davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
Billy and the Drys.

TIC " EplroR OF The SUN-S,r: II
made Colorado dry" Is one o. the pet
boasts Of the Rev. 'Dr." Bin Sunday,
In order TO learn Just how much sun
day and his twentieth century eHangel-
ism, so called, contributed to the dry
ing up Of Colorado, | wrote several
letters 10 some promlnen: persons in
that state asking them TO point out the
causes making for prohibition In their
safe.
Not one OF them mentions the Rev.
"Dr." sunday even as a contrlbutory
factor IN the wet" and dry" fight,
although my inquiries were chiefly d.
rec,ed along that line. The opinions of
my !]ncormants seem to agree that The
recent mining and labor trouhles In
Colorado, the refusal OF the saloon keep
ers to obey the law were the two doml-
naut clements In the fight. 10 which
hibition DOGGY is now IN the air every
where.
Now that Denver went wet" by a
two to one vote two weeks ago the
Rev. "Dr." sunday will rave TO change
his tune. Sunday!sm was OF little last
Ing effect in Denver, /, seems. although
sunday campaiEned there.
1t will be recalled that beginning at
plt'sburg Sundayism left a venomous
trail that touched Wilkesbarre, Scran-
ton and Philadelphia. IN which places
he hammered the so-called liquor traffic
mcrcilessly, with the result that the pro-
Pile OF the Keystone State returned 10
the Legislature men who stood on an
out ard out liquor platform, Any one
can see that Sundayism is merely pro-
hlbiilon IN disguise. The parade In
Paterson given in honor OF ;he Dr.
proves this. LUTHER Il. DAVIS.
NEW YORK, June ..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
Mr.. Wilson's Notice 70 Mexico,

Whatever criticism may be justly
made Of Mr.. WILSON'S long forbear-
ance or his experiments in the Mex.
can political and military tempera-
ment, there will be hearty and united
support OF the measures Of 6rmness
which have for some time seemed In.
evitable to those who don't deny a fact
because they don't like its looks.
Considerations Of humanity, the re-
lief Of a fam!shed and broken people,
Indignation with the brawling guer-
rilla chiefs who fight for their own
hand. anger for the wrongs suffered
by. our undefended citizens in Mexico,
the enormous imperilled or ruined
American interests in Mexico. ali
these lmpel the American people to
stand solidly by Mr.. WILSON in what
ever course Of firm and deliberate
suppression Of disorder and faction
and protection Of natives and for
eigners in Mexico he may be forced
to adopt.
OF any revival Of patriotism or
approach to unity among the rival
chiefs. who has any hope? The United
States has a duty to itself and to the
Mexicans. II will perform It steadily
and effectively II this last warning
10 not Obeyed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
WHAT CAUSES A N
Analysis Of Reports From Two widely
Separated Municipalities.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-str: In
showing hat d~estitution generally is
produced by the same causes a COM
parison Of two recently published re-
ports. dealing with widely separated
municipalities. only serves to present
anew facts that have long been known
to students of the subject.
OF a total of S,+69 cases Of destitu-
ton classified by the 1914 annual re-
port Of the Rochester. N. Y, Depart
ment OF Charities stokness was the
cause OF 1.21+ cases. Unemployment
was the next largest factor, causing s24
cases. Old age vas the cause OF 21S
cases. Desertion. non-support. widows
left with dependent children. tuberculo-
sis. accidents. crippling. blindness. In
sanity. feeblemindedness and orphan
age were the causes Of most OF the
remainder Of the 3,4s9 cases Of desti-
tuition. OF the entire total OF S.469
cases only l66 cases. less than 8 per
cent. were caused by alcoholism.
In Portland, Ore. the same general
causes are shown. An article In the
surrey Of April 10. 1915. dealt with
restitution in hat city during the win
ter of 1s14-l5. Records were taken
OF 500 cases applying to the Portland
Associated Charities for aid. Under
primary causes 29.7 per cent OF these
'a''' NV W III nAAa III u
incapacity. including illness. accident,
insanity and mental and physical de-
fectiveness. Unemployment caused 25.9
per cent. Of the 306 cases of desti.
tuition. Desertion was responsible for
Is per cent. n character defects and
immortality for IL per cent.
Old age. ~non-support and other such
causes brought about rs per cent. OF
the total. Alcoholism was a compare
lively minor factor, causing but rs pei
cent. of the entire 306 cases OF desti-
tuition. As for the contributing causes
OF these cases. they followed the same
general lines as the primary causes
except THAI u a c~ontr!butory factor
alcoholism had an even lower percen-
,age. only 4.5s per cent.
Alcoholism. however, u by no means
the isolated eau that II Ia sometimes
represented. Frequently Il 10 init
mately interrclated with other factors
and often 10 an effect rather than q
u II N well known that dangerous
and trying occupations. and also work
done under high pressure and tempera.
turs. Q to induce excessive indul-
gencs. Misery caused by circumstance
having no relation 20 drink often SUI
~perinduces heavy drinking. Excessive
drink may sometimes cause poverty
but. ~rsvsrssly. poverty 10 not infre.
quently the most provocative cause OF
drink. JOHN T. BALLARD.
MOUNT vKRNoN, June ..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
In the Bipartisan Polling Place.

