davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
SMOKE.

The Health Commissioner purpose
to organize and vigorously push a cru
SADIE against the smut-smoke evil in
this city is commendable and should
receive the support of every public
spirited citizen and Of every one who,
without public spirit. desires for his
own selfish sake to keep the city
worth living in. At the same time 1t
must be regarded as belated effort TO
ahate a nuisance which should never
have been permitted to get a start.
More than n dozen years ago ample
attention was called TO the beginnings
OF this evil. Here and there some soil
tary chimney or group Of chimneys
emitted clouds Of uncOnsumed carbon
mixed with corrosive fumes. and 1T
was urged that even one single or
fender was one too many and should
he suppressed. Now and then n fragrant
offender was warned, and some were
even prosecuted; but, on the whole,
there has been too much strange indif-
ference to the matter.
However. better late than never.
There will doubtless he the usual pro-
tests against the enforcement OF the
law. on the ground that it Is necessary
to burn soft coal and other smoky
fuels if we do not wish the industrial
establishments Of New York 10 be
ruined and closed. But that is evasion.
The law does not forbid the use of soft
coal, OF of sawdust, or anything else
as fuel: 1t simply forbids the emission
Of dense smoke. 1t has been demon
strated that bituminous coal can be
burned with scarcely more smoke than
anthracite, If il is properly fed to the
fire. Perhaps that will take more time
and work. and therefore he more cX-
pensive. But II will also he more eco
nomical Of fuel. It will save our notu-
rally crystalline atmosphere from pol
luton, and 1t may well he argued that
these results will repay the extra cost
of careful stocking.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
BEGETTING ANCESTORS
1t Is a Serious Task-Arranging with
the Man Who Grows Family Trees.
, the Editor OF The Tribune.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: While | have the greatest respect
for Or. Jordan. | am surprised to see In
The Tribune OF this morning state
ment purporting to come from him TO the
effect that at least one-half OF the citi-
gems I'm our land OF English ancestry, are
descendants OF Isabella de Nermandols.
daughter OF Crusader and wife OF the
Duke OF Warren"
Now, William de Warren. second Earl
OF Surrey, England, married Elizabeth de
Vermandos. daughter OF Hugh the Great.
Count Of Vermandois. This William had
two wives. but neither VAS called Isa-
bella.
Genealosy Is a great study. and | enjoy
It. but many OF the professional genealo-
gists. meaning those who work for pay,
to my knowledge. will splice together diff
ferent lines TO bring the applicant into
descent from a Maynower Pilgrim or a
Runnymede baron. or what not. COM
mensurate with the fee. I know what
/ afYirm, for I often have trlpped such
q one.
Again. Sir Francis Drake left no heirs
of the body, and his titles went to his
brother Thomas's children. and yet mill
ions Of poor relations will now be able
to prove It," That Is, descent from the
admiral, according to this article. think
some one has used Dr. Jordan's name
wrongly. r. N. G..
New York. Dec. 81, 1912
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
1T MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Mr.. Roosevelt returns to the Idaho
case TO denOunco the action Of the
state Supreme Court. which held the
publication of his original denuncia-
ton Of 1t for its ballot law decision to
be contempt of court. He says:
There could be no better proof that
I'VE need in any state the power to
recall judges from the bench when
they act badly" which shows that
Progressive doctrine Is still progress
I've, for it was not so very long ago
that Mr.. Roosevelt was opposed to
the recall Of Judges and offering the
recall Of decisions as the true panacea
for judicial abuses. New occasions
teach new slogans, and doubtless the
Limitation Of the recall to state judges
will be abandoned. Just as the limita-
ton of the recall Of decisions to cases
involving state constitutional construc-
ton has since election been abandoned
in favor of general recall Of decisions,
state and federal.
