davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
THE BLUE BOOK OF CRIME

Ihe Government is about to issue
its most exclusive directory. Beside
1t the Congressional Directory is a
mere collection of many names.
Even the diplomatic list and the
army and navy register are larger
and considerably more inclusive. No
one gets his picture in those; and
this directory also is to be an al
bum.
The directory is to contain but $50
names, and with each name there
will be description and picture of
an escaped criminal. Anyone who
is inclined to violate the Federal
statutes, and then try to escape pun.
ishment, would do we'll to study this
register.
An analysis of it's contents would
be even more of a deterrent to
would-be law breakers. Only nine
teen of the $50 persons included
really achieved the distinction of
breaking from Federal penitentf-
aries. The other 131 simply broke
away from jails, pending their in
generation in penitentiaries.
But the really elite of the whole
100 number only five men. For four
teen of those wanted by peniten-
tlar1es never really broke away, but
are prisoners who disappeared while
on parole. All Of this points to the
conclusion that Uncle Sam, general
~ pictured as a kindly and jovial
gentleman, is relentless in his pur-
suit of offenders. He has been known
to keep watch for men for a decade,
and even score of years, and he
has tracked them from continent to
continent and clear around the
world.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
THE BECKER CASE ENDED

Charles Becker, former powerful
official of the New York police, died
in the electric chair today, in expia-
ton of murder which admittedly
he did not commit. He was convicted
OF murder in the first degree for
that he conspired to procure the
death of Herman Rosenthal. There
was no element Of reasonable doubt
in the case. He had been convicted
twice, and his efforts for new trial
and executive clemency had failed.
There are two people to whom
sympathy must go out; two whose
experiences in the last days preced-
ing the electrocution have been only
less fearful than those of the con-
demned man himself. They are Mrs.
Becker, loyal and devoted to the end,
and Governor. Whitman, who stood
unmoved by what he conceived to be
his duty. The interview between
the governor and Mrs. Becker, with
in the last hours before the execu-
ton, was the last strain for both of
them. Both are entitled to honor for
the parts they played.
For Becker to have escaped the
chair, under all the circumstanc
would have been a misfortune to the
State of New York. Even opponents
of capital punishment, of whom this
newspaper is one, must agree to
that. So long as death is prescribed
az the last penalty for such a crime,
II must be exacted in such cases if
the law shall not fall into disrepute.
The man who murders with the hand
of another, in virtue of possessing
the powers that are vested in an
officer of the law, is peculiarly a
dangerous character. He is living,
official, authorized treason against
the law of the land. For moral eff
feet, it was far more necessary that
Becker should pay the full exaction
tkaR that the miserable tools whom
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

he sent to do the cowardly act
should be punished in the last dc.
gree. Becker was a protection ia
criminals and an instigator Of crime
when he was sworn to be just the
opposite. For such a career Of con.
spiracy against all law, faith, in.
tegrity, as he headed, there could be
only one punishment; it must be
the heaviest that the law provided
Governor Whitman, though his po.
sition as both prosecutor and judge
was particularly painful, did exactly
the right thing.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

diminished either the war fleets OF
the merchant fleets of the allies.
| Great Britain has turned out
dozens more of new war vessels and
hundreds more of new merchant
vessels than the submarines have de-
stroyed. Great Britain, after a year
of ravages by the undersea scourge,
has greater fleets of battle and
greater fleets of commerce by far
than she had on the day the war
broke out.
1t is not a serious thing, therefore,
for the allies that the Germans are
passionately determined to persist in
their submarine warfare, whether
against enemy warships or enemy
merchant ships; and their right to
continue this warfare, if they want
to, is not officially questioned now by
either the American people or Presi-
dent Wilson.
But it may become a very serious
thing that the German people are SO
infatuated with their submarine
policy and are so deluded about our
purpose to suppress it, as the only
possible way for the allies to survive
the war with Germany, that the
German newspapers. whether they
are so blinded with their resentment
that they cannot see the truth or
whether they are so dead set against
the truth that they refuse to see it,
can convince the German people
that what the American Nation de-
mands is that the submarine shall
give over their warfare against
enemy ships. 1t doesn't demand any,
thing Of the sort. The American
people are not going to demand it..
Yet if the German people can be
made to believe so by their militarist
press and leaders there is always
danger of breach between the two
countries.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
BOARD WON'T HEAR
PROTEST OF LABOR
Allegations That Banks Are Un.
neutral Not Credited by Fed
eraI Reserve Body.

