davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
md prepare a scientific plan Of army

ana prepare a scientific plan Of army
organization. AS the result of its
labors an Army Council was created
and a General STAFF and an Admins.
trative STAFF with separate functions
and we'll defined responsibilities were
constituted by the Army Order of Sep.
tember IL. 1909. But that was only u
beginning. Officers had to be found
for the new stan duty and the supply
was very limited. 1t would be inter.
esting to know what oficer--"one of
the nblest Generals in the army" Lord
HALpANE calls him-prepared the
memorandum on which the Army
Order was based. Internal evidence
indicates Sir JOHN FRENCH. who has
been the target of attack by a Major
Of yeOmanry cavalry.
The greater problem at arst was
the Administrative Stan, for which
there seemed to be no good material.
1t was solved In part by the London
School Of Economics, TO which Off.
GERS were sent by the Quartermaster.
General to make a scientific study of
supply and transportation questions.
There they learned how everything
that an army needed In the way OF
food. clothing. equipment and trac.
ton was made. They were drilled In
geography, commercial law and the
money markets. The mobllizing and
transportation Of the British army In
August, 1914, was no less creditable
to the new Administrative Staff than
to the General STAFF. When Sir JOHN
FRENCH was ordered to France in
August, 1914. the Government was
able to say TO him: "You will find n
machine waiting for you You may
do what you like with IT,"
But Lord HALDANE IL obliged to ad.
NIT that while the machine Is well
constructed there are not enough COM
men to operate it smoothly. !
For forty years Germany has been
training stan officers for her ma.
chine. and 1t seldom or never drops n
rog. The British General STAFF and !
he minor STATS of division comman-
have sometimes worked at cross
purposes In France. and on more than
one occasion this confusion has made
he difference between success aud
The Administrative STAFF
has done very much better. 1t is
as thorough as the German.
Happily when Baron ST. DAvIDs made
Ms sensational attack upon British
in France. Lord HALpANr,
vho had been at headquarters, was
to correct the ycomanry ma
Ior's MEASUREMENTS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
SPADES AND

The question whether or not q
shovel is a spade has recently en-.
gagged the attention of the Federal
Board of General Appraisers. It. is
important because the law places a
tariff on shovels and not on spades
exempting tho latter on the ground
that they are agricultural imple-
ments. The matter was argued before
the board by learned counsel on each
side. and the president of the board
took the reports of the arguments
and withheld decision.
Detailed reports Of the proceedings,
which were held in Omaha, have not
been widely published, but it is rea-
sonable to presume that on the part
of h Government the lawyers went
back to the expression about calling a
spade q spade and held that. II forth
fled their contention that there was
no valid reason for calling a shovel
a spade. 1t will be remembered that
when Ar~istophanes used the express
sion 1t was in a horticultural rela-
ton. He spoke Of calling figs figs
and a spade a spade. Here, as fire.
quently In the Greek mode, the desig-
nation Of the effect Is used instead Of
that OF the instrument. The common
Greek word for spade is 'spathe,"
but Aristophs mes chose to use
"skaphe." a hollow In the soil made,
as in this instance, with a horticultural
implement.
One OF the TRANSACTIONS OF "skaphe"
is TRENCH" which in these days is de-
cidedly a war term. but trench" Is also
an agricultural word, and 1t yas such
long before trench warfare became
In latter days the spade al
ways has been the implement Used
by tiller OF the soil in "spading up"
ground for seeding and in digging
bitches and drains.
The shovel also is used by agricul-
turists, but more for scraping to-
gether and handling material-as its
name, allied TO the Latin "~scabere,'
indicates-than in the growing OF
In comparison with the vast
amount OF shovelling done by. the
day descendants OF the Ro-
in railway. subway building
and other UNCONSTITUTIONAL operations
farm uses OF the shovel are neg
So it seems that between these two
SO nearly alike that COM
p~aratively few persons IAN distinguish
.ne from the other. there is much to be !
said in support of the Governments
view that the spade has the better
TO be considered as an agricul-
-ural implement.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
has the Colonel Spoiled His Chances
for u Third Term?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir: II
! Theodore Roosevelt ever INDUCES in
retrospect he must occasionally have a
bitter taste in his mouth. How different
1910 would have looked had he not been
mastered and made mad by a selfish
ambition In 1912! Not in any Phari-
saical spirit. Just count up the strong
probabilities in such a case. suppose
ne mad curbed his impatient itching TO
grasp the reins Of authority suppose
ne had not incurred the reproach OF
trtachery TO a good natured, indly
disposed friend suppose he had not vio-
lated his own solemn and voluntary
promia giving as an excuse the puerile,
rhilds play bubble that consecutive
terms were what | meant (why didn't
ne say u had my fingers crossed when
! sa!u II , suppose he had kept
out of the delegate herding. and the
whole angry warfare that split the Re-
publican party and brought down upon
hill the implacable hostility of hun
dreds of thousands OF voters from the
Never Again clubs suppose he had
acted the man. in giving Taft honest,
loyal support what then?
Taft probably would have been
beaten, and to-day. how easy, how ut
'eriy "cinched.' how whoopiGgly gor-
seous would have been the outlook for
Roosevelt! Why. he would have been
nominated for 1916 by reclamation.
The cry would have been. odd boy.
you've Just got to Jump in and help
US; you've got to cancel that second
term promise YOU made you're
drafted We must have YOU :" With
splendid chance of victory too.
There never WAS "A finer lesson given
in favor Of unseifish. broad minded. fair
than he gave, by inversion, when
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
Ready for the Scrap Heap.

