davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Scuttling the New Ballot.

Senator Spring, Of Cattaraugus Coun-
ty. who fathers a bill to consolidate the
Labor Department. the Workmen's Com
pensation Commission and the State In
dustrial Board in new hodge-podge de-
partment. and who has devoted much eff
fort to pushing the notorious canneries
bills, is evidently no believer in new
tangled notions" The good old days
and the good old ways are quite good
enough for him. He now appears as
sponsor for an attempt to scuttle the Mas
sachusetts ballot law by restoring the
party circle for straight voting to the
ballot and removing the designating en-
blems which accompany individual candi-
dates names, thus making Independent
voting almost impossible.
No such bill should pass, or even be re-
ported from committee. There is no war
rant for it. Trial of the present ballot
has proved that any ordinary citizen can
vote it with ease and without the delay
which had been feared by many reluctant
to adopt that form. Trial has proved
also, that the voters are willing and able
to exercise discrimination. regardless of
party lines, as to the candidates for whom
they vote
In such discrimination lies great hope
of improving the quality of our public
servants. In it lies serious menace to the
political boss and his party heelers, who
see vanishing their power to make the
"head of the ticket" carry through a
noisome tail. The Massachusetts ballot
on short acquaintance here has been
found to be good. Even this reactionary
Legislature would hesitate to repeal the
law establishing that form of ballot. Ger
tauly the law should not be scuttled as
Senator Spring proposes.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
QUEEN ELIZABETH SUPERIOR
English Battleship Compared with the
PENNSYLVANIA.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | think you have been swaycd un-
duly by national vanity in rating the Penn
sylvana as superior in fighting power to the
Queen Elizabeth. The naval battles of this
war have shown clearly that an outgunned
shin is helpless victim. Cradock went down
in a gallant but hopeless effort to get his
ships close enough to the enemy to bring ms
lighter guns into play, and the English battle
cruisers pounded the lighter armed Germans
TO pieces at the battle of the Falklands.
II is true that the Pennsylvania is bigger
shin than the Queen Elizabeth and carries
more guns capable of throwing heavier
oroadside But, and here is the vital point
the English ships main battery IS composed
Of 15-inch guns. with a range OF at least
mile greater than the Americans and hrlng
she'll Of much greater destructive power. Sne
is moreover at least three knots faster. As
2 matter of fact, the Queen Elizabeth could
not only keep out OF range OF the Pennsyl-
vania and hammer her at her leisure, Dut,
given plenty of sea room, her superior speed
and longer range guns would enable her to
harry a whole squadron of Pennsylvania SO
long as her ammunition held out. The fact
that the British began landing shells aboard
the German cruisers at the Dattle OF the Dog
ger Banks at eleven miles and that the queen
Elizabeth has been bombardng the Darda-
nelles forts at II 800 yards answers the queS-
ton as to how well the English can shoot at
extreme ranges.
Then. again, the Pennsylvania to-day IS a
mere hull. while the Queen Elizabeth has
been fighting for more than month. The
PENNSYLVANIA would have been a crushing,
though bclsted, answer to Engand's Iron
Dukes of two years ago. but not only is she
inferior to the Queen Elizabeth and her four
sisters, but before she is finished Will be
rendered obsolescent by the giant thirty-two-
knot battle-cruisers armed with l6-inch guns
that England is rushing to completion under
the pressure Of war.
The United States builds extremely fine
shiDs, but always seems TO get them into the
water about the time England brings out
new type for the naval architects of other
nations to worry over ). K.
Brooklyn, April 3, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Preparedness.
itor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. In your Sunday edition | read with
great amusement letter from one of the
typical miitarists who of late have been at
tracing so much attention by their fears that
some wicked nation lthey never specify
which one) at some future date may make
war upon our hapless land They advocate
a system in this country similar to that used
in Switzerland, although they do not even
consider the fact that there is no similarity
in our geographical positions. Perhaps if
these gentlemen would refer to their maps it
might abate their excitement.
The gentleman to whom | refer in particu-
lar also calls attention TO our lack of arms
He speaks of the obsolete Krag rifles. When
it is remembered that many Of the best shots
in this country very often use this rife in
preference to the new Springfield, and that
the record made by this arm held from 1907
until 1912, it leads one to suspect that this
major is hardly familiar with his topic. The
Krag is quite the equal of the Russian army
rife, and in range, strength and accuracy is
still considered one of the finest rifles ever
designed Moreover, the government so I
understand. has approximately six hundred
thousand of these rifles on hand
Certain naval experts are advocating the
use of long range guns Of heavy calibre for
coast defence. They appear to think that
an enemy attacking this country would be
obliging enough to attack the most heavily
fortified positions. | am prepared to name
a dozen or more places along the New Eng
land coast where troops could be landed
under cover of battleships without the slight
est opposition. Perhaps one Of these EEK
perts" has invented some device by which
l6-nch guns can be carried about on motor.
cycles
Many militarists put great stress upon the
fact that Kitchener will not put his army
into the field until next spring, but they for
get that the chief reason for this lies in the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Gasoline VS.. Romance.