The Federal Reserve Board will not
grant public hearing on charges filed
by Labor's National Peace Council. con-
tanning allegations that members of the
Federal reserve system. and Federal
reserve banks were unneutral In that
they were discounting paper and maxi
ing credit extensions that practically
financed the purchase Of war munitions
In the United ,States.
Notice to this effect has been served
by letter upon former Congressman
Fowler Of Illinois, counsel for the coun-
Gil.
The formal protest filed with tho
Reserve Board was given consideration
at meeting yesterday. and the entire
complaint practically shelved. Much Of
the complaint was directed against the
flrm oI Morgan d Co. 1t was
charged that this concern was using
the Federal reserve banks in a con-
spiracy against the neutrality of the
United States, In financing war orders
for the allies. 1t was specified that the
firm was responsible for loans and dis
counts and advanees sans by member banks ,k
the arrangement Of $4,000, 600 redi.,
counts by Federal reserve banks. all
OF which. II was contended, had been
used in pursuance of transactions In
IN his letter, Chairman Hamlin Of tho
board said that the allegation by the
council had been carefully considered.
and the board concluded that 1t is
without Jurisdiction to try the case pre-
sented Mr.. Fowler was requested to
furnish the names Of directors against
whom he had made charges Of profiting
from rediscount transactions Of certain
reserve banks.
In Its complaint the peace council
said We charge that officers and
directors Of member banks and Fed
eral reserve banks, possessing guilty
knowledge. have aided and abetted
conspirators and at the request OF the
conspirators have sedulously concealed
from your honorable board. the Comp
troller OF the Currency and the ma
tional bank examiner. the real char
acter of these transactions and
true purposes for which the moneys
were being used. and that officers and
directors OF the member banks and
Federal reserve banks have been in
duced so to do by the conspirators.
in some cases through personal profit,
to be derived from the transactions"
The Federal Reserve Board would be
interested in this charge II true. It
would constitute a violation OF law.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
LETTERS TO TIMES MAIL BAG

however. a blockade Is declared all
articles and materials become contra
band where the attempt Is made to run
them through the blockade. and in The
Bermuda. 8. Wallace. 5lA. and in many
other cases. the Supreme Court held
that Interior destination to a blockaded
port infected the primary voyage to a
neutral port (Nassau) and made the
whole cargo contraband. Though he
does not say so. Senator Smiths whole
contention Is evidently based upon The
Peterhoff. S Wallace. 2S, In which the
Supreme Court. though affirming the
principle announced in the Bermuda
case. decided that goods properly docu-
mented to Matamoras. Mexico. a neutral
bort. and which are not ordinarily con-
traband. could not be condemned and
confiscated. even though It may have
been the ultimate intention to transport
them overland into the State Of Texas.
The same decision confiscated all cap
tured articles ordinarily recognized as
contraband and also all the goods ship
ped by the owner OF such contraband
regardless Of their non-contraband char
acter.
Under the Peterhoff decision any
goods shipped to Norway or Sweden.
with Germany as the ultimate destina-
ton. would. apparently. be contraband,
while goods. ordinarily non-contra ba nd,
shipped to Holland would not be liable
to confiscation. even though the ulti-
mate destination was overland to Ger
many.
The decisions in the Bermuda. Peter.
hon. and other cases are binding upon
the United States until set aside. but
while they have great influence, they
are not absolutely binding upon the
rest OF the world.
Senator Smith could have otherwise
accounted for the dminuition In the
shipment of cotton had he desired to
do so, as he Is doubtless aware that, I'm
proportion. Germany, even under block
ade. is getting more cotton than France
and Russia, not blockaded.
The trouble is that the Senator seems
to be an anglophobe and from the be-
ginning has adopted pro-German views.
When the Lusitania was sunk the
Senator. with one or two other Ameri-
cans, Joined in with Dernburg and other
Germans In declaring in effect that the
Americans who lost their lives had no
business on the Lusitania. or any other
British ship, and that inasmuch as they
had been warned by Germany not to
travel on such ships we had no just
complaint against Germany.
The Lusitania was public carrier
and any American citizen had the right
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

