davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
THE CASE OF THE FALABA.
What Is Our Government Doing or
Going TO Do About It?

To THE EDITOR or THE SuS-Sir: 1t
is some weeks now since the Falaba, d
British freight and passenger vessel
was sunk by a German submarine. As
:. result one of her passengers, said TO
he native born American citizen. was
drowned.
An official statement made some time
prior to the unfortunate incident seemed
to indicate that hts death was matter
which this country would in some way
take up Naturally. of course, some
time would be required to enable our
Government to ascertain the alleged
facts. Was he native born citizen?
II II be now known that he Was not
may We not I've informed OF that fact.
so that we may regard the occurrence as
one with which We nave no concern;
Are We TO stand by our former de-
l.Verance or are we to sidestep II?
ought We not TO make our attitude
known, automatically. before another
similar unfortunate incident results in
the drowning OF some other OF our citi-
zens;
30 one. fancy. whose view OF the
situation is wholly American cOntem-
plates that our Government is to make
any truculent del!Nerance. Germany and
;his country have always been on
friendly terms. Germany now is en-
gagged in d struggle which calls for the
output Of all her viRor and resources.
surely We could assure her that the
loss II our citizen on the occasion Of
the Falabas sinking is not TO be pressed
Oh her attention in her hour OF strain
and stress but At the same time and IN
urmistakable terms we could also as
sure her that such loss and also similar
losses under Ike circumstances are and
Will be considered by us 20 constitute
- just and righteous claim against her
which a: a more convenient season We
snail present and press Ldch.s IN as
sorting our ella IN. II We intend ever to
make one. will prejudice US II and
when the controversy comes before any
court Of arbitration.
suppose hereafter some OTHER British
or French passenger steamer is sunk
On the open ocean by a German submd-
rim" and score OF our native horn
citizens are drowned could not Germany
before an arbitration court quite plaus-
IDLY tahe this position: We Will pay
reasonable compensation 20 the family
70: the man who was lost on the Falaba
out after that occurrence We notified the
American GOyerumeu, that our position
VAS that any neutral passenger VINO
chose to travel on the ship Of a helliger-
t.t nation assumed all risks Since the
United states did not take issue with
1U- statement We assumed they acqui-
osseI ~ IL. therefore we Will not pay
compensation for the lives OF those who
were lost while We relied on that natural
assumption" What would an impartial
tribunal do with that argument Some
times watcafIl waiting may be a wis.
>iAiuE sometimes II may turn out other
WISE |.
/ NEW YORK. May /
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
The War Of the Gaels.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUS--Sir. MAY
I he permitted 10 say that Mr. John +.
Murray would do well 10 be less vocal
On the subject OF Irish hardic history
until he has learned enough 10 know
that the city % Armagh and the ancient
Palace OF Emauia were Two entirely dis
tlnct and separate places This knowl-
edge would have prevented the childish
hlurder he made when writing - Queen
Macha
Mr. OFarrell MAS on his side mo nu-
thor.ty NJ The very ancient toNoErauHirl'
tract known as the pinuse4uChuS. tho
Gaelic po,t kenneth OHqr''rar and the
brilliant scholar Eugene o'turry. Il is
true rather incline to follow other au-
thoriti.s as 10 the origin and meaning
Of the word Tara" hut VIVA; Of that
We are at one IN all the essentials
Therefore beg MIR Murray 10 read
again Mr. O'Farrell's scholarly letter IN
THE Sun OF April 20. The closing para
graph IS splendid statement OF the
truth for all men. and especially for
those who are 50 urwise ms TO helittls
themselves h. using such terms as
"BIdiy yarns" NJ. O'Farrelrs last glo,
r.ous sentence Is worth rrrrlnting
Nor can any on. say that IN. Nardic
history OF ireland I. not as wei deserving
ern scholarship rs tn. ancient history O,
Greece or Rome, 10 which such study has
been Accordet,
That Is gospel which should be
preached from the housetops.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.
NEW YORK. May !.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
A Winning Issue.

