davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
THE CASE OF THE BOER WAR

A correspondent addresses to The
Times an inquiry regarding the re-
cent article on this page which
dealt with the letter of Mr.. Gehrie
and the traffic in munitions of war.
The writer says:
/ am surprised that you have entirely
overlooked the fact that when Great
Britain was engaged a few years ago
in what was at that time one Of her
greatest Wars-the destruction Of the
Boer Republic-she bought most of her
arms and munitions from Germany and
that the attitude of Germany at that
time effectually estops her from maxi
ing any complaint now against similar
conduct on the part of neutrals.
Our correspondent is entirely cor
rect. Germany sold munitions of
war to both sides; first to the Beers,
so long as they were able to get the
shipments into their country; then
she thriftily shifted her business to
the British side, and sold to it. The
fact has been repeatedly referred to,
however, editorially in The Times.
Il would be quite impossible to
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
.EASTLAND NOTEDFOR
HER MANY vAGAR|ES

SOUTH CHICAGO, July 25.-That thu
steamer Eastland was noted for he
peculiar tricks, because of her ode
build" among seamen and ship builders
was asserted here by Charles Gerdg
former master mechanic at thi
Chicago Ship-building yards.
"The Eastland was in dry-dock herr
getting fixed up again, about ten day
ago." said Gerds. Marine men
talked with at that time, mentioned
that she had too much above waite
for what she had below.
II was on board the Eastland out II
Lake Michigan some years ago. wnci
she cut up one of her tricks. Some
thing got the matter with her ba.ias
at that time, so that when too many o
the passengers go on one side al tn
same time, the captain had to turn
complete circle until the crowds wcr'
evenly distributed again"
The Eastland was &cj feet long will
n depth of 1872 feet and $50 feet wide
She was a steel, twin-screw boat Will
two decks besides a hurricane deck.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
PROMOTER OF PEACE

When a lyric poet enters the do
main of politics and diplomacy he
does so at risk which a man of less
sensitive and refined nature easily
escapes. This is evident again and
again in the glimpses into the inner
life of John Hay which William
Roscoe Thayer has given in his ex-
tracts from unpublished Letters
and Diaries" of this American diplo-
matist and statesman.
The arbitration treaties, to the ne
gotiation of which Hay gave those
last months of his hard working
life when saddened by the shock
of the sudden death of his son,
on whom his highest hopes and
brightest dreams centered, met the
overt opposition and secret combi-
nations which drew from him the
caustic words: "A treaty entering
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
NOW LET CONGRESS GOMEZ

There is just one thing that Presi-
dent Wilson could now do. which
would give a final touch of empha-
sis and conclusiveness to his note to
Germany. He could order forthwith
an extra session of Congress.
To call the legislature of the ma
ton together would contain no pos
sible menace to any foreign power
that was not contained in the last
note to Berlin. 1t would merely be
very definite addendum to the eff
feet that the things said in that note
were precisely the things that this
country meant; that all their impli-
cations and possible consequences
were appreciated to the full; and
that if there were to be any backing
down, somebody else than America
would have it to do.
Nothing would do more to make
the world realize the meaning of a
persistence of this war, than to have
the American Congress come into
extraordinary session on the ami
versary of the wars beginning. That
anniversary is just few days away
from us. The beginning of the Sec
ond year sees the end farther away
than it seemed on the day when the
first shot was fired. Then, innocent
people imagined that it would end
by Christmas, or at least by spring
Now, nobody ventures seriously to
predict an end; everybody agrees
that it is long way ahead, and that
the horrors of the first year will be
made more horrible by those yet to
come.
This is assuredly one instance in
which preparedness for war is in,
surance of peace. Preparedness fol
war will be set afoot the day Con
gress meets. The purpose of prep
aration will be proclaimed in the cal
for Congress to meet.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

catalogue the cases in which neu-
trails have sold munitions to bellig-
erents. It would be far easier to
make list of cases in which they
have not done 30. for there has been
none such. The United States has
always sold munitions to belliger-
ents when it had them to sell and the
belligerents wanted them; other
countries have always sold them to
the United States when this country
was belligerent and wanted to buy.
It is doubtful if case could be
found in modern warfare of coun-
try conducting a war entirely on it's
own resources Of arms, ammunition,
and general supplies.
The charges to the contrary,
which have received general circula-
ton in this country, are simply
falsehoods, put out by people who
know them to be such.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

