davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
COTTON AS CONTRABAND.
Teutonlc Production Exceeds the
Present Total Importation.

To THE EDITOR OF Il SUN-Sir.
have been engaged IN the manufacture
of nitrocellulose for over thirty years.
and In the '9Os ! wac the first to fur
rish a successful smokeless cannon pow
der to the United States army. In 1892
| had an opportunity OF visiting the
factory OF a gentleman whose name is
familiar to every one VINO knows any
thing about guncottOn. where smoke
less military powders and explosive CELIA
tine were manufactured. This factory.
situated near Berlin, passed into the
possession of the trust many years ago.
Not an ounce Of cotton was consume |
for making the basic nitrocellulose. The
powders were fully equal TO those made
from cotton cellulose, both in regard 10
ballistic properties and to stability.
The supply OF the raw material pro-
duced within the borders OF Germany
and Austria-Hungary exceeds man.
times the total Importation OF cotton
for all purposes. Very large addit!ona,
quantities could he obtained from the
Scand lnavian countries. II f. unbc-
l!evahlc that these facts should not he
known TO the real experts on explosives
OF Great Britain, OF whom there is no
dearth in that country.
The remarks, therefore. Of Mr.. Rer-
tram Blount and Sir William Ramsay
which YOU quote in your dltorla OF
August 10 are attributable either TO wo-
full ignorance or to deliberate preyari-
cation. The motive Is not dlficul. to
perceive. Sir William. by the way. has
since the outbreak OF the war distin-
Guished himself chiefly by his great
capacity for utterinG b~illingegate.
ROBERT C. ~ScHuPPHAus.
NEW York, August IA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
PICRIC ACID.
How This Explosive Used In the Lyd-
dlte Shell Is Made.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SuS-Sir: While
the papers have been filled with %ccounts
OF the destructivcness Of modern explo-
slves the number OF people who havC
any knowledge OF the composition of
these explosives Is comparatively small
Picr!c acid. for instance. Is being
manufactured in this country. and IL
is eagerly bought by the purchasing
agents of countries at war. Before the
present war its destructive powers were
known. but 1t was little used, there being
tAt W. plants engaged In It's manu-
facture. 1t was used TO some extent AS
a dye for silk. but had been largely re-
placed by cheaper dyes.
To n German (Hausmann) Is given the
credit OF first discovering the acid by
treating indigo with nitric acid. but
scientists must thank NJ. Laurent, a
Frenchman. for an improved method of
manufacture.
Carbolic acid is combined with sui
phur!c acid, and after being boiled at
a great heat the mixture Is diluted with
water. To this three parts of nitric acid
are added n a violent bubbling act on
results. This gradually subsidies, and
heating Is necessary to make the liquid
syrupy. Needlelike crystals are formed
by the coagulat!on OF this syrup as il IS
allowed to stand. Water is then used 10
rlh THESE crystals OF impurities, and they
are ground into "A fine yellowish powder.
the result being the marketable state Of
picTic acid.
Weak IN Itself because OF Its lack of
oxygen. this powder when melted and
moulded into cylinders and rape In
a ma OF g%uncotton becomes one OF
the most powerful OF explosives. The
cylinder wrapped in its mat fits rom
fortably into the steel shell cavity and
constitutes an English "lyddite' shell.
New York, August II. PtcEArE.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Ten Million Soldiers TO CIothe.

To THE EDITOR Of THE SrN-Sir' II
has been reported that the Teutonic
countries are disinclined to face an
other winter campaign. hence their des-
perate efforts to bring about conditions
which will make for peace before the
snow flies. Famine doesn't apply alto
gether to food. As cold weather ap-
proaches. the soldiers must be provided
with warm clothing. Where Is 1t com
ing from? What little cotton Ger
ANY has IN hand must, to "A large
extent. be used in making It's high
power explosives, or 1t will suffer. as
wal began, from shortage OF ammuni-
ton,
II Is understood that soldiers in 40
tive service wear out a uniform every
six weeks. Germany and Austria nave
probably ut least 10000, 900 men To
clothe this coming winter. EstimatinE
that each soldier will use up three uni
forms between September | and April
|, we have 10000. 900 uniforms to be
provided for. and at least one overcoat
for zach soldier or 10, 900, 900 over
coata all told.
Then comes the question OF blan.
kets. and these to be comfortable. must
he made OF wool. Al least 10000, O00
VIII De required. WIN little or no cot
ton on hand beyond tho requirements
for ammunition, and no great supply
OF wool, where are they TO get all OF
this necessary clothing?
We m not lose sight Of 10000, 900
pairs OF shoes or more needed before
next spring. In these calculations nc
account IL taken of the needs OF the
civil population, men. women and chill
dren. for clothing and shoes.
Tit food supply. II will he seen. Is
by no means the only economic prob
lem the Teutonic allies have to solve.
NEW York. August II. NJ, T. n.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
The Appeal to Mexico.