to travel thereon without risk under tho
protective principles Of international
law. The new theory adopted by tho
Senator was made exclusively in Ger
many since the war began and under
1t no person should be punished for
crime II he warned his victim In ad-
vance not to exercise specified rights.
subsequently in signed statement
Senator Smith declared in effect that
the offense Of England in preventing
free shipments Of cotton through neu-
trails to Germany is a far greater Of
Tense than that Of Germany in unlaw-
fully destroying American life and
property,
In his letter to you the Senator
claims that his attempt to involve the
Government with England and her al
lies is made in behalf Of the rights Of
my constituents when those rights are
being trampled upon by Great Britain"
Senator Smith cannot be regarded as
looking solely after the interest of his
constituents because he knows that we
have always exported nearly two and a
half times as much cotton to England
and her allies as we have to Germany
and her allies.
II we should 90 to war with Great
Britain and her allies at his behest
where would the cotton then go? 1t
seems that his animosity against Great
Britain is causing him to betray the
real interests of his constituents. In
stead Of advocating the truth and ex-
planning that this terrible war must Of
necessity affect in one way or the other
almost everybody, regardless of British
or other regulations. he is trying to en-
rage his people by making them believe
that Great Britain Is responsible for all
the losses they have sustained.
The allies may have offended in some
ways. but in others they have been eX-
traordinarily considerate of American
interests. During the late civil war
British ships and their cargoes were
confiscated whenever they We're caught
in running an ineffective blockade
Great Britain with an effective block
ade. instead of confiscating our prop
erty. seiZes the vessels and afterwards
lets them go, paying for the cargoes
On the other hand the only reason
that Germany has not sunk all Ameri-
can and other vessels. including the car
riers of cotton. is that she has not had
the power to do so.
If Germany. should succeed in her at
tempted submarine blockade and sink
all cotton shipments to England and
her allies what then will Senator Smith
say? HOMER GUERRY.
Washington. July Is.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
HELPING. THE GOOD PLAYS

a better way was found to pro-
mote clean and wholesome theatrical
productions than by assailing an OBJ.
Jectionable play, and thus giving il
much free advertising. This i'm.
Drovement in methods is now EN-.
ployed by the Drama League Cen.
ters in all large cities which issue
Endorsements of good productions.
The same method was applied to
motion pictures by the Truth So
ciety of Washington. This society
complies a white list" of motion
picture productions. The experiment
has been watched with keen interest.
1t will be gratifying to its support
ers to learn that Philadelphia has so
far approved it as to arrange a SIM
liar plan. There a committee of
catholic men and women prominent
IN business, professional and social
life, will issue Endorsements of good
plays, and let the bad ones die of
inertia.
This procedure should be consid-
cred by persons of all denominations
who are inclined to think they may
90 good by assailing a particular
picture. The result of such exploit
tation almost invariably is to in
crease the patronage at the exhibi-
ton of the picture under fire. To
encourage good productions is the
best demonstration to the theater
owners and motion picture producers
that decency pays.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
Wants Public Utilities Commission
To Abate As a Nuisance the Prac-
tice of Standing Between Seats in
Street Cars

SoAos
To the Editor OF THE TINES:
The reasons put forth by the street
railway companies why 1t is impossible
for them to prevent people standing IN
between the seats on the open cars
might be amusing were 1t not a very
serious matter. indeed. ! myself have
seen. time and again. serious personal
difficulties narrowly averted on account
of this practice. Nothing Is more often
sive, nav disgusting. to one who has
paid his or her fare for seat than
to have another passenger wedge him
self or herself In front in the narrow
space; especially is this SO during the
summer weather.
To have to endure, to have to breathe.
to have to bear the foetid odor coming
from a perspiring human body (and
some people are cleaner than others).
tries the patience sorely. and when a
line of such passengers crowd INTO the
becomes difficult for those who are
occupying the seats.
1t is amazing that the street car COM
panies offer the arguments they do IN
favor Of q continuance of this unbear-
able practice. The average person. 1t
must be said. would not dream Of stand
ing in front of the face OF another
seated passenger. but there are plenty
who have no compunctions on this
score.
should by all means be abated as a
nuisance by the Public Utilities Com
mission at the earliest moment. There Is
no argument In Its favor. 1T Is not re-
spectacle nonsense to put forth the ar
e1iments which are insisted upon by the
' c. F. HARRINGTON.
Washington. July q.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
GERMAN SUBMARINE MISTAKES