the Senate is like bull going into
the arena: no one can say just how
OF when the final blow will fall; but
one thing is certain--it will never
leave the arena alive." -
= It is cause for lasting regret to
the Americans who honored his char
acter and ability and admired his
gay and gallant spirit that the
French government was not allowed
to confer upon him the Grand Cross
of the Legion of Honor, tribute
well, earned. by his work in the cause
of. peace among the nations. His
impulse was to decline this honor,
but the President in his usual force
full way overrode his objections, and
permission for him to- accept was
sought from the Senate. : ~
5 That the august body refused to
allow him the distinction of this
decoration means little to the repu-
tation Of the man who had his best
reward in the high service which
revolutionized diplomacy, changing
it, so far as was in his province,
from backstairs bargaining to frank
and honorable conference where
reason and conscience prevail.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
RED CROSS WORKING
TO HELP SURVIVORS

CHICAGO, July 25.-Acting Mayor
Moorehouse and J. J. O'Connor. direc-
tor of the central division Of the
American Red Cross, are doing every
thing in their power for relief of the
Eastland victims. They are assisted by
officers Of the Western Electric Com
pany.
Private stores and Offices have been
turned into relief stations and public
utility concerns helped. The Chicago
Telephone Company yesterday installed
a score Of free telephones near the
Eastlands docks, whence survivors
flashed word to anxious relatives.
The Red Cross established an emer-
gency station at the Second Regiment
Armory, prepared to take care of pros
tration cases and accidents The
Nurses Association and Society volun-
teered to care for survivors and stricken
relatives. and We're helped by big
hotels. which furnished gallons Of coffee
and hundreds of sandwiches.
Treatment to prevent typhoid fever
of the city health department which
homes of rescued persons who might
have swallowed river water
Relief funds for those dependent upon
persons who lost their lives in the trag-
edy have been started by the three
morning newspapers and city officials
In additions the Western Electric Com
pany. whose employees had chartered the
Eastland, and five other boats for a
picnic trip. promised that its 81 900, 900
employees fund will be drawn upon lib
orally to relieve suffering.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
ILLINOIS WOMEN WIN

Woman suffrage may be regarded
as definitely established in Illinois.
1t is, of course, a limited suffrage:
but plenty inclusive enough to make
the women a decided factor in the
affairs of the State. They may vote
for all officials whose places are not
created by the constitution of the
State, and on all propositions not
submitted under the constitution.
This includes Congressman, Sena-
tors, most municipal officials, etc.
The legislature two years ago
passed the law which grants this
highly important measure of suf-
frage; and in the interim the women
have made themselves a very i'm
portant factor in the State, especial
ly in their efforts to defeat undesir-
able legislation, to restrict the LIQUOR
traffic, and the like.
From the beginning there was
fear, however, that the legislature,
which had been able to give this
much, might also exercise it's power
to take away. The adoption of the
suffrage measure in 1913 was a sur
prise; there was concern lest reac-
tion should set in and induce the
1915 body to repeal the law.
But the 1915 legislature has COM
pleted its work without doing any,
thing of the kind. Measures were
introduced for repeal, and for vari-
Gus restrictions upon the right; but
none of them passed; and it is de-
clared that they failed quite as much
because the legislators wanted them
to fail, as because they feared to
commit themselves to such propos-
ais. Some, of course, preferred not
to make the issue lest, if the repeal
act~be defeated, they or their parties
should be punished by the women;
but the majority, regardless of
party, had decided that woman suf-
frage was inevitable and that this
was as good time to enter upon
its regime as any other. Having
been given the Endorsement of two
successive legislatures, and the idea
of women voting having got better
established in the public mind, there
is increased assurance that future
efforts at repeal will receive still
less hospitable treatment.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
NEW cROP.MOVlNd WORRY