In the appeal made to the Mexican
people by the United States and its
%colaborers for peace one paragraph
stands out with n wistful significance.
1t expresses the belief of the signers,
representing the United States. Bra
I'll. Chile, Argentina. Bolivia, Uruguay
and Guatemala, that II the leaders of
the factions in Mexico should meet
"far from the sound of cannon in
person or by proxy, with no other
inspiration save the thought OF their
afflicted land" they world agree upon
the creation Of a provisional govern,
ment and arrange the preliminartes
for 1.-THE constitutional reconstruction
of the country" How many Mexican
Generals, II may be asked, have nc
other inspiration save the thought OF
their afflicted land?
1t is generous TO credit these patri
OTIS in the struggle for liberty" with
high ideals and unselfish devotion to
those ideals, hut the fact il that most
Of the Mexican leaders are m ssins
plumber or intriguing 10 promote thell
political fortunes, or both. Men :,
engaged do no trust one another, an,
they would regard a conference Will
their enemies as wasted time. Fur
thornsore, It 70 to be feared, Tor n,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
The Evidence OF Miss Jane Adams.

In repeating her charge that sol.
dlers on both sides in the European
war are stimulated with alcohol and
drugs to attack the enemy, Miss JANE
adams says in n Chnutaupun address
that her lnformants were. an official
Of the French War Office. an Oxford
professor and n German lieutenant.
This Is vague and somewhat evasive.
Unless Miss adams gives namcs her
charge Is nothing more than runOr
and perhaps scandal. If she was en-
Joined not to reveal the identity OF her
informants she should. first, have
doubted the truth of what she heard.
and then like II sensible woman she
should have held her peace.
Does It occur to Miss ApDAMs-we
fancy 1t doesn't-that thousands OF
soldiers ON the firing line in Europe
are non-uscrs of both alcohol and
drugs. and would refuse the stimu
lants? 1t would he sorry tactics {"
dope" some individuals with drink
and drugs in order to make them
'brutlsh and beastly." and AT the
81 MT time depend upon the temper
ate soldiers 10 keep pace with their
stimulated fellows in killing ana hor.
ribly mutilating the enemy in the
trenches.
Miss adams will have to allow
that the total abstainers deserve
credit for va,or. Would the admls-
sion not leave her case in the air:
And then there are the Russians.
They are fighting without vodka. and
presumably without drugs-some-
times, as We know. without ammll
milton. So 1t must be possible to get
soldiers 10 charge on plain water, or
milk. tea or coffee; also to resist rs
saults and repulse the enemy without
taking alcohol and drugs. The per
Torrance Of the Russians must lie 4
puzzle to Miss adams.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
NEUTRALITY AND THE SALE
OF MUNITIONS.
Major Blgelow Replies Again to Pro.
lessor Garfield.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: Pro-
fessor Garfield intimates that I have
misunderstood him N thereupon elab-
rates his position. But he has not
enabled me to see where I went wrong.
! quoted him as saying IF we are to
remain neutral, we cannot suppress the
American trade in munitions of war"
He does not repudiate this statement. On
the contrary, he repeats 1t, only in many
more words and accompanied with much
irrelevant matter.
He says that a rule OF international
law approved at the Hague Conference
OF 1907 fcrbids our now reversing our
policy and rule OF action adopted at the
beginning Of the war. I cannot fnd
that rule In the report OF the Hague
Conference of 1907 or anywhere else.
lie remarks upon the vast sums of
money which 'in reliance upon this
policy. these rules OF law and our off,
cial assurances" have been invested in
the manufacture OF war supplies. What
official assurances? Car he quote or
cite a few of them?
Why should any money he lost on
investments In war supplies? Are not
the contracts good after as well as dur
ing the war? Does Professor Garfield
%insinuate that n Government which goes
W war IOT democracy dIu ~ Istt
and the sanctity OF treaties would go
back on "A contract? The problem. II
there he any, of satisfying the few peo-
pie who ave put money into war In
dustries may. in the interest of the null
titude who have not. be left to solve
itself. as was the similar problem OF
slavery, of monopoly and OF tarin pro-
lection.
In my specifications of the injuries
which we have suffered from the war
! mentioned THE decrease OF our com
merce exports and lmports)." Profess
sor Garfield understood me to mean ex-
ports and imports. taken separately
and characterizes my statement as EEK
traordlnar,ly Inaccurate | need hardly
say that | meant exports and imports
taken together.
lie charges ME with insisting that
II any embargo IL laid upon any part
Of our export trade. 1t must be ex-
tended 10 cover '~foodstuffs, clothing and
horsefesh.'" I did not insist upon or
even suggest anything Of the kind. Nor
have I "grarely proposed as a remedy
for these evils the three measures
which he enumerates. have not pro-
posed any remedy for anything. 7 have
considered a question OF right. not OF
expedicncy.
Professor Canneld's invective against
German conspirators and the Buchan-
ans OF Chicago" and his peroratlon on
the clasping OF hands across the seas
nor the defence of EnEl sh liberty and
American IDEALS tempt me strongly TO
comment and criticism. But 7 deny my
self such political DEPRESSION from the
quasi-leGal subject on which I ad-
dressed you. the right Of a neutral to
trade ~ little as Il may choose to with
helligerents and 10 cease trading with
them altogether. provided that in 80
doing II is actuated by concern for is
own welfare and not by Partially for or
prejudice against either Of the oppos-
ing helligerents. JOHN BIGELow.
TANSERsviLLE, y. Y, August IL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Dr. Osler's Theory Disproved.

