davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cordova daily times., 1915-07-01

The price of amored steel and other munitions of war are advancing This is sign of the times, and let hope that the cost of this fray will increase much and fast that warning nations will be brought to realize that they can not keep
The Cordova daily times., 1915-07-01

Just had heard that Germany going to be good about sinking ships hear of another big liner meeting watery grave.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-07-01

Will German diplomacy make another mistake when it allies.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
NEEDLESS SLAUGHTER
Most Automobile Killings Preventable
Under Adequate Regulations.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: I have been reading with considera-
bic interest comments in the public press re-
garding the killing Of Karl Bitter by an au-
tomobie. It is most unfortunate that this
DISTINGUISHED artist should have met his
death in what can be classed as preventable
accident But must We wait until some
prominent citizen Is killed in this manner
before the authorities and the public are
aroused to action, when our annual slaughter
of human beings in this city by motor vehi-
cles has averaged 300 for the last three
years? Nine hundred human lives needlessly
lost!
The responsibility for these killings rests
with the state, as time and again measures
Of prevention have been recommended, but
have failed to be acted upon.
A year ago there was considerable agita-
ton in the public press in regard to the in
creasing number OF automobile fatalities in
this city. As a result committee of citi-
zens, of which 1 was a member, had several
meetings at the American Museum OF Safety
to discuss motor vehicle accidents and their
prevention. Investigations of the causes and
locations Of these accidents, as revealed by
evidence obtained at the coroners' inquests,
showed that of 176 people killed in the Bor-
ough of Manhattan in 1913, 90 per cent were
killed at street intersections, and rs per
cent Of these accidents were the fault Of the
operator Of the car in turning corners at
high speed without any warning 70 the pedes-
trians.
Despite the fact that these deaths were
due to gross criminal negligence, none of
these reckless drivers was punished even to
the extent of being deprived of the privilege
of driving cars
Our committee made tho following recon-
mendations to the proper authorities:
That the recommendation of the Board of
Coroners that police order No. 10, issued
May 10, 1910, not to arrest drivers after run
ming over human beings, be rescinded, as
number of drivers of motor vehicles escaped
from the jurisdiction of the authorities and
could not be found later, when an investiga-
ton of the case revealed criminal negligence.
That a state law be enacted licensing all
operators Of cars, owners as well as chauf-
feurs, after an examination; revocation Of
the license for one month, a year, or totally.
if the offence justiies it; all accidents TO be
reported by the owner or operator of the
car; moro rigid enforcement of the traffic
ordinances by tho post patrolman as well as
the traffic squad, and one of the magistrates
courts to be assigned as traffic court,
where violators Of the law, when apprehend-
ed, would soon become known, as their rec
ords. could be kept in this court. This would
simplify means Of getting facts to revoke the
license.
want to say to Karl Bitters friends that
had these measures of prevention been en-
acted his life and the lives of many Of our
citizens might have been saved
GEORGE P. LIE BRUN.
New York, April 20, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
Water on Both Shoulders.

