davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
THE PREPAREDNESS" FURRY
tEditoriai in the New York Evening po,tD
4 tho Days Best Cartoons.

That President Wilson intends to
keep his head In the present furry
over our preparedness" for war Is
gratifyingly apparent in the news from
Washington to-day. 1t has been quite
evident that the present conflagration
in Europe is to be made the excuse for
a wild raid on Congress for more SOL
diers, more sailors, and more ships
Witnessing the total breakdown of the
militarist pretension abroad. that lnrse
armaments insure peace. we hear from
our Navy League, our alarmed Gard
ners. our gun and armor makers, our
Roosevelts and our lingo generals,
that we too. must initiate the folly
OF Europe, even though 1t is now
drenchinG Its soil with blood. At the
very moment when tho most senseless
Of wars Is endangering civilization
itself. we are told that the United
States must check it's internal devel-
opment. rob industry OF hundreds OF
treasure by the hundred millions-just
as IT everybody could not now see that
the European ornaments were certain
TO have brought on conflict, had there
been no other cause.
That somo Of tho people behind this
frightened to think straight. appears
from the list OF New Workers who have
recently Joined together to demand an
inquiry as to our preparedness for war
Ito see II we are really safe" No
such inquiry as they and Congressman
Gardner seek is necessary. The facts
as to our preparedness for war are
easily ascertainable. They arc con-
tanned in the reports of our Score
taries Of War and Navy, our Presi-
dents messages for years past. They
can he obtained from those officials at
any time. The Navy League ia so sure
that 1t has them all that It knows just
what to advise, both as to army and
navy. Every military attachc in Wash
ington has the whole story at It's dis
posal. Information Is not the object
of Congressman Gardner, however il
may be with the New Workers. who are
suddenly DESTROYS Of having more light
on our situation. He wants to have
army and navy officers appear before
committees Of Congress to give testi-
mony as to what they think ought TO
be done, which is like asking protected
manufacturers battening on the Treas
ury to write their own tariff schedules.
We. shall be in, IL this prevails, for an
inquiry OF the utmost sensational ism.
at which our generals will dispute
whether we shall have 200. 900 or $780,
600 regulars. and our admirals whether
we shall have fifty battieships or $50
submarines.
Fortunately for the country. the
President Is not to be stampeded With
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
Medical Science and War

While the war OF Europe is by far
the greatest in the history of the world
and tho destruction OF life cannot fail
to be tremendous. there is satisfaction
In considering that, on account of the
vast advances that have been made In
medical and surgical science in recent
years. the percentage "f loss will he
greatly reduced. Something of the ma
ture of these advances In knowledge
may be understood from the following,
from the Scientific American:
III the Franco-PruSsian War tho
surgeons looked upon the Infection of
wounds as matter of course. They
regarded tho prcsenoe of tho attendant
pus as necessity, and rs long as the
pus was what was known as "iaud-
able they were satisfied with the con
ditton OF tho patient. Other patients
deyeloped another form of pus, strep-
tococcal, which caused the doctors OF
those days graveIy TO shake thei,.
heads and prepare for the death of the
patient. Even the best hospitals were
not properly ventilated and were filled
with the foul doors emanating from in
feoted wounds and gangrene All this
was considered unavoidable. At thnt
tfme suppuration and kindred compli-
cations In wounded men were regarded
as OF spontaneous origin, although tho
researches of Pasteur had alreadS
pointed the way to Il general under
standing of germs. When, at length,
purulent infection was found to be the
result OF germs, dislneectants were
Drought into use. Carbollc acid was
the agent generally employed iat first
Tor that purpose, and the attendant
success In treating surgical injuries
and IN performing operations where
carpoilxed dressings were used ana the
spray, caused the most profor,nd
amaRement. slii : -. - =.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
Looking Up.