To H EDITION OF THE SuN-Sir: This
war does not chine In very we'll with
DR.. Osler's theory. With The excep-
ton OF the Kaiser and the hereditary
princes of Prussia, Bavaria and Wuert-
temberg. who OF course hold their posts
by divine right" there is not a man
in high command In the German
French or English armies who Is no,
well over 80. and some have ever
passed 20, Won Hindenburg is So. Won
Ruelow 10. Won Kissing II, Won
Heeringen 50. Won M%ackensen SIS, Won
kluck 81, Joffre 81, Pau 70, Kitchener
65, French SO and Fisher 72.
The Oslerian theory was always oper
to suspicion and really was never taken
seriously except In America. where
people have a superstitious dread OF
growing old, or seem TO believe that Il
Il the oozing Of the gray matter OF
the brain into the hair which makes
the latter lose color. +. NJ.
NEW YORK, August "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16

In his speech on Saturday to the
Worcester County Republican Club
Senator LODGE was tactful in dealing
with the progressivcs who want to
come back. but perhaps he was not
entirely fclicitous when he said:
Republican success was never more
nee ssaIy, not only to the welfare but
10 the safety of the country. than at
the present time"
A distinction might he drawn be-
tween the welfare and the safety OF
the country. IL has 10 Jared well
economically with the Democrats in
power. but Democrats may be credited
with a desire to consider the safety
of the country. patriotism in the pres
en- crisis being OF no party, II we
may judge from the character OF the
encampment at Plattsburg. Perhaps
this judgment may have TO be modi-
fled when the President submits his
plans to Congress and the majority
acts upon them. hut We hope not.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Americans Should Fight for America Only

To THE EDITOR OF TIE sus-Sr: VIVA,
Is the trouble with Mr.. John J. Chapman ?
Why cannot the Europeans keep their
hands out OF our Government why doe.
he urge us to send our boys to nght for
Europe7
His son. II an American, t~orieits all
rights to vote In this country by nghting
In Europe, Is that something to he proud
OF or 10 II patr'o'ic' An American should
only be ready To defend mis- own country.
As We are anxious about Mexico. pcrhan.
our men will not consider such a nre.
posterous proposition. X u "
BROOK HAVEN, l.. l., August 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Another Elevated station Needed