Considering the disregard for 1.-THE Ia
Dor" vote which the majority at Albany
displayed in manhandling the workmen's
compensation law and the Labor Depart
ment, its tenderness in refusing to repeal
the full crew law seems like straining at a
gnat and swallowing a camel. The com
promise bill, which would have enabled the
Public Service Commission to determine
the necessity for extra men in train crews,
as stipulated by that law, was not ade-
quate. Nevertheless, it would have been
better than the existing statute. 1t at
least afforded opportunity for an inquiry
into the situation which does not now ex-
list.
Having refused to adopt even this meas
ure, the Legislature placed itself in the
position of offending labor under cir
cumstances where the arguments of labor
advocates conceded with the great body Of
Independent, disinterested public senti-
ment and Of backing up labor" where-the
labor advocates had weak, if not wholly
meritless, case. Such a course may be
good politics and good lawmaking, but 1t
does not seem like either. An effort to
carry water on both shoulders IS never
easy and seldom successful.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | do not know if you will publish this
letter from an Englishman, who, after enjoy
ing and profting from this country's hospi-
tality at intervals for nearly quarter Of a
century, has up to now tried to hold his
tongue and appear as neutral as possible, but
who, after walking up last night from the
City Hall TO Columbus Circle and stopping TO
listen to the many groups Of street orators
standing around the bulletin boards, finds
j. quite impossible 70 refrain from suggest
ing few extra topics for them.
The writer was much struck by the fact
that the majority of the argument leaders,
many Of them apparently trained speakers,
had such a strong German accent and evil
IDENTIFY had their points for argument and dis
cussion well cut and dried.
The new points would suggest are.
!. II the German submarines axe so won
derful, why do they not stop the British
transports, which are carrying an average Of
1900 troops day across the English Chan
mel. instead of wasting their torpedoes on
harmless merchant and fishing vessels carry
ing only acknowledgement men, women and
children, and in many cases not even belong
ing 10 the fighting nations?
,. Why, before crying out in horror at the
threat Of Britain 10 blockade Germany and
cut OF supplies, so possibly starving German
women and children, do they not go to one
Of the public Libraries and read an account Of
the siege Of Paris in the '7O's, when the shoe
was on the other foot?
3. Why, when crying out against the Amer
lean people for selling arms and other sup
rlies to the Allies, do they ignore the fact
that the American markets are open to the
world and, if they wish, the big ships which
are tied UP at Hoboken can be loaded to-
morrow and sail for Europe? Il the German
navy is all they claim it 70 be, why does it
not come out and escort them across the At
lantic? The writer cannot see for his life
what America has to do With this. Her mer-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
Vicious Anti-Americanism.

1t is amazing to what lengths some OF
the hyphenated newspapers in this coun-
try are willing to 60 in order to foment
spirit of anti-Americanism among the
alien elements which have settled here. On
Saturday, for example, the "New Yorker
Herod" printed an editorial whose chief
purpose was apparently TO demonstrate the
importance Of united political action on the
part of German-Americans. The German
American youth, it said, ought to be in
structed as to the practical value Of soil
darity, since in that way only could the
German element here maintain its position
against the English-American element, de-
fend its own rights, and prevent discrim-
nations directed against it.
To drive this advice home the article
charged that determinations are now
made against naturalized citizens which
have no warrant in the Constitution. The
expatriation law was mentioned as one of
these. since it puts a limitation (and a
very wise one, at that on the liberty Of
an alien naturalized here to return for an
Indefinite residence in the land of his birth
or former allegiance. The Discrimination
of the government (also fully justified) to
send naturalized citizens as diplomatic or
consular officers to the countries of their
birth was also criticised.
But the limit of vicious anti-American-
ism was reached in the statement that no
naturalzed citizen can become a Federal
Judge, according to our unwritten law.
whatever judicial qualifications he pos
sesses and however pure and fine his char
acter may be. Moreover, according TO the
"Herold's" critic, "in the government Of
fees in Washington one finds almost no
naturalized Americans; the officials are
mostly impoverished dependents of old
American families. who have gotten their
jobs through pull"
The charge that no naturalized citizen
can become a Federal judge is a malicious
invention. There have been three JUS.
tees of the Supreme Court of foreign
birth. Sanford B. Dole, one Of the Federal
District Judges for the District Of Hawaii,
was born a Hawaiian. Jacob Trieber, Dis
trict Judge for the Eastern District Of
Arkansas, was born in Germany. There
is no prohibition, written or unwritten,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
The Home VS.. the Saloon.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The letter of F. C. Scudder on "Home-
Destroying Ballots" is fair example of the
sense of justice Of large percentage of men
He says: "a number of women would I'M
doubtedly demand Office, and others would
have Offices rendered to them for political
purposes. Do you think this further invasion
Of mans sphere will tend to keep the home
life, which you will admit is the foundation
Of our social life intact?"
There is no anxiety about the "home'
when women 20 out to work, which takes
them out Of the home, in work and transit
twelve hours day, such as working in stores
and factories and scrubbing Office floors, but
woman's getting a soft Job" 1t Is "inva-
sion of mans sphere" and there Is great
alarm about "the home"
Nearly 100000 women are now voting in
this country alone, and we do not hear any
thing about destruction OF "the home" where
they vote, and no state has repealed the law
Of equality. He asks "Will II not make mar
rage less attractive 20 women"
Il men would be decent themselves and
treat women as companions and equals and
would ask women to marry it would make
marriage more attractive to women"
The trouble with "the home" is that too
many men prefer the saloon to the home and
prefer the painted and perfumed public won-
en- to honest, faithful, hard working. true
home making women.
GEORGE VI BEERBoWER
New York, April %, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26