The recent rebellion of the Piutes
a dying gasp of the Wild West, is now
wildly offset by the news from San Fran
cisco that full blooded Indian, bedecked
in his war paint and feathers, but neither
. press agent nor circus performer, is
TO visit the fair in his own automobile.
Gasolene is thus completing the subjuga-
ton of what whiskey and bullets have
spared. The end of the chapter is in
sight.
But there is ample indication that for
the Indian it is to be a happier ending
than has been often predicted, one sign
Of which is the slight gain in numbers
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
The Relief Work in Belgium.
he Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: On several occasions | have seen the
motives of the Commission for Relief in Bel
GUM called in question. have only recently
returned from Europe, where an opportunity
vas afforded me to examine closely the inner
workings Of the commission. Will you allow
me sufficient space to give few facts at first
hand?
The commission is absolutely neutral. 1t
has one object in view-the saving of the
Belgian people from extinction. 1t is bending
all its efforts toward this one great aim and
not meddling with the affairs of nations or
taking sides in the war that has brought
about such awful sufferings It's mission
rs one of peace and good will; its aim is to
feed the hungry. The men at its head are
giving their great and almost priceless SER
vices for no other recompense than the con-
ciousness of helping those who, through no
fault of their own, are incapable of helping
Themselves
Through the heroic endeavors Of Herbert C.
Hoover, chairman of the commission in Lon
don, communication has been kept open be-
tween Belgium and the outside world. while
Ce-CHdlImdn LlndOn W. Bates and his ac-
tive co-workers in America have been pour
ing steady stream Of supplies through the
channels thus opened. From all parts of
America food and clothing have flowed stead
lily to the seaboard where they arc embarked
ard sent across the Atlantic to Rotterdam
and from there into Belgium. The Holland
government is aiding in every possible man
ner to get the foodstuffs to the border of
Belgium, placing every facility at the dis
posal Of the agents of the commission, while
the German authorities furnish free trans
portation from the Dutch border to the diff
ferent stations throughout Belgium. We're il
not for lack of space | could tell YOU of the
manner Of distribution of the foodstuffs that
insures their going only into the hands of the
needy
1t matters not what we're the causes that
led to Belgium's sore need. Her suffering is
pitltul The scourge of war has fallen upon
her people; they cry out to the world in their
anguish, and the world in its mercy is re-
spending to the call
EDWIN G. LAWRENCE.
New York, April g. 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
New York's Peril.

