davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24

From the Ttdi Issue.
Translated from the German ~ Robert
Hsmmerllng, 1881, by william cobhet,, Jr.
Robert Hammerling, the poet, was born
on March -. 1870, at Kirchbcrg am Wald,
in Austria. He was professor al Vienna,
Graz and Triest, He died July ~, 1889.
Before my rapt astonlshed Eaze,
From out the ages gloomy maze
\ Goddess moves, Imperial and slow,
cad with rcsounding arms.
~ Twentieth Century. thou.
Thou shalt henceforth be known,
To seed OF nations yet unsown,
As the Germanic Century.
Germarls-ln that great time and dread
The earth shall shake In dust before thy
No cnvious foe hut what shall learn
In the fen tempests reckoning
Though slow Thy wrath how nercely II
may burnt
ON Ensland's virgin soil thy tramplins
feet shall fall,
From sky 10 sky shall stretch the battle
Russia, a giant with her feet Of clay.
shall burst asundcr, overwhelmed that day
when In rich Battle lands thy eagles nest,
Leaving their eyrtcs in the hllycon west,
Ere thirty years have passed shah Aus
Long by C~assandras doomed-her strength
renew.
sphinx o. the Fast. a second Germany;
TN a new Poland crown the HapsburK line
And a new freedom with the Ukraine
shine,
oh, my people. well beloved.
oan hear the clash OF cvmbals,
Crash OF drums and cry of trumpets.
In that hour of victory,
Fated and foretold by me.
Fear not any foe shan harm thee
German folk for God shall arm theei
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
Subsidized Chautauqua Oratory.

That from six to eight millions of
people hear the Chautauqua Institu-
tlon lectures In the course of n year
is probably not an e~Ntravagant cSti.
mate. Naturally ~ fine an opportu-
nifty as is thus offered for the promul-
CATION not only of such fads rs re-
formed spelling but of more serious
doctrines. tending perhaps toward leg
i~slation of vital national Importance.
has not been overlooked by searchcrs
for the h,nrt to heart confidence of
the plain people.
Indeed, - far has it been from
being overlooked that Chautauquans
are becoming alive 10 the fact that
their organization IS even now ex-
posed to the peril Of undermining by
subsidized explorations of widely
varying degrees of innocuousness.
Just now, for instance, by n very
inopportune pressing OF the Peace
Movement this danger not only to
Chautauqualsm itself but to the coun-
try generally, through fostering an
tagonlsn to the Overwhelmingly Inn
portant matter Of military and naval
expansion, Is looming particularly
large, and there Is To he a meeting
In Chicago next month Of thc Inter
national Iyceum Association, when
this matter Of subsidized ChautauQua
oratory is booked for very serious
discussion.
The activities OF the Laird of ski
hos Institute seem To have been large
ly instrumental in preclpitating the
question in its at present rather acute
form and To have awakened a good
many people both within AMI without
the Chautauqua family circle to its
somewhat urgent claims for more
than casual consideration. The year
1914 was the first in ChautauQua's
history, 81 far as Is known, when
subsidized lecturers invaded the reg
ular circuit. Hundreds of them
on the authority Of the Chicago Trib.
INC, were abroad that year and arc
abroad now, nearly all OF them sail
ing under the Laird's letter of
mhrque to torpedo the spelling book
and put spOkes in the wheels # the
war chariot.
The spelling book probably can
stanl II, but In times like these it is
not pleasant to think 50 formidable
q mechanism for the manufacture of
public sentiment us Is Chautnuqun is
accessible to n heavily subsidized prop.
aganda In the interest of keeping us
P|7rennlally hamstrumg and helpless
before any enemy who may chance
10 feel that he needs our canal and
commercial In his business.
And of course what the Laird OF Ski.
bo can do another can do II he can
produce "the price"
Better, far better for Chautauoua
and for everybody II the subsidized
lecturers be constrained to hire their
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
WIDOWS VICTIMS OF
PENSION SWLNDLERS
Child Welfare Board Warns
Against Bogus Solicitors
Of Funds.