against the appointment OF foreign-oorh
citizens 10 the Federal bench any moro
than there is against the choice OF Tor
cign born citizens as state judges.
AS TO the charge that almost no foreign
born citizens ever get into office in WASH
ington. il is enough TO call attention 10
tho fact that in the Cabinet of President
Wilson there are two secretaries OF for
eign birth, Franklin X. Lane and William
p. Wilson. In President Roosevelts Cao-
met there were also two secretaries OF
foreign birth. Oscar S. Straus and James
Wilson. One Of them, Mr.. Wilson, served
besides under President Mckinley and
under President Taft Mr.. Lehmann'
President Taft's first Solicitor General,
was born in Germany.
Insinuations that Americans of foreign
birth are Disseminated against in politics
can mislead only the thoughtless or the
ignorant. They are all the more contempt
ible because of that.
The United States is land Of oppor-
tunity for all who are willing to become
earnest and genuine Americans. The
meanest anti-Americans among us are
those who try to propagate Old World en-
mites here and TO set one class of natu-
rallied citizens against another class or
AGAINST the native-born element in our
population.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
Quarantine Unpreparedness.

The whole country is, Of course, pro-
foundly interested in the efficient con-
duct Of the quarantine station at this
mort. That in itself would seem sufficient
reason for giving the whole country some
control Of it, through the Federal Health
Service. Even supposing that we Of New
York State were convinced that we pro-
vided a proper quarantine service free
from the disintegrating influence Of poll
tics, the rest of the United States could
hardly be expected to share our confidence.
But we are not so convinced. Indeed,
following the dismissal Of DR.. Doty by
Governor Dix, q plain patronage grab in
The face Of a European cholera epidemic,
we are convinced that the contrary may
we'll be the case. And when DR.. j. A.
Nydegger, head of the Federal Health
Service at the Port of Baltimore, tells us,
as he did Saturday, that "to put the New
York Quarantine Station in frst-class
condition-such a condition as would ft
it to cope with the situation. it may have
TO face-would require the outlay Of
great deal of money" we are not sur
prised. A politically controlled office
rarely spends its generous appropriations
to good effect.
Furthermore, with the coming Of the
hot weather, with the redoubling Of bel
ligerent effort and the increasing exhaus
ton Of the millions of combatants, the
deadly epidemics in Europe are bound to
grow in number and TO spread. Typhus,
cholera, smallpox, bubonic plague-these
have already made good Roadway in supple
menting the destruction wrought by bull
lets. but, unlike bullets, their range has no
limit. Sooner or later they will besege
our peaceful shores in the persons Of inn
migrants seeking admission. The danger
from them may be imminent, in DR.. Ny
degger's opinion.
In the circumstances, therefore, it
seems particularly unfair that the coun-
try should be asked to depend for its
good health on state control Of the New
York Quarantine Station. 1t seems es-
pccially imperative at this time that this
control be transferred to the highly eff
fcient Federal Health Service, whose
ramiications are countrywide and whose
personnel is comparatively free from po-
Iitical pressure. The fact that the Acad'
envy Of Medicine strongly advocates the
transfer should incline us all the more in
its favor. However unprepared we may
prefer to remain in q military way, let US
at least get ready for the invasion of
pcstilence.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
UNFAIR REPRESENTATION
Second Choice Candidates and Ma
iority Rule Needed.

