davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Christmas Giving.

What is a sspug"? Is he or she neces-
sarily ''tightwad." grudging the giving
IF any token Of affection at Christmas
lime? Or IS he merely one who believes
that Christmas giving is to be measured
n terms of the spirit rather than the
3ost? These questions call for no answer
% those who have followed the develop
aent of the "spug'' movement, but there
re many who do not understand it, who
mink that these ''spugs" are taking ad-
vantage OF the effort to check the giving
u useless presents to protect their own
Dockets. The true ''spug' is animated by
high ideal OF Christmas and its signifi-
.aace and not by any sordid pecuniary
motive. 1t is possible to maintain the
-ustom of Christmas giving without max.
ng IL ridiculous by wasting immense
sums of money on mere trinkets that are
II no earthly value or use, toys that are
destroyed in a few hours, trash Of all
sorts that glitters for a short time and
then finds its way to the waste pile
The original name Of this organization
was the Society for the Prevention of
Gseless Giving" It has now been
hanged, without disturbing the initials.
10 the Society for the Promotion of Use
fuI Giving" The shops are full of useful
things. articles OF wear and daily need,
that make far better Christmas presents
than most Of the rubbish that at one
time constituted the bulk OF holiday pres
ents. A few years ago the habit of CIV
ing articles of luxury and show went to
such an extreme that 1t was by many
people regarded as an affront to receive
g. really useful thing at Christmas time
The giving OF presents OF the impractical
sort is calculated to stimulate a spirit o,
greed and expectancy. far removed from
the real Christmas idea To be "spug
Is actually to be an advocate of the bes,
there IS in the custom of Christmas civ.
ing. to encourage the exchange OF pres
ents at that time that does not impose a
burden or responsibility. Christmas
giving should be spontaneous, inspired BY
love- The influence of the Society 70,
the Promotion OF Useful Giving is calcu.
lated to check the commercialism tha,
threatens to destroy the best aspects OF
the holiday season.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

/, lost opportunities and shoot an unneces-
sary number of warthogs. or whatever
corresponds to warthogs in the South
American wiids.
From the Charleston News and Courier
The Presidents message seems to COM
firm the statement of a recent writer that
Mr. Wilson prefers short stories CO
novels.
From the Norfolk Ledger Dispatch.
The President Is one man who never
speaks In Congress until he has some-
thing to say.
From the Springfield Union.
Social justice" says President Wilson
in his message to Congress. comes first"
What! Stealing progressive thunder?
Tut, tut,
From the Milwaukee Journal
A 3,OO0-word message compared to the
usual thousand reams OF presidential
effervescence is enough of q democratic
reform to warrant grateful mention by
the reading public and our toil-worn edi-
tors.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

and there his duty. and he merely Gid
his duty.
Mr.. Taggart did not go to Baltimore a
Wilson man. But that was because In
diana had a candidate of her own for
the presidential nomination. and he very
properly stood by his own. But when
the break came he supported Mr.. Wilson,
and managed to supply him with a run
ning-mate. Moreover. Mr.. Tagsart has
just visited Washington. called at the
White House. and expressed there and
elsewhere the most cordial approval OF
the administration to date. Why black
list Mr.. Taggart: =
Mr.. Sullivan at Baltimore found the
right band wagon in the end. and upon
returning home worked hard for the
ticket AT present he is toying with a
suggestion to run for the Senate. If he
runs and is elected. will not the Wilson
forces in that body be augmented by
one? Sure. Then why blacklist Mr.
Sullivan?
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Nugent in New Jer-
sey seem to need no further immediate
attention at the Presidents hand. He
has whipped them three times running
in as many years, and that should suffice
for the present.
With the exception of Mr.. Murphy,
none of the big bosseS Jared badly at the
recent elections Mr.. TaGgart carried
Indianapolis for his city ticket: the cry
of Coxism did not defeat the republican
ticket in Cincinnati. nor that of PEN
roseism the republican ticket in Phila-
delphia.
As matter Of fact. there are open and
closed seasons for hunting bosses, and
except in New York. this was closed
season. Next year, when new Congress
is to be elected, may be another, and
1916. when a President is to be elected,
Is certain TO be another. Cunning for
bosses at time when they are neces-
sary in ones business is not regarded as
wise sport.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Mr.. Roosevelt Abroad.

