davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

We cannot find any justification fOl
the plea made to the Library Committee
of the House of Representatives that
the 100000 which Congress apprO-
priated last year for a Lincoln memorial
in the city Of Washington should be di-
verted to the building Of Lincoln
road between Washington and Gettys-
burg. In the law of 1911 no mention
whatsoever was made Of an alternative
plan. The money was voted for the
specific purpose of providing an ade.
Quate memorial at the national capital
"A project which Congress has long
had in mind and which at one time took
the form of a monument TO be erected
to the north Of the Capitol in the neigh
borhood in which the new Union rail
road station now stands.
That site had the approval Of the
House Library Committee, but it failed
to satisfy public sentiment because it
did not fit in with plans already devised
by the Burnham commission for the en-
bellishment Of Washington. Wiser coun-
sells finally prevailed, and both House
and Senate agreed to leave the choice
of a site to a board consisting Of Presi-
dent Taft, Senators CullOm, Money and
Wetmore and Representative Cannon,
Mccall and Clark. That board, acting
on the advice Of the federal Fine Arts
Commission has selected Potomac Park
as a site and made a report TO Con-
gress TO that effect.
The promoters Of the Gettysburg road
are now trying to persuade the House
to disapprove the site chosen and To
turn the 100000 over for the highway
whose construction they favor. But il
is obvious that such highway, although
desirable from many points Of view,
would be an inadequate and inapprOpri.
ate memorial 10 Lincoln. 1t would lie
in almost it's entire length outside the
District Of Columbia and would not add
to the beauty Of the capital or symbolic
Lincoln's character and services to the
nation. Maryland and Pennsylvania
could probably be persuaded to build the
road with some aid from the national
association now interested in having il
constructed. But Congress ought not tC
be urged to abandon the project already
authorized for so unsatisfactory a sub,
stitute. The best place for a Lincoln
memorial Is Washington and the best
site available in Washington is Potomac
Park
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
PATENT RIGHTS
Similarity to Previous Decisions of
That Delivered by Justice Lurton.
/, the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: ] write TO say 10 you that the de-
cision OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States, which was delivered last Monday
by Justice Lurton in the patent case. is
not substantially different from what has
been decided by lower federal courts In
more than fifteen cases during the last hf-
teen years.
The first case which involved the point
was that Of the Peninsular Button
Fastener Company against the Eureka Spe-
, cialty Company C7 Federal Reporter. 2SS),
which was decided by the Circuit Court of
Appeals for the 9Th Circuit on October II,
1896 The judges who rendered that de-
cision were Taft. Lurton and Hammond. the
opinion OF all Of them being written by
Judge Lurton. Since that time substan
TALLY the same point OF law has been
adjudicated in other cases by many other
federal courts. one OF these was the Cir
cult Court of Appeals for the I'd Circuit
here in New York, wherein Judges Wallace
and Lacombe held in 1901 that Judges Taft,
Lurton and Hammond were clearly right
In their decision in the button fastener
case. Another decision to the same effect
was rendered by the Circuit Court OF Ap-
peals for the 7th Circuit In Chicago. In
1903 by Judges Jenkins. Grosscup and
Baker. the three circuit judges for that
circuit. Another decision to the same effect
was rendered in 1904 by the Circuit Court
/ Of Appeals for the Sth Circuit in ST. Louis
and was thus rendered BY all the circuit
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
MEDIATION IN MINING DISPUTES.