To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Internationally the Constitutional
Convention will provide for some fairer pro
rata basis Of representation for this city
in future legislatures. The present repre-
sentation is too glaringly unjust to be per
mitted 10 continue. 1t is no more unjust
and unfair, however, than is the disfranchse-
ment of any qualified voter, regardless Of
sex. and neither of these is worse than the
system which enables plurality vote to
elect any legislator or official.
In most cases this Is government by mi
nority. It is not truly democratic. It is bold
usurpation of the rights of the majority.
Except in a few isolated cases majorities do
not rule under the present system. A ma
iorty Of the voters did not elect the present
President of the United States or the present
city administration. They are not the choice
Of majority of voters. They can fairly
claim only TO represent the minority Of vot-
ers who supported them. All the others
wcro in effect disfranchsed by law and have
no voice in the government
No greater abuse than this is possible. II
IS fraud practised upon a minority of vot-
ers In these and in every such case. No
Democrat can In principle or policy claim
20 represent u ItlADilNdllt VI flNo Nti 90
More partisan representation or party gov
eminent is necessary When an elected can
didate is chosen by q majority vote TO pro-
mote certain policy or principle he can
claim to represent that policy or principle.
If our election system was such that the
voters could determine by referendum such
policy or principle this would be the voice of
the majority. In the absence OF such a sys-
TEN of instruction the average legislator or
dinarily plays politics with it. They all do
it. Hence reforms, like female suffrage
local option and prohibition, suffer. Is not
minority representation fair and just? Why
not? Why not give the voter second choice
of candidates on Election Day, or even in
party primaries? Such a system would more
nearly approximate the majority rule The
only true democratic principle to elect Off
Gals is by majorities, not pluralities. The
latter is both effete and unjust. 1t Is an
abuse, and should be ended. VIII the Con-
stitutional Convention enable and empower
the Legislature to end it?
J. L. MITCHELL.
Brooklyn, April %, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
A Dangerous Precedent.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t seems TO me that the United States
"Ship Of State should be violently rocked
unless diplomacy totally ignores horse sense
in its practice. The helmsman appears TO be
doing and dreaming OF universal peace, and
the watch must be asleep. refer to the
treatment accorded the two foreign warships
at Newport News, which sets what appears
20 be a highly dangerous precedent to this
country, and one which will be difficult 70
cvade in the future. If. as you have edi-
torialy suggested, this treatment was
prompted in order TO placate the German
American voters. the offence is doubly cupa-
bic. In answering England's mild protest,
Secretary Bryan excuses himself for the fail
ure 20 guard his country's interests by stat
ing that the extent OF the repairs, etc. Is O
matter for which the local port authorities
are responsible and have full discretion.
Il is not TO be wondered az that no vigor-
Gus protest was made by the European ma
tons involved, for in case Of war with the
United States the precedent established Will
be OF great value for naval and transport
use. With Mexico and Canada following this
precedent, any European.or Asatic power at
war with the United States will have diff
culties removed, and it Will be easy 10 in
volve any country Of America in future
troubles.
Would the same treatment have been given
q fleet Of long range submarines?
New York. April 20. 1915. G. RAE.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26

