davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

then asked me to appear before the Gov
ernor and argue for II. j accordingly did
so. acting as spokesman for the battered
understood foreigners who represented the
union and the workers. The Governor
signed the bill. Afterward this tenement
house cigar legislation was declared in
valid by the Court OF Appeals in the
Jacobs decision. Jacobs was one OF the
rare tenement house manufacturers OF
cigars who occupied quite suite OF
rooms, so that in his case the living con-
ditlons were altogether exceptional. What
the reason was which influenced those
bringing the suit to select the exceptional
instead OF the average worker l do not
know; OF course such action was pre-
cisely the action which those most inter
ested in having the Jaw broken down were
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

TN the LEGISLATURE the problems with
which / dealt were mainly problems
Il Of honesty and decency and Of legis-
iative and administrative efficiency. They
represented the effort. the wise, the Vi
tally necessary effort, TO get efficient ana
honest government But as yet l under
stood little Of the effort which was al
ready beginning, for the most part under
very bad leadership, to secure more
genuine social and Industrial justice Nor
vas l especially TO blame for this. The
good citizens l then knew best. even
when themselves men Of limited means
men like my colleague BILLY O'NeiH
and my backwoods friends Sewail and
Dow-were no more awake than / was
to the changing needs the changing times
were bringing. Their outlook was as mar
row as my own, and. within its limits, as
fundamentally sound.
wish 20 dwell on the soundness OF our
outlook on life, even though as yet II was
not broad enough. We were no respecters
Of persons Where our vision was de-
yeloped 10 a degree that enabled US 10
see crookedness, we opposed it whether
~ e'eo' VI SlHdIA' no " iii"''Ni "a 1900
We found that il needed much more
courage 10 stand up openly against labor
men when they were wrong than against
capitalists when they were wrong. The
sins against labor are usually committed,
and the improper services TO capitalists
are usually rendered. behind closed doors.
very often the man with the moral
courage to speak in the open against
labor when Il is wrong is the only man
anxious 10 do effective work for labor
Nhen labor IS right
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

this case which first walked me to dim
and partial understanding OF the fact that
the courts were not necessarily the best
Judges OF what should be done TO better
social and Industrial conditions. The
Judges who rendered this decision were
well meaning men. They knew nothing
whatever of tenement house conditions.
they knew nothing whatever OF the needs
or OF the life and labor, OF three-fourths
OF their fellow citizens In great cities
They knew legallsm. but not life Their
choice of the words "hallowed" and
home" as applicable TO the revolving
conditions attending the manufacture Of
cigars In tenement houses showed that
they had no idea what 1t was that they
were deciding.
Imagine the "hallowed" associations Of q
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

home" consisting OF one room where two
families one OF them with a hoarder.
live eat and work This decision COM
pletely blocked tenement house reform
legislation in New York for a score OF
years. and hampers 1t to this day II was
one of the most serious setbacks which
the cause OF industrial and social progress
and reform ever received.
had been brought up TO hold the courts
in especial reverence. The people with
whom I was most intimate were apt TO
praise the courts for just such decisions as
this. and to speak OF them as bulwarks
against disorder and barriers again;
demagogic legislation. These were thn
same people with whom the judges who
rendered these decisions were apt to fore
gather at social clubs, or dinners, or in
private life. Very naturally. they all tend
ed TO look at things from the same stand
point. or course, II took more than one
experience such as this tenement cigar
case 10 shake me out OF the attitude in
which was brought up. But various de-
cislons, not only of the New York court.
but OF certain other state courts and even
OF the United States Supreme Court, dur
ing the quarter OF a century following the
passage Of this tenement house legislation.
, did at last thoroughly wake me to the
actual fact ! grew 20 realize that all that
Abraham Lincoln had said about the bred
Scott decision could be said with equal
truth and Justice about the numerous de-
cislons which in our own day were erect
ed as bars across the path OF social re-
FORM ard which brought to naught so
much OF the effort 10 secure justice and
fair dealing for workingmen and working
women, and for plain citizens generally.
INVESTIGATING NEW YORK CITY.
Some OF the wickedness and inef-
ficiency in public life was then displayed
In simpler fashion than would probably
now be the case. Once or twice was
member OF committees which looked into
gross and widely ramifying governmental
abuses on the whole. the most important
part played was in the third Legislature
in which | served. when acted as chair
man OF a committee which Investigated
various phases OF New York City official
life
The most important OF the reform meas
ures our committe recommended was the
bill taking away from the aldermen their
power OF confirmation over the Mayors
appointments. We found that 1t was pos
sible to get citizens interested in the
character and capacity of the head of the
city, so that they would exercise some
intelligent interest in his conduct and
qualifications. But We found that as
matter OF fact 1t was impossible to get
them interested in the aldermen and
other subordinate officers. In actual prac-
tice the aldermen were merely the Great
ures OF the local ward bosses or OF the
big municipal bosses, and where they con-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08
SHAM REFORM.

