davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
LYING LOW.

Governor Wilson seems 10 be develop
ing an extraordinary talent for opacity.
Once upon a time he was pellucid, cpl
grammatic and sparkling. but since he
yielded to the temptation to square his
political aspirations, if possible, to all
the winds of opinion which blow about
the JeffersOnian wigwam he has become
elusive. pOnderOus and obscure. THE
Charlotte Observer said irreyerently
the other day Of one of the Woodrovian
effusionS that it was like the trail of
the serpent. which doubled and circled
so often that nobody could tell whether
it was headed i'm or headed out. Gov
ernor Wilson's speech OH the tariff ques-
tion last night at the dinner Of the Ma
tional Democratic Club Of this city gives
point TO the persiflage of the Charlotte
cynic 1t was masterpiece OF serpen-
tine involution, leaving the dazed lis
tener to wonder why so many thousand
words were needed to expose the indet-
niteness of the speakers thought.
From n microscopic inspection Of the
Governors voluminous periods it is 20
be gathered that he disapprOves of the
idea Of trying to base tariff duties on
differences in cost Of production here
and abroad, and holds that tariff duties
should be levied or omitted for revenue
purposes only. From any Democratic
point of view those two propositions are
reasonably safe. Yet when Mr.. Wilson
comes TO apply them 10 existing tariff
problems he is almost as wary as Gen
eral Hancock. who once uttered with
military bluntness the profound truth
that 10 Democratic statesmen levying
duties for revenue only the tariff neces-
sarily becomes a "lOcal issue" Mr.. VIII
son hinted that he favored free raw
materials when he said
II is obvious. for example that a frank
dealing with Schedule K OF the tarin,
with the duties on sugar, on cotton, on
iron and steel, would result In no de-
crease of prosperity at all and be OF
material benefit TO the great body or
workers and consumers Free raw ma
terials would lower the cost OF domestic
manufacture, would obviate the neces-
sity for vicious compensating duties
and would help domestic manufacturers
in foreign markets
Did he say, however, that he favored
free wool aud free raw sugar. Not at
nil That would have been too hazard-
ous a descent in the region OF local Is
sues And how is he going 10 apply DIS
doctriae of taxation for revenue only
With graduated energy and supersens'-
Aye caution. "We deal with great ana
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
NO NEED OF AGITATION OVER
CANAL TOLLS.


