
is not to cast any personal reflections.
but to seek truth, that I desire infor-
nation, hoping some one will explain
through the Letter Box.
1t is said the Graeco-Isra elitish
learning led to the translation of the
sacred writings resulting in the Sep
tuagint; also, in the fourth century,
nearly the whole Bible was translated
into Gothic vernacular.
Luther in the sixteenth century
translated the Bible into the German
language and frequently gave a few
personal opinions on some books. He
characterized the story of the flood
and Jonah as "mor5trous," also called
the book of James "a book of straw"
In fact tore several books out of the
Bible and cast rather a rough epi-
thet on the author of Revelations.
In 1911 the Bible was translated into
the English language from the Sep
tuaSlnt rather than from Hebrew
original, from which Bible 1 presume
Mr. Kits reads.
1t is claimed by many Christians
and Bible students that this transIa-
ton led to many neutrality-suspicious..
1t is claimed by those students that
there are no less than 100000 mistakes
in the translation to the King James
version.
Then, I have read again somewhere
that we are not to change zone jot or
title,' but Henry Ward Beecher did
not accept the fable of the Garden of
Eden. Through courtesy to the Let.
ter Boxers 1 will not repeat his words.
These few translations are not all,
but the most important to us, and
when Bible students and translators
cannot agree how am I to form an
opinion?
Am I to accept this book as the
true and proven facts or as a hy-
pothesis? j, o. COLBERT
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
CUPID

~ UPID was busy in Los Angeles
during 1909. In fact, it was his
" busiest year. More marriage IL
censes were issued than in any preced-
ing year. The total number was 5059
This showed a gain of 523 marriage
licenses over the total for 1908. The
best previous record was held by 1907,
when 1887 licenses were issued. But
1909 is the record year.
The increase of the number of mar
riage licenses issued indicates the pros
perity as well as the growth of Los An
geles. Matrimony always accompanies
prosperity. When times are uncertain
or hard people won't or don't marry.
Some of them do not want to take the
risk" Others cannot afford to take it,
or think they cannot.
In times of great prosperity there is
always rush to the license bureau.
Abundance encourages matrimony, and
when a salaried man thinks his posi-
ton is secure he will ask the girl of his
choice to take risk with him Los
Angeles has reason to be proud of it's
big marriage record. 1t is an eloquent
testimony to the prosperity of this big
city.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
GOOD GOVERNMENT YEAR

THE cause of good government has
made constant headway in this
i community, until Los Angeles be-
gins this happy year as a good govern
ment city. The charter amendments
adopted in spite of the obstructive tao
tics of the reactionaries increased the
opportunities of Los Angeles for public
prosperity by providing for the election
of councilmen at large, eliminating par
tisanship, giving the people the right
to make nominations, placing Los An
geles in a position to derive utmost pos
sible benefit from the harbor and aque-
duct and other great public enterprises.
Consolidation of San Pedro and Will
mington with Los Angeles made this
city great, commodious and safe har-
Dor, making it one of the principal sea-
port cities of the United States.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
NEW DEMON OF DESTRUCTION

A new explosive, the invention of an
Englishman is claimed to be absolute
" safe to handle and to possess none
of the dangerous qualities of dynamite
and blasting powder. The inventor has
factories operating in Norway and
England and one is being built in
Alaska 1t is stated that, inasmuch as
this substance is in itself not an ex-
plosive, it is carried at ordinary freight
rates by the transportation companies
in England and Norway. This new
product is composed of perchlorate of
ammonia, nitrate of soda, dinitroluol
and several minor ingredients, such as
paraffin for -proofing, etc. 1t is
claimed that it is so per cent stronger
than the Sc per cent grade of dynamite
and the cost will be over 500 per ton
cheaper.
The inventors exhaustive tests before
members of the isthmian canal COM
mission and officials of the republic of
Panama showed that it is absolutely
impossible to explode 1t by ordinary
methods. 1t was hammered with q
sledge, shot into with a rifle, burned,
and ordinary dynamite detonators were
exploded IN it both by fuse and by elec-
tricity, but the compound was inert
Not until a special detonator was in
serted could the substance be exploded;
but then it showed itself more powerful
than dynamite. 1t can only be set off
by heating a small platinum wire just
inside the open end by an electric
spark or fuse. 1t will not explode by
cussion.-Harper' Weekly.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
AVIATION WEEK

