davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
BIight Of the CapitaI Threatened. J

In one hour yesterday 73 Of total OF ABS meM'
bers of the House of Representatives took council
and cast their votes to destroy work which required
years of the effort of some of the nations ablest
statesmen to complete-the organic act oAIS7S estab
hshing system OF government for the District of
Columbia and defining fair and equitable relation
between the nation and its Capital City.
Yesterdays action was only blow in the work
of destruction which should be resisted not only by
the people of this city but by those IN the various
States who feel pride in their Capital The adop-
ton yesterday by the House in Committee of the
Whole of the Ben Johnson amendment to the Dis
trct appropriation BILL which repeals the hat-and-
half provision of the organic act was only the first
step in the Ben Johnson scheme to extort from the
taxpayers of Washington the utmost penny of their
ability to pay and then to curtaI Federal appropra
6ons with the only possible result that the Capital
City will deteriorate.
~ The Ben Johnson amendment provides that the
entire revenue from taxation in the District shall be
devoted to the maintenance of the Nations Capital,
and that the balance Ga altogether meaningless
as used in the amendment) shall be paid from the
Treasury of the United States. In case however,
is the Federal appropriation to be much as one
half of the expense of maintaining the Capital The
blind, of course, can see that the Ben Johnson
amendment, should it become law, would sub
stitute utter chaos for orderly system of govern
nnegt Its only definite provision prohibits the gov
ernment of the United States from spending much
money on the maintenance of the Capital of the
Nation as can be extorted from Us $4,000 residents
1t may be possible thus to shackle great govern
ment but it has not yet been accomplished. Ben
Johnson Wu the first skirmish because of the total
House membership of 435 only III attended the ses-
sion OF the Committee OF the Whole yesterday. The
supporters of the mystic theories of extraordinary
Ben Johnson were all present Unfortunately roll
call not permissible, the names of the seventy
three cannot be given. The advocates of rational
government the statesmen who believe that nation
of o5,oooooo should have a worthy capital, were
absent. The people of Washington should impress
upon them the Importance of being present when the
next battle is fought. 1t is unfair always to make
of the Senate as sanitarium for the restoration
of reason to the District of Columbia appropriations
bill
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Looking to New York and. Ohio.

The interest which is being taken in Mr. Herrick's
chances indicate feeling on tie part of the Repub-
licanS that they have strong possibility of
in 1916
Nothing better illustrates the rapdty with which
the political pendulum swings in this country than
recalling the utter despair which enveloped the Re
publican party after the defeat OF President Taft
Two years ago would have accepted the Re-
publican nomination. The party seemed to have been
entirely wiped of existence Today there are
half dozen prominent Republicans who look for
ward to the next Presidential campaign with the
hope that they may be selected as the Presidential
nominee. 1t is true that there is not as yet, any
well-developed personal organization; but it will not
be long before publicity bureaus will be in active
operation and the fight will be fairly on.
The outlook now is that the Republicans will look
Neither State is surely Republican and vet each
has enough electoral votes TO make it important
factor in the result The general of opn-
ion at the present time is that Governor-eect Whit
man is the most likely candidate provided of course
that his administration appeals to his State and to
the country New York. after all, is the great fight
ing ground and it is truism that goes New York,
so goes the Union. There is else in New York
to contest with Mr. Whitman the political supremacy
OF the State so that he has the field clear for himself
Certainly he has nothing to fear from Roosevelt who
is a without party.
If the Republicans turn TO Ohio for the Vice
Presidential candidate the choice will more probably
fall upon Gov Willis than Mr.. Herrick Mr.. Willis
has by his election. achieved result deemed impos
sible and there is every to believe that he will
make good in his position.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Unimportant If True
By DR.. ERITAS

Any plug be Spug
signs fail luck IN.
Now they swating fathers pokebook
Spug stops in front of toy shops
Organized baseball is getting to be nightly dsOrganlzed
Go ahead with shopping; this is no time for stopping
You might as well smile will haveto bear anyhow.
cabbage this but cigars no cheaper
Japan abolished her shogn and has been almost ever since
complaint York of less frequent visits from the Or
West Virginia says until his thirteenth child
was born. -
The Idoos have prov wife there also is to be
strife
table
way they stocks wonder that concerns
have under.
are reminded giving
ting dearer.
Record they turning out
now by the cord
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
What Mexico Needs.