. The fun in the peace pilgrimage
was from the start somewhat forced.
AZ a serious attempt to get "the boys
out Of the trenches by Christmas
the scheme was sublimely impossible.
Regarded, as It has been by not a
few, as a campaign Of advertising. 1t
was despicable. As a crusade Of dis
ordered minds, greedy for reclame or
fanstically devoted to peace at any
price In the most exaggerated form
Of that ecstatlc alteration, It was
specifically ridiculous but fundamen.
tally pathetic. And, however looked
on, It was too highly charged with
possibilities Of trouble making. though
disowned by official America. TO be
regarded with complacency.
Whatever may be the truth In the
conflicting reports Of the personal con.
dition of the leader of the expedition,
II must now begin to he pretty clear
even 10 the fanatics engaged in IT. as
II has been throughout to every sane
person, that the srgosy, conceived in
folly and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created foolish. a
never get q shot at It's wild goose. 1t
will be occasion for surprise, and for
regret tempered by the pleasure OF
escape from a real danger. II the mad
troop retains conference enough in It's
iunacy 10 carry It home IN a body.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
CHRISTMAS TREE WASTE.
\ Plea for the Preservation Of the
Forests of America.

To THE EDITOR oF The SUN-Sir. The
people Of the United states require a
good sc'ld.ns sermon now that Yuletide
is over for wasting the natural re-
sources OF the country IN Il reckless
manner just for the sake OF one days
enjoyment.
To be sure, We are publicly held
everywhere as the most wasteful nation
on earth, hut in the matter here in point
our recklessness exceeds ali bounds. 1t
mas been stated by good authority that
over "A million young trees OF pines.
ordars and frs are annually cut TO
serve Christmas Day as holders of gifts
Tor young and Old n very ~laudable pur-
pose indeed.
But let Us consider that over oue-half
% thcs" trees have been cut by most ir-
responsible" persons on somebody els.'s
property. who get for such pirltic.l work
a very nniserly return. and that we are
buying stolen property.
IN. seriousness OF these deeds ia still
mrN3 aggravated by the fact that parties
who go into the forests everywhere over
this wide. wide country take only the
very best MATERIAL, ana do not care an
intd what havoc Ia resulting in our
precious timber hGds through their un-
Norupnl"ns acts From personal obser-
vati"us lu many sections OF the country
u can b" truthfully stated that very
many of thes. Christmas trees have been
chopped OF from quite large trees Nf ten
or twelve years growth. at an elevation
"f s!N or eight feet from the ground,
leaving the mutjlated stumps as ndica
tors Of the ruthless Incompetence of the
forest robbers, Not only this, Out
branches and chips are scattered about
III" ground which ' hen dry by the
next ufuWCr season furnish the ma
tcIldl that causes the terrible destruc-
tN'ucSS nf our forest fires.
What Is the uso of having forest re- |
serves somewhere I'm uut of the WAY
places whore nobody can see them and
learn from them" What IS the use OF
talking :" mitch about the preservation |
OF National resources when We arc in |
Strumentl and helpful in DESTROYING "A
most necessary item of our economics, |
timber land, aud In the very ncighbor-
hood of tho big cities where clean. |
healthy forest trees and forest lands
would Toe a blessing and an ornament:
Oaly such young trees should be per
to I've sold at Christmas time as
can be certified TO have been grown by
nursol yunen FOR che purpose, or those
that have boon cut by practical forestors
Thinning out forests to benefit and fur
thcr the growth OF other trees. Al per
sulIS who IN future shall sell Christmas
trees in IN" markets or at private sale
authorization In legal form
les held rs robbers and the pur-
'hdscrs as accomplices.
fRED j. BRAENplE.
N~AsHtNGroN. n. e., December "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
Misinterpveting senator O'Gorman.