Swindlers are already tryIIE 60 iths
advantage of the widows pension .t0
although no pensions VIII ~" pad r-'I
after January !. The Ch'ld No,'N~e
Board, which will administer the 'N
was compelled TO send out a W. :
yesterday.
Information has come to the board
says an official statement, that .,r
ain persons are soliciting PAYNE "a
from widows ON the plea that for r..t
sums they viii secure tur ,l," ."
papers that will u" necessary i.r OBJ 100
to have to secure the allowance 'i.' ''
law makes possible
'The board would cwphtIcally ".'H
all women against making such paw
ments to any one and To mako report
any such solicitation to the lHsr'
child Welfare, city Han I''t 0''
wholly unnecessary. Further '..
pliCdtion blanks that are o. l' Nr,. "a
Ice serially numbered aud w0 ' ..
distributed to any one save h} n'.
of the board"
SIX hundred pension Application '''
been received, Manhattan ''
should apply at city H.| FIR '
other boroughs there Will hc hgtH .'
fees at the berger Building Arthur a.'
fremont II The RrN'\ I.
Town Hall, Queens Borough liHt. |,
mond, and 3g7 Schcrmcrhurn street
l022 Gates avenue BroohlNn +"
present all correspondence s|''H'
addressed to the BOARD ut rl'.i "
fare, city Hall.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
His Plea for the Suspension OF
American Rights.
This is from WILLIAM j. BRYAN,
formerly Secretary of State:

This is from WILLIAM D.. BRYAN,
formerly Secretary of State:
THE question just now is whether an
American citizen should put his convent
ence or even his rights above his nations
welfare. II American citizens refuse 10
consider their own safety. or the safety
OF the nation, then a second question
arises, namely, whether the Government
should permit a few persons to drag the
country into this unparalleled war"
That is to say. the question In Mr..
BRYAN's mind now Is whether the
American Government should not in
tervene to restrain American citizens
in the exercise Of their admitted
rights on the neutral seas.
The rights which the ir~repressible
talker and mischief maker thinks
zens by the American Government are
the rights which were thus defined and
Asserted by the person whose official
duty II then was Ia define AMI assert
those rights:
american citizens act within their in
~disputable rights in taking their ships
and in travelling wherever their legit-
imate business calls them upon the high
seas and exercise their rights in what
should be the well JUSTIFIED confidence
that their lives will not be endangered
by acts done in violation of universally
acknowledged international obligations,
and certainly IN the confidence that their
oUn Government toH sustain them In
the erercise OF their rights"
"The Imperial German Government
will not expect the Government OF the
United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance OF It's
sdcred duty Of maintaining the rights
Of the United States aud its ~citi.ens aud
OF safeguarding their free exercise aud
enjoyment. BRYAN"
The Mr.. BRYAN who signed the fore
going declaration of ~inalicnable rights
and the foregoing certificate of our
Governments uualterable determine
tlon 10 maintain them and To safe
guard u citizens in the free eXer.
else and enjoyment of them is the
came WILLIAM j. BRYAN who is ask
ing, three months ana ten days later.
whether the Government should not
prevent American citizens from cXer-
oisng those very rights.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
ing blow straight from the shoulder

Ing blow straight from the shoulder
of the French master strategist and
the army Of Won KLUCK was sent
Keeling back from the Marine to the
Alsne in what came perilously near
to becoming a beadlong rout.
Now another September is at hand
and already, between the lines Of
tho carefully censored letters Of cor.
respondents, run hints ringing with
a certain accent Of reality of some
thing large afoot between the vosges
and the North Sea. The imminence
of II vital crisis in Turkish. Balkan
events Is sNlf-evident.
A pivotal month in the wal was the
September Of 1914 and all the por.
tents point to the proba bility that
September. 1915. will also I've pregnant
with events Of far reaching import.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
The German Naval Operations In
the Gulf Of Riga.