MEDIATION IN MINING DISPCTES'
The proposal to extend the Erdman
act 10 cover labor disputes In coal nun
ing deserves consideration. That ACT
provides for mediation by federal au-
thorities in railroad disputes whenever
mediation is requested by either party
to the dispute. When this mediation
fails arbitration may be resorted TO-
The result Of arbitration is final, except
that there is a provision for appeals to
the courts from its decisions. This syS-
TEN is credited with excellent results IN
preserving peace in interstate commerce
and there appears to, be no reason, since
il is not compulsory in its character
why it might not be extended to the
COgnate sphere Of an industry so vltalE
affecting the railroads as the one upon
which they are dependent for their fuel
Compulsory arbitration by federal au'
thority Of coal mining disputes would
probably be unconstitutional even If il
were practicable, for it would require a
great stretching Of the Constitution tc
give Congress authority over the neces-
saries Of the agencies of interstate COM
merce. But the proposal is merely fol
system of voluntary or friendly media
tion and arbitration, and it seems a
proper experiment 10 make and one jus
| tilted by public requirements and the de-
pendence of commerce upon the supply
| of coal
As to what would be accomplished by
such mediation in coal mining disputes
as the extension Of the Erdman act
would provide it is not possible TO fee
confident. The situation, so far as or
ganzed labor is concerned, with regard
! to the railroads and the coal mines, par
| ticularly the anthracite mines, is totally
dissimilar. The railroad mems unions
are well established and have that con
servatism which comes from security OF
position Their management is gener-
ally intelligent and prudent. The min
! ers' union, on the other hand, is strug-
| Cling for existence in the anthracite
| field. The prOvocation Of disputes is td
its advantage, and friendly mediation
might not be productive Of results.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT By
JUDGES.

When it is considered how busy pres
ent day advocates of popular rule" are
in assailing the judiciary as the last
refuge of privilege 1t is strange TO OBJ
serve that in Chicago "the people rule
the people"-that is the latest formula
through one Of the judges. A little while
ago Judge Owens, of the County Court
ordered an expression Of preference re.
garding Presidential candidates at the
coming primaries on April o. A few days
later he added an order for an expression
at the same primaries of popular views
on woman suffrage. As The Chicago
Record Herald tells the story. the judge
was ''wOn with smile" A woman suf-
fraglst armed with petition and the
natural arguments Of her sex asked the
court that the question do you approve
Of extending suffrage to wOmen" be
submitted to the voters. The judge
asked if the women would pay the ex.
penses. and, receiving an affirmative re.
ply. announced that he would issue the
necessary order.
The story goes on to say that the
judge is bachelor and 1t is leap year,
as If that had anything TO do with his
action 1t hadn't, Of course, for he was
just as gracious TO persons Of the other
sex who wished to deliver an expression
Of opinion at a primary on the choice Of
d Presidential candidate. Moreover, he
Is quite likely between now and April 0
TO show the same courtesy TO Others
who wish TO ascertain the public view
on other questions.
The judges theory is. according to
"The Record-TIerald," that he can issue
such orders to the Election Commission
because there is nothing In the law for.
bidding him To do so. That is pro
gressiye view, having been enunclated
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
VAssAR GIRL WRITES PLAY
Story of Abraham Lincoln'S Youth
Dramatized by Girl Students.

Poughkeepsie, n. Y, March IS Cspeclsh
In accordance with the custom OF the
Philaletheus Society, dramatic club atNas'
sar College, to encourage original drama oy
awarding two prizes year. the first hone'
was given this year TO Dorothy Phillips, ~
of Goshen, n. Y, who has written In7
One Road Open" the story OF love anap
IN the youth of Abraham Lincoln, WnoSs
disappointment called him TO the grea'
work which stamps him in history. Ku''
Stanley Brown. 10. OF Cold Spring ma
Dor. took the part of Lincoln. The par
of Anne Rutledge, the heroine Of the piece
was played by Sophia White, Of New VOTE
Others OF the cast were Mary Adam''
rs, Of West Newton, Mass. Marion Peer
son, rs, of Ann Aroor. Mich, hu''
Nash. rs, Of Cambridge. Mass, Laura seq
mour rs, OF Chicago; Anne Hail. l'' "
Baltimore; Mary Pound, rs. OF Lockpo.'
NJ Y, and Ambolena Hooker 10 OF ~
agara Falls, n. Y.
After the play Miss Phillips entertaine.
at tea the cast and COMMITTEES, which Ss'
Mary Colt, 'lS, OF East Aurora, ~
Mary Phillips, '1S. Of Chicago; Elzaoela
Thelberg, '1S, Of Poughkeepsie; Charloe'
Greenebaum, IA, Of Chicago; Mary ~
Clarke. ~, OF Buffalo Theresa Lesher, =
Rye. n. Y. and Dorothy Holt, 1S' OF
trolt. fn
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
RUSSIA AND THE DEATH PENALTY