The United States is out OF Mexico now, and
the problems of the Mexican people have been
left for them to settle as they wish They still
have international obligations, and the United
States has the Monroe doctrine What Mexico has
needed all the time, more than anything else, \ a
group of strong, unsefsh men, having the best in
terests of the people the IDEAL toward which all
should strive. In the light Of recent events, both
Carranza and Villa have clearly designated them
selves nothing than petty, selfish, factional
leaders. But it is refreshing to hear one leading
Mexican. Gen. Banco, present the idea that all
good and intelligent Mexicans must get together
to bring some sort of order out of the present
chaotic conditions. Carranza and Villa must be
eliminated by diplomacy force, and a central
government designated composed Of decent intelli-
gent men, authorized conduct affairs Supported
by Cen Blanco and other intelligent unselfsh
Mexicans, affairs would soon right themselves in
the torn republic; then the peon, the merchant and
the whole Mexican people would enter, gradually,
en- new era of prosperity-Boston Advertiser.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Give Us the Whole Truth.

Were it not for the fact that just at the present
moment most of the civilized" nations OF the
world are engaged intently-or should we say
conscientiously?-in the business OF annihilating
one another that they have little time for anything
else, the frank revelation of our unpreparedneS
against invasion epidemic in this country
might pave the way to profitable suggestion. As
matters stand, immediate harm is likely 10
come from this ingenious taking Of the round
world into confidence Those who might be
inclined, under propitious conditions, to take
advantage OF self-confessed helplessness are
themselves powerlcss to molcst us. They are be-
coming more and more so every day. and there is
little to believe that even the winner in the
present ghasty European contest will recall our
pathetic admission that have hand only
enough gunpowder to keep our fighting machine
in action for hall an hour.
There is no doubt that Representative Gardner
has struck popular chord in his advocacy OF an
investigation into the matter. Things are happen
ing, both abroad and on this continent, which make
such a suggestion timely and interesting. If we
are actually so open to danger from without we
are asking the world to believe to be- it need
not crush to find that trife worse
off in the matter of coast defense than supposed
If, on the other hand, official investigation
should show plainly that we not wide open
there will be cause for graduation.
Let there be inquiry into the state OF our
defcnses. Would they defend in the event that
we were menaced from without would the en-
tire fabric topplc at the approach of trium-
phant militarism? There should be more than one
expert in the service OF the government who is able
to investigate this business and to make a report
which will satisfy not only the plain people, but
may impose a sort OF check upon those who, in
the public press, proclaiming our military and
naval unhtness to the nations of the earth. Any
movement which might serve to silence these
calamity howlers would add materially to the dig
nifty and poise which necessary to this gov
crnment during the present world crisis
So let us have the investigation by all means.
After all the hystcrical manifestations which have
followed the initiative of Senator Lodges bright
son-n-law no other course seems possible. Despite
the hesitation of the public to interfere in any way
with the optimism of Secretary Daniels with
the soldery reserve of Secretary Garrison, let us
have the facts in the FIt will cost something
but VIC can afford to be generous under the circum-
stances. Have we not already, by our frank
avowal of our unpreparcdness relieved all our fell
low nations of the trouble and expense OF maintain
ing espionage over us?
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Senator BOrah Under Consideration.