Mayor Mitchell was able to present a
thoroughly creditabe account of his fiji
teen months of administration to the Com
mttee of 107 last night-an account with
which the public generally is familiar and
which it approves. This renders the more
impressive his declaration that much of
the best work his administration has done
will have to be stopped unless new sources
of revenue can be obtained in ii couple of
years, or unless a far higher tax than
heretofore has been deemed equitable be
levied on real estate.
For this the city authorities are not re-
Sponsible, and cannot be held to be. Part
of the responsibility rests on the eXtrava-
giant administrators of other years; part
on the mandatory expenses piled up by
Albany to crush the city's taxpayers.
Those departments managed by fusion
Mayors appointees. the Con-
ofices-cut their expenses this year
100000 below their budget appropria-
tons for last year. Yet the budget was
far ahead of its predecessor, for there
was a huge item of S70OO,OOO for debt
service--high interest on the 0O,O00.0O0
bond iSsue-and there were mandatory
salary increases for school teachers.
The cost Of debt service will gradually
be lowered and great saving will be
effected by the operation of the "pay-aS-
you-go" financial policy which the Board
Of Estimate has adopted. That, obviously,
will enlarge the budgets for few years,
but the resultant savings will make it
worth while. So while taxpayers will not
and can not be expected to relish the rise
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Prendergast of Painted Post.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Below are a few lines suggested b,
your editorial in to-day's Tribune about
local in manner of speaking statesman
The village sages proudly boast
OF Prendergast of Painted Post,
Who with a city job combined
A truly rural state of mind.
While other Painted Postians tried
To work the city on the side,
Brave Prendorgast surpassed them all
In energy, fnesse and haul.
No summer boarder's game was his
Far higher his ambitions riz
He taxed the city on the coast
And sent the loot to Painted Post
Within each crowded country store
The rustics laughed and laughed once more
At his achievement, for. you see,
The city paid his sal-a-ree!
Taxes in Painted Post are nil,
Because the city pays the bill.
And in hard cider now they toast
Brave Prendergast OF Painted Pos.
RUS IN URBE.
Painted Post, y. y, April II, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
E-lye' -hu VS.. Thu.
To the Editor of The Tr;hur.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your highly interesting editorial in
to-day's Tribune regarding the variant pro
nunciations of the heading of this article
you remark that the dictionary instructs us
to say "E-lye'-hu." You do not state which
is the dictionary so ruling If it is Stor.
month, Worcester or the Imperial 10 which
you refer you are unquestionably right. The
more modern international, however, and the
newest Standard agree with the three All.
thoritles quoted, but allow Er-i-hu the sec
ond place.
Years ago, if my impression is correct, his
fellow townsmen would have hardly recoe-
nized El-i-hu Burritt as "the learned black.
smith, Later this prenomen received a
rude shock when Alice Cary, in her match
less poem of "The Gray Swan" said:
"Oh, tell me. sailor, tell me true
Is my little lad, my Elihu,
A-sailng with your ship?"
II is reported of a former President Of the
United States that when he was bantered
about his inconsistent spelling of proper
names he answered that he had no use for
any man who could not spell his own name
IN more than one way. Unless our revered
ex-senator entertains a similar reservation
regarding the pronunciation of his first
name, could he not be induced, in the col
umns OF The Tribune or in some other less
desirable way, TO issue a final decree to set
tie controversy which might otherwise be
continued indefinitely?
JOSEPH ALDEN SHAW.
Worcester, Mass, April &, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Tammany's Truest Friend.