l. is now asserted that Senator
jams A. OfioRMAN's statement In
which the country was notified that
It's choice in the campaign of 1916
might lie between WILSON with Peace
aud RoosE>ALr with War. was nc.
tuuliy the opening Of the canvass in
behalf Of the present tenant of the
While House. and that the associa-
tion oi Mr., WILSON'S name with the
continuance Of peace indicates broadly
the appeal that is 10 he made in his
behalf to the electors.
But how can Mr.. WILSON guarau-
toe peace? There is only one way in
which he can promise II that is by
p!edging himself to a policy in ac-
eordsnce with which no insult shall
he resented In II fashion other than
literary. M aggression resisted except
by the interpretation Of purely formal
protests. How would the declaration
Of such a programme affect the people
Of the United states? What effect
would II have on the plans of military
preparedness that have lately re-
ceived the approval Of Mr.. WILSON.
and which he has recommended to
the Coneress7
Mr.. WILSON Is not likely to prOmul-
ga@e the doctrine OF non-resistance
these interpreters Of Mr.. OGoRMAN's
remarks have read into them. He is
not less anxious for success in his
projects, personal and political, than
another, and he would not he the first
deliberately to hamstring himself on
entering q race.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
hospital supplies for the Teutonic
Armies.

II may he suspected that there is
more red tape than reason in the re-
fussl Of the British Government to
let or American Red Cross supply Of
1000 meters of rubber tubing AMI
1000 square meters of rubber sheet
Ing pass into Germany by way of the
Netherlands for TeutOnic hospital
uses in southeastern Europe. Ger
tainly the quantity is none too much
for the purpose as declared. No
precedent would he established open
ing the door TO heavy consignmenrs
of rubber, ostensibly for army hos
pitfalls but ~designedly for conversion
INFO war material. The shipments
could he stopped when suspicious, for
nol only i rubber omitted from the
list of hospital supplies accepted b.
Great Britain and Germany under
Section ! of Article 20 of the Dec.
claratiOn of London, hui rubber is
contrabund by legitimate declaration
VI i'h'h hih lfI ullltS.
The right 10 stop the entrance OF
rubber into a neutral country for
ira nsshlpment TO any Of the enemy
~belligerents cnnno he contested, but
II would he inhumnn to hold up the
staple when intended for the military
hospital service, The guaranty of
the American Red Cross should be
satisfactory. and Great Britain will
deserve condemnation if the permit
asked for is NOT granted and this
Is SO whether the American Red
Cross can give or cannot give the as.
that It's rubber will he used
by REQ Cross agents and o@f,crw,rd
destroyed. The poin, is rco,l, ma,
worth fighting about, ice Rr,,,.,,
Government should A.. realize Tim, !.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
FAITH. THE SWORD OF GOD.
An AdN"cai" OF Disarmament sets
Forth His Theory Of Preparedness.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUNNI: .I
Wants kuo" requests that "some sin
cerc exponent ~ the doctrine of mn
preparedness tell MS exactly what his
programme of peace Includes" am
an advocate Of what believe TO be the
only lastingly effective preparedness
but as my doctrine is the direct antitho.
sis OF his, perhaps ! may be permitted
TO state II very briefly. | also wish To
ask II Wnuta kno" to read and reflect
on an article headed How Prayer Ke-,ps
This Home Going on page 3 of The
Sun of December 81.
My programme for both personal and
national preparedness is the practice
of christianity. which, In common with
all other real religions. Is based on an
enthusiastic knowledge that Goo pro-
Nldes every good thing We desire,
health, wealth. protection. sc, according
to our degree of faith. This, with clean,
straightforward living and the Golden
Rul", every day a~ccomplishes for indi-
viduals miracles as great as any re-
corded IN scripture, as any honest. care
iul Investigator can verify.
believe this law of Azure must apply
to nations as well us to individ hut
M nation has ever had tho faith or in
telllseice or courage to try Christian
lily in It's basic TEACHINGS. All rely at
the hast on force, tho greatest of
bIa'pheinles, and then cali on the Deity
to help settle things their way.
Faith is the sword OF God. VIII
\merica yet be- the first nation Ia give
God a chance to show what lie can do
for M? We CannOt have both Christ
and annons
CHOOSE We whom ye will serve.
WILLIAM PENN O'BRmN.
oGpGNsnuRG. December "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
SCIENTISTS GATHER
FROM ALL AMERICAS
Secretary Lansing Will Make
an Address at Opening Of
the Congress.
RECEPTION BY PRESIDENT