4 Walton week plans are being
~ carried out with great thorough
ness and preparations are being
made for the biggest event in the his
tory of modern flying machines. Avia-
ton week will attract to Los Angeles
huge crowd OF visitors and an army
of expert aviators, amateurs and stu
dents. The greatest flying machines
and dirigibles and the most famous air
pilots and scientists will be assembled
in Los Angeles, and during the week
this will be the "hub of the world. ."
The trials and contests at Los An
geles will attract great and universal
attention, because it is believed that
this city has the ideal site for the avia-
tion headquarters of the world. The
air courses here are all easily navi-
gable under ordinary conditions, and
ordinary conditions last practically all
the year round. Every country in the
world will be represented by expert
observers.
The United States government will
send an expert to watch the trials.
contests and experiments, and If, as
is expected, his report will say Los
Angeles is the ideal aviation head
quarters, a permanent aviation station
may be established here; and a gov
ernmental building yard may give an
impetus to permanent airship build
ing industry in Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
BUILDING ACTIVITY

TN the interesting figures of the
building department the story of
4 the wonderful growth of Los An
geles during 1909 is told eloquently. The
total building valuation reached the
huge sum of s1S,26O,7OS This was ap-
portioned as follows: Residences,
1892, ,S27; business buildings, $3,4S9,537;
alterations and additions, $1,42S,S36;
churches. S65,733; municipal buildings,
S2O7, ,31O; miscellaneous, 1885, 46O.
Los Angeles is a city of homes as well
as of business buildings. In the pos
session of improved, modern business
buildings this city is the peer of any
other in the land, and far surpasses any
other city of its population.
AS far as building with relation to
population is concerned, this is the
most metropolitan city Of its census
class, and it is being shown very clearly
and definitely that our worthy citizens,
with their usual faith in the destiny of
the superb metropolis which has never
yet played them false, and never will,
are building with an eye to the rapid
growth of Los Angeles to a city of half
a million inhabitants.
While citizens are proud of the great
business activity and of the confidence
in the future shown by the men who
are investing their money in huge, we'll
appointed modern office buildings.
they are pleased to think the home life
of Los Angeles is so great that in home
building it is the foremost city in the
land. A far bigger percentage of the
population of Los Angeles lives in in
dividual or 'self-contained" houses than
of the population of any other city.
More people in Los Angeles own their
own homes than in any other city.
That is one reason for its spirit of
progress. Citizens who not only 'have"
their homes in Los Angeles, but "own"
their homes in Los Angeles, feel they
are ''in and Of Los Angeles, and have
a right to share in the life and counsels
of the community, and to take an
active, personal interest in its affairs
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
RAIN

HT HTLE the east has suffered from
w blizzards which have caused
great destruction of property
and loss of life, Southern California
has had an unusual midwinter expert
ence in the notwithstanding powers of
huge quantities of water. While the
rainstorm brought assurance of abun-
dant crops, from points outside of Los
Angeles comes news of damage caused
by floods and washouts. In some parts
of the country the rainstorm has ac-
tually caused perceptible changes in
the general confguration of the land.
The tOrrential rain has filled dry
riverbeds with flood water and has
turned trickling rivulets into big,
strong streams. Traffic has been in
terfered with by washouts and land
slides and bridges have been swept
away Stormy weather adds to the
zest and interest of life, and when the
rain is over and gone we will be all
the more grateful for the glorious
South California sunshine because
of the interruption caused by the open
ing Of the floodgates of the sky.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
INSIST. AMERICAN WAY OF
; pRoNoUNClNG "AMEN" is BEST

IOs ANGELES, Dec. S0.-[Editor
t4araId1. How shall I'VE pronounce
i1amen ~ There are two ways, potn
among the clergy and the lalty' Oh
,1rono1ncing the familiar word. one is
the pure English accent ana the othel
ia that of continental Europe. In Or
dor to distinguish between the two and
10 avoid needless repetition. l shall
,rr;te the former as 'amen,' the "a
having the sound of long a" as in
ale and fate; and the latter or conu-
nantaI sound as "ahmen" having the
Long Italian a." as in far and ia
ther. ,,o4;on,, 80.
Webster's international gives the pro-
speaking. We must remember that
fine same rules for the pronunciation
of words do not govern both speech
and music alike. After giving the pro-
nunciation ahmen" the international
dictionary adds, "in singing, ahmen."
The Century dictionary gives us author
ity for the usage ''ahmen" in speaking
nv adding after the ordinary English
marking. "in ritual speech often and
in singing always ahmen." Thus there
Is warrant of the best dictionaries for
both of these pronunciations in the use
oP this word In our ordinary speech in
religious services. But the weight of
authority among these three leading
guides for pronunciation is, two to one,
in favor of "amen."
Twenty-Five years ago the pronuncia-
tion "ahmen" was rare among English
speaking people in America. Now it is
frequently heard in some parts of our
country How did this change come
about? In various ways. There is a
growing tendency to substitute the ac-
cent of continental Europe for the pro-
nunciation Of many of our time-honored
English accents. Students studying
theology in Germany, musicians pass
ing q season or two in France and
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03