1t is natural for Mr.. Prendergast OF
Painted Post to misunderstood the rela
tive values placed upon local citizens by
the people of New York City. This cir
cumstance alone must explain his attaci
upon George McAneny.
Were Mr.. Prendergast of Painted Pos
as familiar with this town as The Tribune
is, he would know that its citizens are quit
as willing TO believe the Controller is as
sisting upstate Republican politicians t
plumber New York City in the hope o.
obtaining their support of his candidacy
for United States Senator as that The
President of the Board of Aldermen il
defending the city treasury to help Tam
many Hall.
In the eyes of the residents of New Yorl
City Mr.. McAneny's fight against raiC
upon city funds from Albany requires
neither defence nor explanation. South Of
the Yonkers line there is no party division
over what Justice Wells, himself Repub
lican, described as soaking New YorF
City"
Mr.. Prendergast of Painted Posi-
naturally believes in penalizing New York
City. His native and instructive sympa
thy is with the Republican Legislature
which is undertaking to DO this. His re-
ward will be found, perhaps, in the appro
baton that will come to him from north OF
the Harlem.
But Mr.. McAneny can just as safely
rely upon his constituency. No one will
suspect that in fighting scheme to plum
der New York City he is acting as the
tool of Tammany Hall. But it will be
recognized that in undertaking to mulct
the city both Mr.. Prendergast of Painted
Post and his upstate associates are play
~ the Tammany game.
To-day Charles f. Murphy has no bet
ter servant in this state than William A.
Prendergast, no greater cause for satisfac-
ton than that derived from contemplating
a Republican Legislature at Albany busily
engaged in making New York City Demo
cratic again. If Mr.. Prendergast should
fail to receive the reward he has earned
upstate, only ingratitude of the basest
sort would cause the rejection of an
application made in Fourteenth Street.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
STREET CLEANING PHILOSOPHY
The Best Way to Apply Water to
Snow in Flushing Streets.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The greatest possible result in re-
moving snow by the flushing system has not
been obtained, owing TO the fact that the
philosophy Of that system is not generally
understood.
The flushing system is an imitation Of
natures method of removing snow by dis
solving it into water by the saturating sc-
ton of rain the resulting water flowing
into the sewers.
The first artificial substitute is a stream
Of water from hose. The best and most
economical results by this method will be
obtained by drenchng the snow from the
top down, allowing the water to soak through
the snow. The wet slush may be showed into
the sewers with the aid of scrspers.
The second substitute is much better and
cheaper than the first. as it more closely re-
sembles the action Of rain. The nearest
imitation Of rain is obtained by the use of
sprinkling carts.
Snow will not accumulate on wet sur
face. At the commencement of the snow
the streets and sidewalks should be sprin-
kled, the sprinkling of the sidewalks being
accomplished by carts with a side plough
driving close TO the curb. This would pre-
vent the accumulation Of snow for some time
and also the forming of hard snow on the
streets and sidewalks.
This sprinkling may be repeated in about
three hours, or when the snow has begun to
accumulate. At the end OF the snow, the re-
naming wet slush greatly reduced in bulk,
can be showed into tho sewers
In both methods it will be found easier
and quicker to shove wet snow over a wet
smooth street than dry snow over a rough.
dry street. CORNELIUS MARTIN.
New York, April 4, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
An Act and Its Enforcement
New York, April 8, 1915.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: II some opponents of the Lockwood
Ellenbogen bill would read it through the,
might be saved from breaking the Ninth
Commandment
1t Is NOT the Tenement House Department
that has improved living conditions; il i,
the tenement house act.
The bill does NOT wipe out the tenement
house act; it places its administration where
1t properly belongs-in the Bureau of Build.
ings.
The bill does NOT decentralize or disir.
tegrate the city, because the Bureau y,
Buildings already has branches in the vari.
Gus ooroughs, and their status is no,
changed
To call the bill vicious" is an insul, -
the five borough presidents. who have in.
dorsed it and who understand public serti.
ment in their respective borouehs which
combined, means the public sentiment Of tho
city, and to the seventy civic oreanizations
representing all boroughs from whom tho
bill emanated
Its passage is in the interests Of effciencv
and economy. ALBERT + DAVIS :
The Bronx, April 8, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

fact that a general offensive movement at
this time would be impracticable. Person
ally. | consider Baden-Powell quite as conf
petent to argue such matters as any of our
own military men, and his opinions on this
subject are very clear.
There is only one country whom we have
any cause TO suspect Of designs on this
country and that is Germany. the home Of
the sword gathering mlitarists. England
France or Russia will never become in
volved IN a war with us and all of our sensi-
bic army men know it; and the person who
is subject to attacks of nerves" on account
OF Japan indeed has severe case Of brain
storm"
Let the "jngoes" jingle, for they love to
make noise. S. W. s.
Hartford, Conn, March IS, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

n their bills made necessary by this poiicy
~ carving the cost of non-lncome pro
ducing permanent improvements III the
budget. they should be reconciled 10 II d!
the knowledge that these payments no"
will prevent larger ones later
What the taxpayers here cannot ne
reconciled to is the tax made necessary
bv the operations Of government AT Al
banv-both the increase of rate due 10
mandatory legislation and the increase
dine 70 state taxes the justice of which Is
questionable The cost of the Depart
ment of Education. of courts, OF county
government, piles up year after year
through legislative process in which thiS
CITY is unable to make its wishes respected
Direct taxes of which this city must pay
the greater share are authorized by iegis-
lators Of whom upstaters form majority
That is the perilous situation for New
York CITY to-day. 1t is unthnkable that
its splended Health Department work.
its social service in charities, CORRECTION
amusements. its educational work, should
have to be curtailed. Yet that easily may
be the case unless the city officials who
have to raise the revenues may have
power to determine the expenditures.
This situation-no myth. but cold reality
should cause a cessation of the silly
criticisms of extravaganza brought against
this administration and give emphasis to
tho citv's demand for home rule from the
Constitutional Convention.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