The only kinds OF courage and honesty
which are permanently useful 10 good
institutions anywhere are those shown
oy men who decide all cases with inn
partial justice on grounds Of conduct
ana not on grounds OF class. We found
mat in the long run the men who in
public blatantly insisted that labor was
never wrong were the very men who in
private could not be trusted to stand for
iaoor when IL was right We grew
heartily to distrust the reformer who
never denounced wickedness unless II
vas embodied in a rich man. Human
nature does not change; and that type Of
feformer'' is as noxious now as he ever
was. The loud-mouthed upholder OF
popular rights who attacks wickedness
only when IL is allied with wealth, and
VINO never publicly asails any misdeed'
no matter how fragrant. II committed
hominally in the interest OF labor has
either warped mind or a tainted soul
sho should be trusted by no honest man.
~ was largely the indignant and con-
Nmptuous dislike aroused in our minds
" the demagogues OF this class which
ehen prevented those of us whose in
suncts al bottom were sound from go
ing as far as we ought to have gone
along the lines of governmental control
oi corporations and governmental inter-
ference on behalf Of labor.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

trolled the appointments the citizens at
large had no chance whatever 10 make
their will felt Accordingly We fousht
for the principle, which l believe 10 be
Of universal application. that what is
needed in our popular government is TO
give plenty Of power TO few officials,
and TO make these few officials genuinely
and readily responsible to the people for
the exercise Of that power. Taking away
the confirming power or the Board OF
Aldermen did not give the citizens OF
New York good government We knew
that II they chose 10 elect the wrong kind
of Mayor they would have bad govern
ment, no matter what the form OF the
law was. But We did secure TO them the
chance TO get good government II they
desired and this was impossible as long
as the old system remained.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08
PRACTICAL REFORM.

did. however, have one exceedingly
useful experience. A bill was introduced
ny the cigarmakers' union to prohibit
me manufacture Of cigars in tenement
houses. was appointed one Of com
mlttee of three to investigate conditions
70 the tenement houses and see II legis-
iauon should be had. OF my two col
ssgnes on the committee. one took no
interest in the measure and privately
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

anxious to see taken. The Court Of APP
peals declared the law unconstitutional.
and I'm their decision the judges repro
bated the law as an assault upon the
"hallowed" influences OF home IL was
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

" Continued on nth page
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

In an extremely interesting inter-
view with the Prime Minister of Vic
toria. accorded to a representative of
The Christian Science Monitor, Mr. Watt
explains his reasons for having been
one Of the pioneers of the woman suf-
frage movement in Australia, and the
experiences of it in practice which
have convinced him of the soundness
Of his judgment. Mr.. Watt spoke nat
urally with reserve of the applica ton
of the idea to any other country. No
responsible statesman deliberately in
trudes his opinions upon the domain
Of the domestic politics of another
state. Mr.. Watt does not presume to
speak Of the desirability of the &C
ceptancc of the idea even by othe r
divisions of the empire. But of the
success of the experiment in Victoria
he speaks with decision and confidence.
Mr.. Watt starts with the admission
that Australia, unlike the United King
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