Mr.. Roosevelt also describes the orig
| inal decision of the Idaho court as in
| IFS essence an action "to deny 10 q
very large minority. possibly plu-
"ralty, Of the voters Of Idaho the
right effectively to express their de-
''sires as to who shall he the Chief
Magistrate of the nation Curiously
! enough. that description would be ex-
actly true with the substitution Of the
word California for Idaho. The Cali
( fornia Supreme Court handed down q
similar decision enforcing the state
ballot law in such way az to deny
to Il large minority Of the voters OF
California the right effectively to ex
press their desires rs 10 who should be
Chief Magistrate. The court frankly
recognized that its decision made II
practically impossible for Mr.. Taft
supporters to vote for him. admitted
that the law was morally wrong. but
felt that it must uphold it. We do not
remember that Mr.. Roosevelt evel
criticised the California court or the
law itself, for deprivlng large minor
ity Of the voters Of California of thell
right to vote for Mr.. Taft. His indig
nation has been reserved for the cOurt
or law which deprived persons Of the
right TO vote for Mr.. Roosevelt II
does make difference whose OK is
Z 9Orp1
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
NO DISARMAMENT.

OF all the criticisms lcvclled against
the Sullivan concealed weapons law
the one that IL is unconstitutional
because 1t interferes with the citizens
right to bear arms seems least serious.
The majority opinion Of the Appellate
Division in n test case points ont thar
no court has ever declared the old
statute against concealed weapons I'M
constitutional or violation OF the
Bill Of Rights, and the Sullivan law Is
its legitimate successor. The Intention
Of Senator Sullivan and those legisla-
tors who voted with him TO put this
measure on the statute books was per
fectly plain and advertised IN all mon.
It was to prevent promiscuous killings
which resulted from the ease with
which deadly weapons could be OBJ
tanned and transported on the person.
It was not aimed at the pistol alone,
though sometimes called the "antl-pis-
tol" law. II includes i'm It's list knives,
slungshots, sandhags, brass knuckles
and other weapons Of offence which are
not commonly considered weapons or
defence. It provides drastic penalties
against the unlawful pistol toter,' but
leaves open a way In which any repu-
table citizen may obtain. have I'm his Of
flee or house and carry on his person a
revolver IT does not by any means
leave the householder who does not
choose to take out pistol license de-
fenceless. He may keep shotgun or
rife slung behind every chair I'm his
home, without any license, and the
average crook IS more afraid Of shot
gun in the hands of the average house
holder than of twenty revolvers.
How enforceable the Sullivan law Is,
how successful In accomplishing what
| It seeks TO do. are other matters.
Judges Of the criminal courts are di-
vided i'm opinion as TO its wisdom. At
times some well meaning policemen
have made It appear ridiculous 10y
| their crude ideas of enforcing IT, lis
availability for furthering the schemes
| of corrupt policemen--as any law may
| be made TO do-was exploited In the
| Becker case. and it came in for much
| criticism then. Some Of its provisions
are unquestionably extravagant, and
the extremely critical might term one
or. two Of them fantastic. Obviously
no law on this subject. however per-
feet. Will prevent the professed Grim
inal from breaking IT, and the average
| citizen who doesn't want 10 carry fire.
arms or have them In his house Is
bound to be at a disadvantage if the
aforesaid criminal attacks him, abroad
or at home. The law might be better
| If rewritten in the light OF court de-
cisiOns and experience, but 1t Is GER
| tainly worth keeping on the statute
books and enforcing as well as may be.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
THE SINGLE TERM.

The Philadelphia Record is Of
Tended at the suggestion that if Mr..
Bryan enters President Wilson's Cabi-
net he will be bound by consistency
and self-respect 10 demand an assur-
ance that his chief will live up TO the
single term pledge Of the Democratic
national platform. Our Philadelphia
contemporary says that such a sugges-
ton is ridiculous" and tries to prove
il by explaining that the delegates to
1.-The Democratic convention four years
thence will not be bound by the views
"of the delegates Of 1912 on that or
"any other subject treated in their
platform
IL may be admitted that the conven-
ton delegates chosen in 1916 will not
be bound by what the 1912 convention
promised. They can wipe the slate
clean of the single term pledge II they
wish to do so. But their action has
nothing 10 do with the obligation Of
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Bryan to live up
10 the promises given to the voters in
the existing Democratic platform. Mr..
Wilson at least tacitly Endorsed the
declaration made on his behalf by the
national convention. He failed to pro-
test against the limitation put upon his
activities as candidate for renomina-
ton. and he would be chargeable with
indirection were he to repudiate after
election an engagement which he did
not dispute when soliciting votes.
