davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
"Stop Before You Cross"

Pitiless publicity by the Long Island
Railroad, endeavoring to prevent grade
crossing accidents, has been tolerably sue
lcessful this summer. Where in other years
the period from June 1 TO September has
produced several fatal collisions between
trains and automobiles, there was not one
grade crossing accident to an automobile
this year which resulted fatally. In fact,
there was only one death resulting from a
grade crossing collision-that to rider
tof a motorcycle who in July collided with
the second car Of fast train at Deer
Park.
The "Stop before you cross" warning
which the company has spread so literally
along its routes and in the newspapers
has had its effect, Nevertheless, the pub
lie has proved that il has not yet acquired
the habit Of stopping, for in the three
months of heaviest traffic there are rec
ords of at least seventy-fye cases where
riders Of motorcycles and
drivers of vehicles have diSregarded those
warnings, driving into gates lowered to
protect the public from approaching
rains.
This is. intolerable recklessness, or care
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
Peace Without Honor.
ditor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In recent editorial, entitled What
Is To BE Praised" "you make the following
statement: "Such a solution will meet the
approval of the enormous majority Of his
fellow countrymen, who have not the smallest
desire to see this country enter the Euro
pean conflict" In other words. the editor
of The Tribune believes that the enormous
majority of our fellow countrymen have not
the smallest desire TO see our country enter
the greatest fight for human liberties and
civilization the world has ever seen, even
though the dead faces of our murdered
women and children hauntingly appeal TO US
to do so. II The Tribune's estimate of the
of the enormous majority of our
is correct, then let the wee
minority still cherishing a spark Of the one
time American spirit salute our erstwhile
Henry James. and prepare to
follow his example. Have the proud words
"The land Of the free and the home Of the
brave" become an idle mockery7
A. s. DAGGY.
Norwalk, Conn, Sept. /, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
OUR LIKENESS TO ENGLAND
This Country as Unprepared for
War and Unsuspicious as She Was.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Il seems to have become the almost
universal practice in this country, since the
Great War started, to rail at England's part
| in it. On every hand one hears scornful re-
marks about the trouble that the government
is supposed to be having in getting men to
Join the army. England expects every
Frenchman to do his duty" is the glib and
thoughtless gibe of the man in the street
An attitude of evaporation is also current
chagrin that England should permit the Ger
mans to sink ships, and thereby endanger
our peace and comfort why don't the Eng
ish do something?" Is the hackneyed ques-
tion put by the inconsiderate. England can't
even protect her own shipe!" said a substan-
tial citizen to me the other day.
It seems little short Of miraculous TO me
that people have not happened upon the
best answer to these questions. II is that
the English are like US. or at least like the
Anglo Saxon part of population. Did 1t
never occur to some Of these harsh critics
of the laxity of British methods that we
Americans watching powder and ammu-
milton factories blow up all around us, with
out once letting our suspicious wander in
being over-complacent. Is it not possible
that the time may come when observers will
say of us Americans, "Why didn't they do
something?"
! do not think that England is having near
| " so hard a time getting recruits as It is
generally supposed. But even il the worst
were true, ought 70 condone it, partially
at least, in the light of our own history.
In the War Of 1912, which is supposed TO have
aroused a fair amount of war fever in our
country, body of United States troops
marched to the Canadian border and then
refused TO go further on the ground that
! they had not enlisted TO leave the country!
The draft riots in New York and elsewhere
during the Civil War caused all Europe te
think that the North was not in the war
whole heartedly! And yet in both Of these
cases Americans were not totally craven; no
more so than the British people are to-day.
| If England is not putting her whole
strength into this war, many OF US who ad-
mire her are greatly mistaken. We think
that she is contributing her share in saving
this world from fate almost as bad as de-
struction itself. If she has made mistakes
it is hardly for the United States to stand
by and jeer! For IL any country would have
to learn the art of war by blunders and bad
beginnings, that country is our own. Be-
cause Anglo-SaXons believe in individual free