Both Canada and the United
States confront the problem of find
Ing ships to haul the agricultural
surplus, and other objects Of export
trade, away to Europe. The Domin-
ion authorities report that the new
wheat crop is going to be about
2OO,OOO,OOO bushels, which is nearly
one-third larger than that of last
year; and there are not vessels to
carry it. They have been impressed
Tor all kinds of extraordinary serv-
ice incident to the war, and to make
up for the loss of German vessels
from the seas, and the destruction
OF craft of other nations.
AS a result the Canadians are
talking seriously Of having their
government impress ships wherever
they can be found, as a measure of
military necessity, and use them to
transport the wheat and other crops.
Unless this is done, it IS alleged,
there is going to be a serious disas-
ter to the agricultural community.
1t will be unable to turn it's crop
into money, or will be compelled to
send great quantities to the Pacific
ports and sell at greatly reduced
prices.
Such a condition in Canada will,
OF course, find instant reflection in
the United States; and it is one of
the situations that add justification
for the demand that Congress be
brought back to it's duties early.
This country's business is quite suf-
ficiently disjointed without having
the export trade embarrassed by
lack of shipping. The war may last
years, and the longer it lasts the
more serious will become this prob
lem of meeting an increasing de-
mand for our products with a de-
creasing supply of ocean-going bot
TOMS
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

morning she waved her hand at me.
Won't you let me in now. mister"
Identification Slow.
The work OF Identification was very
slow. The police tagged each body
with a number giving a description
of the appearance Of the body, clothes
and any papers or jewelry upon 1t.
These descriptions were sent into the
city hall and the coroner's office. But
this was the dead OF a holiday crowd
of workers. The majority were dressed
in light outing clothes. Few carried
Searassted JED % blue @ and sY gold arm bands 'of Of
the Hawthorne Club. social organiza-
ton. led to Identification.
1t was noticeable that on almost all
Of the bodies brought up from the bow
els Of the boat that their left arm was
thrown up before their face, as II max
ing one last pitiful effort to avert hor-
Tor. .r
The coroner's deputies slaved at their
Stripped to their undershirts and trou-
sers. drenched in perspiration. they
worked up and down the long rows of
quiet forms. each shrouded in a bright
pink. blue or white cotton blanket.
Children and Babies Dead.
1t was among the babies and the
small children that death. as usual,
reaped his choicest harvest. Few es-
coped.
II the stolid faces Of the strctcher
bearers ever betrayed the stress they
lubored under. 1t was when these tiny
forms were brought to them. In one
motor van were six. each wrapped in a
blue covering. Tiny feet dropped pa
thetically beyond the edge Of the cloth
the bright pink and scarlet ribbons that
proud mothers had that morning tied
IN their hair. now mud-stained and
faded. dragged behind.
Morgue Crowd Grows.
AS the hours rolled on the crowds of
relatives and friends about the morgue
grew. But 1t was still a dumb and
silent crowd. Occasionally o few. with
proper credentials. would Sip past the
door. Quickly they would pass down
the narrow lanes between the dead. A
covering would be removed from the
face. One or two Of the 3earchers. cftcn
woman. would bend low. Sometimes
stfied gasp: sometimes a mere nod
A low-voiced order would ne given. a
stretcher would be brought up. and the
BODY taken away: But tnis did not
harpen often. The vast majority of the
Identifications will be made later.
.... No Public Funeral.
So far no arrangements have been
I made for any public funeral of the vic.
Tins. Most of them will be buried pri.
vateiy by relatives and friends
Plans for the financial assistance CT
those who are not able to meet this
sudden demand upon their resources
cieties are .c,ivs Ia ioolaus after the
members None will .se to the potter's
! field. unsorrowed and alone.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
Engineer Saved Boat
From Great Explosion

CHICAGO, July 25.-The
presence of mind of Chief Engi-
neer J. M. Erickson, of the
Eastland, probably averted
terrific boiler explosion, which
would have materially added to
the horror of the catastrophe.
When the boat listed, he i'm
mediately ordered the injectors
opened and the boilers filled.
Had the cold water from the
river flowed in upon the heated
boilers, there would have been
an explosion that would have
torn the ship to pieces.
Erickson remained at his
post in the engine room until
the water reached his neck.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
Memorial Services at
Fair for Boat Victims