With Mr.. Bryan the obligation TO
stand fast is even stronger. He not
only caused the single term pledge to
be inserted in the platform, but made
many speeches in support Of Mr.. Will
son, in which he recommended him
as the only candidate in the field
definitely committed to the single term
principle.
Mr.. Bryan would be guilty Of what
he condemned as "bunco-steering" on
the part Of another Democratic nomi-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
UNsELFISH EFFORT
Admirer Of DR.. Lederle Tells Of His
Splendid Work Twenty Years Ago.

To tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 7 read with great deal OF interest
tho article I'm Yesterdays issue OF your
valuable paper written by DR.. Ernst j.
Lederle. Health Department head OF this
city showing that the year 1912 was a
record one for low death rates. and DR..
Lederle is deserving OF all praise for the
wonderful work which he has performed.
The signal work being done by him ut
the present time. however. in reducing
the number OF deaths from contagious
diseases Is. 10 my mind, second in i'm
portance TO the work performed by him
twenty years and more ago. when he
aided the writer and others In Kidding
this locality OF an intolerable nuisance
and disease-menscing affection which was
known at the time as the "Newtown
Creek nuiSances."
At a time when our community was be-
Ing menaced with the danger OF an cpl
demlc arising from the foul odors and
putrid. disease bearing germs that were
being disseminated by arrogant and I'M
scrupulous manufacturers OF fertilizing
products, etc. along the banks OF New
town Creek, It was Or. Lederle who I'M
hesitatingly and unf!nchingly came TO
our aid and who responded 10 our call.
whether the hour was 10 o'clock noon or
l2 o'clock midnight. or .. or o'clock
i'm the morning. At that time he was
chief chemist in the Health Department
and often he arose from his bed at an
early hour In the morning and Journeyed
from as far as l45th street 10 Newtown
Creek TO aid us in obtaining evidence OF
the Illegal workings OF those manufac-
tories.
These surreptitious visits were made
necessary through the cunning and adroit
methods employed by the manufacturers
TO eyade the law. the greater part or
their nefarious business being conducted
during the right.
II was Dr. Ledcrle's untiring assistance
that enabled us TO win our fight for pure
air and the right to keep our windows
open on hot nights without being stlfied
and poisoned by the noxlous gases ema-
mating from the manufactures along the
creek, and which our onetime Mayor.
David A. Body, described as being worse
than what General Sherman called war.
Nayor Boody's attitude was In marked
contrast. by the way, to that OF another
Mayor who, when requested 10 make a
visit to the creek for the purpose of see
Ing for himself how bad the conditions
were. refused TO leave his billiard game
at the Hanover club. where he had been
approached for the purpose.
Tie writer is an old man now. and has
been an invalid for the last three years,
but lie will never forget the noble aid
rendered b. pr. Lederle in that fight Of
twenty years ago. and which was finally
won by the passage OF law prohibiting
the location OF such manufactures within
three miles OF an Incorporated city.
Brooklyn, Jan. ., 1913. r. c.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
MONEY AND BUSINESS.

Business on the New York Stock Ex-
atoms incident to the closing OF 1912
and the beginning of 1913, and trans
actions were insignificant as rejecting
what had been done or indicating what
would be done In the buying and SELL
ing of securities. The action Of the
stock market was not held in check
nor was il stimulated to advance by
trading other than the professional
business which may always be de-
pended on for moderate degree Of ac-
tivlty. II an inference may be drawn
from the tone of the stock market dur
ing the week 1t would seem to indicate
a gradual return OF confidence in the
future. More particularly from the
last three days Of the week may some
prophetic lines be drawn which appear
to lend hope for an Improvement. The
advance which was made, according to
reports, in the peace negotiations
abroad, as reflected in the improved
tone Of the Continental bourses, was
responsible for better feeling among
traders in the local stock market. The
belief seems to be general that with a
settlement of the foreign political sit
uation there will be n revival Of inter-
est in securities both here and In the
European markets. AN encouraging
sign Of an Improvement in investment
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
TOO MUCH HASTE.