To rHE EniroH OF TIE SuS-Sy. A natl
ton has been placed before the Public
Service Commission for the erection OF a
new station on tho elevated system At
1921 street and Eighth avenue. Tn. resi-.
dents. storekeepers and property owner, In
the neighborhood OF the site for IN. pro.
posed station have authorized a ommi,t.
consisting Of some Of the prominent men Of
the locality to make their wants known 10
the commission and to sec what can be
done to relieve a situation which at pres
ent Ia causing great concern.
In the petition. signed by over 500 mar.
sons who are directly interested. It 4. stat.d
that since tho marlborough removed n,
terminal station from l55th street to 18TH
street a hardship has been worked upon
those living In tho vicinity OF 1921 street.
II II pointed out that a zap now exists be-
tween l+Sth and 18TH streets, the looation.
OF the present stations. and to lessen the
Inconvenience placed upon those living in
the vicinity of 1874 street station AT
that street IL imperative.
Another point emphasized In the petition
Is that relief has been given to other To-
~celities during the last few years. For In
stance, the PETERBOROUGH built q station az
iSoth street to accommodate people who
formerly had to use the stations at l2bth
street and 18th street. A new station was
recently built AT Ninety ninth street, Will.
lust previous to that another station was
built at EiEhty-sixth street, In none OF
these localities was the need OF q station
more urgent than at 1924 street.
An objection cited against the new sta
tion at l57th street Il the delay caused by
the hating of incoming trains to permit
outgoing trains TO leave the station. The
loss Of time caused by this operation I'm.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
WILD LIFE IN NEW YORK
Van Cortlandt Park IL the Home OF
Many Fine Quail.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: In
addition to the "Wild Life In New
york', an int restjngly described In the
editorial article in THE SUN We have
had in Van Cortlandt Park for years
past a number OF members OF one OF
the finest game birds of this or any
other country. the quail. They have In
creased rapidly in the las year and
the Young coyeys are Matched and are
now under the watchful care OF their
parepts.
Through the early part of July, In
playing golf on the public links In Van
Cortlandt Park, have in one after
| noon heard the cheerful call OF Bob
white" from ct least half a dozen DIFF
serent male birds, the females being
~ that time setting on the nests. Re
peatedIy. nv initiating the female call.
have brought the Bob White" from
out the coverts directly into plain view
ON the closely cropped fair green" of
tina links where the little beauties
would run along In eager search for
The elusive Female on one occasion
r.oor,,v two maie birds came from OPP
na.i,. a,roc,Ion. and within thirty
yards from me engaged In a little
scrimpaue until one bird chased the
other 10 n respectful distance, but
| ,bev remained In sight until disturbed
nv o,her golfers who do not know a
mail from a blue lay,
THE mark employees take good care
of these noble birds when the heavy
SHOWS cover the ground and deprive
them Of access TO their usual food
sunnlv snow ia one of their worst
e-nerie, a q thev roost upon the ground
ana do NOT move until the snow ceases
To fall Then nv concerted action the
try 10 Nv throiph the snow TO sun
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
reception Of the appeal at Vera Cruz

reception Of the appeal at Vera Cruz
and Torreon, that the abyss between
the chief protagonists, CARRANzA and
VILLA. is impossible, although 1t Is
true that the latter has magnani-
mously proposed a truce.
There can be no doubt that the
Mexican people are soul sick with the
war and want peace. with a chance to
labor for their daily bread. To them
the appeal is really addressed, and IL
copies should fall into their hands
some good might be accomplished, the
creation OF a sentiment that would
ultimately bring about the conference
proposed in the appeal. But how Is
this distribution to be effected? Ger
tainly no with the assent of some Of
the parties in interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
The Modern Pathfinder.