SAN FRANCISCO. July o5.-While a
band softly played Nearer, Ny God,
to Thee" and more than 20.OG0 stood with
bowed heads. Governor Dunno, of Illi-
nois, yesterday afternoon planted a tree
upon the grounds of the Panama Pacific
Exposition which will stand as a living
monument to the victims of the East
land disaster.
This was illinois Day at the fair
But instead of the usual ceremonies. the
great throngs Joined with Governor
Dunno. Mayor William Hale Thompson
of Chicago. and thousands of residents
of Illinois in the most impressive me-
mortal services ever witnessed on the
Pacific coast.
Mayor Thompson and his party have
left on a special train for home.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
PLAYING WITH HUMAN LIFE

The excursion steamer Eastland,
which turned turtle at a pier in the
Chicago river with the result of a
frightful loss of life, presents a case
quite as inexcusable as was that of
the General Slocum, years ago. The
Slocum was without proper equip
ment to care for passengers in case
Of disaster, and in addition was
overcrowded. The Eastland was at
least overcrowded; but worse than
that, she had been currently known
for at least ten years as q thorough
ly dangerous vessel. That she would
turn turtle, some time or other, just
as she finally did do, had been con-
fidently predicted by marine con-
structors and ship officers time and
again. Public attention had been re-
peatedly called to her dangerous
character; and yet nothing had been
done to prevent the thing which it
now is realized was inevitable if she
should continue freighting grest
numbers of human lives. .I-. e.,
Since the Slocum disaster there
has been legislation and there has
also been administrative effort to
safeguard against such affairs; yet
the case of the Eastland makes very
plain that legislation has been in
effective and administration has
been lax. If the Eastland had pre-
sented defects that were not real
lied; if it had been an ill-construct-
ed boat in which the deficiencies
were concealed, matters would have
been less discreditable to the super
visory authorities. But it appears
that this boat was known from end
to end of the lakes to be danger
ous one, and yet was licensed to
sail and to carry thousands Of peo-
pie.
The case r Is 10 discouraging one.
Whether ID be Slocum or Titanic,
a great marine accident causes an
excited plunge into the arena of re-
form legislation; there are speeches
and editorials and resolutions, and
something or other gets to the stat
ute books; and then the whole thing
is forgotten until some fine day an
other disaster occurs, and it devel-
ops that all that has been done was
futile and ineffective.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
Chicago Is Numb With
Horror Over Disaster
Grief Grips City as II Begins Terrible Task of Pre-
pairing Its Dead for Burial-Corpses Fill
. s-a Fl. ..s - =. Armory. 49,.

CHICAGO. July 2s.-Dumb with grief
task Of prenaring its dead for burial.
With pale faces and lips pressed into
two thin blue lines. the workers at the
Second Regiment Armory. the princi-
pal receiving morgue for the bodies az
they were taken directly from the hulk
Of the doomed Eastland all last night
bent to their tasks. The bodies were
transferred In groups Of six and eight
by motor trucks from the Reid-Mur-
dock warehouse on the river bank.
Thousands grouped themselves about
the streets leading to the doors Of the
big. red brick building selected to
house the victims Of the disaster.
Working in squads Of four stretcher
bearers at a time. the police detailed
to carry the blanketed forms from the
vans outside to their places on the floor
inside did their work with swift effec-
tiveness. Fifty embalmers occupied one
quarter of the building. The steadily
growing line Of bodies easily distanced
their desperate efforts to keep abreast
n,, the eyer-srSWins ,n S,,s,nx stream that flowed
At the rate Of four or five bodies to
the minute. came the Eastland's toll
F;ighty-four were placed in a single
lime, lime Then ss sssre n TsTe tMo ths hines rumS fSSs
outside told OF more vans coming up.
Stretcher bearers worked until ex-
hausted. Relief men took their places
and the steady march kept up. 1t seem.
cd unending.
Their Wives inside.
In the shadow Of the entrance stood
four young men. They were pleading
with the doorman to be permitted tc
enter. Gently he refused.
mot yet. boys" he said. 1T vii
do no good now"
But our wives are in there. man,
said one. He said 1t quietly. stoically
like one benumbed. The others sale
| nothing.
II Left her at the dock" the ma,
continued. "She had planned on thi!
all summer. i didn't know about i
until noon. Then l went down there
The police let me on the boat.
found her hat. That's all. Poor lit
Etle kid"
The other three grouped close abou
the speaker beneath the spIutterinl
arc light, but held their grief within
their breasts. - S,t.;5I'. ...
Girl Looks For Baby.
There was dumb horror In a girl
woman's wide blue eyes. Her finger
worked at a buttonhole, in her fadet
lred jacket. She talked like on
drugged to the guardian at the door
ITS, my baby" she said. simply.
He shook his head.
MOT yet. LADY, Not yet. In q littl
while. maybe"
Il let her go with a netghbor o
mine. She was only three. Her faith
er Is in Wyoming. He doesn't know
yet. When she turned the corner tht
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
Relatives of Victims
To Get Death Benefits