Our South American friends continue
their enthusiastic acclaim of Mr. Roose-
Welt. Wherever he goes officialdom re-
ceives him with great ceremony, and
whenever he speaks a great crowd listens.
All the honors due to man so many
sided and SO widely known for participa-
ton in big affairs are ungrudgingly paid.
Nothing of this would probably have
been lacking If the visitor had presented
himself as a man who had had his fling
in office, and was now. and to remain, in
private life as an observer and a student
of affairs He would, even in that after
noon aspect, have been an attractive man
in the eyes of his present hosts.
But they see him IN different aspect.
They do not regard him as on the re-
tired list. but as still eager for action
and likely to be placed in commission
again.
In an editorial welcoming Mr.. Roose-
welt TO Argentina, and reciting his achieve
ments and the things for which he now
stands, the Prensa of Buenos Aires, the
leading newspaper of South America and
a very influential journal. says:
III later. in the varying course of po-
Htical, events in the United States, where
his name has such great weight, he should
again De called to rule. over its deStinieS,
We should have in him a decided and
enthusiastic promoter of this policy of
international solidarity. insisted upon by
him with the fervor of his convictions
which marks all his campaigns"
We need not inspect this language too
closely. President of the United States
Is not called to rule over the destinies
of the country. He has good deal of
power. and Mr.. Roosevelt while in that
office exercised all in reach Likewise
Is Mr.. Wilson giving us a new idea of
leadership under the New Freedom. Still,
q President does not rule" There are
checks on his authority. Mr.. Roosevelt
felt them. and in time Mr.. Wilson will
also.
The PrenSa may be excused its ap-
praiscment of Mr.. Rooseyelts future. on
two grounds. 1t is not a near neighbor,
and 1t is just now under the spell of Mr..
Roosevelts presence. There are men at
home here who think Mr.. Roosevelt will
again be called to rule over the des-
hnies'' of the United States, and hope that
IL he does return to the White House he
will rule indeed. But the situation
does not warrant the calculation.
Our southern neighbors. however, will
not fail of appreciation for all the prog
ress they have made, and all that lies
clearly before them, no matter who occu-
pies the White House. The country gen
orally Is advised of their power and
deserts, rejoices in them. and favors pol
cies toward them which will draw them.
II trade as in sentiment and governmental
deals the nearer to us.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
A South Carolina Campaign.

In his campaign for the Senate Gov.
Blease charges inefficiency on his oppo-
nent. Senator Smith, he says, has done
nothing in Office but draw his salary.
How often that charge is made by men
seeking Office, and particularly ONCE In
this town! The stumpS ring with 1t. Hear
candidate for a seat in the Senate or
the House, with but little to base his
campaign on: My fellow-citizens, Col.
x has done nothing in Washington. You
seldom see his name in the dispatches.
You know what he promised and we ex-
pected when we sent him there Great
doings should follow. Have they? An
swer the question yourselves. The colonel
is good fellow and all that, but has
succumbed to the local atmosphere. Loaf
ing on the job is Washington practice.
Send me there. and I'll not only with
stand the atmosphere, but do something
worth while. I'll not disappoint you.
Give me trial.
In this way Gel z carries the cleo
ton. comes to Washington. and starts in
to make things over. He chokes the
hopper with bills. He takes the floor as
often as he can beg in or slip in to a
debate. He nags members of committees
to which his bills have been referred for
action on them. II he cannot do so other
wise, he breaks into the newspapers by
some particularly foolish or reckless as
sertion or action.
But what does he make by it all? Only
himself ridiculous as an individual, and
powerless as legislator. He becomes a
bore; and that in Congress means death
The member straining to reach and to
hold the limelight rarely succeeds even in
that small purpose. But If he achieves
1t he achieves no more, and that alone
is not worth having
The man who comes to Congress with
the idea that everything there is wrong
and with the broad and flamboyant pur-
pose to pick things to pieces and put
them together after a fashion OF his own,
soon finds, II he is able to appraise mat
ters intelligently. that he Is not equal to
the order; that 1T is much too large for
him, or for any man; that to be useful
he must be in great measure conven-
tional and work according to long es-
tablished and we'll established rules.
Mere hurry and furry and personal ad-
vertisement lead to nothing Of value in
Congress-
If South Carolina wants Gov. Blease
tanned; wants the fire extracted from his
vocabulary and the starch from hisswag-
ger: wants to develop anything of value
that may be in his composition, either
the Senate or the House would serve her
purpose. In neither chamber do wild men
last long. They either drop out, or drop
into sane and safe courses and methods.
Both chambers have records OF that kind.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

From the Concord Monitor
We see by the Presidents message that
the same master is teaching this term OF
the congressional school at washington.
From the Toledo Blade.
We were unable to find anything In the
Presidents message concerning the price
of eggs.
From the Columbia State.
Imagine Theodore Roosevelts opinion
of a puny little 3OO0-word message.
From the Indianapolis News.
Another popularity Of the President is
that he can understand that 1t Is gooo
deal easier and more effective 10 put
three or four thousand words across In
person than it is to put twenty or thirty
thousand words across by proxy.
From the Columbus Ohio State Journal.
Every time Col Roosevelt sees by the
paper that President Wilson has APP
peared before Congress In person again
and been cheered to the echo. he must
go sadly forth with a sigh for his own
Evening star., 1913-12-07
A Philippine Inquiry.

