davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
United States
Prepared on Sea.

FOR nearly ten years the only defense
against capture by British or French
that the average American skipper had
was the speed of his ship and his own
ability to outsaii his enemies. Tho re-
suit was that the American vessels were
built on speed lines. carried sail ac-
cordingly, and their officers and men
v ere trained in handling and maneuver-
ing them.
in other words. the United states was
prepared for war at sea so far as per-
sonnet went but was utterly unpre-
pared for 1t on land. And that tact
had entirely escaped the notice ~ the
Government or the men IN congress
who SO eagerly advocated war and
prattled about the capture OF tanada
and the rich province TO the eastward.
IT is one of the best lessons on pre-
paredncss'' to be found in the history
OF the nation.
hardy. experienced sailor men in the
American merchant marine when the
war OF 1872 began. The eNigenries or
the service were such that wages had
aualit,ed to command were working as
sailors before the mast. The men "erN
ready. Only ships were needed. -
The navy could not furnish the ships.
Its entire strength at the opening ot the
war consisted OF sixteen frigates. cor
| vcttes brigs. and sloops. Jhere WASH
a Nne-of-battle ship In the list. Three
| OF the frigates the United states, Con-
stitution. and President. mounted forty
four guns each Three others. the Con-
stellation, Congress. and Chesa penKe
| mounted thirty-e,ght guns each. Inc
Others ranged from thirty-two guns
down to twelve.
There we're precisely $40 officers In the
| service and 5.2a0 enlisted men. OF "honl
o,s4 were assigned to duty In the slx
navy yards, on the gunboats, IN forts
| or on the lakes.
This was the navy. BesideS there
were ls5 gnnboats built out OF the new
appropriation and ffteen prsSIousts
tern SO favored by jefferson and in
volved a total expenditure of approAi-
mately 100000. all Of which was
| wasted.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Many Wanted Shoes; ,
All Wanted Pay.

Gen Stephen Van Rensselaer, OF the
New York militia was in command at
Niagara, Gen. Alexander Smyth OF tho
regulars at Buffalo. In August. when
Brock was capturing Hull at Detroit
and the way was open for movement
from Niagara. Van Rensselaer, had few
or than 100 men, many without shoes
and all Clamorous for pay"
1t was not until October that he had
force enough to warrant action. and
even then his Judgment was against
moving until further preparation could
bc made. He then had 800 regulars and
2,27O militia.
The militia were clamorous for action.
and inlimated to Van Rensselaer, that
they would charge him with cowardics
II he did not order a movement lie
Yielded and directed an attack on
visit Niagara Falls and ride down the
Canadian side nowadays have seen the
statue to General Brock that stands
near Queenstown. He earned that
statue with his life on this occasion.
The attack was In command of Solo
mon Van Rensselaer,. a cousin of the
general, who had served In the regular
army. 1t was participated in by resu--
lars and militia. The regulars. 25
strong, crossed first. and drove the
"A battery at the crest OF the hill. Part
of the militia that had been detached
for the engagement followed. The VIC
tory was complete.
Then Brock who was at Fort George.
farther down the Niagara river. hurried
forward with a substantial re-enforce-
ment Of regulars and Indians. Solomon
Van Rensselaer,, wounded four times,
sent back for re-cnforcements to meet
this new attack. General Van Rensse-
laer. having crossed to the Canadian
side to take measures for fortifying the
new position. now returned TO the
American side to hasten the re-cnforce-
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Attack Against
Montreal Planned.