Additional interest added last week to the
Republican Presidential situation by the consdera-
ton given to the of Senator Borah of Idaho,
in conference attended by many leaders of the party
There a good many Republicans who believe
that Senator Borah can go further than any other
man in attracting into the Republican party the pro-
gressive element which LETT it in 1912 While this is
largely true, it is also fact that he has
cred his connection with the Republican organization
so that he ought hold the allegiance of the regu-
lars. The one great handicap under which Senator
Borah sufers-and it is a serious one-is the small
ness of his State. Idaho has only three electoral
votes number so insignificant that it is not worth
striving for. All of the Rocky Mountain States to-
gether have little more than a handful of votes.
If the Republicans desire to appeal to the far
West in 1916 they might give Senator Borah the
second place upon the ticket, but it is doubtful
whether he would be content with this empty honor.
He has an ambition to become President and no one
doubts his ability his capacity. The question of
political expediency is the only that arises in his
case but may be of sufficient force to prevent his
ambition from being realized. If he were only ct-
zen of larger State he would stand among the fore
most possibilities and his handicap as to resi-
dence may be largely neuraized by his strong per-
sonality 1t would be unique experience in Ameri-
politics if candidate should be selected in recog
milton of his individual merit and without regard to
his availability for carrying doubtful Stat
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Political Situation.

The principal political event of the week has been
the launching of the Presidential boom for Myron T.
Herrick, of Ohio and former Ambassador to France.
While the movement has brought Mr.. Herrick prom
nently into the public eye during the past week. there
was mention of his name some weeks ago whens his
splendid work in Paris attracted universal attention
in this country Since that time there is no doubt
that the boom has grown: The reception accorded
him, upon his arrival in New York and the weeom
received by him in his home city of Cleveland have
emphasized the regard in which he is now held In
the midst of all this adulaton he has acted with much
common sense. He has conducted himself modestly
and has in fact apparently deprecated the effort to
place him in line for the Presidential nomination.
1t is long way to 1910. In the next two years
all manner of things may happen. One of the things
most likely to occur is complete forgetfuness the
part of a more or less tickle public of the things
which now.nake Mr. Herricks name household word
There are other considerations too, which must not
be overlooked In the first place all the larger States
now have the Presidential primary preference system
and this decreases the power of the so-called leaders
Secondly should Mr.. Herrck really appear in the field
as candidate for the Presidency, is sure
to recall some of his stoc-obbing operations. Even
now there is under the surface a prevalent opinion
that he is being pushed forward by his Wall Street
friends and many Republicans disposed to view
him with unfavorabe eye. 1t is also recalled that
when he stepped down from the governorship of
Ohio the Democrats entered upon fourteen years Of
administration, the Republicans only regainlng COM
troll with the election of Mr. Willis last November
The condition under which Gov Herrick was de-
feabed are certain to be revived Before Mr. Her
rickS Presidential boom taken seriously, therefore
there several important factors to be considered
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Telephones and the War Tax.

Some slight experience with the war
tax as it is collected on telephone mes
sages is causing the patient public to
protest mildly It should protest at the
authors of the tax act, however, not at
the telephone company, which is doing its
best with a somewhat trying situation.
II has TO collect one cent on each call for
which there is a charge of fifteen cents
or more, no matter whether the initial
charge is the specified sum OF five cents.
running into fifteen by reason Of the
length of time OF the call.
The telephone company, in spite of the
trouble of collecting this money, declines
TO let IL interfere with good service. Even
at unattended pay stations. where the
nuisance is greatest, the time occupied in
having the tax increases the time of get
ting ones call only slightly. The contrast
between this excellent service under diff
ficulues and the service Of foreign tel
phone companies in normal conditions
speaks volumes for the American way of
doing business.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
GETTING A START
BE SOMEBODY
by NATHANIEL c. FOWLER. JR.