which the Indian population has shown Of
late. in contrast with its long decline. AS
romance dies the Indian race revives,
which is simply another way Of saying
that as the Indian becomes gradually an
integral part of the nations citizenship
his infant death rate decreases with the
increase of his prosperity.
Romance is too often the moss that
hides decay. 1t may be removed with
gasOene.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Canneries and Suffrage.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me to thank you for YOU
stand in regard to the canneries bill. But
bad as New York may prove to be in thi.
respect, the suffrage states are no better.
There is absolutely no restriction place,
on the hours of women in canneries in Cali
fornla, Oregon and Washington. wher,
women vote. We are getting equality with
men in those states.
MARJORIE DoRMAN.
New York, April 9, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
Still, Adjectiyes Don't Bite the Tongue

Still, Adjectlves Don't Bite the lousW'
FPA: From a tobacco ad: The public
won't be fooled about its pipe. 1t cant
smoke adjectives-it wants good tobacco
Then the advertiser, speaking Of his own
brand, uses these expressions;
aged-in- the-wood mellowness;
seasoned taste;
surprising richness;
cool, slow-burning -, the smoothea
tobacco.
Aged -the-wood, seasoned, surpasSlns
cool. slow burning and smoothest are,
suppose, conjunctions. Or are they pro
nouns?
EpAR
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
FACTORIES FOR WOMEN!

tFrom ne NV NfUHVII'I -.
Reports of the Chicago election ''o'
that "in the poorer districts the ~0' ,
put the babies to sleep or left them IN w
care of a neighbor, and trudged 10 Wv
polling places" 1t is not stated ""D,
these women do with their babies "n's
they trudge to the factory or to S'''
somebody's floor
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
april, APRIL"

April, April,
Fans implore together,
Give US baseball weather
On the Opening Day.
April, hear US pray.
Other twenty-nine days
May be rain or shine-days,
Skies be blue or gray.
April, April,
We implore together
Give US summer weather
For the Opening Day.
Bah
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

Among those-this is on the monich'
theme, so skip it, if you like-to be gradu'
ated this year from the Bellevue Training
School for Nurses is Marie Ursula Pulls
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

The time-old contest between W
champions of biscuit-dough and SP0"sl
cake strawberry shortcake is on AGAIN =
builder of the latter variety o''
patience with the biscuit school, carr y.
angrily: 81 Didn't Raise My Bread 10 -
q Shortcake."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
EDAR.
APPOMATOX.
BY HAROLD S. OLSEN,

6 BBi-P. S. 40, Bronx.
It was early in the year Of 1863,
The invasion of the North was begun Q!
Lee.
His army was sure large and strong
But both he and his army were IN "'
wrong;
They charged and charged but were fe'
pulse,
Two days they fought without results
The third day Lee was force to retreat
This to him was a terrible defeat,
So he went back, and thereforth,
Never again invaded the North.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

Tomorrow is Opening Day and L
would be a fine notion for editorial para.
graphers and cartoonists to put over
"Play Ball." Also there is the grand
mother-funeral pleasantly.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

You can purchase merchandise advertised
in THE TRIBUNE with absolute safety-tor
IL dissatisfaction results in any case lhE
TRIBUNE guarantees TO pay your money
back upon request. No red tape, no gum
bling. We make good promptly If the adj
yertiser does not.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

Sir: Can | climb into the Tower BY ?.
ferring to Hammerstein's headliner a
4 Smoke Consumer? COOLEY
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

The imminent season, however, is one %
be handled with gentleness. The slightes,
shock, we fear, will be fatal.