The breaking heart Of n sorely dis
appointed patriot il revealed IN the
subjoined unquest!onably authentic
lament attributed TO a Republican
Alderman who had learned Of the
veto Of the gerrymander passed by
the Legislature:
1T means that we will have Tam
many Board OF Aldermen for the next
ten years after the elections this fall
at means. too. that Tammany will
elect City Clerk and get tho forty-one
jobs in his office"
A Tammany board, and that after
the triumphs OF fusion in 1913 and
OF the Republicans in 1914! Are not
the forces of virtue sufficiently en-
dea red to the voters to assure victory
TO them this fall? II they feel to-day
somewhat doubtful about the issue,
can they not create cyclone of en-
,husiasm by dwelling pathetically and
hungrily on that City Clerk aud
forty-one jobs in his Office:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
the actors under the sky instead Of

the actors under the sky instead Of
the prosccnium arch.
But acting Of this kind will never
be taken as seriously in this country
as II Is in some OF the European ma.
ture theatres, especially that situated
on the shores Of the Lake Of the Four
Cantons. Here the actors play dur
ing period Of several months. the
repertoire is especially selected from
the classics Of the German stage. and
the whole arrangement Of the sea son
Is as elaborat- and substantial as II
there were an enclosed theatre. Here
the open air plays are never likely
to BE- more than a novel transfer Of
the theatre from It's usual medium
10 the Surroundings Of summer land
scape. Serious drama will always he
reserved for the enclosed theatre.
however entertaining such artistic
excursions may be.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
Will the Governor Heed This Appeal?

Mayor MITcHEL's request to Gov
ernor WHITMAN to give an oppOrtu-
nifty for the city to be heard on the
prOpriety and effect OF the appropria-
ton bills passed in the closing hours
Of the legislative session is reasona bic
and moderately expressed. This city
must pay 20 per cent. OF the direct
State tax. II by the exercise Of his
veto power the Governor will reduce
the total OF allowances in a sum that
will render such tax unnecessary.
in part or In whole. special session
can modify the tax legislation and
thus relieve the community.
The situation in this city Is serious.
The physical development Of the town
has rendered necessary large expcn-
ditures in the past. Some of them
have been extravagant, some indie
fensibly wasteful. Within recent
years a more careful oversight has
been exercised than was formerly the
case, but the most diligent efforts
have not prevented high tax on
real estate, nor can the ordinary and
essential functions Of city govern
ment be maintained for cost sub
stantially lower than has now been
reached The debt service and the
expenses imposed by the mandatory
acts Of the Legislature are beyond
reach Of the administration. Hence,
If s14.OOOO0O is to be included in the
next budget for direct State tax,
the city faces tax rate, In the May
Ors words, well nigh confiscatory,'
or retrenchments that will cripple
the police, the h,alth department ser
vice and the charitable activities Of
the town.
From the leaders Of the Leg stature
the officials of this town received
scant considers ton when they sought
TO protest against the financial pro-
Gramme in the earlier stages of It's
development. New York asked for
a hearing and got the unsatisfactory
concession of an informal discussion.
1t now asks the Governor for ju-
dicial study Of the facts, sufficient
time for a careful examination of the
items included in the bills, and fair
decision based on the necessities OF
the State and the plight Of the city,
instead Of the appetite and capacity
Of machine politicians.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03