Italy, ''globe trotters" imbibing the
style of speech in many foreign lands,
singing "ahmen" at the close of
hymns and anthems. These and other
movements are changing the sounds of
a number of English words, and among
these that of our familiar amen"
Now / have no fault to find with Ger
mans, Scandinavians and others who
learned their language in continental
Europe for the use of "Ahmen" in
speech. 1t is the proper way for them
when employing their own language in
church service, foE it is the accent of
their mother tongue. For the same
reason 1 prefer the pronunciation
amen" with distinct '1ong a." be-
cause that belongs to my mother
tongue and is classical English.
Some persons may think that "ahmen''
is more up-to-date than "amen" is. But
this can only be decided by the study
OF philosophy going back into the his
tory of language to learn which has the
Older pronunciation, English or the con-
tinental tongues. AS a lover of pure.
classic English 1 do not favor the
Europeanizing of the pronunciation of
our official language, importing French,
italian and Spanish accents for a num-
Der of words.
Let the musicians pronounce as they
please in singing, but they should not
attempt 10 cndnSe our accent in speech.
And the "globe trotter'' should not for
get his well of English undefled"
when he returns home to his native
land. l admire the musical flow of the
italian, the dulcet sounds of the
Spanish, the rhythmic movement of the
French. But I dislike too much mix
ture in pronunciation as in other things.
English is a noble language, worthy
to have a place among the greater
tongues the world has produced When
we adopt new words from other Ian
guages, as is necessary if there is to
be growth let us put an English stamp
on them and preserve them as our own,
The word "amen" is not of recent i'm
portation, and all the more should it's
native accent among English-speaking
people be preserved However it NAV
sound to the ears of others, amen"
pronounced with long a" of no un-
certain sound, seems to me to have
more strength of meaning than when
spoken with the accent of continental
europe. This may be only my fancy,
the growth of usage coupled with ira
dittonal thought. But even though
some persons may imagine that it is
old-fashioned I shall continue to speak
amen with 'long a." as in classic
hhSllsh' JOHN K. REED.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
LOS ANGELES THRIFT

TN HE people of Los Angeles have
nearly $SO,0OO,OOO more on deposit
Il in the banks than they had year
ago. Loans and investments have been
increased by more than $29,O0O,OOO, and
practically all of this money has been
used in business and improvements in
Greater Los Angeles. The year began
with total deposits amounting to $11S,-
466. .4SS, an increase of $29,915,956. Loans
and investments represent s95, ,103 4S7,
an increase of $29, ,22S,14S. Capital, $14,-
COG, 800, shows an increase of $3.50, ,645.
Surplus and undivided profits amount
to $SO79,729, an increase of $S32.41
The population of this city is thrifty
and prudent, and for that reason and
because of general and constant pros
perity, Los Angeles is a good bankers
city. All our financial institutions are
in flourishlng circumstances and there
is every reason to look forward to a
happy New Year" Of great prosperity
for the metropolis of the far west
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
TAKES ISSUE WITH CLERGY's
IDEAS OF MARRIAGE STATE