L OR the last week excess OF exports over
imports showed balance of trade fav-
orable to THO. United States OF $16,413,295.
For Novenlber,.it is estimated the balance of
trade in our favor will amount to approxi-
mately $7O,O00.000.
In New England the General Electric Com
pany, at Lynn, Mass, will start its force of
$4,000 men at work full time next Mon
day.
The machinery and machine tool trade, ac-
cording to the Iron Trade Review, continues
to receive attractive equipment orders for
export delivery.
Chicago reports an order for 1000, 900
wooden blankets, for the of European
armies.
Railroad gross and net earnings show a
gratifying increase.
Cotton planters are beginning to gin their
crops.
zone by one" says the December bulletin
of the American National Bank. "the trade
barriers are being removed, and things are
righting themselves rapidly"
The country climbs toward the light!
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
WORTHWHILE GITT-You can make
your friends happy every day I'm the
ycnr by sending them subscription
to THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
A Bold. Bad Man

I JE is bold man, that President Taylor, of
the Newark board of education, who
ventured to criticize the attire OF women
teachers in the schools, and in the remedy for
the alleged evils Of which he complained
even holder.
His plan was to put the teachers into uni
forms!
1t is proper to say "his plan was" because
it is to be assumed that by now this par
ticular educational authority has found his
way, holly pursued by the jeers, denuncia-
lions and recrimnations Of the objects of
his attack, and carrying his plan with him, to
the tall timbers. There he may be safe, but
nowhere else.
Put the teachers into uniform indeed!
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03

The normal person will not sink into
poverty. Illness. disease, deformity and
weak mindedness arc subnormal.
David Starr Jordan says: "Strong men
sock education and make opportunity"
and to this might be appropriately
added, "They bring things about; they
make events occur" Weak men are
Hurry in the Journay OF the American
Medical Association. Disease is itself
not an evidence of physical or mental
strength. I'VE were getting along
spleudidly," said the povertyzstriclten
woman. until my husband took con-
the great poverty that trails consump-
ton? farmer died OF typhoid fever
when the mortgage. given In part pay
ment for his farm, was only One-half
paid off. Ills wife and little daugh-
Ter took the disease and survived, only
finally to fill fuller the slums of city
where she went with tho child when
the rich man foreclosed the mortgage.
yellow fever prevented the French
from building tho Panama Canal, and
thousands who had Invested their all
in canal shares wore pauperized.
In Mexico there are thousands who
have boon made blind and pauperized
by smallpox. There are at least 2000,-
600 blind beSgars In China, all made
blind by smallpox. II Is only when
epidemics come, when the greater pro-
portion of lives are threatened, that
we realiZe the meaning of sickness and
disease. The ramifications OF disease
are so complex and far-reaching~w we
can have but q hazy idea OF what
disease means.
1T Is curious to motto that, because OF
our stupidity, ones very industry may
bring poverty. This Is Illustrated by
the occupational diseases. Until very
recently society permitted greed ito
force phossy Jaw on workmen, who
afterward, in many instances, became
paupers. To rear and protect indus
tries, ono product of which is poverty,
Is a queer condition, The prevention
Of phossy jaw will certainly also pre-
vent all the poverty which might come
from 1t.
Cigarmakers, printers and tailors are
especially afflicted with tuberculosis;
and on the pauper records appear the
names OF hundreds who have followed
these occupations.
Feeble nindedness Is disease con-
Ldttton, and produces world of poverty.
There IL no cure tor feeble m indedncss;
1t may only be prevented; and there
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03