dom. has only a modified foreign pol
icy. At the same time. Australia, he
admits, must be at war il the mother
country is at war, so that the differ
ence is not so very enormous. There
are, however, he points out, vast ques-
lions on which the judgment of women
is incomparably more valuable than
that of irresponsible youths. Such
question as that of domestic economy,
which affects the fortunes of every
household as fully as political economy
does that of nations. Then again, Mr..
Watt points out the entire absence Of
hysteria in politics, which was so free
ly threatened by the anti-suffragists
when the bill was before the House.
If, indeed, he had been in London on
the night OF the news Of the relief Of
Mafeking was received he might have
observed that hysteria is not entirely
confined to women. So far from this
being the case, he points out. that in
Australia women have used the vote
with "sagacity.'
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN VICTORIA.

Still. like all true suffragists, Mr..
Watt rests his case on principle. II
II is right, he says, in effect, for women
to enjoy the franchise, that is good
enough reason for extending 1t 10
them. He does not in the least fear
that evil consequences will ensue from
doing right. He has healthy sense
Of the power of good, which leaves
fear of rightdoing to the prophets or
evil George Eliot's historic gardener
would obviously have stood little chance
Of retaining the spoils of his masculine
ignorance, at any time, in state ruled
by the Prime Minister Of Victoria. The
enormities of the militant suffragettes
would fail. one imagines, to appeal to
him as a reason for not acting on prin-
ciple himself. The best answer, he
remarked to his interviewer. to those
who oppose woman suffrage, is to re-
quest them to formulate definitely
their objections on the ground of prin-
ciple.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
Mems Notes of the District Schools

This has been one of the hard working
weeks of the school year, with genuine
wood saving for officials in the ap-
portioning of administrative details
olinched teaching and classified tests
given by teachers in the schoolroom, and
concentrated effort in the schoolroom
with freedom and sport on the play.
grounds for the pupils.
The advent of warm weather makes
teaching from the book Of nature both
attractive and possible, and entire
classes are frequently taken to the coun-
try for lessons in geography, and even
history and literature, as well as science
and nature study.
Central High School will give its an
nual luncheon May 2. with the custom
airy "'rummage luncheon on the follow
ing day. Elaborate preparations are I'M
der way, and the school is a beehive
of workers. Many KINDS OF souvenirs
and fancy work of all descriptions will
be for sale. Brass desk ornaments and
arts and crafts jewelry are being turned
out by the art department. Pictures of
big Ep'' emory Wilson, principal Of
CentraD and Little Ep." his baby son,
will be for sale, as well as postals OF
faculty babies and yellow Jackets.
Central always reaches the top-notch of
success in the matter Of luncheons, and
incidentally greatly adds to the athletic
fund Members Of the Board Of Educa-
ton and school officials will be enter
tanned at the luncheon.
Secretary Harry o. Hine, Of the Board
of Education, sends a suitable represen-
tative each day to the Office of the pur-
chasing officer Of the District. where bids
were opened April Is for municipal sup
piles. There are 5000 itens on which
bids have been requested, the schools re-
curing more than half of the requisi-
ton work OF the entire District Of Co
luu,bia Selection of awards from the
large number of competitors in the field
will begin May 5.
Returns from Business Nigh School
luncheon are about completed. and the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