Governor Sulzcr starts on his task
of administrative reform with mueI
enthusiasm and full head of steam.
He is now in this honorable and i'm
portant office. and new broom sweeps
clean 1t. might he well II he were to
rercad his inaugural address daily
paving special attention TO his al
mirablc remarks therein about going
slowly and an ounce of performance
being worth ion of promise. Already
he has promised in a couple of in
stances what he alone cannot fulfil.
and in one instance surely has gone
right 10 the verge Of interference with
the prcrOgativeS of the Legislature. a
coordinate branch of the public SER
vice.
ON his first day OF Office Governor
Suzer said. in announcing the reap
poinnueut of Mr. Peck as Superin-
tendent of Public Works. that he had
ordered him 20 have nothing to do
with the work Of the Highway De-
partmcnt. Yet under the law the SUI
perintondent of Public Works is a
member of the Highway Commission.
and the law lays certain duties of con-
siderable Importance on the commits
sion. 1t is the Governors announced
intention 10 have that law changed.
and probably the Legislature will CO.
operate with him in relieving Mr.. Peck
and the state Engineer Of the duties
as members of the commission which
it now imposes OIL them. But the Gov
crnor didn't wait for that Tie also
announced his Intention Of having his
representatives investigate the depart
mcntS of elective STATE officers rs well
as other bureaus of the state govern
mcnt The Moreand law. under which
they would work. was accepted by
Legislature and Governor when 1t was
enacted as not applicable to the de-
partmcnts OF elective state officers, so
that Mr.. SulZcr would probably need
the assistance of the Legislature there.
toe. These announcements of his, OF
course. are prompted by praiseworthy
zeal. But even his administrative re-
forms" must proceed in due and lawful
course. which he Single-handcd cannot
always accelerate.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
BAD AIR IN sCHOOLROOMS
A Word of Comment from Head u
Committee on Ventilation.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: My attention has been called TO
your EDITORIAL upon the case when Two
hovs sturdy lad. Of twelve or fourteen
wears old, being overcome by foul air.
tainted I'm a public school or the outskirts
~ this citv." II is stated that the air was
foul at 9:2O a. M. and that the teachers
understand that they are not permitted
10 open the windows, no matter now
badly such relief IL needed"
The janitor Is under orders to open the
windows and air the rooms each AFTER
noon after school hours. If the air In
the room. was foul in the morning the
ianitor must have been remiss. and the
principal should have complained OF his
neglect OF duty. II YOU will tell me the
number OF the school where the incident
occurred will make an Investigation
and have the delinquent person disciplined
Not only IL tho principal permitted but
she IN positively required TO open the WIN
dovs II tho air be either At temperature
above IS degrees or notceably foul. as IL
must have been n Il overcame two BOYS
n, that early hour. Further. she can OBJ
tain permission. upon application. TO have
the ventilation system operated entirely
At her discretion. n she will accept tho
responsibility TO see that the windows are
used so as 10 keep the classrooms veni-
lated.
Your picture OF "a public school teacher
90 stripped OF initiative that she does
not omen the windows when boys faint
would he a serious indictment OF the
BOARD of Education II 1t were true. The
lack Of initiative however, lies entirely
with the principal. Nobody would De
more Indignant than the Board OF Educa-
ton that r principal should permit a
school 10 assemble Ia air palpably foul
instead OF promptly opening every win
dow In the bYildlng il necessary and
lodging "A complaint at once To the enect
that the building had not been aired over
night.
II. through your columns, the principals
can be persuaded to understand that they
and they alone are responsible II bad
conditions Of ventilation exist In their
schools and that the Board OF Education
begs them TO show common sense ana
exercise authority in the matter. you VIII
be doing a public service.
JOHN MARTIN
Chairman Special Committee on Nentila-
ton OF School Buildings, Board OF
Education.
New York. Jan. 4. 1913.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
CONTEMPORARIES.

"They all are leaving me- exclaimed
Leo NH in his eighty-eighth year,
ghen informed Of the death Of one Of
bis few surviving great contemporaries,
Gladstone. his senior by one year.