Whatever were the losses of the
fleets engaged In the battle in the
Gulf Of Riga, the attempt of the Ger
mans to force the entrance and land
troops N the mainland must hc re-
gArd"l as II remarkably daring enter
prize. No doubt the Germans were
IN superior force. for they have the
ships, and the modern liuSsian navy
i Il mere nucleus; but, although there
are thirty miles of blue water between
OScclO Island and the Courland shore,
much of 1t is too shallow for fleet
mannuvies. At most the navigablc
entrance to the gulf is only eight
mites across, and it should he easy
to mine all of It except u necessary
channel for the use of the defenders
Yet it is said that the enemy forced
II passage last Friday. The Russians
have the reputation of being good en-
gln"erS, ana in II year of war they
should have been able to make the
main entrance To the Gulf Of Riga i'm.
laSSahhH by the enemy's warships.
There Is II northern Passage leading
int" the gulf from the Baltic. II
passes first through Moon Sound.
ana between Moon Island ana the
mainland the channel contracts 10 a
Passage 80 narrow that a few mines,
with well placed batteries on shore TO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
WAKE UP,
A Gloomy View Of the National Char
actor and situation.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir! Thu
Western assurance and SNUG hypocrisy
of most Americans seems to ha'|
dimmed our conception, first, Of the rea
condition Of things vital to our ocunury
as a nation NOM nations second. o,
the true place in the face of these con
ditions which this nation now holds 1T
the hearts OF the others.
Three thousand miles 81 ocean SAL
shield our blind unpreparedness. oui
colossal ineficiency. our wasteful GOV
eminent, from immediate contact with
II not from the notice OF. our neighbors
abroad. our natural wealth and physi'
cal isolation have made possible a 81
gantic commercial prosperity. a huge. II
only n monetary, success. which this
heterogeneous and ununited United
states neither really appreciates nor at
tempts officially to systematize and 70
conserve.
Though we do not seem TO care, can
we not realize shat rs a nation We are
really absolutely helpless n dcfonce-
less that we are certainly hated by
Germany, viewed with considerable dis
gust by France, held In growing on
tempt by Russia. Italy, Spain IN the
rest, and last, but not least. Eng
lands feelings OF disappointment IN
us have made for a consequent IN
creasing disregard for us? Though
richer each month in the gold OF
the others because Of circumstance
of which we take quick advantage, we
become poorer each week In their
friendship.
In these days nothing Is ~ pathetic
as a Fourth of July address. nothing
so ridiculous rs the ready applause at
tho playing Of Dixie nothing so
empty as our talk of patriotism. Real
patriotism does not exist, North, South,
East or West business with its COM
petieion. jealousy n selfshness alone
succeeds, inc blind to all the other tea-
lures of our national life. our necessities
and our responsibilities. we gloat In TAT
"out Of condition" assurance over the
struggles of our neighbors, each one,
from Germany to England, Striving TO
fulnl its destiny as II sees II and showing
or less degree OF tn ef1clency
and system which we completely lack
and which We in our compliment stu
pidity believe will be always ours with
effort 20 preserve or means to pro-
tect.
The day Of the Minute Man has
passed forever. and yet America. q COS
mopolitan nation OF assorted store
keepers, clerks and commuters, relies
our supposed national genius and in
genuity for an army from somewhere.
officers from nowhere. hr equipment
and military Knowledge on our labor
unions and politicians!
Let US be honest for once. Change
the symbol of our shield from he clear
eyed eagle to n lamb rampant" and
pray God 10 put off tho day when VIC
too must face with deeds and not words
others are now facing. Great wars
and crises nave COME to all large cDun-
"A. L., ~. - "a ~ COLL atCn coma 10
all important nations in tho future.
whether they think this fact possible or
not. let us be prepared for, and so
only try to guard against. that grim
monster War which. in our present
and our arm gance, we seem
to think We can escape and buy off hr-
ever wGh mere words OF peace and ready
cash. W. ". Il.
NEW York, August 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
was not" as stated in the New York

was not" as stated In the New York
Times under date OF October 81, she
cause the State Department had any
doubt from the beginning that cot
ton must be treated as n~on-contra-
band, but because there had been so
much doubt In American shipping
and commercial circles regarding the
attitude of Great Britain toward this
great staple crop upon the market
ing OF which the American balance OF
trade was vitality dependent"
The reply to this inquiry, which, 1t
happens, was addressed 10 Mr.. Lam
sing. officially counsellor to the State
Department, but then acting Secre-
tary, was In the following words:
DEAN CoussELLon: In compliance with
your request l telegraphed on the 23d
inst. TO my Government to inquire what
was their view with regard to cotton and
whether or not they considered It to be
contraband. You addressed this question
to me, as you said there seemed to be
doubts In certain quarters In this country
as to the attitude OF my Government,
Last night l received a reply from Sir
Edward Grey. In which he authorized me
to give the assurance that cotton will not
De seized. He points out that cotton has
not been put In any Of our lists of con-
traband, and. as your Department must
be aware from the draft proclamation now
In your possession. It Is not proposed 20
Include II in our new list OF contra b nd.
1t Is therefore,. as far as Great Britain
IL concerned. in the free list. and will re-
main there. I am. dear MIR. Counsellor,
yours sincerely. CECIL SPRING RICE.
BRITISH ENBAssr. WASHINGTON. October %.
1914.
In spite of the foregoing, all OF
which is or ought to be known to any
n who assumes authoritatively to
discuss the doctrine of co~ntraband,
many persons, as well ~intentioned, no
Doubt as they are Ill informed, are
prone to permit the American case
upon cotton to go by default. For
sound and patriotic u~tterance upon
TINS subject we may await with calm
assurance the Presidents words.
ARCHIBALD r. WATSON.
NEW YORK, August 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
Call for a Leallet Edition Of "Ammi
Wright"