game OF ball. learn the rules and be
able intelligently to follow the game
and capable of explaining it to 9TH
erS.
Don't be Indifferent either to play
or to work. Great men do everything
With will, are interested in every
duty and in every pleasure. They
enjoy everything they do, whether
they have to do it or not. They 2ut
their heart into their work and into
every other action. They stand for
something.
Perhaps you have not great ability
and can never become a man OF
mark, but, no matter how inSignifi-
cant you may be. you can make a
specially of something and excel in
that.
lrecall a young man who gained
his first promotion largely because of
his sunny disposition and his hearty
Good morning" He was the SUM-
shine of the Office and happy even
when If rained.
Another young man of my acquaint-
ance won because of his unfailing
courtesy. He was polite to every
body. He was not a genius by any
means. He used what he had to the
best advantage and to his advantage.
He made the most of his small tai
ents, and by and by became a prom
inent man.
There is something that YOU cam
do well, even though you may not
become an expert, something that YOU
can do better than anything else.
Make a specially of that, without
neglecting your other duties.
You can be a somebody in some
thing, if you will. The world has
little use for, and cares nothing
about, the fellow who isn't somebody
and doesn't stand for something Un-
less our individuality is apparent. un-
less We are known for something
well done, no matter how small il
may be, we are mere hoaters. never
progressing with a speed sufficient to
make landing.
Stand for something, and YOU viii
be somebody.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

way. All have ships to sell which have
been made useless by that war. Obvious
ly the United States cannot buy ships OF
any belligerent without, to that extent,
actively and officially aiding an enemy
Of the others. The peaceful nations.
which are neutral like the United States,
naturally have no ships to sell, for they
are all engaged in transporting the COM
merce which the fighting nations have
lost.
The Presidents s proposition has two as
poets, the economic and the international
The bill provides for the organization OF a
corporation under Federal. State or even
District OF Columbia law, for fifty-one per
cent of whose stock the United States
shall subscribe, the remainder to be Of
fered to the public. The initial capital
stock is placed at 100000 and an issue
of Panama bonds is provided for not to
exceed 80. .OOO. 900. this money to be used
in the purchase or construction and the
operation Of such ships as may be bought
by the government for the corpora ton
through a shipping board consisting Of
three Cabinet officers subject to the di-
rection Of the President.
Business men severely criticize the
Presidents plan on economic grounds.
We have no merchant marine because
the government has refused the support
necessary to maintain one in cOmpeti-
ton with foreign-owned vessels cheaper
built and operated. Our navigation laws,
establishing a high standard of living
for American seamen, have made II i'm
possible TO operate American ships in the
foreign trade at a profit. Not only has
President Wilson made no suggestion
that these laws be modified. but appar-
entity he has shown no interest in the
subject. Neither has he raised his potent
voice in behalf of or against the seamen's 5
hill. which has passed both houses and
has been hung up for some mysterious
reason awaiting the appointment of a
committee of conference. This bill.
through its safety provisions. would add
much TO the cost of operating ships. al
though it is argued in its behalf that It
would end the sO-caIled fugitive slave
practice on the part of the United States
and other nations and thus force an
equalization of seamens wages all over
the world. On the whole. however, the
bill undoubtedly would prove expensive
to ship owners.-Washington Correspond
ence Of Boston Transcript.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
The Outlook for Representative Mann.

Ii the choice OF a Presidential candidate should
be left to the Republican members of the House the
nomination of Representative Mann would be assured
Mr.. Mann has demonstrated, by his leadership of
the minority in the House, his great ability He is
persistently industrious, with marked capacity for
detail memory which is rarely at fault, and wthal
an accurate Judge of men, There is no one in public
life today better acquainted with the minutia of gov
ernmenal affairs and it is certain that if he should
ibe in the White House the country would have an
able and safe President Mr. Mann refuses. however,
to take seriously any reference to his possible nom
nation. He believes that Illinois is no longer in the
category OF doubtful States and insists that it is
important 10 insure victory in New York and Ohio
than is to eopardize the chances of the party by
placing him at the head of the ticket.
Mr.. Mann is ffty-eight years old and has the ex-
perence of eighteen years in the House behind him.
He has had enough political experience TO enable him
to the Endorsement of Illinois, should he de-
eide to the Presidential race and the Middle
West would undoubtedly come to his support He
still looms up possibility, even though he will
not give aid comfort to the effort force him into
the race
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
tOUpyright lgLl

