davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
NO RANKWARD STEP.

When it looked as if Mr.. Edwin a.
Merritt, jr., would be elected Speaker
Of the new Assembly without any pre-
liminary contest for the Republican NOM
ination The Tribune expressed regret
that so important matter should be
treated in cut and dried fashion. For
that reason the candidacy Of Mr.. John
Leo Sullivan was welcomed, as offering
to Republicans Of varying political opin-
ions an opportunity for discussion Of the
policies and personalities involved in a
contest for the Assembly leadership. Mr.
Charles A. Dana'S subsequent announce
ment Of his candidacy and its support by
the New York County Republican organi-
zation and Republican Assemblymen
have made it certain that Mr.. Merritt
cannot gain the desired place without a
genuine contest, which is as it ought to
be- The result Of this contest, which is
obviously one Of principles. will deter
mine whether the Assembly is to be or
ganized along Progressive or "old guard
lines and largely influence its work for
the session.
Mr.. Dana at present is the leading
Progressive candidate. He has made il
pain that he is not seeking the office "a
crafty a selfish ambition, and would be
willing to step aside if at any time a
man better qualified to champion the
PrOgressiyeS' cause should be found to
take his place. Neither can his can
didacy he termed destructive factional-
ism. He has given his assurance that
he will sanction no boiling from the Re
publican Assembly caucus; its decision
will be accepted as final. The action OF
the New York County Republican AS
semblymen. representing an organization
Enthusiastically Progressive, and Of Mr.
Samuel S. Koenig. the county committee
president. in supporting Mr.. Dana is en-
tirely cOmmendable. He IS quite as wei
qualified for the place as Mr.. WadswOrtl
was when he was chosen. New Yorl
| City has not furnished a Republican
| Speaker since the time of AlOnzo r. Cor
nell, in 1873. 1t now has an Influential
delegation in the Assembly, and prOperl!
| feels entitled to consideration.
Mr.. Merritts political record and af
| filiations show him to he wholly out o
sympathy with the official pronounce
ment of his party's policy and the trenC
of its development in recent years Hi
elevation to the SpeakerShlp would b'
widely interpreted as a repudiatiOn b!
elected representatives of the party o.
important features of its platform an(
the policies and standards of administra
tiOn established under Governor Hughes
1t is at least too soon to say that the
Republican Assemblymen are ready to
take, or their constituents to sanction
such a step.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

laws, the payment of state debts ana the
like. It is difficult to understand how
any one with his clear perception OF the
meaning of English words can cherish
such a thought after reading the SPECIFIC
definition of "justiciable dlllereilces
which is given in the first article or the
treaties. To say that demand for the
abrogation of the Monroe Doctrine would
be "a claim of right, susceptible of de-
"cision by the application Of the princi-
"ples of law or equity" would be decla-
ration which we should not expect from
Mr.. Roosevelt's discriminating and log
ical mind. Nor can we agree with his
implication that there Is a radical differ
ence between the treaties as they stand
and as they would stand with the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Root There Is no
irreconcilable difference between the
President and Mr.. Root, to whose amend
ment of the treaty it is understood that
Mr.. Lodge also will assent. The amend
ment which Mr.. Root proposes, and
which Mr.. Roosevelt earnestly approves,
would merely make a little more specific
the precise meaning which the President
already gives to the treaties.
The fact that during the course of pa
tient negotiations the Interpretation of
the Russian treaty Of 1882 was not re-
fel.red to arbitration. when there was no
general agreement thus to refer such dis
putes, Is no proof, Mr.. Roosevelt to the
contrary notwithstanding, that In future
there would be no such reference when
there was a general agreement to That
end. Mr.. Roosevelt strangely errs in
thinking that we should now act as
though we were bound by the terms OF a
treaty which is not yet adopted, ana
that because we do not so act we nave
no right TO make treaties which would
bind us to another line Of conduct-ln
brief. that because we do not now arDl-
trate without a treaty 1t would be pc
culiarly contemplate hypocrisy and
would EXPOSE us to the derision of all
thinking mankind" for us to make
treaty binding us hereafter to arbitrate
The American people and the world VIII
perceive no incongruity or conflict be-
tween the Presidents abrOgation OF the
antiquated and unsatisfactory Russian
treaty, without arbitration, and the max
ing of an agreement hereafter to arbi-
trate all questions which consist OF
claims of right which are susceptible Of
decision by the application of the prin-
ciples of law or equity.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
THE BRIBER AND HIS MONEY.