dom, America and England are peopled WITH
race that is accustomed TO "blundering
through" Shall We have anything but SYM
pathy for our less awkward fellow blum
deIer when the minions of nation that
plans everything with minute precision are
up in arms against her?
FREDERIC c. NELSON
Hartford, Conn, Aug. 81, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
No Grounding.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In Sundays Tribune appeared news
item purporting TO describe the experience OF
the Cimbria, the committee boat for 'hs
Jamaica Bay celebration on Saturday ias'
The article stated that the boat ran agrouha
on a sandbar and SO remained for seve,"'
hours, TO .he chagrin and terror Of the ee's'
brants aboard her.
| am writing to ask that The Tribune con.
tradict this story. No untoward event. OF 'h''
o. any other kind, marred the celebration
The Cimbria proceeded TO her allotted pv'
sition in the completed channel and anenoteu'
A highly interesting programme OF EXERCISE
was carried out without hitch OF any so,.
The scheduled boat races were run ana 'a'
prizes awarded. After the celebration s,op
was made ~ Seaside to land some Oh ,ne
guests who wished to return by rail, ana 'as
Cimbria with the remainder returned 10 Inv
Battery in schedule time.
You have been generous heretofore IN YOU
editorial support of the Jamaica Bay pr0'ees
and II is the earnest hope OF its advocates
that you will take an early opportunity
contradict this story, which may be usea !"
an effort to discredit an improvement "h,ea
promises so we'll for the welfare OF Brookiyn
and Queens. W. T. CHEVALiEh'
Brooklyn. Sept ], 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
What Is To Be Praised"
the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial, What Is To Be
Praised" in this mornings issue deserves
the thoughtful consideration and hearty ap-
proval of all. The difficulties confronting
our President (greater than any heretofore
thrust upon any mani should be paramount
in our thoughts, and blame or praise should
be given to his chosen and trusted advisers
Some men cannot see through a milestone
with a hole in it, and our late mot deceased,
but dead) Secretary of State utterly failed
and a lamentabe state of affairs resulted.
but since the present incumbent of that of
fee has had the helm our ship of state has
been weathering the storm, and is likely TO
come through unharmed and with glory for
all in charge.
Take the Vienna note. Any schoolboy
could understand that document and "he who
runs may read" would aptly apply TO it, for il
was not a diplomatic note, but document in
good plain English.
II Germany Is reversing her policy of de-
iance (which / very much doubt | attribute
il to two reasons. First, knowledge that the
United States intends TO take a fall out OF
her without further ado il another American
life is lost through her act; second, she sees
the loss Of her trade. with poverty staring
her in the face, unless she can secure a
peace on some terms in the near future.
made in Germany" will be a byword and a
kissing soon, for IL means cheap labor-a
curse to mankind ! am glad to see labor
getting something of its own, even if il be
at the expense Of misguided brothers.
Brooklyn. Aug. 81, 1915. G. c. THOMAS.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
"Unbelievabl Pusillanimity.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: With what remorseful feelings must
we now be filed who. recognize in these signs
of an abandonment of hideous murder by the
barbarous Teutons that the great primary
human rules have been true all the time and
that had we not on each occasion by some
affirmative act or speech discounted before
hand the effect of our remonstrances no
single life would have been lost on the Lus-
tania, the Gulfight, the Arabic or other
vessels.
Should we not bow our heads in bitter
shame at our lack of faith in the right and
at our unwilingness of spirit to back our
words with actual intent of deeds, when now
we see that when we were once really re-
solved the manacai barbarians become ordi-
nary human beings, subservient to human
rules?
The dead women and children are all
every one of them chargeable to the accoun.
of our unbelievable pusillanimity They have
paid the price Of being citizens of a coward
y country. All that will now take place
could beyond peradventure have been assured
from the outset had we not shown the white
feather in connection with every remon-
STRANGE, whereby each was known to be
words words, words, This time we used no
"words,' but privately told them we meant
it" and beholdi
Oh, sickening and pitiable episode in the
history of the United States!
Eternal shame be upon us all and upon
those who should have led US!
CHARLES STEWART DAWSON.
New York, Aug 26, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
The Plattsburg Commencement.