CHICAGO. July 2s.-Relatives of en-
Who met death In the Chicago river
disaster are provided for under an in
surance plan which Is maintained
through affiliation Wueh che American
Telephone and TeleeropM COntrany.
The death benefit provides payment Of
six months wages to iapendents of
those having been In the employ of the
company for five years or more and one
years pay to those having served for
ten years or more.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

New Jersey man who has a towel
sewed up inside his anatomy is en-
We'd by all. He knows where to find
one whenever he has an eyeful of
shaving soap. ... .-.- ...
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

Russian generals are showing
great bravery in sticking by their
telephones during attack in electric
storms.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25
Victims Responsible
For Disaster, He Says

founded on reports from members Of
the crew. who say that to get up the
river part of the ballast was removed.
to avoid danger OF scraping the roof
of the La Sale street tunnel.
The Washington times., 1915-07-25

morning she waved her hand at me.
Won't you let me in now. mister?"
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-03-26

~ HtlT 10 II0Ht0N Tor DIlIIl7
Zetzman was a farmer and h
smith at Roscoe and has wild
ten children. an grown He had
Roscoe to go to sinner to attenl
funeral Of his mother and II Id
pectod that while whiting for a
In Fort Worth he went out In
and fell among thugs
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-03-26
What
is
25O3?

liainhnrt Sues Tor Damage.
Report was made last wee
the nonnultinR Of the Raleigh
icine Company against certain
ties In scurry county One of
parties was George Baruhart. "
the Company had rued
debt when the case was ruled
ON defendants demurrer. Barn
proceeded 70 nle cruas al
against tho Company FOR damage
the Bum Of $4,000 This case
continued TO neat term Of court
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-12-20
aMofher OF Rcyaumont."

Royaumont abbey. one of the old
Benedictine monastic establishments
In France. has been turned into hos
pItal and is already crowded with the
wounded from the ranks of thq)Allies.
At the head CT the hospital is the
sister OF Sir John French, Mrs. Har-
ley. The entire staff of assistants.
surgeons. nurses and the executive
force, is composed Of women.
Every day Mrs. Harley makes the
rounds of the temporary wards, every
day new face is added to the list OF
injured. Mrs. Harley and her &C.
workers have endeared themselves to
the wounded French and English sol
diers. Some of them call her the
Mother OF Royaumont."
The lower floors OF the abbey, q
spacious structure. have been split up
into wards and willing hands keep il
supplied in handages. while gifts OF
medical supplies were donated By va.
rious organizations.
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-12-20
Wonder of Mechanism.

Half century ago there was not a
watch in existence capable of meeting
the requirements of American railway
. time service today. Railway time in,
spection has set the limit OF variation
from true time. fqr its employees
watches at 80 secoJds week. This
means that the b3ance wheel shall
not vary in its molten to the extent
of one vibration out OF every 10000
Taking into consideration the various
causes Of disturbance to which rail
way engineers watch is subjected, the
jclts and jars. the changes of tempera'
ture and the magnetic influence Incl
dental TO the proximity of large masses
of iron and steel, this performance is
truly remarkable. That it is possible
to secure such accuracy in such tiny
piece OF mechanism subjected to those
adverse influences is little short OF
marvellous. and iustities the claim that
the watch of lod2w is the most won.
derful piece or .Iechanism that the
ingenuity Of man has ever produced -
Scientific American.