The last thing apparently that some
men will believe is that a government
is honest. Recent administrations Of
this city have been in the main honest
They have made n more or less energetic
effort TO put stop to petty graft, and
there is reason to believe that in general
they have lNen successful. 1t is neces-
sary to 90 back a good many years to
reach the time when no license or per
nit could be obtained without paying n
fee for IT, And yet, although this Is, or
ought to be. well known. so persistent
is the belief in the prevalence of graft
that all men have TO do in order TO col
lect money from those who want favors
from the city government is TO stand in
the City Hall and act mysteriously.
Persons seeking permits or licenses walk
UP and hand over to them $50 or 500
on their promise of using their influence
in obtaining the object sought The con-
slant failure of the influence puts no
stop to the stream Of revenue. No ere
dentials are required. Mere lettering
about the neighborhood of n city office
is enough to convince the knave who
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
SOCIAL NOTES FROM NEWPORT.

lBy Telegram TO The Tribune.l
Newport. r. l.. Dec. 29.-The winter social
colony and the army and navy contingent
were well represented this evening at the
first of series of dances given by Cap
tain Albert Gleaves, l. s. N and the other
officers Of the NarraEansett Bay naval sta
ton at the Naval War 'olleSe.
Mrs. William r. Hunter has gone 10
Washington with her daughter, Miss Edith
Hunter. Mr. Hunter is giving a stag din'
rer tomorrow evening in honor 81 zap
tain Albert Gleayes. L. S. y.
Mrs. Frederic Nelson. who recently ~
turned from abroad. arrived here TO-DAY.
and is at the Muenchinger King. MI ana
Mrs. Reginald c. Vanderbilt are cXpecteu
TO join Mrs Nelson tomorrow.
Mrs. Charles G.. Oelrichs has returheu
from New York.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur CurtiSs James gnu
a party of guests arrived from New iorA
to-day to spend the week end at the JAMES
estate
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

wishes TO acquire public privilege dis
honestly.
There is no one SO gullible as rogue
Honest men would be incredulous OF the
whole pretence, and would keep theil
money In their own pockets. If for nc
better reason than because they would
not believe that privileges could be
bought In that way. But the brber
who thinks that every man has his price
when he meets with some one so oblig
ing as to mention his price parts with
his money easily. There is such poetic
justice in this that it seems pity to III
terfere with the process. But 1t helps tc
give public administration an unduly
bad name and every one Is concerned
about that.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
THE CABINET.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
WASHINGTON Dec. 29-The Secretary OF
the Treasury and Mrs. MacVeagh held IL
brilliant and interesting reception this af-
ternon for the members of the American
Economic Association meeting in Wash
ington. Midwinter flowers. including guam
titles of American Beauty roses. were used
i'm the decoration. Frank II. Taft, OF New
York. gave a Christmas programme on the
great organ. which forms the most prom-
nent feature of the house. 1t included. be-
sides Christmas music. several irish
melodies and Russian folksongs. AS
sisting the Secretary and Mrs. Mac
Veagh we're Mrs. Leonard Wood, Mrs.
Thomas i. Bayard, Mrs. John Hay,
Mrs. William F. Draper, Mrs Philip Sheri-
dan. Mrs John Hays Hammond. Mrs.
Wesley Merritt, Mrs. Norman Williams,
Mrs. Charles Hapgood. Miss Scidmore and
Miss Hageman. Mrs Beckwith, daughter
of Robert T. Lincoln and granddaughter OF
Abraham Lincoln, presided at the tea
table. assisted By the three daughters or
General and Mrs. Sheridan, Miss Sheridan
Miss Louise Sheridan, and Miss Irene Sheri-
dan. Eames MacVeagh came from Chi
cago and joined his parents In time for
the reception.
The Secretary OF the Navy and Mrs.
Meyer will have as a guest next week
Miss Katherine Jennings. daughter OF Mr..
and Mrs. Henncn Jennings. who are spend
ing the winter in New York. Miss Jennings
will attend the wedding of Miss Mary
Southerland on Wednesday.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
mir. ROOSEVELT on ARBITRATION