courage and far-slghted statesmanship
he let's 1t be known that he should re-
gard any such inquiry as lll-timed He
does not put II on the ground OF keep
ing your head when your neighbors arc
shooting one another. He puts II OH
the far nobler ground that before this
country lies the greatest opportunit..
that has ever come TO 1t, or perhaps
to any country--the opportunity OF
playing the leading part In bringing
the war to close. Never. before did
greater possibility of usefulness open
before an American statesman than
that which looms before Woodrow Will
son. Thut he Ia OF stature TO seize the
opportunity when 1t presents itself
this stand he is taking clearly proves.
For he sees how ineffective---iiow hypo-
critical--would be our appeal for
peace, our offer Of good services. our
pointing the way to disarmament, il we
were to make that appeal fresh from
new concessions to the armament ring.
fresh from voting more hundreds OF
| millions out of the pockets OF the pco-
pie and into thoae Of ship ontractors
and manufacturers of supplies.
To approach the European combat
ants thus with new Weapons In our
own hands. would be to Hing away
| our moral position. Never has tic
United States stood higher morally IN
the world than to-day; this Is attcsted
by the way our good opinion IS sought
j
up to the greatness OF the hour, il
must go to the warriors not with the
news OF a Slavish Imitation OF the
wicked policies which have driver,
some to the verge OF moral and ma
terial ruin and others beyond II, but
with readiness to lead In the other
direction. The menacing growth Of
our navy has been cited both IN the
Reichstag and In Parliament MS one
excuse for piling more burdens upon
British and German taxpayers, by
building more and more battleships.
To our mind this ia not only not the
time to inquire about our preparedness
for war, it is the time to refuse to vote
Il single additional ship, and To lead
The world towards disarmament by be-
ginning to dtsarm ourselves, The high
example to be set by such an action
would make a thrilling appeal to the
victims OF the wnr--certa!nly TO en-
lightencd consciences in every quarter
of The globe,
Surely, it is cause for the utmost
Thanksgiving that the occupant OF the
White House sees and senses this, and
is ready to bear If need be the crit
icsms Of little minds who can see moth,
ing moro In all this horrible suffering
and carnage, this breakdown of Chris
tianity, than the need OF preparation
for slaughter.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
Showing Faith by Our Works

TT cannot be said that the crusade for clean
j streets has been productive, In the two
days of its history, of all that could have
been expected or might have been desired.
There is more to do-much more--but, with
a long pull, strong pull and pull all to-
gether, Richmond Gun accomplish great
things.
So long the public manifests its indif-
ference, there is little use Of critczing the
Street Cleaning Department, ineffective as
that department unquestionably is. Super
intendent Cohn puts the responsibility OH
lack Of men and equipment, and some of our
correspondents ascrbe 1t to lack of proper
training and method but the mournfulness
of the result Is visible to any eye.
If the people will show they want clean
streets, the city government will supply
them. But we must show interest, as
we'll as our faith. by our works
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
RICHMOND TMEsDIsPATcH: THURSDAY, DECEMBER $, 1914

culture, grace or distinction of Spanish
Erandee, but he has already shown the quail
ties Of leadership He may be rough, but
the man has brains and shrewdness. 1t
would not be such a very easy matter to pull
the wool over his eyes. to make him a puppet
in the hands of the old land-ownng oligarchy,
II he sincerely desired the good of the peo-
pie. So far as results go, the Mexican peo-
ple appear to believe that he is their true
champion, and they are in the best position
to know.
1t speaks we'll for General Villas patriot
ism that he does not appear to have availed
himself of any OF the numerous opportuni-
ties he must have had to enrich himself
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
The Voice of the People
Approach 10 Mnyo,s Bride,

To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch
Sir,-In the matter of the approach to Nfayo's
Bridge great deal has been written and said,
and now the matter is coming to a head. The
Street Committee is composed of the pick OF
both branches of the City Council. who have
ness and at no distant day one happening to
be at the corner OF Fourteenth and Main Streets
will not have to ask, where is the now bridge?'
The vista will be open and thus reveal that
splendid structure thereby convincing the most
skeptical that there is and be but one ap-
proach to said bridge and that by way of
Fourteenth Street. ! congratulate the commit
tee upon its wisdom, and regard this as being
one of tho most important pieces of work
mapped out during the year 1914. c. L. c.
Richmond, December /, 1914
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
Foreign Loans Wisdom Shown

