davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
ON THE RIO ORANDE

The events on the Rio Grande,
where American troops have been
fighting a battle with Mexican raid
ers, constitute an illustration Of
what might happen on a much
larger scale at any moment in our
relations with the neighbor to the
south.
After diplomacy has done it's best
or it's worst; after the merits Of
contending leaders have been esti-
mated and docketed in appropriate
pigeonholes, comes startling dem
onstration of lawlessness and hate
which sweeps away in one violent
movement all the verbiage of diplo-
mats and confronts the people Of
the United States with a problem in
volving the future peace of the con-
tinent.
Brigandage has become a habit
in Mexico. 1t has been the ulti-
mate recourse of large share of
the people through centuries Of ex-
ploitation, since Spanish rapacity
robbed the Incas of their lands and
treasure. 1t is the protest Of the
disinherited against a system of
spoliation which began with Cortez
reached it's highest efficiency under
Diaz, and has degenerated into petty
larceny under Carranza, Villa, and
their henchmen.
Another phase Of the perennial
Mexican problem is the violent
hatred of America and Americans
This instructive and growing AMI
mostly has been apparent for years
to any observant American who hal
travelled in Mexico or lived in it.
The propensity for loot and the
hatred Of Americans are the two
primal passions which have com
bined to produce the Brownsville in
cident. The incident and its cause!
are we'll worth the earnest consider
alton of American craftsmanship.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
United States, Banker
Says, Will Gain Through
War, in Financial Power

SEATTLE. Sept s.-Predicting that
the financial position Of the United
Safes will strengthen steadily as the
European war progresses, and that
President Wilson will successfully
preserve neutrality, William A. Law.
president of the American Bankers
Association. in an address before that
organization today, expressed the
opinion that this country would be
rich enough at the conclusion of hos
ilities, not only to help the needy;
assist In reconstruction of the ruined
nations: and give employment to the
masses of Immigrants who may be OK
pected to como here, but also to COM
pete vigorously with other nations In
seeking foreign trade.
Commenting on general conditions
in the country, Mr.. Law said that, as
a whole. production was irresistibly
Increasing; unemployment slowly and
steadily decreasing. and distribution
quietly broadening.
" A. Lersner presented the report
of the methods and systems commit
tee Of the savings bank section. show
ing that under the direction of the
association, 1925 school savings
banks, with 3ss.540 depositors and
$l,792,64O on deposit. have been estab-
iished in the public schools OF the
country
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
THE CASUALTY LISTS

It has been demonstrated repeat
edly, by the process Of the reductio
ad absurdum, that if the casualty
lists of Europe's battlefields were Of
like the proportions at
tributed to them, the armies would
some time ago have been wiped out.
Particularly would the Russians now
all be dead or prisoners; whereas, IN
fact, they seem actually to have
pulled themselves together and made
something like stand against the
Teutons in some sections Of the line.
Some detailed facts about the wur
casualties have been published in
France, on the basis of official re-
ports, which expls;n away much of
the discrepancy. 1t is stated that
54.5 per cent Of the French army's
wounded return immediately to the
fighting line; 25.4 per cent recover
after a period Of treatment and con-
valescence; only 3.48 per cent die
as a result of their wounds.
These figures are worth attention
in connection with the stories that
have come repeatedly from the
fighting zone of individual soldiers
who have been repeatedly wounded
so seriously that they had to retire
from the line, but who on each oc
casion got back to the front as soor
as they were sufficiently recovered
One soldier who has a record of foul
or five appearances in the list o.
casualties, but who is still at tn,
front, a seasoned veteran, with moth
ing worse than an array Of scars t,
tell of his mishaps, may be multi
piled by the very large number O
like cases; and the product doubt
less would make up several army di
visions of men whom the statisti
clans have put out of service, bu
who today are on the fighting line
better soldiers than they were a
the beginning.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
ALFONSO PREDICTS
BIGGER ARMAMENTS