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir. read I'm to-days issue OF The Trib-
une tho argument ~ a certain gentleman
from Troy i'm ravCr OF the death penalty
and II has so provoked me with It's utter
Inconsistency and shallowness that SIM
pIy could not refrain from writing TINS let
ter. I feel the death penalty stain OF
shame and horror in American laws. II Is
NOT only barbaric, un-Christian and brutal,
but a crime.
will give only a short example Of the
Russian conditions which ] have studied
from my experience and close observation
There is no capital punishment in the Rus-
sian pepal code. The political criminals
are executed after the court martial law
has been proclaimed. Such law was pro-
claimed I'm 1905. and prevailed several years
after the revolutionary period. Instead OF
hard labor for fifteen or even ten years,
criminal. political or otherwise, was exc
cuted. During the first year there We're
about five hundred executions, four hum
dred and sixty OF the offenders being politl-
cal The second and the third year tho
number Of political executions became In
significant, while most Of the convicted per-
sons TO be executed were common criminals.
| tnlnk the uuInUtI VI llOoC criminals
reached something like three hundred the
second year This death penalty increased
the number Of murders and robberies so
greatly that the people all over the country
made an appeal to the Douma, and the
court martial law was abolished. Since
then the number of brutal crimes has de-
creased and life has taken again It's normal
course.
Now, when Russian tyranny admits that
The death penalty is brutal and Russia has
abolished r. from its constitution, Is II not
shame for a free country like the United
States TO stand for inquisition? | have be-
come an American, but the fact that live
I'm a country which favors the murder of a
fellow man makes me always feel ashamed
OF this change. Ny advice is, that men who
want 10 see and hear the death sentences
and executions should leave a civilized
country and join the semi, ,barbaric tribes
OF Asia or Africa. IVAN NARODNN,
Now York March Z, 1912.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
People ana Social Incidents

: Hauge, Mrs Robert w Patterson. Mr.,
Ralph Cross Johnson and Miss Sarah Lee
| Mrs. William +. Draper entertained /,
large party Of young people at dinner
tonight for her daughter. Miss Margars,
| Preston Draper. Her guests were Mis-.
Yvonne Townsend, Miss Maitland Mar.
shall Miss Parmelee, Miss Adelaide Heats
Miss Margaret Cotton Smith. Miss El.,a
Aldrich, Miss Gladys ingalls,. Miss Martha
Bowers. Miss Eudora Glover. Miss Nancv
Neff. Miss Julia Whiting. Duncan PhilIps
Frank Ellis, Major Horton. Mrs. Maueras
of the French Embassy: Chauneey
Hackett "Dick' Aldrch. John HAYS Ham.
mcnd, ir., Mr.. de Bach. of the Russian
Embassy; John 3. Henderson. r., Guy
Emerson. A. Kerr Clark Kerr, British AZ.
! tache; Karl Glover and Count Chabennas
of France.
! Miss Helen Cannon opened the home Of
her father, Representative Cannon, for
tea this afternoon in honor Of Mrs J. L.
! Loose Of st. Louis. Several hundred
guests met Mrs. Loose. She will go 10 New
York in a few days.
Mrs. John e. Reyburn entertained many
young people az dinner tonight for her
debutant daughter. Mies Eleanor Z. Rey.
! burn
Miss Laura Merriam returned TO Wash.
ington to-day from a visit TO her aunt
Mrs Bishop, of New York.
Senator and Mrs. Rayner had as guests
of honor at dinner tonight the German
Ambassador and Countess Won Bernstorf
Among their other guests were Senator
Brandegee, the French naval attache and
Viscountess Benoist day, former Gov
ernor and Mrs. Merriam, Nine Christian
Hauge, DR.. and Mrs. Fremont Smith aud
Miss Marie Bevan, OF Baltimore.
Mrs. Beekman Winthrop received the
Monday Skating Class at the Casino TO-
day. her visitors numbering the younger
members of the navy circle, The classes
| are held for the benefit Of the Navy
| League.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND
COMMON SENSE.