Attack Against
Montreal Planned.
The main artillery EFFORT Of the year
was to be against Montreal. James
wilkinson who had been couBt-nartial-
ed for. completely with Aaron Burr,
commanded about 5000 regulars and
was to move from Lake Ontario down
the St. Lawrence. Wade Hampton.
with about 5000 regulars, was to move
from Lake Champlain.
they we're extremely jealous and hated
each other cordially. Hampton got
across the border and on Chateaugay
creek met about 500 Canadian militia
and Ind: ans. of whom only about half
we're engaged. Those 400 handled him
so roughly that he forthwith abandon
ed the enterprise and returned to
Wilkinson got part way down the
river. At a place called Chrystler' 9
about $50 men. met a force Of 500 Brit.
ish regulars, intrenched. After a night
tasting two hours. in which the Amert-
cans lost nearly $50 men without dis
lodging the British, Wilkinson gave up,
took his men OF the field. and sum,
moned a council Of war; which decided
to abandon the attack on Montreal and
go into winter quarters.
This an American column of about
1900 men. mostly regulars. although
newly recruited, was prevented from
driving home its attack by a British
force that did not number more than
1000 regulars. militia. and Indians all
told
one Of Hampton's excuses was the
action Of Governor Chittenden Of Ver-
mont In ordering a brigade of Vermont
militia which was with Hampton to re.
turn within the territorial limits OF
their own BRIGADE"
To their credit te It said the militia
did not obey. Their officers replied
that they were now under the orders OF
the President Of tho United States and
the only result Of the governors procla
me ton would be to stir up mutiny and
scdif inn rpopp the men.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Motley Army"
Finally Assembled.

On August Ii Winder reported that he
could not get more than 1000 men from
Maryland, and recommended a call for
the militia en- masse. This was APPROX
ed. and the call ISSUED on August 20.
On August "a the motley army" thus
produced numbered 5.4Ol men. Of whom
400 were regulars, 6OO marines and twen-
ty sailors.
Winder described them as suddenly
assembled, without organization. dis
cipline, or officers Of the least knowl-
edge of service" Yet their business
was the defense of the National Capt.
tai. That same day they were put TO
the test, and fed shamefulIy.
While Madison. his Cabinet. and gen
eral were thus rafting around in panic,
knowing neither where to turn nor what
| to do. Cockburn and Ross were leisure
] ly taking their way toward Washington.
They sailed up the Patuxent river.
landed at Benedict, marched light
| heartedy up fine shady road to Not
tingham, and there paused to considrr
| whether they would strike Washington,
or Baltimore.
The choice falling on Washington.
| they swung over to Upper Marlboro
| Winder raced back and forth. uncer-
! tain whether to go into Washington or
face the issue somewhere on the road.
Ma iison. James Monroe. the Secretary
! of State: Armstrong. the Secretary or
| War: Jones. secretary of the Navy. and
I the other cabinet officers, were with
the troops.
Winder had just about concluded TO
hold his force at the bridge over the
eastern branch of the Potomac when
the news came that Ross was on the
Bladensburg road. Instantly the whole
body. of Americans commenced rae.
for that point
The comic opera army of militia,
regulars. sailors. marines. cabinet Of
| ficers. generals. and the President Of
the United States hot footed II across
country to Bladensburg and Just as the
/ leading men reached that position the
head Of the British column appeared
The British hesitated not an instant.
They charged straight at the Ameri-
can center. At the first volley the
American militia broke and fled, sweep
ing President, Cabinet. and all along
with them.
| A mile in the rear Of Bladenshurs
! Captain Barney of the navy. who was
in command Of some Jeffersonar gun
boats stationed AT Washington. was
was hurryinc to the field with a smah
force of his men and five guns taken
out of the otherwise useless gunhoats.
! The wave of retreat swept by without
in the least dismaying him or his men.
He posted his guns on hilltop and
made ready to give the onrushing Brit
ish a warm reception. So we'll did h"
/ do it that for a time the pursuit was
stopped. Then the British. who out
numbered him overwhelmingly. swept
in the rear Still he held on until struck
down. Then his men, after some ni
them had been bayoneted at their guns
gave way and fell back.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Wanted All Militia
10 Receive Training.

