davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
DISCUSSES ABOLITION
OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
No language can portray the misery
which reiSns in the homes of the peo-'
pie, nor the wretchedness that the
Iouor traric entails on its victims.
Society IS II own witness of these con-
ditions.
We would call on our Congress. our
President. and the heads OF the ad-
ministTative and executive departments
of the Government in support of the
startling array Of facts which show
the most appalling records Of any
crime that men can commit yet the
traffic exists and plants it's signs in the
faces OF millions VINO crowd the streets
0f our cities: and the United states
actually licenses tho traffic for 800, COO
u wear 10 open the hood-gates of Vice
$1,000 roo. 900 annually, and lose home,
character, employment, and every COM
fort. and life. each year as result
What CUntagion. or plague, or flood, or
carthouake, or war but Is more toler-
able than the liquor curse? The health
of the people Is protected from impure
foods. crime of all grades is hunted
SUTs that P al S 30 30 sprcad the Tesn
OF death ara met nv the striCtest cau-
tion everywhere, and the greatest OF
all evils. the. drink traffic, is allowe1
TO thrive under the prot otecton OF law:
no argument is needed to establish its
guilt.
Ts there no redress possible for the
damage It Is Impossible to estimate {"
Are not millions Of our people appealing
against this the greatest enemy that
confronts this nation? Is, not our mora!
sentiment outraged by the audacity Of
the liquor system: Vet 1t Eolds its grip
or the throat Of the nation without
moral Or beneficial principle to its
credit. no. not those facts appeal to
our lawmakers, AMI our courts? The
political parties will soon he framing
their policies and making their plat
forms. will anH, party platform that
shall he adopted insert ccnsure on
the rucn5 cling tquor traffic. Ur dare to
express sympathy with those who are
seeking the prohibition of the drink
cure? Or wifi they insult the moral
sense OF this nation by cowardly ST.
lsnce? Down with the party that is not
a force against the saloon! Down with
the candidate who does not avow his
opposition to this demon traffic. The
victory will come when towards are
denied office: and the demand of a vast
ma jority shall swell the total vote
which shall down King Alcohol and
bring this nation up to the highest mark
that any nation on earth can occupy.
Nav God hasten the day! H.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
GETTING DOWN TO THE ISSUES.

Colonel Roosevelt is getting the campaign into
intimate touch with the real issues-the issues that
ought to be pressed upon the people, and upon which
they should be required to give verdict-when he
talks about the railroad regulation bill of 1910
That bill, it will be recalled, was prepared by the
lawyers of the Administration, with President Taft
taking a leading part in the work Some railroad
lawyers and executives summoned to confer
ences; Senator Cummins was invited to help, but,
being progressive, he never taken into any of
the conferences. He came to Washington by nvi-
taton Of the President to assist in drafting the
measure but after he got here he was cooy snubbed
and cooled his heels at his hotel week after week,
while the inner circle Of the Administration framed
up bill.
When the bill was ready it was sent to the Cap
tol with instructions that it was sacred: it must be
passed just as written
Then Cummns and the rest of the progressives
fell upon it, and the exposure was simply scandal
The bill was reactionary in the extreme. Pretending
to be a progressive, forward constructive measure
it was in fact clumsiy contrved plan for the repeal
Of most of the Hepburn act and the extension OF
new privileges to the railroads that would have given
them more power than ever before. And its central
essential feature was the Commerce Court whose
record has made it so thoroughly unpopular with the
public and so popular with the enemies of regulation
The progressves, led by Cummins, took hold of
the measure and made it over. They left, in fact
just one significant feature of the original Taft BILL
and that was the Commerce Court. 1t proved most
unfortunate concession to the Administration, made
by reason of good-nature and an amiable wish to
save the face of the eminent gentlemen who had
prepared the bill.
In the whole Taft record there is not better,
compleer less generally understood illustration
of the whole tendencies Of this Administration. That
measure pretended to be in pursuance Of Roosevelt
policies it in fact betrayal Of them. The pro-
gressves succeeded at last in making a good and
useful law; but they had to fight Taft the Admins
traon and its legislative friends at every turn, in
order to accomplish so much.
Colonel Roosevelt will find sympathetic and un-
derstanding hearing if he will tell the whole truth,
and tell it as widely as possible, about the railroad
legislation Of 1910. 1t is story that all alone,
answers the real question of why the country ought
to be done with the present Administration
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
DISCUSSES MIDDLEMEN
AND HIGH PRICE OF RENTS

