davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-09-08
ARMY IN COMMAND
ON TEXAS BORDER
Officers to Have Full Authority
Over Actions of Civilians
on River Bank.
AIDS MEXICAN OFFICIALS
IN SURPRISING BANDITS
New Military Order Interpreted
Here as an Added Precaution
Against Frontier Disorders.

BROWNSVILLE, Tex. Sep
tember 8.-The United States
Army today took the most impor-
tant step it has yet made in the
border complications OF the lower
Rio Grarde valley when an order
was issued here giving to army
officers command over the actions
OF, civilians on the river bank in
case shooting across the interna-
tional boundary is resumed.
Local peace officers heretofore have
been permitted to participate in re-
turning the fire of the MeXicans from
the other side of the river. In some
cases these peace officers have pursued
bandits fleeing from the Texas side to
the river banks. and then held battle
with them across the international line.
Hereafter the army will attempt to
handle all situations of whatever sort
which arise on the Rio Grande.
Evening star., 1915-09-08
WEATHER

Partly cloudy and continued warm
tonight and tomorrow: possibly thun-
der showers tomorrow; light southerly
wines.
Temperature for past twenty-four
hours: Highest, IS, at $50 pm. yes
terday: lowest, 50. at am. today.
For full report see page u.
Evening star., 1915-09-08

Last Weeks Sworn Net Circulation
Daily Average, 6S,719; sunday, 81 500.
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31
By Mary Austin

REAT numbers Of Americans trekking
toward the exposition this summer
- would have been saved much embar-
rassn1ent by knowing exactly when they had
passed the invisible line between what in these
United States is East and what is called West
They could have discovered it by observing
the inhabitants Of any section confronted with
q new proposition, touching anything from
vacuum cleaners to political organization
When il is said. That's never been done be
fore: we'd better not try it, that is still the
East: but when the answer is, in quite another
accent. WHY, that's never been done before
let's try it, past any question, you have
reached the West This is the same as saying
that you could also have found out by in
curing how the locality stood toward Hiram
w. Johnson. Out West they reckon political
distances from him just as travellers do from
Pixies Peak or Popocatapetl.
Governor Johnson of California is so West
ern that. seeing the man, you never think of it
any more than you think Of drive wheels and
steam gauges when you watch one OF the great
Mogul engines OF the Southern Pacific pull out
for the Tehachapi grade You admire it, and
also you are little afraid for sup
pose il should get out OF hand2 But the mo
ment the Governor begins to speak you feel
the basis Of understanding broaden to include
the whole solid bulk OF humanity.
THE THING DONE-NOT THE THING
PROJECTED.
There he sat before me: square built little
portly, little gray at the temples, eyes light
and alert, jaw smooth shaven. definite, finger
ing the edge OF his desk with well kept
capable hand, the embodiment Of controlled
selt-starting power. And the most character
istic thing about him the way in which
he met my first question as to where the Pro-
gressive track, on which he runs, is going and
what il means to do when it gets there.
The Progressive party" said the Governor
must stand on its present and past per
iorrances"
That is Johnson all over: The thing done
apd not the thing projected. He can tell you
what Progressivism has accomplished in Cali
iornia in Illinois, in Wisconsin; what it has
come out of what left behind, what avoided
But he refuses TO limit it by saying what it
will do next.
1T is the Out Trail, said the Governor In
that phrase was compacted the experience OF
the West whose most amazing achievements
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31
The Use of Present Balomg Quarters Is Constant Temp
tatiOn to the Illegal Conduct Of Elections Says the
President of the Honest Ballot Association.

surely is not the watchers fault Whose fault
is il?
The politicians say that they must have
rented rooms. small or large, and patronage;
and explain that no political party can live
without patronage; the shopkeepers say they
will take the money; the ward heeer says he
likes the crowded room on Election Day and
has no objection to confusion and disorder; the
watcher says he wants quiet and room 10 per-
form his duties the law says he may have
them in commodius public buildings; and the
Board of Elections says it is doing its best. and
has appointed fourteen schoolhouses out of
2,l00 election districts which contain $50
schools The general public has not been men
toned, but we think it will be interested in the
story of how it happens.
Polling places in New York City have long
been source OF patronage for political or
carnations and district captains Pool parors
are often designated as voting places. Fish
stores. butcher shops and noodle shops are
not uncommon. Barber shops and laundries
have been used by the hundreds.
An example OF what exists to-day is a poll
ING place in plumbers shop at l64 Avenue
A, about which the Honest Ballot Association
complained in 1913. The place is only ten
ieet WIDE and seventeen feet long-about half
the minimum size necessary for voting pur-
poses-but this shop is still used as a polling
place. despite the fact that both public school
and public bath building are located In that
election district The city pays SOS to the
plumber for the use of his very inadequate
Shop when it might have used spacious room
III the public school free of any rental charge.
Likewise at "a Bowery. narrow ill-htted pic
ture framing store is used at the same cost. in
district that contains two public schools and
police precinct station house; and in small
barber shop at So Pike Street. there is board
sitting which might have convened instead at
Public School No. 2. At the northern end of
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31
Mary Austin Dissects Governor
Johnson, of California, Probable
Progressive Presidential Candi-
date, and Finds He Bushes Easi-
ly and Is a Practical Altruist.