Some Of our transatlantic friends are
strangely agitated over the Presidents
recent references to the fixing Of tolls
on the Panama Canal They seem TO
think that in some way the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty is in danger of violation, and
they rather shrilly protest to the world
that it would be unayailing sophistry for
the American government TO pretend
that IL was not bound by the terms Of
that convention. OF this there really
appears TO be 10 need, unless to demon
strate the ability of others to vie with
the poets katydid in saying an undis-
puted thing in such solemn way.
Neither the President nor any one
else in authority has suggested any vio-
latiOn of that treaty or any evasion OF
its terms ON the contrary, the PreSi-
dent in the message which has presuma-
bly, started this hubbub explicitly and
emphatically reminded the nation that
the terms of that treaty must be Loyalty
maintained by making the tolls uniform
on the shipping of all nations, our own
included We know Of no serious pur-
pose. in any important quarter, to de-
part from that principle. At the same
time. the President was right i'm suggest
ing a method by which the canal might
he made of special service 10 American
commerce, and the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor Is similarly right when
he says in his report, just issued, that
'it is feasible to use the canal for the
promotion Of American navigation in =
manner consistent with treaty obiga-
"tions, with precedent at home and
abroad and with our fixed policy Of
"untaxed navigation on improved water
ways"
Certainly our European friends should
not become agitated over the possibility
Of our adopting some measure Of their
long practised and general system Of
subsidies for shipping. The Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty does not forbid that We
have no doubt that many subsidized
European vessels Will be sent through
the canal. Indeed, that must be so, If
many European vessels are TO pass
through the waterway. Surely, we have
as good q right TO subsidiZe vessels as
any other nation has, and as good "A
right to subsidize those on special routes
of traffic. If it should happen that the
United States subsidized lines plying TO
and through the canal, there would be no
violation of the Hay -PauncefOte treaty I;
and If the subsidies should equal the
amount Of tolls paid by the ships IN
passing through the canal, there would
be no sophistical pretence that we were
not bound by the terms Of that conyen-
ton
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
CHINA'S ACHIEVEMENT
A Nation Ready and Quick to Adopt a
Republican Government.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: China has long deferred her study
Of the science OF self-government, but now
that she has fairly entered upon II she
moves with rapidity that to other ma
tions seems astounding. Which of our
most advanced Western republics has ever
been able to summon a national conven-
tion by telegraph. or to end war by the
simple expedient of marching the two
armies away from each other? Which of
them has ever chosen a capital, inaugu-
rated a President and named a Cabinet,
all within less than a week?
There are few nations on earth so we'll
fitted for republican government, or so
well constituted by nature and habit for
its practical adoption. AS a nation they
are industrious, thrifty and peaceable.
They have the habit OF respect for consti-
tuted authority, and are neither illterate
nor lawless.
IT is fortunate for us that the truths
about self-goyernment which their leaders
have acquired and are desirous Of putting
into practice are largely derived from
American sources. Ours is perhaps the
only power from whom they can expect
disinterested national friendship The Eu-
ropean governments have sought to carve
out pieces OF Chinese territory for their
own aggrandlzement. That, at last, reused
the sense OF nationality, with which the
world henceforth will have to reckon. II
the new republic shall prove successful
and 1t will unless other powers combine to
overthrow it--it will become an important
factor In the worlds progress
FREDERICK w. SEWARD.
Montrose- the Hudson, Jan. 2, 1872
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
RIGHTEOUS TUITION.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The praiseworthy meaning and in
tent of Mr.. Coer's admirable letter In The
Tribune recently are to-day reflected on by
james T.. Morton, jr, I'm expressions that
are so improper that they should be prompt
ly gainsaid one of them is this: Religion
I'm public schools means a denial or the
rights and liberties of individual citizens.
and no sOphistry can harmonize so great
wrong with the truths of American democ-
racy." Pass sophistry. II you please, and
define American democracy II you can with
out religion in it's high. broad sense OF
spiritual belief and what is found? That
which Washington earnestly warned his
countrymen to fear, and that was i,religion
in the people.
No one OF sound political sense wants
union OF Church and State. No one OF sound
patriotic sense wants socialism. No one OF
sound ethlc sense wants scctarianism In
our public schools, but every one Of sound
common sense who is an intelligent Ameri-
can patriot wants truly and distinctively
righteous tuition given all young people In
all our schools so that their minds. while
vet in formative stages. will be continuous
" directed to life's true morulities and
great decencies.
ALFRED LAURENS BRENNAN.
New York Dec 81 1911.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
THE CABINET.
[From Tho Tribune Bureau.l

lffOIn Inc lTIDuHe buiedu'j
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-The Cabinet host
esses held their first official receptions this
afternoon, when most of official Washing
ton paid its respects to the wives OF the
Secretaries Of State, the Treasury. the In
terror, Navy and Commerce and Labor, the
others being either in mourning or out OF
town.
Mrs MacVeagh had with her her house
guests, Mrs. Fisk Warren, of Boston, and
Miss Carver, of Chicago. Mrs. MacVeagh
observes much informality at her recep-
tions and pours out her own tea
Mrs. Meyer had with her the largest
number Of assistants. They were Mrs.
Beekman Winthrop, wife of the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy; Mrs. John Bolt
Mrs. Sydney Small, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs
Rae. widow OF Rear Admiral Charles W.
Rae. and Miss Janet Fish. of New York.
Mrs. Meyer entertained a few young peo-
pie at luncheon.
Mrs. Nagel had Mrs. Cable wife OF the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and La
Dor: Mrs O. II. Tittman and Miss Mary
Winsow assisting her.
Mrs. Fisher had large number OF callers
but presided at her own tea table.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
People and Social Incidents