TO the Editor of THE TIMES:
II Is now conceded by both producers
and consumers that II is the middle
man that makes the high cost of living;
so II is the middle-man that makes the
high cost OF rent in Washington.
Why can we not have q lenders and
borrowers exchange" we have build
ers' exchange, and I see by the papers
that there Is to be real estate ex,
change.
| cannot understand why. II 4 has
money TO lend at fair rate of interest,
and b, If he wants to borrow, cannot
meet each other at an exchange, have
the necessary papers drawn UP by a
competent salaried person: but now IL
wants to borrow money he has to
go to some real estate broker, pay him
2 per cent bonus, while the man that
lends the money, I understand must
pay per cent bonus. There is per
cent which goes into the hands OF the
broker without any labor; he is a non
producer.
Then. why cannot we pay our rent
money directly to the owner of the
property? There is 5 per cent col
lected from every renter that should go
to the owner. A man that pays $50 to
these men per month gives them 81, and
one that pays $40 per month gives them
s., and so on.
II the writer's in the letter bag will
take this up and explain why this must
be we will be glad.
ONE INTERESTED.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
TOP TIME HAS COME.

There is one glory Of the sled and another of the
white alley, and one boyish game differeth from an
other game in glory but none of them takes prece-
dence Of top time, which alert observers have
already discovered to be in our midst. The open
spaces around the Capitol and the broad avenues and
streets which radate from characteristic circles
are filled with the merry top spinners who have
maged in last years treasure chests for the tops that
were laid aside but not forgotten.
II is one of the landmarks of advancing spring
to see this annual appearance of top spinners. All
the exuberance which belongs to boyhood is embodied
in the game and in its practice the psychology Of
the boy finds its full and interesting expression. The
hollow "hummers" painted in garsh coors, attuned
to music rather than adapted to the hercer purposes
for which tops surely made originally, divert
the hours of the more esthetc groups of youngsters
In the revolving bands of color and weird, half
audible hum there hints of the mystic music of
the spheres, with perhaps suggestion of the rings
OF Saturn, or some of the other visions which crowd
the fancy Of growing youth
But the old peg top is the gladiator of its race
the age. 1t is top only by courtesy. Its point of
steel is gaff, spur, javelin. Its crest is as the
angry head of cobra Its hum such as it is, is but
fair-play warning of readiness to strike. And be-
meath the rule Of hands entirely great its splntered
victims lie around like stricken warriors on the field
Of battle.
Perhaps it would not be difficult to figure out
from the individual taste in tops, forecast of the
future Of the boy. We could read how strong
the combatiVe spirit will be when he grows older
and how he shall conduct himself in she conflict oI
! Life, These little groups now assembling for the
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
A KISSLESS HOME.

Judge Marean, of New York city, has created a
new crisis in domestic circles over there, where
domesticity is one long-drawn-out crisis under any
circumstances AS breeding place for new wrinkles
IN domestic relations New York has the rest of the
world beaten a mile. This latest is decision that
q wife need not kiss her husband if she does not
feel like it, and the court holds that there being no
other ground for contempt he cannot interfere with
the nuptial tie
+ Now, of course there may be ramifcations to this
which the reports, all too brief do not give But in
community where the kiss has been staged, amp
fed, analyzed diagnosed, illuminated and treated
psychcay, hermeneutically practically, incidentally
and we know not in how many other ways, the denial
Of kiss must be serious affair. Doubtless the
complaining husband, misled by the tons of literature
on the subject, thought But the judge said not
Wonder if he is a crusty old bachelor?
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
THE EVOLVED CAUCASIAN
AND HIS SOCIAL SYSTEM