have come about simply by expanding when
the opportunity came in the unforeseen direc-
ton That is what constitutes the difference
between Progressivism and Socialism, dis
tincton that has worried some other people
more than il has the Progressives. For Social
ism looks forward to point Of social fixity,
and Progressivism consists chiefly in living up
to the full opportunity for development
Il regard as the most hopeful sign" said
Mr.. Johnson. "thc speech OF Senator Root be
fore the Constitutional Convention. at Albany,
in which ideas that were looked upon year
or two ago as the widest radioalism were
adopted without question
Pressed for confession Of his own faith in
the future. he turned me persistently back tow
ard the things accomplished He told me a
great deal about the Dangerous Occupation
Industrial Accident Bureau, most Of which
have forgotten and the Workmen's Compen-
sation law, prepared by experts after two years
i Of experimentation.
The State OF California wrote more insur-
ance last year" he said, than any private con
Germ, and refunded IS per cent Then we
talked Of the Minimum Wage Commission and
with its inspection OF labor camps We talked
at length OF this, because this is at once the
most picturesque and personal Of the problems
Of California labor. Up and down state from
the end of rains until the beginning OF them
again great bands OF itinerant labor pass from
orange picking to spricots and raisins and hops,
not little like the free companies that over
ran Europe a few hundred years ago. They
are often in family groups and camp and live
almost entirely out OF doors. II was in con
nection with one Of these that the burst Hop
Ranch riot occurred. which has been made so
much Of by the I. w. w.
"A the conditions of these camps had been
taken into consideration" said the Governor,
"and it was largely to meet these that the COM
mission was established. 1t went into effect
just week after the rioting occurred. 1t is
unjust TO the people of California to give so
much publicity to the riot and so little to the
remedy
Especially" said l, when it was only a
week behind the conditions that called for it.
Do you expect TO keep as close as that with
all your labor legislation?"
THE AIM is HUMAN LEGISLATION.
Well now, eXpostulated the Governor, 81
don't like that term, labor legislation AS
soon as you put qualifying word before it
that makes class legislation of it, and ! am
opposed to class legislation of any sort. Call
IT human legislation. That's what we are
after To recognize the human problem and
solve it humanity"
All this is perfectly consistent with what we
know OF Hiram Johnson's political beginnings
The opening slogan of his first campaign was
Down with the Southern Pachcr
Anybody who has read Frank Norrs's novel
The Octupus' will understand something of
the strangle hold which the Southern Pacific
Railway Company had on the vitals OF Cali
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

Manhattan there is polling place in a small,
poorly lighted fish store for which the tax
payers are assessed SOS, when the large public
school, on l28th Street, might have been used
without cost In the congested sections Of
Brooklyn, conditions are no better. Although
the city pays only $50 for the use of very
small pool parlor at 573 Hicks Street there
are two public schools in that district from
which to choose adequate quarters without the
usual expense for rent.
The use OF such places as these and the
many others like them in the city is a constant
temptation to the illegal conduct OF elections.
New York has not resisted the temptation.
With crowd around the ballot box and an
other crowd around the inspectors ballots have
appeared and disappeared and no one found
10 blame. An election is necessarily an excit-
ing moment In the life of city and its citizens.
Compress the excitement into small room
and little wonder that in the turmoil man
may vote three times and no public servant be
held accountable. Surround the election with
such conditions and the highest duty of cit-
zen TO the state-that OF choosing his rulers
and resentatves-becomes an affair in
which the thug is at home and the reputable
voter out Of his element
These were the conditions that patient pub
lie had tolerated as inevitable until the advent
of Raymond b. Fosdick as Commissioner OF
Accounts. From him, in 1911. came the first
official suggestion that schools might be used
TO provide more commodious polling places
at reduced expense" The Honest Ballot AS
sociation has taken the more advanced ground
that schools and public buildings would not
only furnish commodious quarters in which
election officers and voters might take COM
fort and pride. but also would act as deter
rent to election crimes Fosdick's sug-
gestion grew out Of his investigation OF the
conduct OF the Board OF Elections in New
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