WAsHINcToN. Dec. 25.-Delcya,cs r.
the Pan-American Scientific Cony,ss
began to arrive here to-day. Tho bs
gathering of scientists. statesmen ANA
legal authorities Of the American ,,nub
lies will hold its first session on Mond,,
morning.
A great force of clerks and trars,.
tors. who have beer busy for the ma,
two months at the pan-American Tn,o,
and who are now installed In Offices %,
tablished at the New willard, will In,
their attention from now on to H.. AZ.
fairs OF the Congress and the forty.av.
sections as they meet.
The first meeting of the cor-rcs,
which Will be addressed by Secretary n,
State Lansing and formally called 10
order by Ambassador Eduardo Su,rc,
MuJlca or Chile. president of the con.
gross. will be held at Continental ,s
mortal Hall Monday morning.
There will be two regular meeting, =,
the congress proper. according ~ NJ.
ent arrangements. After the o,.ufry
session on Monday morning tho dole
gates Will divide themselves into p.,.
sections and each section Will b. din d.a
INTO sub-sect!ons So that there Will hs .,
all forty-five sectional meetings In pru,
ress beginning Tuesday and cou'ru.1y
until January r.
On January q the second and Lac -.,
ular meeting OF the congress ui1p,r "
held. hen h chairmcn Of th. y,
GUS sections VIII make thor r.rr,,.
ana the resolutions and
will be considered and adop,.d ar
rejected.
President Wilson will aidrc, pa. ,.r.
gates at the final session and oHt,. ,l,
receive them at the White Hpu.. ou ,b.
Following day. Mr.. Wilson . hpuor,r,
president OF the congress.
Ambassador Suarez as president VIII
at the meetings OF the couur,..
proper. The vicc-p-eside nts are S...rs
OF State Lansing. Ambas,ador f..
lama OF Brazil, Minister Caldc,,n n.
Minister dc Pena OF I'ruu,,V
Mendez OF Guatemala. Minis.
er Iezct OF Peru, Minister BotapcoJ-
u '"Iohpla, Minister Ncl1sgur. O.
Minister Morales II Panama
ChamO-ro of Nicaragu1. Mn.
Cordova of Ecuador. Ni,..,1,
Menos OF Hayti. Minister de D,, lrds.
II Cuba Minister Dominici of N,rasr.
HaldiNar of Salvador. Miu....
sueSida of Costa Iica. Minister p
ONO OF the Dominican Republic. Char.
.NHalr'S Dial of Honduras. and Charg.
Andlfes Quintana of Argentina
lHe delegates are divided INTO two
laSses-the official rcpresent.fy,..f ,..
countries OF North. Son,
ma Central America. appointed bv -.
governments, u the officltl rom.
entdtives Of the universities. l~car~c! ST.
leLes and associations of sclcuiifi, an.
EDUCATIONAL character. chosen T.. n.
OF these organizations
mere arc eighty OF the fist u1u.
lass. These arc the delegates wNo V
the vote Of their countrv in ~.
ohHresS, oach country being ent tied g.
ne Note' There are more than 500 90
n" iatt"r class Their reports ard t,
"Ss''i'S VIII provide the basis 10, 'r.
concentrations TO the congress
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
NEGRO EDUCATION.
As an Investment It's Success Is At.
tested by Continued Support.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Sir. If
the money sperd on the education of the
negro race does not bring any propor-
tionate returns, II II is a useless invest
ment, the expenditure should not be-
continued. But while the negro has
not reached he foremost positions in
the sciences and arts. though he Is not
IA Newton, Bacon, Morse, Edison or
Marconi. he has made such an advance
that he deserves this praise which mas
been given him "The most notable
thing in tho history OF the of
the negro race in the United States IL
its progress in education, using the
IN its broadest sense"
The very fact that the philanthropists
and friends of the race are with him
yet speaks in his favor. They know
that "hc Is not to he judged by the
he has reached. but by the
of degradation and infamy from
which he has emerged" The negro ia
not a mineral. Time and patience will
be his best masters. n his lips shall
utter praise TO his friends.
JoHN BoNuLA.
BROOKLYN, December "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
New Works Appeal to Warrington.