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir. You
published a letter, dated August -,
signed "Ammi Wright" That letter
in my judgment puts the question of
the day in the most forcoful manner that
II could be put, and | am writing TO
suggest that It should be printed in
leaiiet form and made available to all
true blue Americans so that they could
give 1t out TO all those whose first al
~leGiauce seems to he across the sea.
My father and mother were both born
under the British Nag. but there Is not
a drop Of EnGlisl blood In my veins.
| am an American, Americas flag is
my flag her cause. right or wrong, Is
my cause her people my people, M !
and my only son are dedicated to her
cause.
Mr.. Wright's letter puts the question
of Americanism up to every man who
qualities 1t with a hyphen. I'd like to
see hat letter In the hands of every
one OF the so-callea hyphenated Ameri-
can citizens. GEORGE ]. KELLEY.
WAsHINGToN. u. G., August %.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
SUBWAY MANDAMUS
GRANTED BY COURT
Justice Shcarn Upholds Com.
MISSIONS Contract Providing
for Extra Work Payment.
BOARD WILL APPEAL CASE

Supreme Court Justice Shcarn ha,d,.
down = decision yesterday granting N.
application Of Holbrook, Cabo, 4 20,
Inns. contractors for the Longacrc Sop,,.
section OF the Broadway subway. N,
writ OF mandamus compelling the po,.d
OF Estimate to approve the contra,
already signed by the contractors an,
the Public Service Commission.
The Board OF Estimate had aoproy,,
q recommendation Of It's contract =,
port. Tilden Adamson, that a prov,,.
In the Longacre subway contract md.
which the contractor and the Public "a.
vice Commission engineer could sgr,,
on compensation for extra work b, "a.
moved from the signed contract. ~,
court upholds the contract as I, e,.rS.
but an appeal will be taken in bshal, !,
the Board OF Estimate.
Although the refusal OF N. Board =,
Estimate to execute the signed co1
tracts threatened to tie up the To,g.
acre Square subway work for an Ind.c.
mite period. Justice Shcarn says th,,
there Is no reason for any delav. ana
IL the board acts or his order the hosy
will and execute the contra,
at once.
Justice Shcarn says the question ,ha,
caused the present dispute Is ore TIA,
can be adjusted without delaying sub.
way construction, since a test case IN
determine the question az Issue can b.
carried to the highest court and ss,rl,6
before the subway section is completed
The contracts under dispute differ but
little from those already executed. sc.
cording to Justice Sheasn. who sad:
In view OF the complications and TN.
certainties Incidental to constructive
rapid transit railroads in city streets. Il
wac found necessary to provide some
method for paying for incidental work
that could not DO foreseer. This meas.
s!ty was met by Article MI. OF IN,
contract. which says the contractor mus,
do such work and furnish such materials
TO be paid therefor ct aetna cost plu,
ten per centum to cover overhead
charges
AS an alternative payment provision
the chle: engineer OF tho Publlc S~rvc,
MAS empowered 90 ax a uni,
price or lump sum FOR such extra work.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
OUR ARMS SUPPLY.
Why Spend Money on Arms When
Every Man Owns o Rifle?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str. Why
do so many men, and the newspapers
also. continually claim that We could
not arm a large army. That we have not
the arms on hand, and that we could
not manufacture them fast enough in
the event Of a WI, Notwithstanding the
fact that within the past year hundreds
of millions OF dollars worth OF arms and
munitions have been manufactured here
and shipped TO Europe and Mexico. II
we can do this why can We not manu-
facture them for ourselves?
These statements are not true, as In
the first place the Government has on
hand a large number of rifles in addi-
ton TO the 375. 900 Krag-Jorgensens, and
they are turning out new ~Springhelds
every day. Besides this there are sew
eral hundred thousands of the old SPRING
fields in the country, which l consider
better han the new ones, with ive car
tridgss in a clip, as with a single breech
loader the aim is more careful and less
shots are wasted. There are also several
of men in this country who own
rifles, most of them one and some more
than one. ] have several which ] would
give up willingly II necessary. In the
event or a threatened foreign invasion
the country would be surprised at the
millions of men who could come for
ward with their own guns. 80 these
statements are simply rot and are no
doubt made to influence legislation.
one of the speakers at the Plattsburg
camp was reported to have said that
there were only twelve field guns east
the Mississippi. This is untrue. There
are fully fifty modern hrecch loading
3 inch field pieces in New York citv
and vicinity and | don't know how many
the State, besides what are owned
by other States and military schools
throughout the country.
| fully recognize the necessity for the
country to be prepared for war, but I
do not believe in circulating false state
ments TO bring about that result.
s l.. PLATr.
New York. August 81.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24