~ ANCCDNA ANFOAN " N4AS AAOltcSN DoiAON
"A Association over the telephone from o
political party headquarters added the
proverbial straw and was the occasion for
placing this article before the printer. I'VE
have a watcher the voice said Miss -,
in the 18th Election District Of the Sd Assem-
bly, District. who has been forced to leave the
polling place on account Of the bad air and
crowded quarters. She is laid up for the week
This place is awfuly unfit. Can't you do some
thing2"
The records OF the association show that
located in the same district are two school
houses and FIRE house, and investigation
showed that although the polling place was
not by any means among the worst in the city.
yet II was totally inadequate to accommodate
me tour inspectors two ballot clerks. two poll
clerks one policeman, two representatives each
Oh seven political parties, one representative
eseh OF the suffrage and anti-suffrage parties
ana the eight voters. who on Election Day arc
allowed behind the guard rail at one time. We
do not mention the public, who under the law
are permitted 10 be present but in practice are
Kept on the pavement in the sun. if ii shines. or
IN the rain II il rains. The room 10 acconmo.
date this crowd and the necessary booths. bal.
lot boxes. tables, chairs and other paraphernalia
was approximately fifteen feet square, and vet
the law says the school house or FIRE house
should be used free OF cost instead of the fif.
teen foot room at $50 rent cost
The school houses have large assembly
rooms and, level with the street. indoor play
grounds with cement floors. thousands of cubic
feet of air space and clusters OF lights in the
ceiling. Instead of these commodus quarters
and contrary TO the intention OF the law. small
inadequate shops are generally used throughout
the city. One OF the first resultant eonsidera-
ton in choosing watcher for Election Day
is his endurance The same man should act
throughout the day. for obvious reasons.
Yes the answer to the query goes, I'VE
" ould like you 70 serve. but can you stand
wedged in a crowd for eighteen hours in
small room with bad air and keep your judg-
nent and your courage and your temper2"
rne watcher says yes" and goes; but il he
,r she is careless at S O'clock dog tired a,
p. m, and oblivious to duty at midnight, i,
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

York City, as result Of which John T. Doo-
ling, president at that time, failed to secure
a reappointment as Commissioners of Elections
and was replaced by the late J. Gabriel Britt,
then serving as an assistant corporation coun-
sci.
The year following Commissioner Fosdick's
report Leo Arnstein secretary of the Borough
of Manhattan, under date of August TO- 1912,
wrote the Board OF Elections urging the desig-
nation Of public schools as polling places by
way of experiment. To this letter Commits
soner Britt replied: I'VE believe that this is
matter which does not require experimentation.
We believe that public schools, and, as l myself
have suggested to you, public Libraries could
be designated as polling places If certain abso-
lutte powers were conferred on the Board Of
Elections by statute"
No immediate action resulted from Mr.. Arm
STEMS request, except that the Board of Elec-
tions in all its subsequent annual reports to
the Mayor, has urged legislation permitting it
to use school houses as polling places. Two
years later, in 1914, bill was prepared which
gave the Board OF Elections the power to
designate school houses as polling places.
Following the introduction OF the bill, the
Honest Ballot Association, on March ls,
called conference of all the organizations
and departments interested In or affected by
this legislation. At that conference resolutions
were adopted urging the legislature to pass the
bill, introduced in their respective branches
by Assemblyman Goldberg and Senator Simp-
son. The resolutions were signed by the
Board of Elections, the Board of Education,
the Honest Ballot Association. the Peoples In
sttute, the Corporation Counsel the City
Club. the Citizens Union, the Municipal Gov
ernment Association. and the New York Young
Republican lub.
1t will be remembered that in 1914 New
York State had 4 Republican Assembly and q
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

Democratic Senate. They locked horns and
deadlocked legislation. The bill passed the
Assembly, which, under the then existing con-
ditons. was ample reason for the Senate re-
iecting it. This is exactly what the Senate did.
But the interest aroused in 1914 over the
prospect OF securing we'll ventilated, spacious
and comfortable quarters in schools and other
public buildings did not die. Immediately fol-
lowing the 1914 election new bill was pre-
pared and introduced in the Legislature at the
1915 session. This bill provided for the sig
nature of the voter at the primaries, for re-
duction in the payroll OF the Office of the State
Superintendent Of Elections of approximately
Sl50,0Oo per annum. for registration on the first
five evenings Of the week and all day Saturday.
for minor reforms in election procedure, ard,
lastly, for the use of schools and other public
buildings for registration and election pur-
poses.
In all previous discussion as to the use of
schools as polling places one of the chief OBJ
jections had been that the registration hours
interfered with school hours, and that the task
Of rearranging the buildings so that children
and voters should not be inextricaby mixed
entailed a necessary and heavy expenditure.
With the change in the hours of registration
to evenings and Saturday this difficulty was
overcome and the way seemed clear to the
early adoption of schools Libraries, engine
houses, police precinct stations Offices and
other public buildings as polling places.
In the meanwhile, at the request of the
Honest Ballot Association and Citizens
Union. Mayor Mitchell had directed the Com
missioner Of Accounts Leonard M. Wallstein,
to make thorough investigation Of the Office
OF the Board Of Elections Mr.. Wallstein con-
Quoted this examination with acknowledged
impartality and ability. With reference to
polling places and the new law providing
for the use of sehoolhouses he found that
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