To rHF EDITOR or THE SrS---Sr; Just
~ present Il seems 10 be the hue and
cry among budding journalists, would
ho poets and those whose reason is over
Swallowed by sentiment hat in this war
through which the world is passing II
IS "tHe woman who pays
Tht. may be all very well but Incl
dcutally 1t might be just as well 10 re-
member that here are hordes 81 men
aght.ng IN foreign fields who are pay
ing bitterer price than the majority of
women are ever called upon 10 pay.
No matter what privation the be-
reaved wives or sisters or mothers have
20 contend with. II can hardly he com
pared TO the agon'es 81 those nameless
heroes in the trenches, their bodies tn
Tested with vermin, ~ rour'shed, dis
eased subject any moment TO n tearing
death, and half or more OF whom are
fighting for what they know not.
The woman, Il is true pays a price,
but lest We forget, the man too II pay
ing his price his lie All the expense
IS not alone on one side
MILDRED STEWART.
New York, May /.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
Statewide Ballotine for Judges an
Academic Proposal,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. The
plan urged by Mr.. Charles W. Sloane
that the Justices OF our Supreme Court
be chosen by the people of tho entire
state and not by the electors OF the
various judicial districts M at present
is more academic than otherwise
The trouble il that he confuses the
Jurisdiction OF that court with the ter
ritory within which these various Judges
preside. The State is divided into nine
judicial districts. TIE irst district COM
prises tho counties OF New York and
The Bronx. The second district IN
cludes the counties OF Richmond, Kings.
Queens. Nassau and Suffolk. The ninth
district embraces the counties OF West
chester. Rockland. orange. Putnam and
Duchess. The other districts are like
wise made up Of several counties The
Judges OF the Supreme Court are chosen
by tho electors OF these various dis
tricts. Thus the electors OF the first
district choose the Judges OF the Supreme
Court who are to preside at trials in
that district. and the Judges chosen
there do rot sit outside that district.
A similar situation u presented in all
the other judicial districts
Now. II Judge chosen in the FIRST or
any other district were TO RI, at differ
ent times OF the year In each Of the other
counties Of the state. as well as within
the counties OF the district where elected,
then there would be cause for complaint.
As long. however. as Justices do not
hold court outside Of the districts within
which they were chosen I fan 70 see
how a situation IL presented calling for
the radical departure proposed by Mr..
Sloane.
Furthermore, the present division az
the State into judicial districts s both
logical and productive Of the best re-
suits. For one thing. Il Is In accord
with the principle OF home rule. II al
lows the voters OF the various counties
10 decide who shall preside at their trials.
II makes Il possible FOR those Judges 70
hear cases who are acquainted with the
generals conditions and the people OF the
community where they are tried. IN
some OF the districts the business Is so
heavy and the conditions OF living are
such that the justices are entitled 20
receive and 10 receive much higher COM
pensatlon than IN some other districts.
Should ;he method proposed OF electlnc
Supreme Court Judges by the electorate
OF the entire state he adopted a uni
form compensation would have TO he
paid TO all and as result all The
Judges would receive tho maximum
compensation now paid. thus imposing
upon the taxpayers heavy add!t'ona. ex-
penses ard burdens.
There are many serious questions with
which the constitutional convention Is
confronted and which Il should solve
such as giving equality TO the city Of
New York In our state Legislature. Sc
far as our judiciary az at present const!-
tuted Is concerned. 4, seems clear that
[ the convention should lot well enough
/ alone TRUTH TELifR.
Nrw York. May :.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
Mr.. Barnes Appears.

The Colonel gave himself an ex-
cellent character in his testimony at
Syracuse. He exposed the wickedness
Of those politicians with whom his
destiny compelled him to associate.
revealed the cunning with which he
diverted their activities from evil to
good, made plain the unyielding pro-
blty Of his own enterprises and the
skill with which he adapted 10 the
purposes Of virtue the weapons in
tended for vice. With a delicacy that
could not fail to impress he accepted
the burden OF his reformatory record
and acknowledged his superiority to
those who surrounded him.
Ii was interesting, but much Of 1t
did not bear on the cha ra cter and the
practices Of Mr. BARNES. who. II is
useful TO recall. is the plaintiff in the
suit. II was because Mr.. BARNES
was alleged TO be bad. not because
Mr.. ROOSEVELT confesses himself good.
that the Syracuse court IL occupied
by the flower OF our political life.
That fart has been somewhat OBJ
scured SC far. but with the appear.
ance OF Mr.. BARNES on the stand II
may he brought once more to public
attention. Mr.. BARNES Is not without
force and vigor: he ia no decrepit,
weak and lettering invalid; he is
robust. purposeful. and possessed Of n
variety OF unlmpeach souvenirs
Of the recent politics Of New York.
The Colonel 20 completely absorbs
and occupies the senses whenever and
wherever he IS present that Mt
HARNESS part in this action may
easily have been forgotten. II viii
be encouraging to collectors Of politi
cal memorabilia to be reminded that
he Is not 10 be despised in any con
test, and that his appearance on the
stand will not involve lessening in
the interest that the Rooseveltian ties
timony aroused.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
The Nature Theatre.