To know the Republican county
committee Of New York is TO disre-
spcct it, but even its ineptitudes and
incapacities do not relieve its critics
from the obligation TO deal fairly
with it when it blunders into appro-
PIRATE and proper conduct, This it
did when through it's officers it caused
the removal Of the elections officials
Of the seventh Assembly district who
in 1912 were carried by their leader
from the Republican party to Mr..
RoosfyELr's support.
The Republicans were committed to
Mr.. TAFT, and the faction favorable
to him controlled the county commit.
zee and through 1t the appointment
Of the election boards. 1t Il the es-
nee OF the bipartisan system now
in operation that these bodies should
represent the two dominant parties.
When the Republican managers found
that certain agents named by them
were In opposition to the purposes Of
their organization they promptly re
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
THE T SYSTEM.
The Easiest and the Simplest to Learn
and "a Use.

To rHB EDITOR or THE SuN-Str: l
have long recognized the worth OF the
metric system OF weights measures
and its simplicity as compared with
the more cumbersome standards en-
ployed. therefore feel 1t pertinent to
say that Mr.. Hite. whose long and ably
worded letter denouncing the general
adoption Of tho metric system appeared
in THE SuN recently. acknowledged his
limitations IN the subject when he SAID {:
All Of US studied this system In school.
but 10 there any wonder that nobody v
quite certain whether a ~ oentimeter gun
is the size of . washtuo or the subway
bore.
His letter Is In reality q criticism not
OF the metric system per 80, as he doubt
less intended. but OF the difficulty en-
tailed in the conversion OF its units to
those Of our present linear measure.
The school children Of France and
other countries where the metric sys-
tenn Is the standard are obliged to
spend on the subject put a small frac-
ton OF the time required in studying
In our schools the different and COM
pick tables and rules of measures,
weights, &C.
Note our %apothecary measure with It's
attendant hieroglyphics: the physician.
with his proverbial poor c~hirography,
after indicating in his prescription the
doses of tho different ingredients by
the large and cumbersome symbols. es-
pecially when quantities as small as
one thirty-second or one sixty-fourth OF
a grain are involved. make his little
order a very mysterious document In
the eyes Of the poor layman. Employ
the metric system with its gins. ccs. or
fractions thereof Indicated by position
In connection with the nea vertical line
on the prescription pad and It's sim
plicity Is personihed. The doctor can
determine the Individual doses Of his
mixtures with a facility equal to his
ability readily to compute the number
OF dimes contained In the dollars which
will constitute the resultant fee, ire
spective OF tho system employed.
Druggists who understand both sys-
toms strongly favor the metric for Its
simplicity in connection Wit the COM
pounding of medicines and in the ready
determination of the quantities OF the
different ingredients In tho Individual
doses Of mixtures and powders pro-
scribed.
Contrary to one Of Mr.. Hte's state
ments. the metric system unit is founded
upon an unalterable law or rule OF ma
ture. ] have often wondered how II
came about that the pendulum rod from
which the yard as a unit OF our meas
ure was determined should be APP
proxiInately the number OF inches on
tained in the meter.
To appreciate the value and simplic-
ity OF the metric system lay aside the
other measures. J. H.. BOYLE.
HIGHLAND FALLS, June 2.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
The Mission Of the Medieval.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Str: Your
correspondent OF May 80 desires 70 know
what should be the mission OF the man
between forty and sixty. The mission OF
the man OF this type today is To ac-
ccpt the verdict of young and lncOm-
petent men who tell him he is TOO old
TO be good for anything. to give Of his
substance literally 20 all young persons
who want money or a living TO lend
his cash 10 any and all relatives and
friends" who arc not expected TO re-
pay him TO support his wife's brothers
and unCles and cousins. whenever the
dear fellows are unfortunate. to as
sist. with money, advice and the knowl-
edge OF experience, all young persons
who get into trouble and want TO es-
cape consequences 10 subscribe to all
tho charities and religious establish
ments to feed ana clothe and shelter
all the aged who have preceded him
and all the adolescent who are coming
on after him and to be taxed.
FREDERIC W. PANGBoRN.
NEw YORK. June ..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
HumminE the Professor.