fornia. and how the struggle to loosen its suck
ing tentacles would appeal to man like John
son. Something of what he went through can
be guessed from the fact that during his first
campaign his own father took the stump
against him. The elder Johnson, Senator John
son at that time, was brilliant reactionary.
who never forgave the University OF California
for making Free Trader OF his son. The in
Auences Of the higher education are too elu-
sive to make proper antagonist; you can't
fight them any more than you can stand up to
a parallelopipedon but the Senator could and
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

did take it out of Hiram. That the Governor
could come out Of it without any scar OF bitter
ness is a witness to his sound sense Of humor,
which showed itself shyly little later in the
conversation.
had been trying 10 get some sort of social
theory from the Governor which would look
we'll in an interview and give line on his
spiritual direction. / had begun it by inquir-
ing for the leaders of the Social Faith on the
Pacific Coast, andfound I was obliged to ex-
plain exactly what I meant by prophet of
labor
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

you mean these parlor anarchists Oh'
YES. we have good many OF themE
And this from the only Governor OF Cali
fornia who has ever lived up TO all the promises
of his campaign literature!
But the truth is that Governor Johnson car
ries no excess baggage of theory. He believes
only in what works, but he never decides that
il won't work until ne has tried it.
1t is very difficult to express this TO the
East. 7 should say that 1t consists in living
spiritually from hand to mouth, if it were not
that we have associated with that hgure the
idea OF meagreness. And there is nothing
meagre about the Governors attitude. 1t IS
accomplished by simply taking up whatever
YOU need with which to do whatever has to be
done to-day, and knowing that there is always
plenty left for tomorrow Perhaps it comes
of being only one generation removed from
race Of pioneers who were obliged to leave to-
rnorrow's need until tomorrow, and found II
abundantly supplied.
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

polling places were designated as purely polit'
ical patronage made available to the faith
fup In each organization" He recommended
that "as promptly as possible the board shoud
take full advantage of recent legislation which
empowers it to designate public schools and
other public buildings" He also criticised the
board for treating this matter as an "expe1'
ment."
With the purpose OF discovering what aetu'
ally was the result OF this experiment the
Honest Ballot Association sent a commis'ee
to the schoolhouses in Manhattan, Brooklyn
and The Bronx to hear direct from inspectors
police and voters their opinion OF the innova
ton. There was only one complaint whien
confronted the committee. Smoking Is not
permitted in schools by either the Board Of
Education or the Fire Department Just
about o'clock this afternoon inspector
remarked, II couldn't stand it any longer ana
lit up, and-f the Fire Commissioner hiniseh
didn't turn up and put it out"
On every other score the experiment vas
declared to be success-more light, mo''
air, more space and therefore greater etheiene'
was adjudged to be the final result. There
nothing surprising about this. Thrty-0n'
cities in eighteen states have previously adop'
ed the plan.
The Board of Elections has declared iSe''
as favoring the use OF public buildings fof ~
possible election purposes, and yet at this e'e'
ton, after the enabling legislation had os'"
in force for seven months, it designated '0'
teen such places out OF total OF over '''''
We hope the board viii! Immediately inefe".
the number and save the city the major p'''
of the sI7s,ooo spent in renting the p'e'e".
largely inadequate quarters. In the meah''D.
taxes are increasing faster than taxpayers az
being born We have quoted Wallsteins =
port as to the influences to which the po.'s
of Elections has been subjected and by wn,s'
il has been dominated. Should these 'nns
ences cause further delay In this much nee''s
reform, we believe it is the part OF the e'''',
to insist through taxpayers associations sas
civic bodies that the budget appropranon "
the Board of Elections be so reduced 'n''
shall be forced TO give better polling p'A'''
for less money.
New-York tribune., 1915-10-31

n 70 quite in harmony that Mrs. Aust'n called
The bioqea uomdn the Coat has produced
should MEASURE up SrSih her keen pen GorerH-
or Johnson, the dominant man, politically, OF
n. Wet Mrs Aostin rcds especially com
rsissioned by The Tribune 10 'ntervieic
Gorernor Johnson, and che here drdIrs pen
picture Of one of the mort important Of the
P-o0ressivists ,cho aiH decide uhere 10
fhro5c the 5rcoh Of he, party at the coming
nnhonal lIeciion.