INTO small part of the returning prosperity
IN that has begun to become apparent
throughout the country despite the continu-
ance of excessive unemployment and other
unfavorable symptoms, is due to the short
term loans which have been made by Ameri-
can bankers to foreign governments. APP
plications for other advances of TINS char
acter are pending and 1t is expected they
will be granted.
When, two months ago. the propriety and
probable effect of such loans were being con-
sdered, The Times-dispatch took the liberty
OF disagreeing both with the State Depart
ment aud with various of it's contemporaries.
The department had declared that these
loans were not in the spirit of the Presidents
neutrality proclamation, and influential news
papers were apprehensive that they would
result in large increases of gold exports, at
time when this country was in urgent need
OF it's own cash resources.
| Both of these views were strained and the
! latter, at least, has been proved by the logic
| OF events to have been entirely incorrect.
at the time of the discussion Americans were
selling arms and ammunition, foodstuffs,
clothing and horses to belligerent nations, SO
that it was difficult to perceive why cash to
purchase these things could not also be sup
piled. The commodities in which the banker
deals are money and credit, they are not
more contraband certainly, than machine
guns and shrapnel, and The Times Dispatch,
| at any rate, could not understand why one
class OF business men should be deprived of
an opportunity for profit that remained omen
| to another.
! 1t was pointed out further that loans to
belligerents could not reasonably be expected
to result in increased gold exports, because
what the nations at war wanted was not
gold especially, but those materials and sup
plies necessary to the prosecution of heir
campaigns.
Tho State Department did not press it's
point, and the loans have followed. No gold
has been exported OH this account in any
substantial amounts. The loans American
| bankers have made have been in the form
of credits, which have. been used for DUR
chases within this country. Virginia has
prof1ted among other States through this
| financial policy. For horses -four and sad
dlery It is probable that 100000 has been
spent within the Commonwealth Much
more will be spent. In many parts of the
country there have been similar expendi-
lures, which have put cash into circulation
and reviviied commerce and industry
| This country's recent depression has not
been due to q lack OF cash i'll the banks but
to paucity of commercial and industrial
| operations in which that cash profitably
could be employed. The United States was
not using it's own financial resources, because
| they could not be used with profit Fsreigr,
loans have supplied the means by which
some of the banks surplus currency could
! find its way into the pockets of the people
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
crcdit to The Times-nl.p.tel..

To the Editor OF The Times-D Dispatch:
Sir.-It is trivial matter, but the records
might as well be kept straight, especially as
such action proves the value of It'd" ad!
advertised the watch found on the ball
grounds in your Sunday issue. Detective r. L.
Bryant, of the city police force. saw tho ad
vertisement and presented exact description
of the watch given him by the owner. T then
turned II over to him.
The credit for Its recovery" belongs to you
rather than to Mr.. Bryant J. W. EVERETT.
Richmond, December l, 1914.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03

are only two rational methods for Its
prevention, neither of which society
Will adopt. And SO 1t happens, as we
"blundcr on through love and hunger"
that the highest services OF medical
science are rejected, prevention Is dis :
regarded and disease follows ciriiiza-
ton with It's ever-lengthening train OF
degeneracy, effectiveness, delinquency
and dependency.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03