That was the spirit behind the act OF
May 8. 1892, and it was the intention of
that act to provide a system under
which all the militia of the several
States should receive training and be-
come equipped for the military service
which it declared they owed to their
country.
! Therefore. it provided that every free
White male cit zen of military age
Should be enrolled within twelve months
by the commanding officer Of the COM
bany within whose bounds such citi-
zen shah reside
The entire nation was to be covered
by this system. and the militia were to
be arranged into divisions, brigades.
regiments, battalions. and companies
ts the legislatures of such States shall
!. Here was the germ of the system of
national enrolment and territorial re-.
form. provide the United states with an
adequate national defense.
!, But the act Of 1872. by seeking to en-
ploy the system through the o,"..
militia, defeated its own purpose right
at the start. 1t placed upon the men
Individually the burden of providing
their own arms and equipment. and 1t
laid upon the states the duty of seeing
that the obligation was fulfilled
, But no penalty was provided for fal-
power to provide such penalty. because
the Constitution had reserved that
power to the States.
iIf Congress had elected to act under
its own unlimited power instead of
through the States. the dismal story of
the war of 1872 would have had a very
different character.
For in that case we should have gone
into that war with something like a
million men who had had some military
training and had become accustomed to
obedience to the strong centralized au-
1iority that is the heart and essence oc
successful army organization and op-
grafton.
sBut as il was, the law was bound to
be a failure for no way was devised OF
creating an obligation on the part of
the States and of tho militiH to the
Federal Government that would have
compelled or induced the States and
6eir militiamen to conform to the sys-
tim prescribed by the nation.
GIT was a hundred years before any
Han was invented that gave even slight
uromise of being able successfully to
1hip that devil around the ronstitn-
8onal stump. The rr4sent law has
&ade start at it. but it mas not
Apne far enough as yet to make 1t GER
Tin that even now We are on the right
SoH
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Continued from First Page.)

eurmountable prejudice OF Congress IN
favob- of short term cnlistments.
I 1t was this, shlr- ttrm service
of all the mlliia enpios /.
ment In the revolution. that compelled
Washington to struggle along with what
he called his "dissolving army. 1t was
the same thing that led Mr.. Mclicnry,
when Secretary of War. to say that
sWeshington had an Amy OF men, but
Few soldiers"
But after the revolution. when gov
Arnment under the Constitution came to
be established, almost the first mill
tary legislation of the new National
congress provided for the practical
iisba ndment of the little regular army
and evidenced determination on the
part Of the Federal legislature to con-
tinue to place its reliance on the militia.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

down on the numbering merchantmen
with precision and uispatch.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

under Jacob Brown. The militia fred
once and fed, but the regulars held
their ground and repulsed the British
v with about a Is per cent loss.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Militia Refused
To GO To Aid.

.nentS forward
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
METAL PoLIsHERs GAIN.

Cincinnati, Sept. 9.-Secretary Ath
erton, Of the Metal Polishers' Union
of North America, announces the fol
lowing gains: .+..-.
Pittsburgh, Pa.-Ideal Electro Plat
ing company signed union, shop
agreement; 5O-hour week with 10 min
utes allowed each day for washing
up; recognition of the shop committee
and an adequate blower system.
WATERFOWL, N Wage increases
averaging per cent; platers recog-
nized.
jamestown, N. Y.-Wages of all
members employed by the J. P. Dan
ielson Tool company are to be read
justed on a minimum basis of AZ cents
per hour.
Dayton, Ohio-Gem City Stove COM
pany signed union shop agreement
providing for 9-hour day and wage in
creases. This is the first agreement
obtained since the Dayton Manufac-
turing company and National Cash
Register strikes, Is years ago.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
JUDGE EiiLLYER'S
REMOVAL UPHELD.

Denver, Sept. 9.-W. H. Schofeld
attorney of this city, has written an
open Letter to Speaker Stewart. of the
state house Of representatives, be.
cause of the later's protest against
the removal of Judge Hilyer by the
supreme court from furtherconsidera-
ton of miners trials.
The speaker also favors a law that
will limit the power Of the court to
act in cases where prejudise is al
legged. Attorney Schofield upholds the
supreme court and says:
cat the outset let me say that j hold
no brief for the miners of the state in
their controversy with the operators.
sWhethere .ither or both Of them have
been guilty. of acts lof violence rissnot
material here. But wheneitheriuside
demands justice of uor courts they
should have it.
What object can a man or set of
men have in wanting any particular
judge to sit in any particular case or
cases? If the man or men seek JUS
tice the fact that Judge is disquali-
fed for being prejudiced cannot hurt
their case. The judge should not be
interested In sitting in any particular
case. for his Salar ygoes on at the
same rate, whether he tries one case
or thousand, just as yours would.
Mr.. Stewart, were: you absent from a
sessino of the house.
i''But you say. that under the rule
announced, the judges of the state are
made subject to the aspersions upon
their character. The statute does not
SO read. It uses the term prejudice
and that is the term the COURT con-
strues in its opinion"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
=
NATURALIZATION DON'T COUNT