In the words Of the aged song, we may
say Eau revoir but not goodby" TO the
Plattsburg camp. And so may the indi-
vidual rook-(why, bless our soulD vet
erans il they are Of mind TO. Within a
day or so the second instalment of busi-
ness and professional men anxious TO put
themselves in trim as defenders Of their
country will be tenting on the old camp
ground. And next year. General Wood
promises, there is 20 follow a series of
camps, some Of them for postgraduate
rockies, bachelors Of arms, as it were, like
the bronzed Plattsburgians even now de-
scending upor our fair city.
"This is a fine ending for a fine piece OF
work." said General Wood in his bacca-
aureate, but he meant "fne beginning"
The second encampment is TO be nearly as
srge as the first, if present estimates are
rot gross exaggerations, and will contain
perhaps a hundred of those already tough !
ned and trained in the rigors Of its prede-
essor. Near Chicago will be another
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
"ut e dove found no rest the of her eneS on -

of Rotterdam, no bills Of lading could have
been issued and no money could have been
paid. Hence, the statements originating from
the Middle West about their having paid mill
;ons of dollars for goods now held IN the port
of Rotterdam cannot be correct. Furtner-
mere, the port of Rotterdam has very little
warehouse room; the goods coming from Ger
many either come down the Rhine or canals
and are transferred from the lighters direct
to the steamers. They are never put IN
warehouses; No doubt many of your readers
have been in the port of Rotterdam as well as
the writer, and know these remarks are per-
fectly correct.
| inclose my card 70 prove my identity, but
for the purpose Of this letter | simply sign
myself W. N
New York, Sept. 2, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
WALSH'S REPORT
Should al Least Stimulate
Thought on Industrial Ills.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: One result of Walsh's report, il IL
hoped. will be to make the blood circulate In
sluggish cerebrs. II his report does not hit
the economic nail squarely on the head per
haps some of our bright logicians will be in
spired to solve the problem which has baffled
Tostoy, Proudhon, Ruskin, Luther, Karl
Marx, Henry George, Bernard Shaw, Gilbert
Chesterton, Sam Jones, Brand Whitlock and
William Barnes.
Many good men and true have wondered
why the Golden Rule is apparently imprac-
ticable. They have reflected once in while
upon this enigma and once in while have
given II up. But Logical aeumen is gift of
the gods. So rare is real reasoning ability
that there is a strong presumption Christ
alone possessed it. Since his simple phi
losophy was first presented to sorrowful
but scornful and skeptical world teachers and
preachers innumerable have appeared who
have tried TO improve upon truth; have
striven to expand the most simple, funda-
mental and irrefutable religion Of the
humanities by filling book after book with
improved and untenable theories.
II isn't necessary to accuse the writers
and preachers Of various cults, times and
nations of prostitution. They stand self-con-
demned, self -pilloried not able to answer
correctly the questions of young child. The
net result Of all their sincere and insincere
efforts is an economic situation such as a
government commissioner describes in TINS
country and in Europe-a sickening, heart
rendng, objectless, wholesale game of muir
der.
To the person Of vision there is an OBJ
vious chain of cause and effect. To the ma
terialist all is dark, and so long as his back
ward tending character possesses It's present
domination, so long must the world suner'
The way out will be hard indeed unless
those who have spark OF idealism oeheVe
enough in the Golden Rule to experiment
with it-fan their idealism into flame ana
actively engage in the righteous WORK OF
eliminating governmental injustice. Logic
not Walsh, must direct Fearlessly to foilo"
whore logic leads will bring the genuine pa
triot straight to the Federal government
the original and only possible source OF uni
,,orsoI Injustice. FRANKLIN HOPKINS.
New York, Aug 30, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06

camp Of the kind, and still another. it is
hoped, will have a site on the Pacific Coast
Not even Henry Ford's millions can check
for a moment the popular impetus already
impaired to this movement for individual
preparedness.
General Wood deserves the profound
gratitude Of his country for providing the
opportunity and encouragement the move
ment needed. He may or he may not be
"the most efficient officer the United States
Army ever had or ever Will have" in the
words of the enthusiastic Dudley Field
Malone, but his Plattsburg camp and its
progeny should bring him lasting fame as
a military strategist in time of peace.
He has outwitted the pacifsts with Con-
gress at their heels. To-day his popular
ity and his programme are impregnable.
The Plattsburg rockies have handsomely
served their purpose. They have adver-
tised TO the whole country the need for
military preparedness and the obligation
under which every able-bodied man labOrs
to make himself, so far as possible. one to
count on in an emergency. In the mean
time the graduates Of this mother Of
camps will return for the most part to
their civilian pursuits and prove to their
fellow citizens that it Is much easier to
turn the sword into the pen or the plough
share or the pruning hook or whatever
II is than to reverse the process.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
A Distinction Between Loyalties
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In regard to your editorial of to-day,
there never was any crisis with Germany or
any other country which the newspapers did
not stir up"
We are not all back of Mr.. Wilson. We are
all back Of our President and we all admire
tis stand, even though through experience or
through party we can never stand with him
when he is not head of state. Even though
some of US think he shows woful lack of
knowledge Of labor, we will all back our
President. But not all Mr.. Wilson, even
though we realize the trials he may have
been through.
We may be democratic. but just because we
are loyal to the President don't presume to
rate US as political Democrats.
K. p. CUSHMAN.
New York, Sept. 2, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
Walter Emanuel.