The Public Service Commission for
this district is a State agency. and its
appeal to the United States Govern
ment for aid in ending the alleged
discriminatory practices of the
Standard Oil Company typifies the
numerous efforts made by States to
have the Federal Government do
their work. The reason for the con
fession Of futility involved In it *
difficult to find; is it Il fact that the
commission In conducting its inQuir.
les has exhausted the broad powers
conferred on II by the Legislature?
1t may be that the State officers are
not competent to undertake p nation
wide investigation Of the petroleum
trade. although Mr.. HAprEy of Mis-
souri,. while serving his State ms At
torney-General. supplied n precedent
that has not been forgotten. But the
commission has ample authority TO re-
veal the relations between the oil
company and it's customers here by
an inquest into the conditions and
terms on which the New York cor.
porations affected transact their bust
ness. These having been laid bare,
the correction Of any ine1uitablc
practices that might he disclosed-lf
any cSist-should be attempted under
the State laws. Should these be
found inadequate, which Is improb-
able. there would be justification IN
soliciting the intervention Of the Fed
eral Government.
To q @ the aid Of Washington be
fore every o Of the State Is
exhausted Is 10 belittle the authority |
of New York and contemn its soyer-
II Is to yield to the too com.
impulse to load on the United
States the tasks that should he per-
formed by the State, and thus to
decrease its usefulness, Because this
has frequently been done the phrases
aggression and State rights
lost much of their significance.
Discrimination and neglect by tho
to perform their duties ac.
count In large measure for the in.
Of Federal oficialdom in
local matters. There is no OK.
for New York to give Impetus
to this seriously disquieting political
development.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
stud FOR PREpAREDNESSi
Why Not Let Congress DO the Needed
Work Now?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr. All
Americans believe In being prepared.
But as to what preparation Is for. or
when or where it will be needed. nobody
Is agreed. l believe In preparation as
much as the next man. But I want to
pase II on a definite conception OF It's
objects and of the places and times re-
CURED for its realization.
Before Congress changes the present
policy. military and foreign. Of the coun-
try, by voting an unusual mount OF
money for the army or navy. 1t should
make a thorough investigation of these
Two arms OF the service, II should also
investigate the general military situa-
non developed by the war. and report to
the country. This report should be the
issue In next years political campaign.
That such knowledge should precede
discussion. n that discussion precede
action 10 q political maxim as old as the
Funeral Grafton Of Pericles. There 10
plenty Of routine work for Congress to
do In the way Of preparedness. But a
change or policy that will need the gen.
ira and awakened support Of the whole
country should not be maugurated by a
nasty and Ill considered expenditure of
a large sum Of money.
When the war closes we shall, BIO in
a better position to prepare ourselves
than any OF the belligerent nations. We
are entirely too divided in our counsels
and national life to get prepared for any
operation on n large scale be-
fore the close Of the war. 1 believe tina.
the European Governments know very
well what they are fighting for. But II
Incident Of the war brought us
INTO the conflict there would he no def
mite conceptions of why we did It. The
i-usitania anair left the man in the
street far moro Indifferent to our ma
tiona1 honor than many would like to |
admit.
In order to attain that unity of ma.
tional thought m action that the fi-
ture demands let us have a Congress
sional investigation and report, national |
discussion and a vote for n new policy.
II. ]. LLOYD.
BLooMINOBrRO December "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
WHERE IS THE PROFIT?
Retrospective Consideration Of Gov.
eminent Pursuit Of a Mnnnnnlx.

TO ruE t.prroR oF TUE SrN-Sir: VIII
you kindly fi-lre ont at your lei
now tho American people have gained
by the Governments onslaught directed
against the STANDARD oil COMPANY?
At tho beginning Of operations the
STANDARD oil stock was valued at
$500, 600 ,00o. The Government decided
that this monopoly was an Injustice
to the public and should be obliteratcd.
ordering the Standard oil Comrany to
reinNest Itself into IT'S former parts.
This was done. with the result today
that the stock OF these combined com
panies is worth three times as much as
at the TIM the Government commenced
business operations in tho interest OF
the people To-day's valuations ara
1900. 900. 900.
Great is tho law. with the price Of
going from nine to twenty cents
since the Government came to the res
cue of tho dear people.
BEACON HILL.
BOSTON, December -.