tied by many Of the federation women
who have been in the city during the
last week. Numbers Of regular kinder
garten teachers also have recently taken
advantage of the two school days al
lowed by the rules for visiting other
schools, and have spent a part Of their
time in this experimental work after the
Italian method.
]. B. Beadle. Of the Reclamation Serv-
ice, gave an interesting illustrated lee
ture on Irrigation before the Blow
Parent-Teachers' Association on Friday
evening. The stereopticon was loaned
by Mckinley High School, and an cleo
trio line extended to the building to
operate 1t. About LOO guests were pres
ent, and a pleasant evening was closed
with refreshments and dancing.
Asst. Supt. E. L. Thurston has not
yet been able to announce the date for
the great May Folk Festival Of graded
schools to be held at American League
Park the last week in May. The gen.
eral plan Of the festival is educational.
demonstrating the various phases Of
physical culture work in the schools
While the object Of the festival lie not
to raise funds, an admission will be
charged, and all proceeds in excess Of
expenses turned over to school play
grounds.
"An Evening with James Whitcomb
Riley" with Justice Job Barnard, of the
District Supreme Court, as reader, was
the delightful programme offered by the
programme committee to the West Home
and School Association Friday evening.
1t was given in the attractive reception
room Of the new Dixon Home for Aged
Men, on suburban Fourteenth Street.
G. c. Lister, of the A. M. Palmer Com
pany, gave a demonstration of the FIRMS
penmanship system at the James Ormond
Wilson Normal School Thursday morn
ing. It was given in the form Of a les
son to undergraduates In the presence
of the superintendent and leading school
officials Miss Anne Cooling, principal
Of the school, entertained the guests at
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
The "Perfect Gentleman" Too.

The "Perfect Gentleman" Too.
From the New York Tribune.
The suffragettes boast that one of their
number drove the last nail into the cof-
fin of the perfect lady" the other day.
We ourselves are too progressive to weep
much over the disappearance Of a type,
whether she was, as the driver of the
coffin nail said. "a survival from the age
Of crinoline." or not, but why should the
perfect lady, thus perish and leave the
perfect gentleman to a lonely widow
hood? And was there ever a perfect
gentleman" except In the vocabularies
of those who must say most unique In
order to be sure they have been sum.
GENTLY emphatic?
Was 1t chivalry slew the term lady,
-chivalry which denied that any word
which might be applied to any members
Of the sex was too good to apply to all
the sex? Or was IL the changing ideals
of the sex itself? At any rate, the word
lady" was doomed when 1t had to re-
enforce itself with the word perfect"
A vocable that cannot stand alone soon
falls. When we see the word gentle
man" compelled to lean for support up
on an adjective we shall fear for another
type, also, which now is a sturdy sur
vival, but melancholy. bereft of its mate.
Who knows when it, too, will be swept
aside as the last obstacle to progress?
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

with DR.. Louise -aylor-Jones, woman
inspector in the schools. gave physical
tests to the forty-five applicants which
Central High School presented as en-.
trants to the Normal School. Similar ex-
aminations will be held for Eastern
Western. Business, and Tech applicants
Miss Margaret Robey was elected the
Washington delegate of the vineland
On. j. Alumni Association at the meet.
ing of the graduates held at the Morse
School Tuesday. At the Special Child
Club. held the same day, w. B. Patter-
son compared Seguin's principles Of edu-
cation with the present Montessori meth
DDS. The final meeting will be an out
door affair, given at the Normal School
bungalow up the river.
DR.. Elmer S. Newton. teacher Of chem
istry at Western High School. has re-
covered sufficiently from his recent Ill
ness to go to Atlantic City to recuperate.
Mrs. E. E. Richardson presided last
Monday evening at the South Washing
ton Association meeting, held at Jeffer-
son Hall. DR.. Fowler, of the health
Office. gave a helpful talk on ''Contagi-
Gus Diseases telling parents what pre-
cautions should be taken to prevent
them, how to recognize symptoms after
exposure, and urged all not to be indif-
ferent to the welfare of other children.
Miss Flora M. Hendly spoke on the re-
cent effort to objectionable moving pic
ture shows, and advocated sightseeing
trips for school children in their home
city. E. H. Daniel, vice president Of the
Board Of Education. told Of his boyhood
days at the Jefferson School.
Hockey season Is on at Western, and
the two teams are engaged in daily
practice for the field day events which
will be held early in June.
The official staff of Balance Sheet en-
teftained their friends at a dance Friday
evening at the gymnasium Of Business
High School.
Fresh air school" at the Blake will
be given its second physical test next
week by DR.. Murray The pupils will be
weighed. measured, and otherwise tested
physically and compared with the
school of CONTROL" where children aver
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