From The Manchester GuGrdinn)
Walter Emanuel wrote the "Chari-vari"
page in Punch" for fifteen years-an ap-
paling undertaking, which he carried through
probably better than any other humorist
of the time could have done. IL gave him the
right place for his immensely alert, hard,
sharp, sudden wit, which made one think
somehow of sparks from fints, and il was
like that too, in the way it could go on
Indefinitely and never wear out. His mind
was always open and prehensile for new
subject matter for jokes. ! remember walk
ing with him in Paris, and how he noticed
"a bas' or somebody or other in news bill,
and how he turned it over and over in his
mind until at last with a relieved smile he
said he hoped that the Khedive of Egypt
would some day be unpopular and come to
Paris, for then the people would shout "A
bas Abbas!" The incident was typical of the
organized nature of modern jesting. A good
example of his jokes was his Dog World
and Anti-Cat Review" the publication of
which he justified with the remark that
every section of society had It's journal
There are even fypapers." 1t is difficult
to remember the thousand things he said
and wrote that in their time made West Lon
don roar Mr.. Punch" will be much the
poorer, especially as "a A. M" is now in
the army, but he has still on the staff the
author Of THAT famous "if"-"If the Daily
Mirror reflected"
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
Our Fairness Commended.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: II is gratifying to know that we have
at least one metropolitan newspaper big ana
broad enough to cast aside political ANNA
tions and treat political questions purely
from a fair and meritorious standpoint.
have been reading regularly of late The Trib-
une. and l find as much satisfaction In
deed if not more, in the editorial express
sions and policy as In any other feature OF
YOUR old and we'll established paper.
To my mind It is an indication OF better
things ahead, when paper which mas peeh
aligned with one of the other leading po-
Iitical parties realizes its responsibility ana
duty to the country sufficiently strongly 10
Law aside parties and treat public questions
and public matters strictly on basis OF tair-
ness and having in mind the absolute best
interests of our citizens. | have heard ola
readers Of The Tribune say Of late that Inc
Tribune of to-day is not what IL was IN ear
lier DAYS, and without predicating my state
ment on the basis that it was more OF a
PARTISAN paper in its early struggles and
prosperity than II is to-day, the fact stands
out prominently in my mind that 1t has risen
above parties and can see good in any politi-
cal organization II it has any, and bad II 1t
exists, and this bold and fearless policy is
certainly to be commended by the liberal
the right thinking, VIII are more interested
in the best possible government than the sue
cess of any particular political organization
There is crying demand all over our
country to purify municipal politics. We
hear it every day that there should be no
rolitics in the management of city affairs
but most of those who so express them
selves take little or no interest in further
ing the movement; 1t stops with the mere
expression Of opinion. In the end we must
look TO the newspaper to effect these re-
forms. They are the mOulders of public
opinion; they weigh well their opinions and
expressions and they serve us in public
wav that the individual cannot do. well
poised newspaper, conservative and fair. can
right more wrongs than all the public speak
ers that can be assembled on the platform.
A. G. DAWSON.
Buffalo, N. Y, Sept. 3, 1915
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06

lessness, which Is almost as bad. The
railroad company can cooperate with any
sane, careful driver TO eliminate danger
at the crossings. But it cannot protect
the reckless, devil-may-care JOY rider, or
the fool, from the results of his own heed
lessness or folly. Only the stop before
you cross" habit thoroughly acquired by
every driver of every vehicle will abolish
danger so long as the grade crossings re-
main. The drivers must do their part in
protecting themselves, and it is a simple
part.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
PrO-Villard.
Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: JUST because Mr.. Willard happens to
be more of e patriot than fortune seeker
you and some other jingoes ("sentiments fair
ly commonly shared by Americans rise to
do a lot OF talking about "iron crosses" etc.
II more newspaper editors were more anxious
TO preserve an honorable peace than they
are 10 circulate their papers this country
could boast a more representative press than
she can now II you print this at all shall
you caption 1t German Sympathizer Rises
TO Vote Mo-? ! am pro-Ally, pro-peace with
honor, but not pro-press- made war.
BEATRlX ARNOLD.
New York, Sept. 2, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
We Emulate the Krupps.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
>Sr: How can an editor of a respectable
newspaper be guilty of such inconsistency as
is found in the editorial OF this mornings
Tribune, when you say that the "Germans
have curousy failed to recognize the Ameri-
can habit Of mind which places human life
above property interests?
IL it not our interest in money that makes
us supply the Allies with war materials? Are
we not in the same position to the Germans
and Austro- Hungarians as Charles Becker
was to Herman Rosenthal? Becker did not
do the killing, but he furnished the materials
that killed. II. JOHANSON.
. Brooklyn, Sept. 3, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
Much Goods in Little Warehouses

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: No doubt you have noticed various
statements made concerning a number of
American importers having paid millions of
dollars for German goods said TO be held in
the port of Rotterdam. As an ordinary busi-
ness man. doing business in many parts Of
the world, ] find that no banker will pay for
goods anywhere until he has in his possession
bills of lading signed by the captain of the
steamer who has the goods on board The
terms OF "usance" of course-that is a matter
Of agreement
Now, II these goods are detained in me port
New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
A Compliment.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The soaring of The Tribune above
the mean level of partisan politics in these
months of our country's peril is the most
commendable journalism that America has
known in all the years have been reading
newspapers.
It's tone has been on a par with that OF
the President himself.
Perhaps the writer's appreciation may be
better realized if | add that | am a Demo
crat by conviction and by an inheritance
which taught taught mt The Tribune was the
chief light OF the opposition.
F. S. BRIGHT.
Washington, Sept. 8, 1915.