To the Editor Of THE TINES:
The discussion of religious creeds now
going on in the Mail Bag should lead
to the production of that code of moral
ity' of which the Caucasian race stands
In such urgent need. Morality Is moth
ing more nor less than conduct that
best serves ones race, and a code that
would teach US such conduct has not
been produced. The absence of such
code prevents the race from enjoying
Its full amount of happiness. And the
main cause of the absence of such code
Is the influence of certain immoral pre-
cepts of so-called morality that are
propped up by the creeds founded on
the Bible
This discussion of creeds comes at a
time when there is widespread social
unrest. This social unrest is shown by
the violence and disorder in our own
country and in the strikes and threat
eneo strikes both here and abroad. Vio-
lent antagonism between individual eau
casians does not fit our present evolu-
uonal stage. The nearest proper ap-
proach to such sntsgonism is in the dis
cussion of policies for the good of the
race. social system that leads to
violence is barbarous. This barbarous
social system is continued by reason
or the influence of the immoral pre-
cepts that the Bible teaches.
II is very apparent that many OF us
do not know our own natures, nor that
each of US is A creature of environment.
Science does not pretend to teach any
thing about future life, for it knows
nothing about 1t. But what science
does teach is the high duties of this
life. And yet IT is the influence of the
Bible that prevents the teaching OF
these high duties.
The immoral precepts that the Bible
teaches have been impeached by unim-
pea chable authority. This fact cannot
ne too wei known. And, therefore, the
discussion in the Mail Bag should lead
US to code of morality considera bly,
higher than that taught by the Bible.
II. II. SWEARINGEN.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
AN iNDIcTMENr-.A LITTLE THING.

John E. Parsons, former counsel Of the Sugar
Trust, is jovial SOUL He was on the stand in New
York day or two ago and was asked certain ques-
tions, to whichthe gave vigorous replies Let the
news dispatch tel1t the rest: After leaving the stand
Mr. Parsons laughed merrily with his counsel, and,
turning to the newspaper men, said "A little thing
like an indictment can't kill me- "
Nothing could more emphatically reveal the atti-
tude Of big business in this country toward the law
than this little sentence. The business men of two
generations ago would have died Of modification at
any nsinuation against their uprghtness and an in
dictment would have stained the family name for a
generation. But today an indictment is a little
thing" What is to be said Of business community
which regards indictments as trivial affairs and causes
FOR merriment?
The Washington times., 1912-03-31

has ever been answered instances are
sn numerous both in history and in
contemnoraneous times that IL seems a
waste OF time to repeat them. Every
well read man will recall several ln-
stances even in the scope OF his daily
reading.
is IL possible that we have here an
instance OF man who refuses to accept
any belief or theory which he is nst
able, Dy pliny human '1cgic,' to ex-
plain? II there Is n God, with opnis-
cient power, wisdom. and Intelligence
how can We expect, with limited human
wisdOni, to understand His thoughts
and plans? knowledge Is out compare
tive. Let this learned critic attempt
to explain TO two-year-old child the
love Of a mother which was willing to
endure the pains OF motherhood and to
face probable death to make possible
the physical life of her offspring. II
nc succeeds in this then he may wonder
why God lid not attempt 20 explain TO
hlm all about the "yicarious atonement'
which 70 so hard FOR him TO understand
unaided. Instances of the sacrifice of
human life FOR the good of humanity
are t1o numerous to mention. and we
call such men "herues" not "atroeious
monsters" ...,
Yes, there are many people who do
not think they have The Intelligence of
a God, and they exhibit no traces of
''brainstorm" either. FA1RPLAY.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN
THE LAWS OF NATURE