PARIS. Sept. skiing Alfonso Of
Spain believes that all nations will arm
more than ever after the present war
ends. The Spanish monarch was SO
quoted today by Paris newspapers.
which printed an interview with the
King. obtained by an Argentine news
paper man.
King Alfonso cited the ease Of Hell
GUM. whose neutrality. he said. had
been pledged her by greater powers. but
who had been forced to rely on her
arms for defense. All countries. he
said. will find 1t necessary to prepare
for war in order to insure themselves
against unjust aggrcssions.
He anticipated no serious objection
from the Socialists in the future. he
said, because ideas of the Socialists
that are Just are being adopted by gov
ernments, and the Socialists themselves
are discovering they had been deceived
in certain Of their ideals.
The King expressed reSret that the
war had made 1t necessary for Elm to
set aside plans to visit America, at
least for several years. Spain, he said.
would play an important role In world
affairs at the end of the war, and he
must keep In close touch with his ma
tion's affairs.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08

public could have its way when it
was decided which way l. wanted.
State constitutions have been the
subject of much criticism, albeit
there is curious similarity among
all of them save tbs Nv of very re-
cent origin, upsn which have been
engrafted testimonies to the new
radicalism that chooses to try ex-
periments that promise amusement,
perhaps edification.
When New York confronted its
constitutional convention there were
more than a few who feared that it
might become either q dangerously
radical or a grievously conservative
affair, with the preponderance OF
misgiving leaning toward the latter
view. But the product of the Al
bany gathering cannot be regarded
as sustaining either thesis. 1t is a
sane, sound, middle-of-the-road in
strument that represents just about
the measure of progress that the
digested opinions of the community
have warranted. It comes out Of a
convention in which a large number
of able and very earnest men met
together. There is good reason to
hope that it will mark forward
move in the development Of Ameri-
nm, oovorpment
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
TENNIS

Tennis, oldest of all existing ball
games, considered by many the fore
runner of the great American pas
time, baseball; erstwhile sport Of
kings, again is coming to it's own.
The recurrent popularity of ten
mis- is indicated by the wide interest
in the defeat of Maurice Mclaughlin
by the twenty-year-old California
star, William M. Johnston.
But the real test of the interest in
tennis, unlike that in baseball, is
in the number of those who play it.
More tennis players have been in
evidence this year in the District,
and followers Of the sport through
it's lean and fat days say there are
five times as many courts here now
as there were five years ago.
To those who play it the conquest
of Mclaughlin will be no surprise.
The game is pre-eminently one for
youth, and there have been few
Honus Wagners Of the court. LEG
work" is needed to sustain judg-
ment, and the best of the youthful
players take their place on the golf
links long before the baseball play
er thinks he has reached his prime
For this reason the sport is not
likely ever to be one that has wide
following of spectators. Its stars
fade so soon that the stardom is
hardly worth the persistence need
ed for a few short years to attain
it. But as a community sport il
is growing in popularity, and there
is no more healthful sign of the
spreading interest in outdoor life
than the municipal courts and the
private courts that appear on every
street.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
ALWAYS THE SUGAR COATP

Washington gathers the impress
sion that our considerate Admins
tration will try to make it
just as easy as possible for Ambas-
sador Dumba to get out of this
country. It is reported that our
ambassador at Vienna will be sent
copies of all the documents that
were taken away from Dumba's
special messenger, Archibald, with
suggestion that the United States
feels surprised-maybe, too, a bit
hurt-that that sort of conspiracy
should be engineered in the United
States by the ambassador of a
friendly power and apparently un-
der the direct orders of that sup
posedly friendly power. But, it is
avouched, there will likely be no
demand for the recall of Dumba
it will delicately be left to the good
taste of Vienna to realize that 1t
can do no less than recall him and
disavows it's part in the munitions
strike plan.
Precisely why, in our relations
with Germany and Austria, so much
of consideration, delicacy, and re.
gard for the finer diplomatic sensi.
bilities must always be displayed Is
not very apparent. All the circum.
stances of this Dumba affair point
the need for more vigorous action
1t is not enough to let Austria dis.
avow and discredit Dumba. The
only offense he committed against
the Government he represented wal
in getting caught. His government
ought not particularly to blame hin
for that. It should not disgrace hin
before his own country, for he hal
served it in the way it wanted to b.
served.
To let Austria recall Dumba, il
short, involves no rebuke to Vienn,
by our Government. That rebuk'
should be administered. It can b.
administered by handing Dumba hi
passports. 1t is less than self
respecting for our Government t.
permit the diplomatic assumption
that Dumba acted without the gen
eral authority of his country.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Takes Issue With An Expert On
City Traffic Regulations.