Mr.. Roosevelt's vigorous denunciation
in "The Outlook" Of the pending general
arbitration treaties employs many epi-
tnets and phrases which are familiar
weapons In his controversial armory.
Passing these by, earnest exception must
be taken to the substance Of his argu-
ment on more than one or two funda-
mental grounds. Indeed, in his opening
sentence he seems TO assume that the alb
rogation OF the Russian treaty was
Congressional act, overlooking the fact
that It was the President who denounced
1t, and that therefore the conflict be-
tween that policy of abrogation and the
one which is embodied in the arbitration
treaties, If such conflict exists, is con-
fined TO the President himself. In re-
spect Of both it is the President whom
Mr.. Roosevelt either praises or blames.
Mr.. Roosevelt cordially approves the
abrogation of the Russian treaty of 1882,
though he thinks that it would have been
better to submit the Interpretation Of 1t
TO The Hague, where the decision, he
says, "would Of necessity have been in
our favor" Yet he does not believe that
we can arbitrate ''such questions as
treating all our citizens alike, without
regard to their creed, in the matter Of
passports" and Russia is equally reso-
lutte against opening to discussion the
propriety OF her domestic laws and her
right to exclude Objectionable immi-
grants and visitors. The decision of the
arbitral tribunal would obviously have
sustained either the American or the
Russian Interpretation Of the treaty, and
as each Of the two interpretations was
cOnfessedly unacceptable TO the other
power. the decision would have made in
eyitable the abrogation Of the treaty by
the power which lost In the arbitration.
Since. therefore, abrOgatiOn was inevi-
table, it may well be argued that it was
best TO resort TO it at once, without the
delay and expense of an appeal to he
Hague. the result of which could have
done nothing more than 10 suggest which
power should move for abrOgation
The assertion that ii would be hypo-
critical and altogether improper for us
TO abrogate treaty when a general ar
bitration treaty existed is not cOnvlnc-
ing. The meaning Of a treaty is a suit
able matter for arbitration when, in the
language Of the pending treaties, it is
1usticiable. But the right TO abrogate
a treaty, which is provided In the treaty
itself, Is not open to dispute. No arbi-
tration treaty could impair that.
We must take issue with Mr.. Roose-
yelt also on his suggestion that the pend
ing arbitration treaties would permit the
submission to The Hague Of such matters
as the Monroe Doctrine, our immigration
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

work horizontal reductlon-a principle
which makes no allowance for differ
ences in the conditions under wblch
domestic industries may be carried on or
differences in the suitability OF duties
for revenue production
A rational tariff would consider botn
these factors and would be based on
data collected by experts who had no
partisan axes to grind. But Mr.. Under
wood has shown himself so far TO De
much more absorbed in getting political
results out of his revisions than in max
ing them yield either revenue or protec'
ton. In his disregard Of the Tariif
Board and it's "hireling" findings Repub'
licans will be glad to see him go as far
as he likes.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
Most of the Members Will Hold Gus
tomary Receptions-One Innovation.

From The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, Dec. 29.-Most Of the mem
bers of the Cabinet, with their wives, will
hold receptions on New Years Day after
the reception at the White House, in ac-
cordance with the usual custom. In several
instances the plans of the hostesses are in
complete because of the failure of many
women to reply to invitations to assist at
these functions. AS n result 1t is possible
that some of the wives of the Cabinet men,
bers may cancel these lists and receive
alone.
The Secretary of State and Mrs. Knox
will receive the members of the diplomatic
corps alone, as has long been the custom.
The Secretary OF the Treasury and Mrs.
MacVeagh will be at home but on account
of mourning in the family of the Secretary
of War the department will be represented
by the Assistant Secretary and Mrs Rob-
ert Shaw Oliver. The chief of staff and
Mrs Leonard Wood and others will assist
Mrs. Oliver. Because of their trip to Pan
anna the Attorney General and Mrs. Wick
ersham will he absent from the city. The
Postmaster General being a bachelor, will
devote the afternoon to visiting other Cabi-
net members and their friends. The Secre-
tary of the Navy and Mrs. Meyer will keep
open house.
The Secretary of the Interior and Mrs.
Fisher will introduce a marked innovation
I'm the Cabinet, and, instead OF following
the precedent Of having the wives of the
assistant secretaries and others TO assist,
will receive their visitors alone. Miss Flora
Wilson, daughter and one time hostess at
tho homo of tho Secretary. of ApricuIttlra
who spent Christmas with her father, will
leave the capital for New York before New
Years Day. The Secretary of Commerce
and Labor and Mrs. Nagel will keep open
house with a large number of assistants, in.
cluding some of Miss Hildegarde Nagers
friends.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
N. Y. u. TO SELL BOOKS
Plans to Provide Supplies at Cost to
Washington Square Schools.