There Is promise Of more out of
door drama this summer than there
ever has been before. In addition to
the usual number Of sO-called PASTORAL
plays, "Siegfried" Is 10 be sung AT one
Of the American universities, while the
others are to have their usual vista
tons of companies performing Shake
speare and the antique tragedies. But
nothing Is so ambit ious in It's purpose
as the production of WAGNER's opera
at Harvard.
"Tannhauser" was sung in forest
near Kont gsberg several years ago.
In France both MAssENET and SAINT
Sans have composed operas for per
Torrance in the antique theatre at
Orange, where Carmen" has more
than once been sung. In California
there was an open air performance Of
VIcToR HERBERr's "Natoma." But a
classic opera has never been attempted
here in an open air theatre.
Open air music Is not as r rule
eHtlhdtloTN rum di dTllNlf punt W
view. and it is the picturcsluenrss
and novelty Of these representations
rather than their technical excellence
that interests the public. The same
Is true of dramatic representations
in the open, although in Switzerland,
Germany and France there are sew.
eral out of door theatres which give
regular seas sons in normal times, In
France one OF these Is in the neigh.
borhood Of Paris, although the most
famous is in the land Of MrsTRAL.
This country has no permanent play
house Of the kind, although many Of
the universities possess Greek thea
tres, which have bAen utilized by
some Of the most famous OF actors.
In addition TO the touring compa-
S.ss that VIII represent Shakespeare
and the modern plays suited TO out
Of door possibly II
would be more exact to speak of plays
that could hc performed in The 0pcu
with the lea y loss Of effect here
will be efforts 10 present certain al
the Greek tragedies which have no,
hitherto had a place in the roper
toire Of the open air actors. So the
country will zee more than usual OF
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03

In the records Of old ST. Patricks,
at Mott and Prince streets. the history
OF a century OF New York Roman
Catholicism may be read. and the story
Of New Yorks growth could be pretty
accurately reproduced from the tale
they would unfold. Nothing more WV
idly illustrates the shift OF population
than the fact that whereas the parish
toner's were once largely OF Irish. Ger
man and French extraction. Italians
now con stitute an overwhelming ma
iority OF the worshippers. OF $500
children whose names are now on the
rolls. all except fifty are Italians. when
even twenty-five years ago the 1900
youngsters represented families OF all
races. Il IS not without significance
that ST. Patr!ck's clergy find enough
20 do. a field needing and repaying their
labors. without moving uptown.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03

see her own gain IN Incorporation
with the great state that Russia will
he after this war: all of Poland Rus
sian Poland.
But she will not he happy ~ long
as she IL rega ried and treated as spoil
for the tax collector. paying tribute
to he spent entirely outside her own
borders. Does not the profit of both
countries rest in compromise be-
tween the Polish dream Of indepen-
dence and the Russian scheme Of sub
tuga.on?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
Beware the Knife! Cries an Old Re
publican.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUS--Sir: What
Is this talk about Roosevelt having
oWothing to say concerning Republican
affairs and nominations He If not a
Republican. has 10 right even to vote
At Republican primary. Surely Re-
publicans have too much self-respect.
not to say horse sense, ever again to
admit Roosevelt 10 their councils. II
looks now as II nothing could prevent
a Republican landslide next year except
some such fool weakness as letting
Roosevelt, for his own Interior pur-
poses. fonce himself back into tho fold,
\ man who would once knife tho party
that gave him every political honor he
ever enjoyed would do II again II he got
tho chance, lie is out now; keep him
out \ LIFEI oSG REPUBLICAN.
DECATUR. III. April 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
Russian Concession" to Polish Ma
tiOnality.