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
l am compelled. from a humanitarian
and safety standpoint to tax take issTe stie
/ get It. is twenty miles an hour in
cities. and thirty miles an hour In the
country. Twenty miles an hour allows
a vehicle to make q trip from the Dis
Hnt Gi tns and 70 eaeH ssan
to starting point. turn about and 60
back to the other end again. and then
either have time for smoke, or else
I% I% BE bes :efSnd %n Eno t5p hat
speed is in excess Of allowed railroad
speed on mountain divisions out West.
where there Is clear track! Let me
suGte rules from western err sims syooatin: ssGle
passenger train speed for automobiles
out In the country and faster speed
in the city. than that at which freight
trains run Rule; passenEsr 1s tran hour shai, an
a straight track. and freight trains not
faster than fifteen miles an hour on
straight line.
These trains are equipped with auto,
hydraulic cylinder brakes for locomo-
tive, and steam or air-brakes for loco
motive drivers. which means that they
saSPBsd ss ReG fent ms eonten
tion that the speed ought not to be
increased at present is more IN con.
formity with safety. not only for the
pedestrians, but for the automobilist
and passengers in automobiles.
There are too many daily automobile
wrecks caused by reckless driving, anC
too many persons are crippled anc
killed. Only last nights bowling over
of a seventy-year-old man at Union
Station Is sufficient proof that we have
reckless drivers of automobiles lr
Washington. FRED c. SWARTA.
Washington, Sept 7.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
FLOODING US WITH GOLD

In a little over a month about
$1sO,0O0,OOO in gold and securities
has been shipped from England to
this country. The newest move
ment, of 65,OOO,00O in gold, mainly
coin, is without doubt the greatest
shipment of the yellow metal ever
made across the waters. 1t all
raises the question, What does the
British financial authority intend to
accomplish by this unexpected VOL
ume of gold exports?
Not unlikely there is an element
of bravado in it. A year ago now
the United States was sending gold
to Europe, and doing it with exceed
ing bad grace. The tide turned;
our floating debt abroad was dis
charged; our foreign-owned securi-
ties came in considerable quanti-
ties; gold was started flowing in this
direction; and still it was impossi-
BILE to cancel the balance to our
credit. Foreign exchange went up
and still up. Now is recorded sin
gle gold shipment of $4,000, 900, and
yet the parity of exchange is not re-
stored, and American financial au-
thorities begin to fear that they will
have a dangerously large amount of
gold, precisely as year ago they
feared a dangerously small amount
might be left to them.
The foreign governments and
bankers doubtless know exactly
what they are doing. 1t is the STRAIT
egy of finance, quite as interesting
as that of the battlefield. The al
lies, let it be assumed, want to sell
a billion dollars of securities in this
country. They want to get the best
possible terms for them. What more
effective way than to stock up this
country with gold, until American
financiers become afraid of it, afraid
of great initiation and period of
unbridled speculation, and then of
fering to save US from submergence
under the yellow tide by selling us
bonds!
Many weeks ago the Federal Re,
serve Board at Washington anc
careful bankers in New York anC
other centers began expressing fears
of a too great gold movement
thither, with consequent initiation
The movement has now assumed
proportions never before dreamed
Seemingly the allied nations are ben
on proving to US that they cal
swamp us with gold, if gold we mus
have-getting ready to offer us theil
, bonds, but only when we shall have
become SO fearful of getting NOR,
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
DIVINE COMPUTES
ENORMOUS WAR COST
Tennessee Lecturer Says Con-
fIict to Date Has Wasted
$4,000, 100000.