The students Of Oberlin, that ex.
cellent Ohio college whose abolitionist
bent was jeered by ARrEMUs WARD
before the civil war, have lately
shown their OF hwnor nj the
expense Of one Of their professors, a
worthy person whom experience has
not taught to distrust the undergrad
uate, male or female, called upon to
respond to requests for information.
According to an Oberlin despatch, and
the story is just as plausible and
true whether It's true or swell found"
this profoundly serious don. con-
versing casually with three petticoat
seniors, was surprised and saddened
10 find that none Of them had ever
heard Of General JoTrRE and Ypres.
At once this confession of the sly
three led the professor 10 a theory
and an investigation OF the depths of
student ignorance. He wrote "Joffre'
and "Ypres" on a blackboard and
asked some 100 juniors and seniors
what they knew about those mysteri-
vocablea Probably the profess
sgr aid: What do 'Jorre' and
'Ypres' connotate?" All tho young
r~ascals, women and men, who were
in the secret, played the game fifth
fully. Only five Of eighty women,
only eight Of thirty men, pleaded
knowledse. Consequently the pro
fessor continued to be shocked but
happy. Pathetic ignorance" he muir
! INJURED. no doubt amid the grins OF
his flock. Very likely he will write
a book on UNDERGRADUATE Nescience
OF Contemporary History"
Whereas the fact Is, as anybody
who has studied the student knows
that It Is not the habit OF the I'M
dergraduates. unless they are Of the
earnest dig and squirt variety,
to pour out knowledge ON demand
While their want Of Information on
some subjects may he ample and suit
able. they are perfectly ready to vel
and deny what they do know. They
keep their store Of W for ex.
animation books. Meanwhile, is
rather bad form TO be a spouting well
Of lore. OF course professors know
everything. why, then, do they ash
silly questions?
Who was JuLIus CESAR. CHARLIE
MAoNE, WILLIAM the C%onquerorf WhC
II ROOSEVELT? Who Is WILLIAM IL.
Admiral voN T1RrIrz. BILLY SUNDAY
The unserious Undergraduate Is quite
capable Of saying II don't know
And the professor will rage. he saw
agely sarcastic and build up some
solemn and n hypothesis, to
the unfailing Joy Of his pupils.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
DESTROYERS OF MEN.
Stern Females Of Ed From the Days
of pale S~emiramis."

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str. Ths
letter IN THE Sun from Charlotte A.
Morton OF Greenwich, Conn. suggests
to me the enormous advance civilized
woman has made over her barbaric
female ancestors. indeed. over some
that In the light they had were. or so
they thought, civilized. our country
wonan's desire for the wholesale elimi-
nation of ~coTnbatants M non-comba-
tants is staggering al first, but reflect
Ing on the thoughts and actions of GER
tain dead ladies'. for instance. tho
Queen who willed that Bur!dan should
steer sewed IN a sacks mouth down the
Seine" her attitude becomes. one hest
tates 20 So !nsipid. but at least tenn
pered with modernity.
II would he easy enough TO MI VOL
umes with memories OF ladies OF other
lands who were not satisfied with mere
destruction OF their enemies. but de-
sired the added allip OF means or cries
OF distress or wrigCllns OF torn bodies.
There are Semiramis and other Queens
~ Assyr.a, and Iphigenia and all tho
priestesses OF tho cults that offered
human sacrifices TO inappeasabis gods,
and gentlewomen OF quality in far isles
~ the sea who ate their enemies. and
those who minded their captives or
tpTltllltu IlltIu 10 ufatl NJ inc STAKE,
and Salome. who demanded the bleeding
head Of one not particularly an enemy :;
the list ts everlasting. Who that has
seen Il, 10 bring IN n woman who may
not belong 70 history. can ever forget
the neudish look on the face OF Kdttsh1
when the gentle Nikddo suggests n pun
ishncnt Ike melted lead or boiling oil.
lingering and humorous?
But our countrywoman does not. as
I read her. thirst for blood. as these
women undoubtedly did and ! propose
20 thank her for that. She merely do
slres destruction OF men In regiments.
perhaps IN whole armies. II we have
any quarrel with her It IL because she
seems 10 desire the destruction Of men
only. or mainly, AZ least. This per-
haps Is n trife unfair; we ave our
feelings and We seriously object 20 being
hutchcred or even eliminated, by our
selves. 10 make n Teutonic holiday.
Women OF to-day are not. We are told.
Dresden china made in Germany pr!r-
cesses their heart strings are not lutes,
they will hardly mourn their warriors
dead, our Charlottes are not content 70
go on cutting bread and butter, and
we can doubtless well ask them 10 grace
the occasion OF this taking on, and. ms
the hosp,table phrase IL, bring the
children. O. s. p.
PIrTsnUHo. Pa. June 2
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
NEW YORK LOST" NOTHING.
Explanation of the Board Of Claims
Award for Lands Under Water.