Emerson, all of Boston; Mr. and Mrs. Led
yard Heck3her and Philip Gardner. OF
Philadelphia.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edson Bradley entertained
at dinner this evening in honor Of their
daughter, Mrs. Shipman. of New York
They had as their guests Miss Taft, the
Misses Meyer, Miss Harriet Anderson, OF
Cincinnati; Miss Janet Mann, OF New
York; Miss Cotton, Miss Mary Sheridan,
Miss Dorothy Williams, Miss Marion
Oliver, Commander Betzmann and Major
Won Herwarth, OF the German Embassy;
Captain Sowerby, of the British Embassy;
Commander and Mrs. Bumer Captain and
Mrs. U. S. Grant. Cd. Captain and Mrs.
John II. Gibbons of Annapolis; Captain
Philip Sheridan, Reginald Hudekoper.
Captain Lafferty and Paul De Chale
Mrs. Richard Townsend entertained at
dinner this evening in honor Of Mrs. L. Il.
Thomas, of New York.
Miss Laura Merriam, daughter of ex-
Governor William K. Merriam of Mime
sofa, entertained a company OF young peo-
pie ut dinner this evening in honor OF Miss
Esther Slater, the company going later TO
the Bachelors Cotillon.
Miss Mabel Boardman and her sister,
Mrs Frederick A. Keep. left washington
to-day. for Panama, where they viii spend
severaY weeks. They will visit the Canai
Zone chapter of the Red Cross
Invitations were issued yesterday by the
Congressional Club for reception TO the
dinlomatic corps on Thursday evening,
January 1s, from $50 to II 80 o'clock.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
CORRECTING THE LAWS
The Function of Congress, and Not of
the President

To tho Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l am not prophet nor the son of q
prophet, but 1t seems to me one does not
need to be prophet to predict what would
happen II we defeated President Taft for
reelection next November. Here we have
a lot OF aspirants for the Presidency, at
tacking the administration of President
Taft, every one OF them knowing that the
President Is not the lawmaker in this coun-
try. 1t is the Congress that makes the
laws. 1t Is the Presidents business to en-
force them Who dares to say that Presi-
dent Taft has not done that?
Here is President Taft. a calm cool, con-
scientious, non-ostentatious, deliberate OFF,
cial. performing the highest function Of
power In the laid In a manner that courts
the admiration of every lover Of peace, or
der and concord. Are we going to substi-
tute for him turbulence. chaos and confu-
sion?
If there is anything wrong with the laws
let the Presidential asplrants bend their
energies toward electing the lawmakers.
They may rest assured that Mr.. Taft will
enforce the laws without fear or favor.
South Orange n. j.. Jan. 9, 1912. c. s.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
[Erom The Tribune Bureau.1

washington, Jan. 3-President Taft de-
cIared emphatically to-day, Nothing but
death can keep me out of the fight now"
thus setting at rest all stories to the ef-
feet that he might withdraw from the race
for denomination. The statement was
made to one Of his callers.
The President has under consideration
the protests made against the appointment
of Judge Hook to the Supreme Court.
Senator Curtis gave him a copy OF Judge
Hooks decision enjoining the Oklahoma
authorities from enforcing the two-cent
rate law, which Mr.. Taft promised TO read.
Among the White House callers were
the Secretary Of the Treasury, the Secre-
tary OF War the Secretary Of the Navy,
the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor,
ex-Secretary Metcalf. General Edwards,
Representatives Palmer. Peter, Kahn'
Warburton, Cooper and Raker, John Hays
Hammond, Peter A. Jay, American Consul
General at Cairo; Rear Admiral Louis
KempR (retire0, Rear Admiral Upshur
and his niece, Miss Hunt. and Commits
soner Lane.
The Presidents luncheon guests to-day
included Walter D. Hines. Of New York;
Mr.. Otis and Mr.. Lilly. Of "The Cleveland
News" and Secretary Hilles.
The President and Mrs. Taft have issued
invitations to the first Of the state recep-
tions on January Z, when they will enter
tain in honor OF the diplomatic corps.
Horace Taft, brother Of the President,
arrived at the White House this morning
to spend the remainder Of the week.
Charles Taft will return to his school
early next week The President, with Miss
Taft and Miss Anderson, attended the
wedding this afternoon Of Miss Mary
Switzerland and Louis Bacon, Of Boston,
and the two young women were among
the guests at dinner Of Mr.. and Mrs Edison
Bradley going later to the first bachelors
cotlllon at the New Willard. The President
and Mrs. Taft and Major Butt occupied
box at the New National Theatre this
evening.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
A VANISHING DELTCICY.