The European war has cost to date
moro than. 1l6.ooo. 900. 900. according to
figures compiled by the Rev. DR.. J.
Henry Smythe. the Tennessee divine.
who proudly claims to have preached
before every President from Lincoln 70
TAFT, and who said In Washington to-
day that he had prophesied the war
nearly three years ago.
DIR. smythe, who Is a lecturer. 6tfthor,
and chancellor Of the American Uni
versity OF Tennessee. talked today OF
the stupendous cost OF the European
conflict. saying that the first years
cost Of the war would pay the national
debts Of all the countries In the worid
at the time Of the wars outbreak.
Here's His Prophecv.
Two years ago. while preaching III
Nashville. DR.. Smythe says he made
the following prophecy after speaking
OF the horrors Of the NapoleoniG wars:
III you will stand with me tonight
at the hinges Of history and look along
the sky line OF current events you wiz
see that war Is simmering IN every
arsenal Of Europe and every wave. that
breaks upon the shore ia red with blood.
Tien-tsin and Port Arthur. Havana
Harbor and Manila Bay were put Ine
shifting scenery. moved by the hidden hiaaen
Using commonplace illustrations to
conve. to the startled mind con-
ception Of the cost OF the war up TO
August 1, 1915. pr. smythe said TO-
"From figures l have compiled the
estimated cash cost Of the war to the
firrt Of August was $4,000. 900. 600.
other known losses will mount 1 to
make tho grand total $4,000. ooo.oo".
That is four times all the coin In the
world. II this sum were measured
out ir $40 gold pieces and they were
placed side by side on the railway
tracks. en- each rail. they would cover
with gold every line from New York
to the Pacific Ocean. the two cana
dian lines included.
Some Other Comparisons.
There would be enough gold left
over to cover each rail Of the railroad
from Vladivostok to PctroRrad. There
| would still remain sufficient to re-
habilitate Belgium and to buy the
whole OF Turkey at her own valua.
tion.
The average working man in this
| country earns $51S year. 1t would
take ninety million years OF WORK tc
pay tho cost OF the war up to date
or ninety mliliOn american iaooIe.s
| would pay It or in one year II thetl
living expenses were paid:
| The cost OF year Of the great
| war Is a little more than the estimat
ed value OF all the property Of the
United States west of the Mississippi
1t Is nearly equal to the total valu'
Of all the property in Germany ant
the whole Russian empire could have
been bought for q less sum.
III all the farms. factories, and farm
| ing lands in the United States wert
| wiped out Of existence, the cost Of thi
war would more than replace them.
al 1.-The personal and real property o
half Of our nation were destroyed. or al
earthquake OF incredible scope shoult
lantic to the Pacific. the waste woult
be less than that involved In the wa
up to date. and such an elementa
catastrophe would leave behind 1t NJ
costly legacy OF hate"
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
WHAT'S ON PROGRAM
IN CAPITAL TODAY

Concert. United States soldisrs' Home Band.
Ball .ams; beneat Of Q. 4; r.: teams Of
Railway general office and st. Teresa 8
Church. Florida avenue ball park. $50 o. m.
Masonic-Harmony. No: II. Grand lodge
school Of instruction: Mount Pleasant. No.
!, knights Templsr; monthly meeting. 81.
Johns Mite Association; Naomi. No. 3:
Brookland. No. IL. Eastern Star.
Odd Fellows-Eastern. No. I: Harmony. No.
3; Federal City. No. 20.
Knights OF Py'hissTMount Vernon; No; 5;
No 2Si Washington Company No. l. Cni-
form Rank: Friendship Temple. No. 5.
Pythian Sisters.
National Union-Postofncs Department Coun.
ell. Interior Department Council
Piano recital. Miss Elizabeth Winston. Home
for the Blind. $3.50 r. street northwest. I:s(
Concert. United States Marine Band. Capitol
D. m.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Britain Ready to Confer
On u. S. Goods Release

Ambassador Page has caoied from
London that Great Britain is prepared
to accept informal representations by
the foreign trade advisers Of the State
Department. as a medium whereby re-
lease can be secured OF American
owned goods of German and Austrian
origin now held up at neutral ports.
This will result in the trade advisers
resumins negotiations which have been
interrupted since June 10, by the British
refusal to consider further applications
council
The Washington times., 1915-09-08

gold that we will consider it favor
to be allowed to snap up war loan!
War finance is showing us a good
many things that people didn't COM
monty understand before. One is
that while gold is a good thing to
have, it is about as bad for a coun-
try to have too much as to have too
little Of it. If we get all the gold
we will be in the position Of the
merchant with his shelves full Of
goods, but neither scales nor yard
sticks by which to measure.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Tomorrow.