President Taft effectually punctured
the mistaken notion that he does not
favor the direct election Of delegates to
the Republican National Convention,
wherever that method is practicable,
when he congratulated the Massachu-
sets Legislature yesterday on having
passed a Presidential primary law.
Everybody who believes in the rule Of
the majority must desire to see the
wishes Of a majority Of the Republican
electors in~each state and Congress dis
trict prevail In the choice Of delegates
The majority Is supposed to make Its
will effective under the convention sys-
TEN, and from the point of view of all
enlightened and progressive Republicans
the only question which can be raised be-
tween the two systems is which Is the
better adapted under varying local con-
ditions to protect the majority In the
expression Of its views.
The President went as far as 1t was
lust and right TO go when he said:
wherever full and fair notice of the
election can be given. wherever ade-
"quate election safeguards can be thrown
''around to protect preferential prt-
mary for the Presidency, wherever the
constitution Of the state permits its
"being made applicable to the present
''election. | favor ii and welcome it."
That is the natural position of the leader
who wants TO get the best results possible
ont Of the two competing systems, apply
ing each where it harmonizes more salts
factorily with local law and practice. 1t
is a far sounder position than that as
sumed by Colonel Rooseyelt's managers,
who are clamoring for the direct election
Of delegates In all the states and dis
tricts, whether or not the proper ma
chinery exists for controlling and safe
guarding direct primaries.
As advocates of the direct system of
election Colonel RoOsevelts managers
are committed to the theory that only
enrolled Republican voters should par
tieipate in the choice Of delegates. Yet
by declaring n favor Of direct vote In
states where the state and district COM
mittees would themselves have TO pay
the expenses Of a primary and where the
law would give them no assistance what
soever either in the way Of recording the
party affiliations Of voters or OF prevent
ing those not eligible 10 vote from taking
hand IN the contest. The slouters for a
nationwide primary would only open the
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir. In YOUR admirable editorial OF yester-
davis issue concerning the numerous casOai-
ties which have recently occurred on 'he
RAILWAYS OF this country, due TO broAeh
rails YOU institute a comparison between
the product Of foreign and American manu-
facturers. 10 the apparent disparagement ot
the latter. As is we'll known. the Engllsh
pattcrn OF rail is in a class by ITSELF the
section being a combination OF pesr-shaped
heads invertible. and firmly secured TO the
roa bed by chairs. tightly wedged ana
spiked Even the best track however Is
not proof against derallment on curves
when the speed is eXcessive-borne out D.
the accident at Shrewsbury station IN Ene'
land, several years ago.
When the super-elevation Is proper TOT 4
speed Of sixty miles an hour, 1t should oe
doubled for eIghty-ive miles an hour-the
lateral thrust varying according 10 tne
gduare of the velocity. The American ran,
as now rolled are ideal so far as vertical
resistance Is concerned, having a heignt oi
six inches. base equal to height, with d
web. however, OF only nine-sixteentns OF
an inch. Therein lies their weakness IN the
matter OF lateral thrust, unless the heau
Of the rail Is supported by brace on every
crosstle The derailment at Brewsters'
n Y. several years ago, was directly at
trjbutable 10 that cause.-the lateral thrust
IN that case being aggravated by the low
centre Of gravity Of the electric motors
hauling the train. With the tremendous
weight Of the modern locomotive, speed
should be kept we'll within the limit OF
safety when rounding curves OF less radius
than that OF degree G.75o feeD.
VIRGINIUS,
Point Pleasant n j.. March Is. l9l2.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19