The council of New York University has
decided to have the university take over
under It's direct and immediate control the
sale of all books and educational supplies
OF every nature whatsoever to its students
In the schools at Washington Square. The
plan provides for the general control Of the
bookstore by board OF direction of five
members, consisting of the chancellor, the
dean Of the Law School, the dean OF the
School Of Commerce, the university bur
sar and the university registrar.
All students who are In good standing are
to be entitled to the privilege OF purchas-
ing books at this store, and will pay the
cost price OF the books TO the university plus
a certain per cent to cover the cost OF opera
ton AS far as possible the business will
be conducted at cost, so as to have neither
surplus nor deficit at the end OF any one
year.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
TAMMANYS WANING POWERS.

The defeat Of the proposed building
code testifes eloquently to the fact that
Tammany's ability to deliver the goods
in these days is not half so potent as It's
greed. The shamelessness with which
this eleventh-hour attempt was made to
pass code to help out the good fei-
lows" who are good in times Of organiza-
ton stress surpassed even the barefaced
efforts of Tammany's Legislature to en-
act into law a New York charter or
which the only thing known was that 1t
was full of jobbery. 1t is hopeful sign,
q portent of better days for this COM
munity, that Tammany could not carry
out either job
Tammany's Board Of Aldermen IS
dead. buried and unlamented. with
the new year will come board In when
Tammany will be in the minority. To
that board will be presented proposed
building code compiled after long and
systematic work by building experts. rep
resenting the united efforts Of public ofii-
cials and those interested in buildings
and the building trades from many an
giles. Presumably it will not favor po-
litical contractors who pay rake-offs to
political insiders. nor by the creation of
monopOlies in building materials permit
ted to be used in this city impose un-
iustifiable costs on taxpayers. 1t is GER
tain that there will be no attempt by the
new Board Of Aldermen to shut out in
vestigation of its provisions or full dis
cussion of them before action is taken.
Tammany's failure to get away with its
skulduggery is one of the happiest omens
for the political new year.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
THE UNSANITARY COURTHOUSE.

Borough President McAneny does well
to call attention to the responsibility of
the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen
for the continued unsanitary condition
Of the County Courthouse. The public
was entitled to know just why nothing
has been done to improve the arrange
mentS of a building which has probably
caused the death Of more than one
Judge not to speak of lawyers, litigants
and witnesses, and is now apparently re-
sponSible for the serious illness OF JUS
tice GOff In view of the fact that the
courts will have TO occupy it for four
or five years more the neglect to make
it as habitable as possible is ineXcusable.
This freak of city management is part
Of the ECONOMY" accomplished by the
Mayor and the Board of Aldermen in re-
ducing the budget for next year
AS it was passed by the Board Of
Estimate and AppOrtionment the budget
contained appropriations for improving
and adding to the present ventilating
system of the courthouse, repairing the
steam heating apparatus and improving
the plumbing and lighting Of the build
ing. The safety Of the judges, members
of the bar and the public compelled to use
it required that all of these repairs and
improvements should be made. The fail
ure to make them hitherto is scandal
for though the courthouse must remain
incOnvenient and overCrowded there is
no reason why building placed as adj
vantageously as it is should not be made
sanitary and adequately ventilated. The
refusal to spend the small sum necessary
to make it temporarily habitable was
worthy Of miserly landlord who allows
his tenements TO become scarcely toler-
able through disrepair, not of an en-
lightened city administration.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
100 CHILDREN MADE HAPPY
Mr.. and Mrs. James Speyer Entertain
Those Santa Claus Forgot.