The United States government will
have the aid of the fishery experts OF
practically all the countries of North
ern Europe in tracking down the
mackerel schools which used to frequent
American waters. In 1856, after sew
eral years of unusual friendliness, the
mackerel seemed 10 take an aversion TO
their ancient habitat off the New Eng
land coast, and the catch has been
dwindling ever since. In 1885 100000
barrels were Salted for consumption In
this country, leaving out Of account the
supply eaten fresh. In 1910 the entire
catch was only 2,710 barrels.
The mackercl is one OF the best food
fishes. The Spanish mackerel in par
tlcular Is delectable mOrse, and its
progressive disappearance from the mar
ket has been a calamity. As the cost of
meat and game has risen the range of
table deliCacies has been sadly circum-
scribed, and the mackerel's perversity
in taking TO new cruising grounds has
been all the more heartleSS and inop-
perfume 1t is to be hoped that the
Permanent International Council for the
Exploration Of the Sea will hunt him
down and instil into him new sense of
duty to suffering humanity.
Otherwise the rising generation will
have to fOregO acquaintance with still
another Of those pleasures In which life
used TO be rich. The poor survivor in
this age of stOrehouse substitutes for
real foOd-if he lives in Il large city. at
least-knOws little or nothing of such
vanished tidbits as the quail the
pheasant, the prairie chicken, the wild
duck and the terrapln in their former
estates, and therefore cannot understand
the enthusiasm Of those whose memories
go back to the time when restaurants,
even in New York, were institutions for
serving and eating food, not palm gar
dens, concert halls, millinery show
rooms and places Of miscellaneous enter
tainment. Maybe the mackerel saw the
evil days ahead and umceremoniously de-
parted. A real Spanish mackerel Of the
old order would undoubtedly be panied
and annoyed at being served In the sur
roundings which obtain I'm an up-to-date
restaurant
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
JupERIALISu AND SOCIALIST.


The German electorate is etill divided
into a dozen different parties and mem
bers of parliament are still elected ac-
cording to the apportionment Of forty
years ago. For those reasons there is
no prospect of anything like proper
tional representation of tn" various
parties in the new Reichstag which is
TO be elected next week, and the Social
Democratic party may not become a
much more important factor IN legisla-
tion than it now is. There is y general
expectation, however, that 1t will make
material gains in seats and will so
enormously increase its voting strength
as TO compel the government tn assume
q different attitude toward it from that
which il has hitherto maintained. In q
German election a clear majority Is re-
uired. In consequence there arc always
many second elections, and at these all
other parties are pretty sure tn unite
against the Socialist candidates. 90 while
than any other party and their candidates
have pluralities I'm perhaps n majority
of districts on the first ballot, an the
second ballot they are put into minor
place. Even under those circumsts nces,
with q fair redistricting of the empire,
they would probably have twice as rlany
seats as they had in the late Reichstag.
They are considered sure of milking
great gains next week, because Of their
marvellous growth in recent years ind
because Of their gains at by-elections
during the life of the Reichstag which
has Just expired. Forty years ago .iiey
cast 100000 votes and elected one M IN
Der. In 1890 they cast i,427,000 votes
and had eighty-one members. At the
last, election, five years ago, they .ast
3,260000 votes, or more than 100000
more than any other party; but because
OF the combinations of other parties
against them In second elections tb"y
seated only forty three members 80
though the Conservatives, with only onS-
third as many votes, filed sixty seats
There are not few observers who pre-
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
A VICTIM OF A SYSTEM.

Thousands of persons In Hudson
County, y. J.. were startled when they
heard yesterday that Egan, the County
Collector, had been sentenced to seven
years in state prison, the extreme pen
atty Of the law. for his Illegal lending Of
county money to the late Bob" Davis,
Democratic boss Of that county. They
did not expect so severe a sentence.
There was no proof, nor even thought,
that Egan had pecuniarily profted from
his act or that he had led other than a
clean and decent life. The county had
lost not cent, save the interest on the
money, for the whole sum had been re-
paid Egan did not mean to rob the
county. The jury which convicted him
pleaded strongly for leniency, and some
of the ablest advocates Of the New Jer-
sey bar did their utmost for him. Yet
the judge imposed the severest penalty
OF the law. And Of the thousands who
express surprise there is not one
thoughtful man who will challenge the
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04