by no less distinguished progressive
than Mr.. Garfield in the last national au-
ministration. Let reactiOnaries wait Ior
nositiye directions in the law. 1t Is
grievous, therefore, to hear ''The Recoru-
Herald tell Judge Owens that he Is not
"a car, and the Election Commission Is
"under no obligation to pay the slightest
attention to his eXJra-legal, whlmsical
orders" How uniting it Is to apply
the expression judicial tyranny 10
such enlightened orders from the bench
as these! Let us applaud them, rather
and conclude that the trouble with the
country, the reason for the failure Oh
''the people rule the people, principle is
that there has been too little, not 100
much, government by judges.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
NEW YORK SOCIETY.

Many women prominent in society vii
assist at the exhibition and sale of Lace
on Thursday at the home OF Mrs. Wander
bit, for the Sybil Carter Missions Lace
Association. The exhibition will open In
the morning, and in the afternoon there VIII
be music. Among those who will take an
active part in the sale will be Mrs. Austen
GRAY. Mrs Henry Rogers Winthrop, Mrs.
Harry T. Peters, Mrs. Herbert L. Satterlee.
Mrs. Lewis Iselin, Mrs. Charles B. Alexan'
der, Mrs. William r. Hyde, Miss Lucy
Frelinghuysen, Miss NJ. Dorothea Kane.
Miss Marjorie Curtis, Miss Pauline Risss
and Miss Effie Pearson.
William c. Reick gave a luncheon yester-
day at the Ritz. His guests included Mrs.
Philip NJ. Lydig, Mrs. Benjamin $. GUM
ness, Mrs. ogden Mills. Miss Mabel Gerry.
Arthur Brisbane and Mr.. Msrconi.
Lord and Lady Herbert, Lord Tweed.
mouth and Lord Alastaire I,everson Cover
returned to the city last night from CALI
fornia, and are at the Ritz-Carlton.
Mr.. and Mrs Walter G. Oakman arrived
in the city yesterday, from their place at
Roslyn, Long Island, and are at the St.
Regis.
Mrs Henry Lea gave bridge party at
the ST. Regis yesterday. Her guests were
Mrs. Edward Lyman Short, Mrs. Charles Z.
Locke, Mrs. George f. Turnure, Mrs. Il.
Victor Newcomb and Mrs. Samuel II. VAL
entine
Mr.. and Mrs. George F. Baker IT," ara
due to arrive in New York to-day from
Europe
Mrs. G. Ledyard Blair and her daughters
Miss Marjory and Miss Florence Blair viii
sail for Bermuda on Thursday, TO remain
three weeks
Henry T. Sloane and Miss Emily Sloane
will leave town tomorrow for California
Mrs. Walter Cutting and hes daughter
Miss Juliana Cutting. have returned TO town
from Lakewood, and are at the Buckns-
ham. They will go abroad in May.
Miss Helen Stokes will sail for Europe
on Saturday on board the George Washing-
ton. and will join her parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
Anson Phelps Stokes at Cannes, France.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19