Some such thought may well have come
20 the three who are now the last sur
rlvors of the mOmentous historic period
IN which Francis Joseph played his
oart-to the ex-Empress Eugene, Por-
drio Diaz. exiles both. and NJ. Emile
Olivier.
Life strangely Intervene the fortunes
of the group of mighty men Of whom
vrancis Joseph of Austria was one,
and. in the end and after many tribu-
lations, one of the successful. With
Few exceptions they were physical
giants. as well. these builders Of en-
plres and founders Of kingdoms, these
remodellerS of the map of Europe after
Napoleon and Metternich. and their
DAYS were long on this earth. Francis
Joseph was the youngest of them all,
William / of Germany the Oldest. lie
was born in 1877, thirty-three years
before the Austrian Emperor, and died
In 1888. Moltke followed In 1900, and
lived till the age of ninety-one. Ma
poleon III was born in 1905. Lincoln
and Gladstone were born in 1909. The
English statesman's years were eighty
nine. Leo NH and Cavour were born
In 1910. The great Pope reached the
pge of ninety-three the statesman was
cut off In the flower of his life at fifty
pne. Bismarck first saw the light or
iay in the year of the battle Of Wa
terloo: Queen Victoria was born four
years later.
The date Of the birth Of the ex-Em-
press Eugene is uncertain, but she
was unquestionably Francis Joseph's
senior, and is officially stated to be
eighty-seven years old. 4 curious link
with her period of greatness is formed
by the Dowager Princess Pauline Met
ternich, the widow of the Austrian
Ambassador TO the imperial court Of
France. now In her elghty-ninth year.
Emile Olivier, too, the French states
man, who went into the war Of 1870
with a light heart is still among the
living at lightweight. Prince Luitpold
Of Bavaria died only the other day in
the fulness of his years. but the Eng
llsh-born Dowager Duchess Of Meek
lenburg- Strelitz still lives at ninety-one
When Francis Joseph was born An
drew Jackson was President Of the
United States; when he mounted his
rocking throne Polk had Just concluded
peace with Mexico. The only one Of
his American contemporaries to sur
yiye. Porfrio DiaZ. was born i'm the
same year with hinl-1S30. The his
toric link between these two held still
another tragedy Of the Hapsburg rulers
long life-that of the Mexican advent
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
"Auld Michael Of Scotland.

Sir Francis Scott, who arrived Satur-
day from England on board the Oceanic.
is only tho nth baronet of his line, but
Is the chief OF tho ancient house OF the
SCOTS OF Balwearie, which was founded
by Sir Michael Scott. surnamed the VIZ
ard, famous as an astrologer and as
mathematician in the twelfth ami thir-
tenth centuries. When | say he founded
tho family I mean THAT he was the most
famous member Of the family In olden
times. Bor the family Is descended from
his brother, he himself having been or
dained a priest by Pope Honorius, VINO
later on consecrated him Archbishop OF
Cashel. in Ireland
At Toledo. then under the dominion OF
the Moors, he acquired an extraordinary
knowledge of Arabic, and II is through
him that the Western World first obtained
a knowledge OF the Arabic versions OF
Aristotle. lie is the author of a number
of books still in existence on astrolosy'
alchemy and the occult sciences, ana
achieved much fame as soothsayer'
foretelling the death OF Emperor tredsr-
lex III OF the Holy Roman Empire. al
whose court he was regarded as the most
distinguished OF the Swans by which It
was frequented.
Sir Michael figures in Sir Walter
Scott's Lay OF the Last Minstrel. ac-
cording TO which poem he lies buried IN
Melrose Abbey, and also appears In Canto
Xxx OF Dante's Inferno among the ma
gicians and soothsayers. How he escaped
being burned at the stake for witchcrat'
is extraordinary. for his celebrity as q
magician was Of European renown' Wnns
TO this day In Scotland any work OF grea.
labor and antiquity requiring more tnah
ordinary human agency Is attributed 20
AUD Michael or the devil
Sir Francis is about thirty years os''
Is unmarried. was formerly In the army
and is engaged in tea planting In CeyIon.
Having five sisters, all of whom oeneh,ed
under his fathers will, he is not rich