Washington, Sept. 9.-Naturaliza-
ton of an Italian in another country
does not exempt him from military
service in Italy is the statement made
by Secretary of StateaLansing who an
nounces that so far as his department
is advised Italy has always maintained
this attitude. Mr.. Lansing says that
the stae department is unable to give
any assurances that the naturalization
of the Italians in the United States
would protect them from impressment
into the Italia narmy if they return to
Italy. The. secretary's statement was
in the form of circular addressed to
attorneys in Wheeling, w. Va, acting
for unnaturalized Italians employed
there, who wanted to know what their
status would if they returned to Italy
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09

to smash the union, and the employers
declared a lockout, alter first organic
ing the Master Plumbers association.
The Building Trades Council took
up the fight for their affiliated local
and the employers rushed into the
court Of common pleas with a de-
mand for injunction relief. Every
building trades local and officer was
included. and the court was asked to
dissolve the Building Trades Council
and to prohibit the unionists from
forming similar organization under
another name
Judge Tarbell threw the case out of
court. He held that the agreement
originally entered into between the
two parties was not unfair to the en-
ployers as they had knowingly accept
ed sameo that he acts of defendants
did not constitute intimidation; that
the yhad the right to rganize local I'M
ions, and had the right to join with
other locals in forming a central or
ganization.
In his opinion the court intimated
that a pleader for Injunction relief
must come into court with clean
hands, and this the employers did not
do, as they broke binding contract.
The court further ruled that it was
not against public policy for an en-
ployer to agree to hire only union
men.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09


cheap and unfree nation, inasmuch as
the great bulk of. the people are in
cluded under the head of labor and
must gain or lose as working people
gain or lose.
t.The existence of a labor surplus,
with its accompanying symptom of
low wages, has another result which
should appeal even to the money
minded. Cheay labor is a brake on
mechanical progress. Muscle takes
the place of skill and brains. But as
soon as mems time and strength ale
!! valued at soemthing approaching real
worth there is tendency to expand
their power by inventions. And in al
most every respect nation which has
developed a privileged employing
class, and an abundant unprivileged
1aboring class as we are on the way
to do the moment we begin to tolerate
a chronic. labor surplusis bound to
stagnate and to harden into Something
like caste system.
American laborers may hope for as
great gain If the artificial scarcity
caused by the war is prolonged, as it
! should be, by wise immigration laws
If immigration is intelligently restrict
ed some OF the economic evils of the
day win cure themselves without
further governmental interference"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
A7AINcoAT MAKERS WIN.


New York, Sept. 9.-Substantial
wage increases and 48-hour week are
features of an agreement the Water
proof Garment Manufacturers Asso-
citation has signed with their workers.
Under the agreement operators will
receive 70 cents an hour. Weekly
rates are as follows: Cutters, $27.50;
presers, $a4:; underpressers, $2O.25;
machine button sewers, $18. A board
will consider charges of unjust dis.
charges and the unions representa-
tives will be recognized The contract
calls for uniform conditions in all the
shops. Several thousand workers are
effected.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
LABOR FAMINE HAS A VALUE.

San Francisco: Sept. 9-The Bulle.
tin of this city is not Mortified at the
prospects of labor famine, which
Isome good people are fearful OF be-
cause of the European war. The edi-
tor presents his views thusly:
| "A shortage in unskiled labor will
be one of the most fortunate things
that. can possibly happen to this coun-
try. In late years our gravest troubles
and our most glazing injustices. have
Iarisen from an oversupply of labor In
federal law labor is no longer a com.
modify. but in practice it has fra nkJy
Ibeen regarded as such. The going
wage and not he living standard has
been the test Of what a laborer should
receive. In the great eastern indus
tries races whose standard Of living
were rising have been successfully re;
placed by snewer, more ignorant inlrni-
grants, who would be content with
Hess. Some great industries are lit
|eraly parasites upon the incoming I'M
migrants.
sThe statistics Of unemployment are
las vet very incomplete, but those in
existence indicate that there is q con-
slant labor surplus. which is not en-
tirely absorbed, even in the most pros
porous times. In slack times the sur
plus increases. When It becomes too.
great to be ignored there is 3 brief
furry Of public interest, with sporadic
public and private charity and other
symptoms. The point to remember is
that most employers Of unskiled. mn
organized labor pay each workingmanl
a wage determined by the presence Of
workingmen who would
be glad to take his job BY this system
wages are continually kept down. and
as wages are low the standard Of Iiv-
ing also Is Low. And low standards
sfe = menace b Tie nation, counter
halancet anly ~ ~ Hmitet eenVen.
lepae end prpat derived ~ employers
g GaaaP lalpF pnllp labor mlkla !
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
Win
Long Fight