age the same in age without the special
fresh air school, conditions.
Capt. James Dulin, of prize Company
E. 90. entertained 1.-The boys" now bust
ness men, at a reunion Thursday night
at his home, 25s6 Wisconsin Avenue.
They revived old times, sung school
songs, and did full justice to a delicious
buffet supper.
Agara Debating Society, Of Tech, Gre
ated much merriment Wednesday even
ing with a mock trial given in a moot
court. Diamond rings. pawn tickets.
pretty girls. and chivalrous youths fig
ured largely in the trial, but it was all
finally settled amicably without the in
PREVENTION of any "bluecoats" outside
Of the school building.
The Playground Association will be
asked to donate funds for constructing
a cinder track and tennis courts on the
rear grounds of Mckinley Manual
Training School. The repair shop has
fenced in the lot and graded it for out
door sports.
A number of old grads" as well as
the class Of '13, attended the Tech class
night dance at the Grafton Friday even
ing.
Proper Food for Children Is to be
the subject of an address by DR.. Louise
Taylor-Jones before the Parent-Teachers'
Association Of Banneker School Thurs
day, May s. at o'clock.
The senior class Of Armstrong School
will hold a dance and reception at Au-
ditorium Hall on the evening OF May 8
to defray expenses of graduation.
Asst. Supt. r. c. Bruce has purchased
an automobile to make it possible to
cover the long stretches Of miles between
schools under his supervision In the Dis
trict Of Columbia in a reasonable time.
A Joint mothers meeting of the Gar
rison, Patterson, and Garnet Schools was
held at the Garnet School April % at s
o'clock. Leading speakers were Mrs. ].
T. Layton. Mrs. Collier. Mrs. I. G. Rich
ardson, Mrs. Julia Shaw. Mrs. c. F.
Cook. and Miss M. p. Shadd. Many val
liable truths were brought home to the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

sum OF $500 added to the school fund
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, of the Board
OF Education, was one of the distin-
gulshed guests on what high school folk
call "Rummage Day." the day after the
! luncheon proper, when everything is
finally disposed Of through the alluring
oners OF witty school auctioneer and
the boys and girls are given the privi-
lege OF an impromptu dance in the gym
nasium.
Mrs. M r. Hampsen. who was a
teacher of Latin for twenty years at
Central High School. visited the scene
of her labors on the day Of the luncheon
at the neighboring high school. She was
most cordially received by all Cen
tralites," who entertained her at the
home school with characteristic high
school feed the essentials obtained
from the generously supplied tables at
Business High School.
The many friends Of Miss Florence
Jones Evans, of Alexandria, Va, are
congratulating her upon the introduction
of her work, Little Songs for Little
Folks" into the kindergartens. The
songs are fascinating and practical, and
as they are the work of an experienced
Kindergarten, are sure to be a success.
Miss Evans is principal of the kinder
garten at the Potomac School.
The Child Welfare Association held its
April meeting at Congress Heights School
Friday afternoon. An address was made
by Assistant Scout Commissioner Wood,
and candidates were examined for ten
derfoot" degree. This is a newly organ
lied band of Boy Scouts, and is known
as Troop Twenty-four." 1t has the
honor Of organizing the first Boy Scout
band in the District Of Columbia, which
has been made possible through the gen.
erous assistance Of Col. Randle. The
leader of the band 10 l. Kidwell. and
the scout master OF the troop NJ. c.
Earl.
The Montessori section Of the kinder
garten school at Arthur Building. in
charge of Mrs. Hawxhurst, has been Wis
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27

mothers. and they showed their interest
in the meeting by appointing a COM
mittee to bring in a mothers code"
which will be printed and hung in their
homes.
Paul Lawrence Dunbar Society has
been organized at Armstrong for study
Of the life and work Of the poet.
E. II. Daniel. vice president Of tho
Board Of Education; Snowden Ashford.
Municipal Architect. and NJ. F. Single
ton, Of Omaha, Nebr., were visitors at
Armstrong Friday morning.