To II EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The
heading on your news despatch from
Albany In THE Sun of May IS regard
ing the Board OF Claims judgment In
the First Construction Company case of
Brooklyn was somewhat misleading. and
as chairman OF the old Board OF Claims
| would thanh you to correct II.
The heading was to the efcS that
the State had lost" the amount OF the
Judgment. which was named. As a
matter OF fact. the board entered this
Judgment before It went out OF office at
the special reQuesi OF tho Attorney-jen-
eral OF the State. His special Attorney
General. who aided in trying the case
before tho board. wrote. al the Attor-
ney-Generals reQues;, among other
things:
l also deem Il important, In view OF
the extended trial before your board. and
the careful oonsiderauon given to the
case by the board. tina, the result of your
determination should no, b lost By rea-
son OF any failure TO evidence the same
in the cuytomary way.
This Judgment. which gave an award
OF rs cents a ouare foot for the land
appropriated IN New York harbor. South
Brooklyn. Gowanus Bay. embodied the
decision OF the board OF November IS
last. Many motions were made by
claimants distinguished counsel before
the board 70 reconsider this decision
one OF them was pending when the new
administration came nto Office.
The board. before leaving once. en-
tered Judgment in all It's pending I'M
settled cases. In the case In question.
South Brooklyn case. former Justice
HaiGht acted as referee for tho board
and determined the amount of the area
appropriated. that Is he passed upon the
title OF claimant TO the area claimant
asked damages for. The board ac-
cepted Judge Haight's findings and after
a trial lasting two or three weeks
found the figure above mentioned.
The original amount claimed was
50, l0l 500. Claimants witnesses set UP
a value OF from $40 10 2i.75 a square
foot. The board found rs cents a
square foot on the area fixed by Judge
Haight. making a total award OF
sl,0sl.3lS.
Among a great mass of litlgated
cases throughout the State. involving
great subjects and over s25. 900. 900. the
board gave this case pa,nstaking and
IONS ~ient!ous care. Whether we are right
In our result Is another question. But
surely the facts prove that the state. rs
represented by the Attorney-General
who. rather han the claimant, moved
TO have our Judgment entered, does no,
consider itself the loser in the price
fixed. JOHN JEROME ROONEY.
New YORK. June ..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
time. The most salient parts Of the
Olcott amendment are these:

Tho commissioners may be removed
from Office in tho name provided for
the removal Of Justices OF the Supreme
Court .
The Legislature may from time TO
time hereafter enact laws enlarging or
restricting the jurisdiction. powers and
duties OF the public utilities cornmis-
pions and of the several rembers thereof
over and concerning public utilities not
inconsistent with the provisions OF the
Constitution. but the jurisdiction and
power OF the public utilities commits
sions to determine fix just and rea-
sonable fares, rates, charges or rentals
TO be made, imposed or collected by pub
lie utilities which are subject to the jur-
isdiction OF tho public service commits
sions. or of either OF them. at the time
this article takes effect. or which may
become subject to h Jurisdiction Of the
public utilities commissions. or OF either
OF them, hereafter. for the commodities
or services provided or furnished by
such public utilities shall be and remain
paramount and exclusive"
Commissioners removable only as
Justices of the Supreme Court are
| the Legislature shut out from rate
making: without any Utopian hopes
1t Is permitted to argue a mighty i'm
proyement upon the present system.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
A Gallant Yirginian.