Before Congress acts with respect to
Philippine Independence, why not an in
quiry az to what has been done IN the
Islands under American rule, what con-
ditions exist today, and what the story
suggests in the matter of future policy ?
Hearings from sources with important
information we're granted on the tariff
question. and they helped in the shaping
Of the Underwood law. Many features Of
the first draft for revision were rejected.
and many obtained from practical busi-
ness quarters were adopted. The new
law is much the better for what went
into 1T as the result of information sup
piled by men Of large business expert
ence
The hearings granted bankers and cap
italists have borne good fruit in the
movement for currency reform. While
the question is far from settled, and
may not be settled for a month or two
yet, it is in far better shape than when
the House acted. The Senate debate,
which has Just opened. will proceed on
the basis OF much information and many
suggestions supplied by those familiar
with the subject.
Presently the trusts will be called to
the bar. and we shall see them respond
with views and suggestions which should
be received and considered. Congress
will legislate the better for knowing the
trust point OF view stated by the trusts
themselves.
Why not, then, hearing as to the
Philippines? Before changing procedure
In the islands in any vital particulars.
why not give those opposed to a change
an opportunity to state their views at
length and under cross-examinatlon? The
question may not grade with the tariff.
the currency OF the trusts in popular
interest in this country, but it does not
lack for Importance. misstep now
might produce unhappy consequences In
both our domestic and our foreign az
fairs.
There are men capable Of discussing
this subject with Congress with profit to
that body. Former President Taft is one.
He had great success as governor gen.
eral Of the Philippines. Former Gov.
Gen. Forbes is another. He has just re-
turned home. and has very definite opin-
ions about what should and should not
be done in the islands for the good OF
the natives Dean c. Worcester is an
other such man. His experience as an
official in the islands taught him much.
and he Is very positive In his convic-
tions about American duty there.
What Congress wants Is light, and all
1t can get Let both sides be heard. Re-
deeming campaign pledge. conceived in
sentiment and urged In partisan heat and
extravaganza. is not to be weighed
against the discharge OF a duty imposed
by the fortunes Of war and interpreted
by men who have facts before them.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Sidewalk Splitting.

The chief Of police has issued an
order to the force directing a more
rigid enforcement OF the law against
sidewalk splitting. This is a most COM
mendable reminder that a prohibition
based upon the laws of health and de-
signed to prevent the spread of dis
ease is being continually violated with
impunity. Any rule Of this kind is SUD-
posed TO be universally understood, but
there is reason to believe that large
numbers of people In this city are not
aware OF its existence and many who
may know of it probably regard il as
la fad Sand unworthy of respect The
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Bosses.

There is nothing persuasive in the
story that the President and Chairman
Nccombs are planning a general raid
on democratic bosses, and that Thomas
Taggart and Roger Sullivan and others
are soon to join Charles +. Murphy on
the administrators black list.
Why should those men be bracketed
with Mr.. Murphy at the White House ?
Bosses they are. of course. But there are
BOSSES and bosses, and one boss may
diner from another boss. not only in
bossism. but in his recent record
Mr.. Murphy's bossism is doubly OBJ
jectiopabie. For added to the fact that
he is a boss is the fact that at the Balti-
more convention last year he was an
anti-Wilson boss. True, he turned in
later and carried New York for the Balti-
more ticket, but nothing else remained
for MIN to do. There was the ticket.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
The Burned Candle.

He labored sixteen hours a day,
Which should have seemed a plenty;
But something in an offhand way.
He labored four and twenty.
Such toll no more his time employs.
He says he has retired.
The income which he now enjoys
Is very much admired.
He sits where others quaf and dine
And nibbles at biscuit.
When offered food that's very fine,
His stomach dares not risk it.
When motoring his family goes
Meath mild and distant skies,
He has to walk because he knows
He needs the exercise.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

From the Newark Evening News.
Suffragists should not be disturbed be-
cause President Wilson did not say any
thing about the cause in his message. ST.
lence means consent, some fair optimists
point out.
From the Grand Rapids Press.
Although Mr.. Wilson did not mention
suffrage in his message, this will not pre-
vent the suffragists from mentioning Mr..
Wilson freely.
From the Buffalo Commercial.
Was it an oversight or just deliberate
snub that President Wilson failed to in
clude a paragraph on woman suffrage In
Evening star., 1913-12-07
The SUffRACISTS.
It his ears

his address to Congress? Won't his ears
burn for a while?
From the Providence Evening Bulletin.
1t could hardly escape the attention
of the woman suffragists that the Presi-
dent is for passing around Social JUS
tice'' to everybody but the women.
From the Rochester Post-Express.
Mrs. Pankhurst's visit has already had
its baleful effect on the suffrage move
ment. The leaders have dropped the
word please" from their vocabulary.
From the Syracuse Post-Standard.
The President has but to read DR.. Anna
Shaw's letter to learn where he falls of.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
SHOOTING STARS.
By PHILANDER JOHNSON
A Style Explained.