The Washington star expresses re-
gret that the national capital Is not
to he on the main line Of the Lincoln
highway. This decision was reached
mt a conference held in Washington
where ii was definitely announced
that the terminals of this cr%oss-conti-
nent highway were 10 he New York
and San Francisco and that from
Philadelphia there r 10 he two
ways Il Gettysburg. one direct and
the other through Washington in or
der that the way may pass the Lin
coin memorial now under course OF
construction in that city.
The desire expressed TO be on this
continental way IL an indication Of
the interest that Is being taken in
great road projects. an interest akin
to that in railway construction in the
old days. This may he accounted for,
10 doubt. by the increasing use OF
the automobile, in general, and by
the number OF tourists who have
made the journey in their motor cars
this year to the Pacific coast and
thus proved that such an excursion
can be made with comparative COM
fort. These new roads have eddcd a
zest to the Seeing America" Idea and
have brought within convenient reach
many places OF historic interest and
given new life 10 towns passed over
by the railroad builder.
Especially IN the West have these
projects been received with much re-
jolcing. The pathfinder OF to-day is
welcomed ut towns and crossroads
on his route with speech and feast.
Towns in Kansas fought for the hon
or OF being on the revived Santa Fe
trail. that famous old Wagon road
across the plains and over the Rock
les. The course of this old track over
which the prairie schooners carried
settlers and gold seekers was almost
obllternted by the coming OF the rail
roads; but when rhe route was finally
r%esurveyed and decided upon all Kan
sas enthusiastically turned out ia
help in the building.
Three different routes contended
for the main State way across Mis-
souri, and the rivalry was sc intense
that on each contemplated route the
road locating expedition got "the
most enthusiastic reception we nc,
corded an official party" Iowa, as
soon ms the route cros that State
was decided upon. turned out as II to
a picnic and in one day built n road
good enough to run an automobile
on from the Mississippi To the Mis-.
souri," The SINE keen interest and
rivalry are now marking the const rue,
ton OF the Dixie highway which Is h
extend from Michigan TO Florida.
The president OF the lincoln High,
way Association, HENRY r. JOY, re
Gently made a tour oven the route
and reports that the Improvement has
been 70 great In the past two year.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16

eral. for whom all business other than
keeping Rum landcufred and shackled
pending ultimate slaughter will be
but an immaterial side issue. In
other words. a complete merger OF the
Republican and Prohibition parties 30
far as the State of Illinois is con
cerned, and the hats of the candidates
are In the ring-W. w. BENNETT,
Mayor Of Rockford, for Governor, and
GEORGE II. WILSON Of Quincy, legisla.
tive "dry" leader for three sessions
for Acknowledgement.
Two Republican candidates for
Governor Of Illinois, an out and out
dry" and u frank or straddling
wet" Is n programme only very
qualifedly to the taste Of the old line
war horses Of either of the great par
ties. Rum and anti-rum sentiment
overlaps both the Democratic and the
Republican lines and is a disinte-
grating element sufficiently potent to
inject an interesting feature Of I'M
certainty into several Of the coming
State elections.
what with suffrage and anti-suf-
frage, rum and anti-rum, besides the
usual assortment OF local issue cur.
rents and cross currents, the prob
lens of political navigation in more
than one of the Western States this
year make the dizzy swirls and ed
dies Of ancient He'll Gate pretty plain
sailing by comparison.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Are Women Only Leisure Loving?

TIC THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir: DO
women form the class that is getting
most Of the ease me so-called pleas
ure out OF life' This question Ia
prompted by my observations in the
country and at the seashore during the
past few weeks. Eighty per cent OF
the guests of the house at which |
stopped were women and children. 4
visit to the shore resorts showed the
same condition.
Coming home on a Coney Island train
last night the men were again most
conspicuous by their absence,
Are we to amend the quotation from
the Bible g II will read, Men must
work so that women may play? or
do the men fnd different ways OF oh
tanning relaxation so that by choice
they may he apart and away from the
fair sex?
Surface Indications seem to prove
that our women folk are becoming ou,
leisure, class. J. A. d.
JERsET CITY, N. j., August ~
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
New Aignments in State Politics.

Right across the path OF the Re-
publican State campaign in Illinois
this fall there lies the portcntou.
shadow, dark and ominous, of straight
out Prohibition armed and militant.
illinois drys," says the Chicago
Tribune, "are serving notice that they
are prepared to make a fight for a
dry Republican candidate for Cover.
nor" Their notice does not stop
there, They demand a Republican
State platform pledging unremitting
effort for Sahara legislation without
Ill ohsis In sight.
Furthermore, they propose to have
a dry Republican Legislature in 1917
and q dry Republican Attorney Gen
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16

1t would be well for the War De-
partment to strengthen the garrison
AT Nogales, Ariz,. through whose prin-
cipal street the international line
runs. Whether McXicans or Ameri-
cans started the rioting in Nogales
does not appear. but there Is evidence
that the cry Run all the Mexicans
across the line" was taken up by
soldiers OF the regular army as we'll
as by civilians. A little extra blood
letting and there would have been q
state OF a
Nogales Is a danger spot. We as
sumo that the American commander Is
a competent and cool headed officer.
Even so. he should have the plainest
orders to avoid collisions between his
men and the Mexicans, and reinforce
ments IL he needs them.