The German newspapers and the
German militarist party are no more
mistaken in their reading of Presi-
dent Wilson's note to mean that he
would deprive them of their strong
est weapon, the submarine, than
they are in imagining that the sub
marines have yet done anything to
determine the outcome of this war.
The submarines have outraged the
senses of all civilization. They have
not prevented the allies from get
ting, transporting, and delivering
war and other supplies from all
parts of the globe.
The submarines have alienated
neutral opinion. They have not
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
THE SHORT BALLOT FIGHT

1t had been supposed that the case
for the short ballot had been made
SO complete and convincing that
even the extreme reactionaries would
not attempt to defeat that one pro-
gressive effort in the New York con-
Istitutional convention. Even among
men who are regarded as decidedly
conservative about the new constitu-
tion, the short ballot has strong sup
port. Ex-senator Root received a
letter from Senator Wadsworth,
urging this measure of reform, and
when it was made public at Albany
there was immediate response from
the opponents of the short ballot,
who declared that the program look
ed to taking the government out of
the hands of the people.
All experience with the short bal
lot proves the contrary. Every man
who has voted knows that much of
the voting is done in the dark. Even
the best informed man, voting one
of the blanket ballots that might
serve as .bedspread in a nine-foot
State, knows that in a large proper
tion Of cases he doesn't know the in
dividuals for and against whom he
must vote. Below the top of the
ticket, little thought is given to per-
sonnel. There is some measure of
independent voting, of course; a par
ticularly bad candidate against
whom a vicious and effective fight
is made may be "cut" seriously or
even beaten. But the chances are
that the "tail goes with the hide"
the top of the ticket "pulls through"
the remainder.
Under the short ballot plan the
mayor and commission of city be-
come the real administration; they
name the officers who under the old
system would have been elected.
Under this plan, the governor of a
State is vested with the appointive
power over a wide range of officers
now elected by the people. The
nearest complete example of the
short ballot or commission system of
selecting officials is the Government
of the United States. We elect a
President, and he in turn chooses
his Cabinet. In most States, the Of
ficers corresponding to the Cabinet
are elected; a great number of Of
ficers of rank, much lower rank than
that corresponding to the Cabinet,
are elected. The result is that there
is no centralization of responsibility,
no assurance that unity of policy
will prevail.
Imagine, for moment, what
would have happened to the United
States if Mr.. Bryan had been an
elective Secretary of State. holding
exactly the same commission from
the people that President Wilson
held! He could not have been re-
CURED to adopt the views of Presi-
dent or Administration in the man
agement of his foreign policy. He
could have gone ahead as he pleased.
1t would manifestly be an utterly
impossible situation in National
Administration. Yet the system of
electing all State officers produces a
precise parallel to that very condi-
ton, in the State governments.
If by any hook or crook the oppo-
sition to the short ballot should man.
age to keep that provision out of the
new constitution of New York, there
would be no further uncertainty
about the fate of the constitution.
1t would be as certain of defeat as
anything ever is before the accom-
plished fact.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
Thinks Senator Hoke Smiths "Ani-
mostly" Against Great Britain Is
Causing Him To Betray the Real
Interests of His Constituents.

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
l am much interested in your reply to
Senator Hoke Smiths letter. and ex-
cept in one technical particular you
seem to have far the better of the argu-
ment
Contra band Is defined as CONTRARY to
ban." but articles or materials used or
which may be used In warfare are only
usually considered as contraband. When.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
Attend B. & o. Reunion.