Los ANGELES. Jan. 1.-[Editor
Herald: Bishop johnson, in his lee
ture, Marriage and Divorce" is re-
ported TO be appalled, and considerably
exercised over the increased divorce
rate He is quoted as saying: 81 re-
gard marriage not merely as a civil
contract, but a union of two souls
through mutual pledges. I deem this
union indissoluble except with one ex-
eeption, for infidelity. Allowing
free divorces increases the bad condi-
! ton of the courts. Mismated
couples are sad objects, and those who
marry too hastily should be the only
ones to suffer"
1t surely seems that when it comes to
| questions involving a critical scientific
| handling the clergy are bound Ito get
off on the wrong foot" And this fact,
l believe, is due to the theological
method of training and reasoning. With
! but few exceptions, the methods of
| theological instruction deprive the av
| erage preacher of the advantages of
the fruits of modern science and its
! priceless counterpart, critical reason
| ing: and instead he Is crammed with
| principles of dogmatic faith and a dis
torted and plagiarized biblical interpre-
tation of history. His researches have
| to do with the cold lifeless theories of
metaphysics, and his mental habits are
guided into the ancient mystical ruts.
| He is essentially a believer instead of
an investigator, a supernaturalist rath-
er than a naturalist.
| In the matter of divorce, here. too,
we find the clergy fighting symptoms
| instead of finding causes, of advocating
punishment instead of seeking out the
social and economic causes and remov-
ing them. 1t is indeed a charitable
Christianity that would force mis-
mated couples who married too has
tily'' to endure the shame and degra-
dation without recourse!
The census reports for the last
twenty years do not support Bishop
Johnson's claims that free divorces
increase the bad condition in the
courts" It shows that stringent di-
vorce laws do not lessen the divorce
rate. The census reports show that
increased divorce rate is a sign OF
higher morality, that 66 per cent of di-
vorces are granted to women, that one
fifth of divorces are granted for drunk
enness, that the tendency of the times
is toward free divorce instead of more
difficult.
Divorce is not the evil. but only
remedy. The true cure lies not in thun-
dering at the "divorce plague" but in
the prophylactic efforts of producing
better marriages, which can only result
from individual education, and better
social and economic conditions gen.
orally.
In opposition to Bishop Johnson's
ideas 1 rejoice in the awakening of the
soul of humanity, al evidenced by the
increasing divorce rate. 1t is blow
at the fetters of slavery that hold hu-
manity in the mire of self-abasement.
DIR, HUMANITAS.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03
GENEROUS OLD COUNCIL

N the absence of Councilman Wren
ana against the protesting vote of
Councilman Wallace the outgoing
city council Cancelled the city's claim
of S34,537.6o against the Los Angeles
Railway company. The money rep-
resents the amount of the tax levied
in 1907-0S on the franchise. When the
assessment was levied for 19o7-os rail-
road officials neglected to tell the city
assessor the principal place of business
mad been moved from Los Angeles.
In voting against the cancellation of
the claim Mr.. Wallace said:
"As matter of equity the railroad
owes that money to the city. By
cleverness the railroad placed the city
in position where it could not legally
enforce payment of the amount. But
If we refuse to cancel the obligation
undoubtedly we could force a COM
promise. No private individual in the
city's position would release the rail
road from that obligation"
The expiring council, however. saw
fit by canceling the claim to give
away nearly $4,000 of the city's
money.
1t was too much to sacrifice, and vet
it was not altogether lost The trans
action pointed moral. 1t emphasized
the absolute necessity of having good
men on guard in the city council, and
gave occasion for congratuIation that
the city is making a change for the
better and is substituting for the gift
making council one that will look
after the best interests of the tax
payers and will see to it that Greater
Los Angeles gets square deal.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03

A representative of a steamship line
says Los Angeles should import its
merchandise from Europe direct. The
harbor of Greater Los Angeles doubt
less will be the scene of a thrilling
commercial shipping trade with Eu-
rope. The destiny of Los Angeles to
mercial and manufacturing metropolis
of the Pacific is indicated clearly to
discerning eyes and understanding
brains.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03

At the great and successful patriotic
mass meeting held in Temple audito-
rum yesterday afternoon Don't wor-
ry" and sit pays to smile" were mot
toes on the program. The meeting
was remarkable in many ways. It
brought together men of different
churches and creeds who believe in
Americanism, in morality in patriot
ism and in the Los Angeles way; and
Mayor Alexander, who extended the
greeting of the new year, was warmly
welcomed as a personal representative
and exponent of Americanism, moral
ity, patriotism and the Los Angeles
way.
Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-03

Postmaster Flint is one of the
strongest advocates of the consolida-
tion of Hollywood with Greater Los
Angeles. We believe he voices public
Voters should go to the polls on
January "a and prove by an over
whelming majority that the greater
city welcomes Hollywood, the latest
and one of the best additions to
Greater Los Angeles