judges Of that circuit. namely, Judges San
born, Thayer and Van Devanter.
The point OF patent law which was an
ncunced by Justice Lurton, speaking for
the Supreme Court last Monday, may be
accurately stated as follows
A patent on a machine confers upon the
patentee the right to regulate and limit
the use of specimens of that machine In
any way he pleases, by giving express no.
tice TO purchasers of those specimens OF the
character and extent of that regulation ana
Limitation.
Justice White in 1903 cOncurred in de-
cislor of the Supreme Court, which losicai-
ly involved that point OF patent law ana
even went further. to the extent OF hololhs
that a patentee has an absolute rlght to
prevent every one from using the machihe
covered by his patent on any terms wnal-
ever II Is as certain as that the greater
includes the less. or that an absolute right
includes that right with limits, that the
principle of the case TO which reie'
necessitated the decision of the supreme
Court which was delivered by Justice Lur-
ton last Monday. The case to which
refer was that OF the Continental fape'
Bag Company against the Eastern raps'
Bag Company C210 United States Reports
4C5,. The opinion OF the Supreme Court III
that case was delivered by Justice NC
Kenna, and was concurred In by all Tue
then members of the Supreme Court except
Justice Harlan. But Justice White mas
never heretofore taken much interest III
patent law, and apparently did not reahHe
when delivering his dissenting opinion las'
Monday that what he was saying war
radically inconsistent with the decision III
which he concurred In 1903 Being uncon-
sclous Of that inconsistency, ana ohIy
rartIy acquainted with the factors OF the
nrobler. he ventured I'm his dissenting
opinion TO critcse the opinion Of the ma
iority Of the Supreme Court In terms wnlch
were as unjust as they were severe Ills
own obIter dicta I'm the Standard OH case
and In the American Tobacco case were
very severely criticised by Justice Harlan
I'm his dissenting opinion I'm those TWO
cases. but he himself has now gone iar
bevond criticising the obiter dicta OF one
Justice OF the Supreme Court In criticisms
the actual decision of the majority OF tno
supreme Court itself, and has done so III
case in which that decision was clearly
right. according to the CONSTITUTION ""-
statutes OF the United States.
ALBERT H. WALKER
<,v York March I6 1912
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.1

TFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. March B'-Ihe re9l'.,'s ~
and Mrs. Taft have accepted a poA toI ~
society circus TO be given In Apt, lor .i'.
benefit OF the Diet Kitchen. the e'en'
will be by far the most important ana III,
tsrest,ng feature of spring entertainments
for charity. There will be matihee ."
the day following the night performance
when the children will see and ENJOY lno
affaIr Among those who have taken ooAeS
besides the President and Mrs tart are
Mrs Marshall Field, Mrs. Edward bea,e
Mclean, Nine. Hauge, Mrs. Robert WI
kins. Mrs. Shepard. Mrs. John =. Keyouln
Mrs winthrop Murray Crane, Mrs. ArnoIo
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19

way TO more confusion, disorder and
uncertainty than have ever characterized
elections under the convention system
1t is easy to foresee the party demorali-
zation which would result If what Presl-
dent Taft calls "sOap-box' primaries
were to be held in the Southern states
or Northern states where such expert
ments are not subject to legal regula-
ton.
The use of the direct election method
is spreading rapidly, and before long the
great majority of the delegates to a Re-
publican National Convention will prob
ably he chosen in that manner. But 1t
is foolish TO talk of forcing it offhand
at thirty days notice on states and dis
trlcts which have not yet qualified them
selves to employ it under the protection
Of the law.
New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
Mr.. Cummns seems to be not more
than Iowas favorite stepson.

Recent reports of the excessive number
of persons killed on American railroads
yearly are supplemented by the specinc
record that on the various lines OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad last year no
fewer than 527 persons were killed whiIe
trespassing chiefly, no doubt, walking
along the tracks That is a shocking
record. which suggests the inquiry
whether some more effective means OF
preventing tyespassng could not be de-
vised and adopted. There are plenty ot
signs warning people against trespass-
ing and threatening them with penalties
but these seem not TO be sufficient. Per-
taps a larger number of actual arrests
and punishment of trespassers would
help. or the enactment of more strln-
gent law, to be vigorously enforced. 1t
will not do 10 say that If people Will be
such fools they must suffer the conse-
quences, for moral and legal principles
are opposed to permitting even fools to
commit suicide.