The United Mine Workers. have won
anothe rlong drawn out battle near
here. On August % the official end
ing came to q battle that had been
waged since january with the Island
Run Coal company Of East Liverpool,
practically owned by the East Liver
pool Traction company. The fight
was in charge of Board Member James
Coates and Fannie Sellins, represent
ing the Pittsburg district.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
coNERAcT BREAKING
EMPLOYERS REBUFFED

Portsmouth. Ohio, Sept. s-Judge
J. W.. Tarbell, of Georgetown, this
county, has refused. in an oral opinion
to dissolve the Portsmouth Building
Trades Council. The court also de.
clines to issue an injunction against
affiliated unions from interfering in
any way" with the Master Plumbers
association or the business of its mem
bers. 49,
Last spring these employers started
to break contract between them and
the Plumbers union. This agreement
does not expire until 1917, and pro-
Vides that on May 1, 1915, wages shall
be Increased SO cents a day. To avoid
paying this increase it was necessary
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
.AL[-N.0O[ TROUSERS.
Honest Prices Honest Values

Trousers in any fabric, style and
ed. You can have your choice of
any trouser IN our store at our one
price, $500, no more. no less. Wheat
sold to the floug mill cannot be
handled on a smaller margin of
The pants are as good and as staple
as wheat; we can afford to sell them
cheap for we sell a lot of them. We
believe that we sell more trousers
than any store in Wheeling. They
are regular $500 to $3.50 values.
You save that $1.0O to $3.50.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
MUSICIANS LOCKED OUT.

Portland. Ore. Sept. o. Musicians
Employed in several theatres and
moving picture houses have been lock-
ed out because they refused to break
trade rules Of their union. In answer
to the claim Of antiuniOnists that or.
CANNED labor did not indoFne the mu.
stclsns' position, the Central Labor
Council apcspted this report 81 its ex-
sYpnE board aeplores the fact that
feHIlEe hoaFaI
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
MUST LEARN ENGLISH.

Washington. eSpt. s.-The bureau
OF naturalization has issued a general
letter relative to its views as to the
course which should be followed in
training the alien population in Ameri
can citizenship. The bureau points out
the impossibility Of laying down any
hard or fast rule, but declares the
prime requisite is ability to speak the
English language.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
EVEN MINISTER'S PAY is Low.

San Francisco, Sept. 9.-In a report
to a church conference Frederick A.
Delano, member of the federal reserve
board, set forth what constituts an
adequate salary for a minister and the
further information that even minis.
tiers do not get it. His figures were:
Salaries from $1,000 an dparsonage in
towns Of less than 5000 population to
$4,000 and parsonage in cities Of more
than 100000 population.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09

other repair men from the Dickson
concern Of Pittsburg left for home,
their work ended. It is believed that
the plant will resume shortly now,
probably by the 18th. The scale for
the next year has been signed, as
given in another column.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09

Spaces in. the dental arch caused
by loss of teeth, can be bridged by
the Modern Bridge System so al
to avoid the appearance of gold il
the front teeth
Gold Crowns for bridging teeth can
be used If patient so desires.
Moderate Charges.
Gas and Oxygen administered for
extracting teeth
n each set Of teeth 4 gold filling OF
gold crown win be inserted without
extra cost.
No charge for extracting when
plates are ordered.
Plates Or bridges repaired quickly
at small cost
WORK GUARANTEED.
OPEN NIGHTS.
Bell Phone 127s-R
D.. Worth Paugb
piNIlaT,
klsIsnil lllel' ! main
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-09
FAVOR sIx.HouR. DAY.

San Francisco. Sept. s.-Painters'
unions in this city are favoring the
proposed six-hour day covering the
period from December ! to April 1.
A division Of work during slack times
will be the great benefit that follows
this reofrm. say the painters.