Outing. Washington Railway Relief Associa-
ton, Glen Echo all day.
Meeting. District Suffrage League. Peoples
Forum. Eighth street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest. s to 10 p. m.
Masonic-The New Jerusalem. No. o. George
c, Whiting No. %; Washington. No. :,
Royal Arch Masons: William +. Hunt No
49, Eastern Star.
odd Fellows-Columbia. No. 10; Salem. No
20; Excelsior, No. II: Covenant. No. Is
knights of Pythias-Earmony. No. q.
Maccabees-District Tent. No S.
National Union-WashingtoE Council Fra
ternal Council
Concert. Fifth Cavalry Band. Smithsonian
Grounds, 7:30 p. IT.
Meeting Georgia Society OF the District. oak
room, Raleigh. 8 p. m.
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Kansas Schools to
Have Willard Day

TOPEKA. Kan. Sept. s.-As part Of
the propaganda in favor Of prohibition
In Kansas. September 2s will be cele-
brfated by the school children Of the
State as Frances Willard day. The la st
legislature. at the request Of the Kan
sas Women's Temperance Union, passed
a law to that effect.
Every school IN the State. the law
provides. shall celebrate the day with
appropriate historica. exercises. The
programs will show the benefits Of pro-
hihitien and thA sYilA eS alcohol
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
One Year Ago Today in the War

Staggered by the desperate resistance Of the allies Paris the
Germans forced yield year ago. today September
their right wing falling back miles Despite their victor
les along the Marne and the retreat Of the Kaer troops the
defenders OF Paris still in critical position the end Of
the days fighting ..e.@ - ... .. o.. ... ..i
In the eater Of combat the continued his aggressive
sweep taking forts southwest Of Lemberg Only Pzemyl
and Jarosau the River San, and Cracow the Vua
left for the Austrians serious obstacles the
Russian advance. % d;
Invasion Of Bosnia started marking offensive
by the Serbians ... ..- ..
Japan joined in agreement with Great Britain France and Russia
not to conclude peace separately
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Woman Senator Alleges
Newspaper Libeled Her

NEWARK, N. j.. Sept. s,-Throush
her attorney. Arthur T. Vanderbilt.
Senator Helen Ring Robinson OF COL
orado has started suit against the sum
She demands damages of 5000
Senator Robinson's cause for bringing
suit was a letter published In the per
signed Barrett Crandall, whiGh
among other things, said senator Ron
scNaro bill to rc-esta blish race track
gambling in the State" The letter was
said TO have reelected on A90xAGA -
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
THE NEW CONSTITUTION

The draft of new constitution
for the State Of New York comes
out of the wash of the convention
with more Of promise that it went
in. There was grave misgiving in
the earlier periods Of the conven-
tion's activities whether it would
get into touch and sympathy with
the prevailing sentiments of the
Empire State community. With
such reservations as must be made
because Of the need for detailed
consideration of such q document, it
seems safe now to say that the con-
vention has done a better piece of
work even than seemed probable
when It's sittings began, and one
that is likely to appeal to the voters
of the State.
If the provisions looking to home
rule Of cities are not so complete
and satisfactory as could be wished,
it may be remembered that the
cities nowadays do not need reform
so much as does the State. The short
ballot proposal is in a form which
insures great betterment of the
State government, and betterment
of the State means improved condi-
tions for the cities, because latterly
the legislature has been the great
est obstacle to advance in city condi-
tions. 1t may be said, in short,
that the State stands to gain more
than the cities; but that the State
needed more.
Under such casual examination as
has thus far been possible, the pro-
posed constitution gives the impress
sion of being very gratifying ad-
iustment between all extremes.
There may be discovery of some ex-
traordinary defect to justify fears
of it, but thus far the product Of
the conventions deliberations looks
good. The short ballot plan that
has been written into l. in fashion
highly significant of the sentiment
of these times is alone enough tc
decide a great proportion of voters
in favor of the new charter.
Americans are leaders in the bust
ness of making charters of rights
and restrictions within which they
will agree to live. The federated
governmental systems of the world
from Switzerland to Australasia
South Africa, and China, are chief!
based on the immortal if doubles!
imperfect scheme framed by tn
Philadelphia convention. Our Fed
eral charter provides clums!
method of amendment, so Difficult
that carping critics, after waiting
generation to see a single chang
in it, had begun to muckrake tn
venerable document with the accusa
ton that it couldn't be changed a
all. But that charge fell in con
fusion before the refutation tina
was carried when the amendment
were promptly adopted for popula
election of Senators and the incom
tx. 1t was made clear that tn
The Washington times., 1915-09-08
Says Most Lynching Is Done In So
called "Dry" States,

To the Editor Of THE TINES:
The letter OF Reader OF The Times
published September 3, says that lynch
law Is the creation Of drunken and H.
literate men. Now stop and think.
Reader Of The Times: Isn't most OF
the lynchinE done in our so-called dry
States? A CONSTANT READER.
Washington. September I.