tocDyrsht. lgIl
Don't be a zero. Strike one, il
you can't strike two. Be known for
something. Be somebody. Don't
unuaturally force yourself ahead.
Don't claim TO be what you are not.
Don't be over-conspicuous. Don't
be notorious.
You have individuality. You were
born with it, and you never can who'll
ly rid yourself of it. This individ-
uality is part of yourself, but it is
worth nothing to you, and will be of
no use either to you or to anybody,
if you don't impress it upon others !;
and you can do it if you will.
If you are the Office boy, and your
principal work is the filing Of letters,
do this subordinate duty so well that
your employer will notice your work
be known as the best letter-hler in
the concern.
If you have to sweep out, be con-
spicuouS as the one who does not
miss the corners, who dusts the backs
of the chairs.
II you are the errand boy, don't
dawdle on the street. Don't forget
the messages you have TO deliver Be
known as the errand boy par excel
lence.
| recall an incident. Several years
ago l received many kilograms daily.
One Of the telegraph messengers was
a beam of sunshine, always alert, al
ways careful. One day | noticed that
he erased the address which had
written under my name in the receipt
book and wrote it out more plainly
than | had done. From that moment
/ watched him. l gave him a posi-
ton. Today he is drawing 4 5000
salary.
Your social life should not be neg
lected. You should enjoy some form
of play or recreation. l am not sug-
gesting that you be fan or a fad
dist and neglect your duty for the
field, but am recommending de-
veloped love for some form Of diver
sion, whether it be yachting, tennis,
golf, or bail If you enjoy. a good
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

Rev. Sidney L. Gulick, connected with Doshisha
University, Tokyo, says President Wilson's refer
cnce to the navy in his address to Congress will
arouse Japan's suspicious. president Wilson" he
said, practically agrees that we need strong
navy. Japan will think want strong navy for
the purpose OF dominating the She knows
VIC will never transport troops over the Pacific to
attack her" II the people of Japan detect a
menace to that country in the words of the Presi-
dent their process of thinking must be queer. The
Reverend Mr. Guck has discovered something in
the Presidents address that escaped everybody else
in this country and, it is to be hoped, in Japan.
incidentally Mr.. GulickS comment will do more
harm in both countries than the Presidents re-
marks about the navy.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

Unless the governor Of Georgia interteres Leo NJ
Frank will be put to death on January p for the
murder Of Mary Phsgan, the factory girl. The
highest legal tribunal the Supreme Court of the
United States has been appealed to in vain in be-
half of the condemned man, who steadfastly pro-
claims his innocence. Months ago William J. Burns,
detective in series of newspaper interviews, assert
ed that he had solved the mystery of the Phagan
murder that Frank guilty, and that he could
and would prove his innocence at the proper time.
So far Burns has failed to make his word good. He
still has an opportunity to place his alleged discov-
cries before the governor, and if he can even show
doubt of Franks guilt that should be sufficient to
his life. 1t ought not to be necessary to prove
his innocence
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
A Bishop at the Front.

The British West Australian COntin-
gent of troops can make the proud boast
that they are the only body OF men at
the front who have bishop for their
chaplain. This is the Bishop OF KaIgoor-
lie. and he is accompanying his troops
10 the war. DR.. GOlding Bird, who will
be remembered in London as formerly
on the stan OF All Saints, Margaret
street. has promised to serve with the
contingent for four months. and after
that time will visit England on behalf
of his diocese. The bishop is by no
means a stranger to active service. for
during the South African war. when he
was at All Saints, he served as chaplain
to the First Cavalry Brigade.-PalI Mall
Gazette.
Quiet and confident. the young traveller