Inc Nulettde is rising" Which explains the
unwonted difference of the cook, the chamber
maid, the BARRIERS boy, the elevator runner
the janitor and the rest of them that grows
excessively polite just before Christmas Even
the holly bouglls.
The Fredericksburg Free Lance protests
against any attempt on the part of Uncle sam
TO essay the role OF Citizen Fixit in the Eu-
ropcan drama, saying: "a large number
OF busybodes in the press and among the peo-
pie are constantly urging the United States
and Holland. two very important neutral coun-
tries to request the war parties across the sea 8
for an armlsticc. We trust and believe that
so far as the United States is. concerned this
matter VIII be left severely alone. Neither
side in the terrible and titanic struggle now
armistice." The Free Lance is convinced that
interference in company with Holland must in
evitable put both neutrals "in Dutch" with all
the belligercnts.
The clifton Forge Review goes on record as
unalterably> opposed to any law requiring n
sheriff or jailor responsible for the safekeeping
OF q convicted prisoner to the pris-
oners time II he happens to break Jail. Editor
Greene puts 1T this way: I'VE up to having
spent day in Staunton recently, and also
mingled with the football crowd In Richmond
on Thanksgiving. Day, but we not so far
I gone to ndorse the suggestion of n law
whereby sheriffs and their deputies must take
the places OF escaped prisoners In their care
Life in Mexico is continuous panorama of
war In the opinion of the Norfolk Ledger Dis
patch editor, who says: Mexico City has no
real need for any moving picture shows" And
he might have added that the people live In
perpetual dread that each succeeding liberia
tor and saviour OF the republic will be follow
ed by the next
The Lynchburg Advance questions the title
of the University of Virginia football team to
the South Atlantic championship, saying: eff
Virginia refuses to play with the Virginia col
leges which contenders for the South At
lantic championship, Virginia should ren-
quish all claim to the championship" The
Lynchburg High School evidently feels that
lit has kick coming.
The Portsmouth Star comments: las a
Thanksgiving Day souvenir, Cole Blease, rctir-
ing Governor of South Carolina, tucked away
under the girths pinned to the lapels of
eighty convicted and sentenced criminals in
the State Penitentiary OF that State of whom
sixteen were l!fe-tcrm murderers. tho felcita-
tons Of his distinguished abuse Of clemency,
turning them loose. pardoncd or paroled, upon
the Commonwealth" The editor. however,
, loses sight of the probability that this is n
strategic movement looking to rcorganiza-
tion of tho Blease constituency.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
Study of Spanish In the Schools

iDROMINENT educators throughout the
country are making a concerted effort
to obtain for Spanish the same educational
position, in college naturalization examina-
tons, ETC., us German and French now en-
joy, and il is singular that success in this EN-
denvor should require good deal of work.
AS an educational asset for young American
men and women destined for commercial pur-
suits, there does not seem to be any room
for argument that Spanish is more valuable
| than any other modern language, except of
course, English. 1t is evident that we are
| on the eve of great expansion OF trade
with the Spanish-speaking countries OF South
America. Many Americans al school
will find employment easier and better re-
warded If they have command OF Spanish
| than if they are able TO speak and write any
! other European tongue.
| Aside from its unitarian aspect, the pos
session of Spanish makes available an ex-
| tremely rich and beautiful literature. When
properly spoken, Spanish is probably more
meilihuous than any other existing language,
and many English-speaking persons who
have acquired the Spaniards' tongue have
found that their use OF English became less
sloveny and more distinguished
The rather pitrul mattering Of French or
German that is obtained in our schools GER
! tainly has no higher mental disciplinary
| value than would even like study of Span
Iish But what is required, and what would
! doubtless come into existence if the deman nd
were great enough, is Il thorough grounding
/ in the lberian tongue, SO that the average
student could acquire proficiency through
practice. That both French and German are
! so badly learned in the United States is
doubtless due to the fact that even il well
taught and learned the acquisition of neither
| language would be put to profitable use in
commercial life.
! AS We have said, the case is quite different
with Spanish. We are neighbors OF Span
ish-speaking peoples In the not distant
future these people will probably be our
| largest customers. We should know how to
speak with them In their mother tongue.
| II will be cheering news to the German
| fleet that, according to Herr Ballin, OF the
| Hamburg American line, England already has
been defeated. Now the German ships can
put to sea.
! Considering on what intimate terms the
Kaiser stands with the Diety, it is not sur
prisng that his Turkish ally has declared a
| holy war
| Current events are teaching ali of us that
| a man is not necessarily world-beater be-
cause he thinks he is:
| Say what they may about Villa, he never
/ pretended to be candidate for the Nobel
peace prize.
| The old game of ~ spy" is attracting much
attention in England.
Who is President OF Mexico just now, any
how?