Mr.. and Mrs James Speyer entertained
one hundred children in their home, No.
257 Madison avenue, yesterday afternoon,
their little guests Being boys and girls who
had not been fortunate enough to have IA
Christmas tree of their own.
For some time Mrs Speyer has been
searching for the children she wished 20
make happy, and after she had made a
list Of their names she found out just what
each child wanted from Santa Claus.
When the children trooped into the Spey-
or home to-day they found big Christ
mas tree laden with gifts. In addition TO
the presents there were a feast and an ell
tertalnment. at which some OF the boys
and girls rected or sang. The banker and
his wife enjoyed the affair quite as much
as the children.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
JAPAN AND THE REVOLUTION
Not Aiding Either Faction in China
Despite All Charges
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Every one who returns from the
scene,of conflagration, of an earthquake,
of a battle or of political disturbance tells
a different story of what he saw, usually
drawing freely upon his imagination II
make this story interesting to those 10
whom he tells It. Newbold Drayton's story
of the Chinese revolution (printed In The
Tribune under date of Philadelphia Decem-
Der 26), Cry of Republic a Bluff so fully
illustrates this common weakness of human
nature that | must beg leave to trespass
upon your courtesy in the way OF express
ing my sincere admiration for this geatle-
mans powers of imaginative narration.
civil engineer, employed in the construction
of railways in China for three years, Mr..
Drayton evidently lacked the time 20 IA
miiarize himself with the political psy-
chology of the Far East.
THE republic cry OF the revolutionary
leaders, Mr.. Drayton declares, is only a
colossal bluff for the purpose OF gaining
the sympathy of the United states 10 bor-
row money. This sweeping assertion seems
TO be founded on nothing more tangible
than that the United States IS a wealthy
republic. THE japanese are back OF the
present revolution" he again alleges, for
they need a chance to expand" For this
statement the gentleman advances the con-
elusive evidence that the revolution had been
carefully planned and that the revolution
lists are we'll supplied with money. The
actual facts, however, are that Japanese
tacticians would have conducted the tnsur-
gent campaign i'm decidedly different way
had they been in the position of being able
to direct il; that neither of the contendihs
parties is particularly we'll off financially.
and finally, that Japan, as we'll as the
other powers interested in China, is trying
her utmost not to retard the progress OF
that countrys internal readjustment, in
stead of. as alleged. actively assisting one
party against the other.
MASUJIRO HONDA.
Now York Dec 90 1911
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
BANISHED CLERGY PROTEST
Bishops Join in Asking Portugal !
Withdraw Decree Of Exile

Lisbon. Dec. 2s,-Monsgnor Anthon,,
Nendes Bello. the Patriarch OF LISBON o.,
the bishops of the various provinces sem :. :
collective letter to-day TO the Presldeh' y,
the Portuguese Republic, asking MN y
withdraw the decree OF banishment uSu.
Yesterday against Monsisnor Beho' " -
Rishop OF Guarda and the administrs'o' -,
the Diocese OF Oporto. The preia'es
clare the decree is a violation OF the ro'.s ~,
euese constitution. which guarantees
,ihsrty OF the Catholic Church.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
Positively. finally and for the last time
the subway question will be settled next
week"

Senator William ]. Stone, of Missouri
has discovered seven reasons why Champ
Clark should be the next Democratic
nominee for President. But the Speak
er's vote for the Sherwood pension bill
furnishes at least fourteen reasons why
he should not be nominated.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

More gold was produced in 1911 than
in any other year I'm the worlds history.
This will be bad news for those who are
looking for reductions in the prices Of
butter and eggs.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
NetpDnrk d,ribn1H.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER so, 1911.

This newspaper is o,oned and p"o-
iished Dy The Tribune Association, q
Ne,c York corporation; Office ana pftn-
cipdl place Of business, Tribune bud
ina. No. 154 Nassau street, Neio fors;
ogden Mills, president; Ogden A. fe'a'
secretary; James M Barrett, treasurer
The address Of the officers is the oHoe
of this neicSpdper.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
WASTED TALENT.
n The pittsburgh Dispatch.

From The Pittsburgh Dispatch
That Philadelphia policeman who retired after
forty-nine years service at $1,000 year worth
s2jO.oOo ought to have quit long ago. II seems
a shame that a man with such genius Tor max
ing money on the outside should have wasted
his talents walking u beat.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
People and Social Incidents

meet the Misses wiborg. Of New York
who are staying with Mr.. and Mrs. Preston
Gibson, and Lieutenant and Mrs Hender.
son,
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

Mrs. Frank y. Hoffstot gave a small the.
atre party last night for her daughter,
Miss Helen Hoffstot taking her guests TO
see The Little Rebel and afterward TO
the Ritz-Carlton for supper.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
CABINET NEW YEAR PLANS

New York, Dec 90. 1911.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-30

The Arst this season OF the Metropolitan
Dances, for girls not yet out. was held last
night at Sherry's. There was coullon led
BY Reginald Waterbury. dancing with Miss
Harriette A. Post, after which buffet sup
per was served The patronesses this win
ter are Mrs. r. Fulton Cutting, Mrs. Will
lam Jay schierelin. Mrs. lie Roy King.
Mrs Archibald Rogers and Mrs. George b.
Post, jr.