What slow, impressive style Of ora
tory that man has,
Yes. He's obliged to talk slow. His
business is making speeches to kill time
Evening star., 1913-12-07

The number OF New York boys who
start west to fight Indians is compensated
for to some extent by the number Of out
of town men who go to New York to fight
Tammany.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
His Only Chance.

II may as well own up" said Mr..
Chuggins. I've got speed mania
What are you going to do about it.?
You can't go dashing around at your own
pace!'
Not with an automobile. But I'm
going to get q job on the police force and
ride a motor cycle"
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Plumage Explained.

why do you wear that little feather
in your hat?''
Il can't afford eggs" replied the jaunty
man, ''but 1 want to feel that | am still
In some sort of relation with the poultry
world
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Dire Possibility.

II some folks into Heaven bring
The social bee that makes them fret,
No doubt they'll organize ring
To keep out those not in their set.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Rivers and harbors experts can outline
enough work to keep Col. Goethals busy
for q lifetime.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

The price lists which followed the
dissolution of the Standard Oil trust
might suggest the desirability of re-
quiring IT to get together again.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

The fact that this country offers many
opportunities to vote did not tempt Mrs.
Pankhurst to consider the idea Of becom-
ing a resident.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Chicago's mayor disapproves of dancing
in restaurants. He should remember that
tango costs less than an omelet
Evening star., 1913-12-07

A quiet divorce is more to be desired
than a quiet wedding, although some Of
the unhappily welded insist on the con-
trary view.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

The question Of mileage Is not So i'm
portant, after all. as that of collecting an
income tax from congressional salaries.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Time flies at rate which causes sur
prise at noting how soon 1t becomes too
late to shop early.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Spelling reformers will never be able to
unite on the question of whether Xmas
Is allowable.
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Overworked members OF Congress may
yet be tempted to unionize.
Evening star., 1913-12-07
Army Of the Potomac
Sharply Censured.


when it aroused national enthusiasm
by brilliant performances, as at
Gettysburg, but the long delays between
actions and the occasional reverses suf
fered caused a disposition continually to
criticise it's commanders. In The Star
Of December 4, 1863, Is the following:
'It is by no means wonderful that the
New York and other papers loudly de-
plore the f1asco that has resulted in the
return of the Army of the Potomac to
their former quarters near the south
bank of the RappahannOck, which SO for
chilly and painfully reminds the public
of the similar fiasco in permitting Lee to
escape at Williamsp0rt; and again, in
ordering retreat at double-quick time
out of Culpeper back to Manassas before
the advance of Lee with scarcely more
than third as many men as Gen. Meade
commanded. So long as our army in
this quarter continues to be guided by it's
present councils in the field, 1t Is now
clear it will fail to command public con-
fidence, a requisite of success almost as
necessary as that those councils should
command the confidence Of the army it
self, which is now by no means the case,
as was clearly demonstrated by the Bit
ter and outspoken scoffing with which
the order for this last retrograde move
ment was received by the pank and file.
We apprehend that though the forward
ance in force its purpose was certainly
to give Lee battle wherever found We
know further that the season Tor active
operations under active commanders in
this section has not closed. So, il Lee.
relying upon a continuance of the chronic
hesitancy that has afflicted the councils
of Gen. Meade, ventures to reinforce
Longstreet considerably from his own
army. it is to be presumed that the gov
ernment will promptly seek to make him
pay dearly for his temerity, as our Army
of the Potomac itself is as ready at this
moment to move against him again as
it was when undertaken to do SO few
days since. 1t is not for us to venture
to suggest the name Of commander to
be relied on not to be afflicted with this
disinclination to risk a collision with
Lees army, nun ,ering, as that does.
scarcely more than third or at most
half as many men as our own. Nor can
we with greater propriety suggest the
names OF other councillors for that gen.
eral. whoever he may be. in place OF
those who saw snakes that did not ex-
ist at Williamsport and Culpeper and
again probably at Mine run"
Evening star., 1913-12-07

Huerta will never be a contestant for
any peace prizes.