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
hope I am not "butting in on any
one else's argument II ] write an an
Ewcr tn the letter OF II. $. wallace
which appeared in the issue of Saturday
He believes the laws of Tature are i'm
mutable. How does he know they are?
Can he prove It? What do we know
about the laws Of nature except the lit
tie we have besn able to learn by eX-
periencc? One of these laws of nature
which we think we know Is that dead
matter cannot be made living matter
without the interposition of life. Now
will the learned brother tell us-who
also behave in the laws OF nature-how
did life ge. on our globe? Perhaps he
can tell us also, while he IL on the sub
Ject. Just what Is life, anyhow? Will
he tell us how the fertilizer which he
puts in his garden is changed BY the
grain Of corn into living cells which arr
III to norrish the human body? But
perhaps Mr.. Wallace does not believe
this, since he Is not able to explain IL.
There are thousands of facts connected
with the Jaws Of nature which IL Is i'm
possible for Us to explain without the
assumption of supreme Being with
such attributes as we attribute to God.
As TO the challenge 20 prove that prayer
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
THINKS GAGNIER DESERVED
A THOROUGH TRYoUT

To the Editor OF THE TIMES
II seems a shame that a ball player
whose work during the three weeks of
training has been the principal topic OF
conversation among the Washington
fans should be allowed to return to the
minors without try-out against major
league teams such as we will have for
the next couple weeks. According to
the papers this man Gagnier In scrub
games at the training camp has fielded
sonsationally and led the whole crew
In batting. 1t would seem such a person
would have been allowed to fight II out
with the present shortstop a to who Is
the better for the position, but for some
rneXplainable reason Gagnier Is shunted
to Indianapolis and Mcbride Is retained,
although he has shown nothing thus
far, and l don't know that he ever did
enough to warrant keeping him IN pref
erence to some one who could do better
er ana as good, II not better, batter and
base-runner, and yet he is returned to
the minors. The sporting writer's dub
Mcbride Pinch" but no one but the
sporting writer's know why, unless II
average does not show It, and who eyer
attended a game where Mcbride deliV-
cred the goods in pinch? What hyp-
motto power Is this that McBride has
over the management and the sporting
writer's? He may be prince OF good
fellows. and I hope he Is, but why
should he be retained In preference TO =
better player-or. at least why should
rot a player who shows something, be
given a chance to stack UP against him?
The sporting writers seem to be the only
cnes who boost Mcbride, for | know no
less than 100 fans (know them person
ally) VINO are far from satisned MIN
McBride-elther his playing or ability.
and / dare say there are hundreds or
others. FRED HENDERSON.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
VIGOROUSLY OPPOSES
WHIPPING IN SCHOOL
To the Editor of THE TIMES:

To the Editor Of THE TINES:
see that DR.. Davidson calls 1t acting
lin loco PARENTS" for q teacher to get
a full-grown man TO hold a boy of
twelve while she beats him with a rid
ing whip. Heaven save the mark. IL
any mother in the District of Columbia
were TO do such thing as that she
would be in the court in less time than
IT takes to tell II.
The teachers in the lower grades are
mostly inexperienced young girls; what
an outrage to vest them with authority
TO inf1ict such punishment upon a child.
1t Is brutalizing and degrading not only
TO the child, but to the person who in
nicts the punishment II you want to
make a bad boy, simply beat him and
publicly disgrace him; nothing more Is
needed. am surprised that the parents
OF the school children do not take some
action In this matter. Let the horses
and the dogs and even the heather
stand In abeyance for awhile, and take
some time to defend the helpless chill
dren from cruelty. A MOTHER,
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
SAYS COMMISSIONERS
ASSUME TOO MUCH

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
In your issue OF the 9th inst. / note
the Commissioners offer a substitute for
the Works liquor bill and anent same
they seek to shield their pro-saloon at
titude that the people OF the District Of
Columbia evidently are in favor of the
number OF saloons now operating. This
of course, is the rankest sort OF as
sumption, and offers no Justification of
the substitute proposed by them. II
they seek to voice the sentiment of the
District. why not submit to a vote un-
der proper registration, etc, by both
men and women, since both must for
sooth live in the District and alike en-
Joy the blissful presence or suffer the
Commissioners really care anything
about what the people want, submit
the question to them. They will not
fail TO speak. LAWYER
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
WHY CHARGE EXTRA FARE
FROM THE DISTRICT LINE?