II ii be true, Is reported from Pc
trograd, that the first step has been
taken toward restoring the use of the
Polish language IN the schools Of Rus
sian Poland, those troubled subjects
of the Car who live where the per-
iphery OF his dominion wedges into
Europe will greatly rejoice. Poland
has been the Belgium OF the east, with
the added unhapplness OF civil war,
Russian Poles fighting against their
brothers of compulsory .Teutonic ale
glance. In the mass OF conflicting
statements, fun OF bias and exaggera.
ton, the weight of evidential value
appears 10 rest with the report that
the Russian Poles have rendered most
useful service 10 their overlords. And
in no way could the Car bind closer
10 him these high spirited people than
by such acts as the reported conceS
sion Of the right 10 have their chill
dren's instruction carried on in the
language OF their fathers.
Russia Is said 10 have made pre-
tence OF such concessions by high
sounding decree wherein the substance
was carefully nulliflei ny conditional
clauses Of most innocent appea rance.
Language is the symbol Of nationality,
perhaps because IL Is the most vulner-
able element. Deprive people OF
free use of their native speech and
YOU SOW rebellion in their hearts. 4
command in his own tongue will send
a Hungarian soldier six times as far
as one in German. Holland was inert
| under French suZerainty until she
| was ordered 10 speak French; then
| the people. sputtering their dear
Dutch about the guarded hearthstone,
began TO feel the stir of reviving ma
tionality and to climb back TO indie
| pendence. II is easy to imagine how
| the Russian Poles. fierce and fiery
race for all their obdurate endurance,
have told the national legends and
sung the national songs 10 their chill
dren with the greater effect because
| forbidden.
| As a melting pot" Russia makes
this country look like refrigerator.
PETFR the Great gave the initial shock
that set in motion the wheels Of the
! EuropeaniZing machinery. GATHER
NE IL. directed the impulse into
ightforward channels. The Japa-
nese war repeated the shock, and the
present war repeats the influence Of
concentra tion. In Finland and In Po-
land there il crisis absolute uncer-
tainty for the future. The process
OF classification. ridely Interrupted,
may ne chopped of short or acceler-
ated 1t is now suspended in the vor-
tex Of the political maelstrom.
The Firms may possibly he absorbed,
the eastward pull overcoming the
westward There Is no Gulf Of Both
MIA between them and Petrograd, as
there Is between them and Stockholm.
But the descendants Of SoBIEsKI and
KosCIUszKo are OF different stuff: we
do not call II better or poorer stuff,
but in the Russian retort II seems
sure to be found less fusible As
subject people the Poles will always
he thorn in the side of their rulers +;
hut let Russia conccdo honestly and
une1uivorally those privileges dear
to Polish pride AMI not opposed to
Russian interest, and she will find
Poland loyal member Of the family.
Poland made a mess Of It when she
tried 10 make a Constitution; dhs may
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
Fighting Edge Not Lost.

This war ~ teaching us first 90 al
that humanity has not lost its az n
edge. The hopes and fears of mos.
who believed that our old lighting 81.
stincts were dead or 50 blunied fs g
have lost their primitive and ter be
power are alike disappointed We a.
offered from DAY to day proofs '.a.
men generally are capable OF as. las.
,ug a finer and more desperate k'! '.
courage than ever before.
so our world Being what T. is. "e
see how necessary 4 has been for ..
erty again and again 10 make Is Wy
with the sword. Religious wars ae
always quite as truly war '.r 70
i.glous freedom as wars OF religious ~
tolerance a good part # all that hrH'
.ng which We owe 10 imperialism
only the noble and saving res.star..
OF those who refuse to be imperaIz'
at is no; too much to say that there
is 10 real freedom to-day, whether %
the administration Of the state. 10 81
uuhanpered WORSHIP Of God or q I.
operation OF democracy itself tina. tas
no; been won by fighting The lnets4s"
OF religious tolerance which holds u
Eur, p to-day was, to begin With a.
least. Won py the sword 81 IN" edge
" the sword Holland ut herself
from Spain; at the edge ~ the swo
the divine right OF kings was hop
essly and finally beaten down in In
Ism soil at the edge OF the sword :
better part Of the French Reyo.lt
got room and chance for life; at 60.
edge OF the sword the American q. ...
nl-s freed themselves from their So,
Jealous mother. ~ the edge co.,
sword slavery in America Was en-.
| and paid for and no prorhct 3 "
! enough TO say that This long and bro
chapter In the history OF humanity .
finally closed
"pemoCrac.es left 20 themselves i1 -.
take kindly to war there Is no dt''.'-
that democratic, have fouc- We.
az. n'y. but on the other hand they t.
never gone out 10 meet them. and r|.'
always been wiling 20 make a 'Gs' .r.
honorable peace when the Necessity
/ WAY has pass. d
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
SHOULD ITALY ARBITRATE?
4 Wondering Question Inspired by
the Worlds Changed Attitude.

To THE EDITOR OF THE svS-Str: When
the rreS,rt war began great deal was
heard from the sen'.menta,!sts and others
IN this country condemn,ng Germany
Tor not having accepted arbitration 10
settle the dispute.
! am surprised. however. that no ef-
forts are row made by any one party TO
suggest that Italy and Austria, who
nave been locked in friendship for the
last forty five years. submit their differ
encCs 10 arbitration.
Is there a standard FOR one side and
another standard for the other? As
Italy seems 70 De very likely 10 Join the
Allies nobody thinks OF suggesting arb!-
traitor.
! should be very glad 20 hear the
views OF some OF your correspondents
on this question. and | will thank you
u you will give this letter space in
your valued paper. c. n. BRUCE.
NEW YORK. May !.