To THE EpIr0R OF THE SUN-Sir. ON
behalf OF my sex allow me to thank
TuE SUH and also that gallant you,n
Edward j. Anthony, U, OF Portsmouth.
Va, whose lovely letter on the subject
OF women appeared IN Mondays SvN.
May he never be d!s.llus 1nci. HIS let
ter displays discernmeut, beauty OF soul.
mind and heart. lie must be a genial,
brilliant fellow. ~chivalrous, kn.Ghtiy.
Yet there will of cuurSe hc some
sceptics who Will scon a: his statements.
smile and say IN their superior Way
Ills not so; when ne = married all
these fine ideas Will Dee c>p.odcd." But
he Is right. cm.uently right, ana | am
sure that not Only the majority OF the
fair sex but many among those OF the
superior and sterner' Sex Will VOC Ia
the affirmative Lucy j. MARSH.
TENAFLY. y. j., June ..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03

more than the punishment Of the in
dividuals therein concerned. The az
fray Is directly attributable to the en-
ployment Of wrong methods in the
attempt to preserve the peace and tn
protect life and property. This fun
damental obligation of government
was entrusted to irresponsible men
recruited by private detective
agency and engaged to perform the
functions Of officers OF the law with.
out adequate examination Of their
n~ntecedents or their capacity for the
task. That they we're commissioned
as deputy sheriffs makes the case
no better: in fact. II adds another
discredita bic feature to the episode.
The powers OF peace officers should
not be conferred on persons unknown
to the appointing power. and pri-
marily accountable to p~rejudfced pri.
vate employers.
What New Jersey has done since
the attack on the Roosevelt strikers
IL admirable. The States duty re-.
quires something more, however. II
should take steps to prevent a repe.
tition OF the crime Of January; and
the danger Of such occurrences Is
notably diminished wherever the au.
thorities retain in themselves full re.
sronslbility. and resolutely decline 70
entrust the selection Of their subor
dlnates to others.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
A Roman History Of the Battery Of
Billy Patterson.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: &c.
]. NJ" inquiries: WHO struck Billy
Patterson" For many years say the
latter half of the nineteenth century,
that was a legitimate question. but It
has been answered so frequently in the
twentieth century that It is nc longer a
question.
The man who struck Billy Patterson
was a Mr.. Payne OF Warrenton. Va.
He was "A college student and was out
on n lark when the row occurred. Mr.,
Payne told his people that he struck
Billy Patterson and RETAINED from ad-
hitting IT For fear OF expulsion from
college. He was II nephew of j, Car
roll Payne. a prominent lawyer OF At
lanta, and OF Father Payne OF Coving-
ton and Hot Springs. Va. You can pos
sibly get moro detail by writing to these
gentlemen. J.
ROME, Ga. June I.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
The German Note.

To rHH EDITOR oY THE SuS-Sir: l
congratulate you on FOUR editorial ar
tlcle on the German note In this morn
ing's SUN, and | venture also TO COM
mend you for taking a day TO think II
over. II the rest Of our editors had not
been so eager 10 rush into print their
remarks might have been more thought
full and helpful 10 those who are seek
Ing enlightenment In this trying situa-
ton. Judging from the editorial COM
men;, Il seems 10 me that the sugges-
ton OF getting down to facts frst is
one that W. could respond TO very read
lly. Tho crux OF the whole Lusltania
matter Is whether she was armed TO
protect herself from an adversary or
whether she was unarmed. and whether
those on board had reason to suppose
that they would have the right OF nom
combatants TO leave the ship before she
was destroyed. II she was an armed
ship Germany was perhaps within her
right, bloody and brutal though It's
exercise must be.
II IL perfectly evident 10 any sane
mar that the German note expresses a
wish to fnd some way OF adjustment,
and IL docs not seem TO me Incompatible
with national honor and national self
respect and all the other noble quail
ties that We are told must be preserved.
II necessary, even by the force or arms,
that this Government should try. and
try hard, 10 induce those nations now at
war TO see II they cannot agree upon
a cods of conduct that will make life n
little safer for those who are at peace.
Let US hope that the Pres!den. may
lmpu'e no Improper motive 10 any part
Of the German note. that he may &C
cept u on the basis that II Is honest.
and that he may be a~ctuated by the
true spirit OF neu rality. as defined in his
own fine phrase, that II mus. he a
sympathy for all who are engaged In
his awful struggle.
ALFRED HOPKINS.
Nyw York, June /.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03

placed them with others, as they were
bound to do In defence Of the inter
ests entrusted to them.
The personal competency, the hon.
esty, the virtue Of the men deprived
of these Jobs were o brought In
question. In the judgment Of the
men responsible for the Republican
campaign they had ceased TO repre-.
sent the party. and az their partisan.
ship was Of primary Importance, they
were promptly elected. This action
by Mr.. KoENIo was In complete &C.
cord with the theory Of the law and
the purpose Of its authors. 1t was
indeed. n Of n lamentably few acts
Of the Republican county committee
that can be frankly and entirely
commended.