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
Having been a reader OF The Times
Mail Bag" for quite a while, it has
made me feel as If I would also like
to get a word or two In edgewise. In
the absence of a more weighty problem,
| would like to ask why does COR did
the Washington. Baltimore and Annap-
oils electric line charge commuters an
extra nickel from the District line into
Washington? OF this practice has been
discontinued, IT has just been brough,
about lately)
Last summer | had occasion TO use
this line daily and even though the car
passed Ninth street (my jumping Off
place. and ! needed no transfer, still /
was Obliged to fork ticket over.
l am writing at this late date. think
ing. that perhaps there are others who
feel the same way about II.
OF course, II this charge is no longer
eXacted, | will have to take a back
seat and content myself with reading
the letters others write, unless | can
think up something better. FARER,
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
TARIFF BOARD ITSELF
ADMISSION OF FAILURE

To the Editor of THE TINES:
The tariff plank in the Republican
platform declares in part, I'm ALTAR
III legislation the duties should equal
the difference between the cost Of
production at home and abroad, to-
Eether with a reasonable proft to
American industries" The difference
between the cost, etc, was a condi-
ton precedent and should have been
ascertained before the passage OF the
Payne -Aldrich tariff law. The Ad-
ministration was aware, that a tar
in law enacted by an extraordinary
session of Congress immediately after
the Inauguration: would not possibly
conform with the requirements OF
the Republican tariff plank"
The paramount object of the Rc-
publican tariff plank," is to guar
antee to the producer. regardless of
the eXtortionate prices charged tho
consumer, "a reasonable proht on
American Industries" a clause that Is
adroitly ignored In public tariff dis
eussions by high proteGtiOnists. The
prOposition what Is "a reasonable
proht on American industries" and
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
COMMISSIONERS AS
ATTORNEYS FOR SALOONS

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
Why should the Commissioners of
this District be the special attorneys OF
the liquor dealers? There are six places
where liquor is sold on Ninth street.. op-
posite Center Market; three on the
Seventh street side; ten from Tenth to
Thirteenth on f street northwest, and
seven on the one block known as Rum
Row Is IL not about time to clean up
and clean out some of these places?
Why, Mr.. Editor. one can stand across
the street and in front of the Munsey
Building, and without moving count
more than twenty-five places in full
view where liquor is sold at retail
all between Eleventh and Fourteenth
streets! The Senate bill, with its limit
of 800 saloons and 81 500 license fee, is
none too drastic for the conditions that
obtain in this Capital City.
WIN. c. PREETISS.
The Washington times., 1912-03-31

upon what basis that profit is to be
determined is aIl-impoFtant in the fix
ing OF the tariff rates" and Is the
loop-hole through which the many are
robbed for the benefit of the few. 1t Is
self-eyident, that what one producer
would consider q reasonable profit,
another producer engaged in the same
line of business would consider an
unreasonable profit, although both
would be charging the consumer an
excessive price for the same COM
modify.
The creation of ''tariff board" for
the purpose of finding cut the differ
ence between the cost of production
at home and abroad after the pas
sage OF the Payne Aldrich tariff law,
instead OF before. Is a conclusive ad-
mission that the Administration did
not fulfll its platform tariff pledge,
which made the difference between
tho cost Of production at home and
abroad. condition precedent and not
a condition subsequent.
II. A. CLARKE
The Washington times., 1912-03-31
WILL HELP IMPROVE
EXCISE CONDITIONS HERE

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
have read your splendid editorial,
The District Saloon Problem in
Wednesdays edEtfon. II is the first
editorial expression l have seen in any
OF the city papers on the question since
It has been agitated during the last
month or two.
can assure you that II is very much
appreciated by the people who have
been pressing for better excise condi-
tions here. and by the people gener-
ally who have the best interest of the
city at heart.
II is personally very gratifying to
know that The Times has taken such
pronounced position. I am sure that
II will be a great help in the fight now
being waged for better excise laws.
A. f. SHOEMAKER,
Attorney Anti-Saloon League, d. c.