chants deliver the goods on the dock. 1t Is
then up to the buyers to find and protect the
ships carrying the cargoes across the ocean
l. If England has been preparing for this
war so long, why did Queen Victoria give
Helicoland as a present to her German
nephew IN 1890, and how i5 it that last
August found her so utterly unprepared?
5. The writer would also like to know how
many Of the leaders of these street talks are
under Dr.. Dernburg's direction and air his
views at so much an hour.
6. And, finally, II these street patriots have
the Fatherlands cause so much at heart, why
DO they not go home and help her fight?
Deeds count more than words, but again a
naval escort might be needed
To save the obvious reply, II you print
this, may add that am over military age
or should not be here SANPER.
New York April 80 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
Transfer the Quarantine Station.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: As the matter of maritime quaran-
tine belongs to the national rather than the
state government, as is clearly demonstrated
by the results obtained in San Francisco
and fifty or more other stations, | trust my
old friend The Tribune will sustain the
Academy of Medicine in It's efforts to have
Governor Whitman take steps TO have the
Quarantine station coded over to the ma
tional government.
This is logically part Of the immigration
service, and as this port stands first, and,
unfortunately so, as a receiving station for
foreign diseases as we'll as merchandise and
as a distributing centre for the whole coun-
Try, il is our duty TO prepare now for the
incoming after the European war of many
quarantine diseases, which are sure to be
source of grave danger to this country.
The one word "typhus" is enough In itself
to suggest no end of serious reflection and
justfable fear.
The Federal government has thrown upon
New York many grievous burdens in the
matter Of not properly restricted immgra-
ton, costing US millions of dollars annually,
and it is fitting now that Governor Whitman
should take measures to act promptly in
this matter Of the transfer of the quarantine
into the control Of the national government,
so that our already overburdened city may
escape what Is likely to prove another and
seriously perplexing responsibility.
]. c. PUMPELLY.
New York, April %, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
The Wage E.arner's Dollar.

Professor Irving Fisher, Of Yale, has
come 10 the rescue of :he wage Garner
with the suggestion that the dollar be
standardized as a unit, not Of coin weight
but of value SO long as gold remains the
standard and its volume increases his
suggestion is one which the wage Garner
may entertain with hope and pleasure.
But once let the production Of gold fall
off and its exchange value increase and
then it will be the turn Of the wage payer
TO bless the professor.
Professor Fisher has pointed out that
in the last eighteen years the man of fixed
income whether from wages or bonds, has
lost third Of his former purchasing
power, due TO the general increase
Of prices, the familiar high cost Of
living" which Of course is simply an
other name for the reduced value of gold.
To save him from further loss the econo-
mist would have the amount of gold in
the dollar increased TO Offset its growing
cheapness, so that the dollar might con-
tinue to possess the same potency. The
idea is highly ingenious, since, contrary
to the popular notion once fervently faith
cred by Mr.. Bryan, as money cheapens it
is the poor man, not the rich, who suffers
That is, wages never rise fast enough
or far enough TO keep pace with rising
prices, while profits feel their stimulus
Immediately.
But it is also true that when prices fall,
when gold becomes dearer, wages do not
fall as fast or as far, though profits take
the tumble without hesitation. The
money of the man who keeps his job,
therefore, will buy him more under those
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
The War Makers.

In one quality at least Professor Ed
mund Won Mach surpasses his distin-
guished rival DR.. Dernburg-in richness
and exuberance Of imagination. He has
not only satisfied himself that the war
was brought about by England's great
mischief maker, Sir Edward Grey, but Is
persuaded that supplemented France and
Inflated Russia are Of his own mind and
that "their hatred Of the British in
creases every day"
On Saturday night his enthusiasm car
ried him even further, when he confided
to his audience that Britain itself was
turning against the arch-conspirator;
that recent English estimates" were al
together in accord with his own; nay, that
some sober thinkers in that country were
of opinion that the government fought to
try him for treason and send him to the
gallows."
That the professor would regard this
course as entirely reasonable may well be
imagined; the mischief is, however, that
the punishment, if carried out by Eng
land, would but avenge England's wrongs.
Now, what grieves him is, as he explains,
not merely that the Foreign Secretary
has betrayed his own country" but that
he actually Cured Russia" into the PERM
cous enterprise of which the conse-
quences are now apparent
All Of which is very enlightening, but
grievously inconsistent with the opinion
Of Professor Won Mach's imperial master,
who in August last delivered through
Herr BALM the following message for
British consumption: ut must be stated
again: Russia alone forces the war upon
Europe. Russia alone must carry the
full weight Of responsibility" Great
Britain, by the way, had not declared war
when this notable utterance was pub
lished. Let us therefore be patient: it
may yet be found that some country not
hitherto engaged is responsible for the
Turing Of Sir Edward Grey.