Justice of the sentence or successfully
maintain such challenge.
Egan is the victim Of system. IL Is
system which has long prevailed III
Hudson County and elsewhere. IL Is
thoroughly vicious, corrupt ana uelho,
alizing. 1t is utterly Incompatible Win
honest or efficient government. But men
who mean well and wish to be hohest'
like this one, are often drawn llto IL
because il is necessary for them 10 ac-
ouiesce in It,. or so they think, II ,hey
are to get into public office or are 10
hold their places. Such bosses as BOD
Davis devise or direct the system LOT
their own advantage. and they make
subservience to it the price OF tenure ol
office to all their subordinates. Ihat
was Egan's case He had to do as Davis
wished him to do or lose the Dosss ravor
and thus destroy his own political 0ros-
pects. Moreover, there was the conslu-
Grafton of friendship and gratitnde'
which is potent to a certain extent
Epan knew that it was not right for
him to do as he did. But he had TO do II
In order to keep in with the boss and
be loyal to his conception Of friendship.
Besides, he meant to see to 1t that the
money was all returned TO the county.
Just so bank employe might take
money from the bank to help friend,
intending to return It, But he would
be an embezzler, just the same.
The whole system of using public Of
flee for private gain and using public
money as though It were the oflicehold-
er's own is so abominable and revolving
to every sense of decency in government
that such sentence as that which Jus
tice Swayze imposed in this case is graf
flying and commendable. 1t Is only by
making such conduct odious and per'lous
that it can be stopped and public oill-
cials can be brought to realization or
their responsibilities and obligations
There will be regret for the individual,
but IL will be not so much because he
has been Justly punished as because he
was so foolish. so weak or so dull rs to
let himself be made part of the sys-
TEN. The sentence will greatly help to
improve the public service throughout
| the state.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
urw Work FROM THE SUBURBS.

~or YORK city has a Representative
,.a,ohersbin Of 10000 These would MAKE W
non,,,a,,on for good sized town. mol eoun' !,
a.. clerical force necessary TO remind 'i''"
Ut dues Christian Science Monitor
Welshman is claiming 10 own all 'ne me, a
,tanha,tan Island He needn't per'nn
sn,.n u,atter like that to worry him. Inc S,V" -
,bot lives there now could take u aWas s..or,d
,,,',, ,n f,ur minutes even If the court s'
awo,d Il 10 him.-Houston Post.
sorehoav tipped on Police comm'sS ,ss
vaIdo Of New York that the Presioeh' - ar
rated states is really quite an impo''A"' re
som with the result that on his VisN ~ sy
,,,a,ronoIis saturday night he was escoi'0S
,,,en,y-eye policemen Syracuse heralu'
New Yorker was arrested for .nlV. ,ssa
owov money in the street lie was saIs' xsw
~. rsons who throw away money ~ s,s
york's lobster palaces. because he nae ~ r,opsy.
The naxt day except over the loss Oh n''
Buffalo Express vo,k
The new street railway company "a .,..sr,
.,,,ns has ,aken over the Metropolitan 80 80.
,,ro,0t.es safety. speed. courtesy, cls'n"k york
,,sh, and heat Those people over IN Ns" As
are ,ucky 10 get such New Year pls can
that. assuming. OF course. that the eo'ap pssort.
tesn - "a slurlny promises -Phiiadelphia wv
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
SEVEN EDUCATIONAL LECTURES.

The Department of Education announced
yosterday a course of seven lectures on edu-
cational topics to be delivered In Cooper
Union saturday evenings. beginning Janu-
arv 6. The speakers will be Arthur d.
Dean, chief of the division OF vocatlonai
schools New York state DR.. Elmer ELS
worth Brown, chancellor Of New M2rk Uni
versity. DIR. p. T. Claxton' unitsd states
Commissioner OF Education; DR. Lemues H.
Murlln, president OF Boston UNIVERSITY ~
Rush Rhees, president OF the University
of rochester; DR.. Joseph French Johnson,
dean OF the New York University Schooi OF
commerce, Accounts and Finance ana Dr.
q. stanley Hall, president OF Clark Uni
versity.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04

delicate matters" he said; I'VE must
move from step to step with as much
prudence as resolution" What TINS
meant no one at the dinner knew, but
all were willing to applaud it as pru-
IDENTIFY resolute and resolutely prudent.
What more could be asked? II served
the Governors purpose. no doubt 10
suggest that he was no Samson, 10 rash
wrecker of temples or citadels and that
so far as the interests of the wool and
sugar producers were concerned the
only weapon he carried concealed under
his academic tOga was a replica OF Gen
eral HancOcks scabbard-bound sword.
New-York tribune., 1912-01-04

Ross, "a mild winter reduces the mortality
all over the country A white Christmas
means more work for the doctors, DIVIDENDS
for the undertakers, and overtime for the
sections. A week or two Of frosty weather
kills off more old people than the hottest
of summers. The external cold causes
hemorrhage. and slight colds and ailments
are complicated. On the other hand, win
ter of mild weather means that thousands
of people have a passport Of life right
through the summer to the next winter"
PA" said little Willie, looking up from
his paper what is a philanthropist?"
wise pa, is usually a man who spends his
time getting other people to spend their
money for charity."-The Catholic Stand
ard and Times.