10 THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir, Thu
communication in THE Sun OF All
snS' ~ rom the whole hearted
Mrs l.ackey of South Orange, who
,despises' everything connerted w ",p
.lH surragists so COMPREHENSIVE
reminds IN" Of the little girl wiz
was smut up in the closet for nm.
iShment by her mother. ''"'
A'er a long and suspicious sIIenc.
from the closet, her mother opened tho
door TO ma out what might be going on
what are YOU doing, Alice she
asked, Wv
lh' answer came: rive nit on your
dress, an I've pit on your hat nm,
! We PIT on your coat an I've mi, in
Your new shoes, an now I'm waiting
for NOR" pit"
Heaven help the %suffragists il Mrs
La'keS Is psusins for the same reason
PHILIP WILSON.
ToMrklNsvlLLE, Staten Island, An
gust %,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-24
TEXAS CITY.
A Soldier Frees His Mind About the
Place as n Military Camp.

10 II EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. The
recent catastrophe at Texas CITY. Tex
IN which the camp OF the Second M.
VISION or the United States army was
pio"h 10 atoms. with the result tina,
u score or soldiers lives were lo.. and
~nundreos or thousands of dollars worth
OF United states property was DESTROYED
should be charged directly to an asin,ne
poiicy at Washington. Whether that
poilcy happens to be directed by Mr.
wilson and his Cabinet or there has
peen a lapse OF human intelligence
III the War Department itself docs nut
after the truth OF the matter one iJta.
leNas CITY Is not and never was "A
suitable place Tor a military camp. The
iaCt mas been commented upon rapeat-
edIy by thoughtful officers who had the
courage to say Az much, and who wer,
NOT burdered with lightning rods set
up 1" attract the lightning of nr.mo-
ton.
The place is a hell hole to live in.
" mas no comforts. II is expensive 10
maintain. II is 500 miles from the
Mexican border and as a port Of EN-
harkation rotten and Inadequate, Keen
ing troops under canvas for two and a
mar years where they must endure the
broiling sun. the tropical downpour AND
the Irritating winds common in the re-
sion, merely to await the day when
they might be despatched to Vera cruz
to seat the illtterate horse thief Villa.
or any one else, in the Presidential chair
OF Mexico has been a spectacle OF cr!mi-
nal neglect.
As II matter Of fact. the mexican
situation has had little TO do with
the quartering Of troops at Texas City,
Every thoughtful man who was ever
near the place thoroughly understands
that fact. Texas City IL a real estate
proposition. IL IL "A miserable example
OF the use of Congress by a corporation
to further its interests. Some millions
OF dollars have been extracted from the
Federal Treasury with which To dredge
a ditch through "A shallow bay of yell
low water that a man can almost wade
in order TO make a port" The object
of the making OF the port was TO sell
lots. and In the spring of 1913.
when the thing was wabhl!ng on its
last legs. the Mexican hubbub was in
Nuhcd To concentrate 5000 soldiers there
and to establish "A base that would en-
tail "A monthly Government expenditure
of more h a a half million dollars.
That is the truth about the camp at
Texas city.
Naturally. once II was established.
authorities could accomplish lis
removal. The Texas city corporation
saw To- that. and since the State of
Texas has two members in u,e present
and Mr.. House. "A sort OF keeper
OF the conscience, AZ II were. happens
to lie from Texas. IL was very easy.
The comfort and health of 5000 men,
as well as their safety. and the security
of a million dollars worth of United
States property amount to nothing so
long as the Texas City real estate agents
are accommodated, CAVALRY.
NEW YORK, August %.