Many Washingtonians attended tho
thirtyfourth reunion OF employees OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad held
at Island Park. Harpers Ferry. yester-
day. Illness prevented Jennie Smith,
who Is known as the railroad evangelist.
from attending. She is the originator OF
the annual reunions.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
MANY EVENTSLSTED
FOR CAPITAL TODAY
Meetings and Entertainments to
Be Held in Every Section Of
City by Various Societies.
Today.

knights of Pythias-Syracusians. No. 10;
Rathbone Temple. No. g.
Odd Fellows-Columbia. No. 10: Salem. No.
%: Covenant. No. l3.
Modern Woodmen OF America-Washing In gton
Camp. No ll46t; Central Camp. No. l6ols
Lincoln Camp. l2456.
Operetta at Grover Cleveland School, Eighth
and r streets northwest. by Margaret Will
son Social Center, p. m.
Suffrage rally. auspices OF tho Congressional
Union for Woman Suffrage. Glen Echo,
evening.
Demonstration OF life saving methodA Will
bert e. Longfellow. public bathing pools.
10 a.
Concert, United States sodiers' Home Band,
at Home. $40 p. m.
Meeting. Mid City Citizens Association, 1908
Seventh street northwest. 8 p. m
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

The pen may be mightier than the
sword, but suppose John Bull asks
Henry James to trade weapons.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

1t took Sheriff Kinkead to pour
water on the troubled Standard Oil.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

The society leader who was tossed
over a cliff was no climber.
The Washington times., 1915-07-30
AmusementS.

Columbis--Motion pictures, . and lo:46 ,. m.
Il. F. Keith s-Naudeville, 2:l5 and Sis u. m,
Cosmos-Nau udeville. continuous
Garden-Photoplays. II a. m. to II .. m.
Crandalls-Photoplays. II a. m. to II p. m.
Glen Echo Park-Open-air amusements, all
day and evening
Marshall Hall-Outdoors attractions, all day
snd evening,
The Washington times., 1915-07-30

Tomorrow.
Odd Fellows-PatriarchsM Militant drill.
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15
sHERlFF"S SALE
THE STATE OF TEXAS

County OF Scurry
Notice is hereby given that by
virtue Of o certain order Of sale, u.s.
sued out OF the Honorable District
Court Of scurry County on the 3Oth
day OF Sept, 1915, by W. $. Adamson
clerk Of said court for the .um Of
Nineteen hundred ATTY seven and So
100 dollars ana costs Of suit. under
a judgment In favor Of Wenzel Fri
tax In a certain cause In said Court
No 1885 and styled Wenzcl Fritas
vs.. W. H. Baker, placed in my hands
for service l.W. A. Merrell. as sheriff
Of Scurry County. Texas. did on the
3Oth day Of September 1915, levy on
certain real estate. situated In Scurry
County Texas. described as follows.
towit: Being the east l6O acres Of
the North one-half OF Section No. GO.
In Block No. 3. OF the II. a T. c. ny.
Co. survey. In scurry County, Tex
as. and levied upon as the property
OF W. II. Baker and that on the FIRST
Tuesday In November 1915. the same
being the End day of said month. at
the Court House door OF scurry coun-
ty. In the town OF Snyder. Texas. be-
tween the hours OF 10 a. m. and 4
p M by virtue OF said levy and raid
order Of sale, will sell above de-
scrlbcd Real Estate at public vendue
for cash, to the highest bidder. as the
property OF said W. II. Baker.
And In compliance with law. give
this notice by publication, in the En-
gllsh language, once a week for three
consecutive weeks Immediately pre-
ccding said day OF sale. In the sny-
der Signal. a newspaper published In
Scnrry county.
Witness by hand this 5Oth day Of
September, 1915.
W. A. MERRELL.
Sheriff. seurry County. TeIas.
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15

The Signal is gratified over it,
volume OF new subscriptions and re
newals. The Signal has waited patient
~ fer those whose paid up time had
expired during the year and now the
Fall f. here. cotton is selling high and
We are looking for all our subscrib-
ers to square up. Each amount Is
small, bu, the aggregate is consider
able.
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15

Mr. D. +. Wagner was here Wed
nesday from the west part OF the
county and stated that his son-iu-law
G. = Phillips and family are NOV
Ing back to scurry county from Ga
nado
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15

4. X. Smith says he has recently
taken hold OF part OF the Num- bet
tom field down the creek. The land
was grown up thick In weeds and
Johnson grass, He has cleaned II
on and sowed II In wheat and now II
Is a pretty well planted plot OF
ground
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15

Snyder Merchants could double their
volume Of business by Bending mes
senger. with advertising matter into
surrounding counties
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-10-15

Rev. W W. Werner has placed In
the Signals Chamber OF Commerce
exhibit a squash grown on his farm
that he calls Texas Rough.