davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
To Curtail School Vacations.

If the city's school teachers are agitated
over the administration request that they
man the vacation schools without extra
compensation, they are bound to be still
more agitated over the proposal to curtail
greatly the summer vacation period. THIS
is based on a twofold premise-that in
summer idleness demoralizes children and
produces much of the juvenile delinquency
with which the courts deal; and that the
present long vacations waste time which,
with no resultant harm and much resultant
profit could be devoted to education.
In "The Educational Review" for June
Mr.. Sigmund Mendelsohn, close student
Of the subject Of juvenile delinquency,
expresses the belief that the long sum-
nler vacation is greatly responsible for
the fact that our children whose crimes
get into court far outnumber those of
European countries in proportion TO pop
ulation. He shows that in Indianapolis,
Denver, Louisville, Portland, Ore
cities where the foreign born are not a
great part of the population, and where
there are no dire poverty and great con-
gestion Of population such as many East
ern cities have-juvenile delinquency
proportionately is as prevalent as IN
this city. Miss Davis, Correction Com
missioner, says the vacation schools
tend to keep the children from COM
hitting both petty and large offences
and this is the case even when attend
ance is optional, not compulsory as 1t
would be if the vacation period were re
duced and the regular schools were kept
open that much longer.
1t all gets back TO the psychology under
living the proverb, Satan finds some mis-
chief still for idle hands to DO" Idle chill
dren in the city are on the streets-most
Of them, for the playground accOmmoda-
tons are lamentably inadequate. They
learn there, and do there, things which
easily grade from mere mischief into
actual crime.
Prior TO 1866 the school year averaged
900 days, where now it averages 100, or
ITO hours then to $50 hours now. This
reduction indicates a loss Of year and a
quarter in eight years schooling. That is,
the child now not only has the opportunity
of making itself a nuisance, if not a Grim
inal. through the idleness of the long va
cation. but it actually loses the benefit Of
a years instruction in eight years of at
tendance at school. Mr.. Memberships
article points out that the experience Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
The Passport Issue.
Or OF The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Nowhere in all that have read con-
corning the relations between the United
States and Germany have l seen a mention
that the wholesale manufacture Of American
passports by German agents, both here and
IN Europe, has become a matter OF diplomatic
correspondence. Is 1t not time that it should
become SOL
While the damage done by false passports
may not be so horrifying the submarine
toll Of life and produce, yet in injury done
to the good name and honor Of the United
States 1t is most severe.
Germany is making US Of no account and
a laughing stock; is preventing US from
guaranteeing the safety Of our citizens
abroad; is making the claim Of United States
citizenship require investigation and proof
even when vouched for under our country's
seal
The Germans have been the best map
makers in the world, but they have always
States, because they have failed to under
stand why the maps of this year should have
cities and towns when there were no cities
and towns on the maps Of last year They
are not so made in Germany
Is it possible that the mind and temper Of
the United States are as incomprehensible to
Germans as our making Of new cities and
towns? Is it possible that the slow growth
Of opinion and the calmness with which we
make our final decisions on points affecting
our national honor have deceived them? Is it
possible that the Germans look for frenzief
oratory and impetuous action and, not find
ing them, believe that we, the people of the
United States, are scared? Believe that they
may make use Of US with impunity?
The French say that "the Boche has no
back to his head" Surely this misuse and
abuse Of the neutrality Of the United States
prove it. L. p. FAIRFIELD.
Bristol, Conn, June %, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
At Sing Sing.

Warden Thomas Mott Osborne is hoeing
a stubborn row. In according the convicts
of Sing Sing a large measure of self-gov-
eminent and greater freedom Of movement
he has necessarily put them on their honor
not to jump over the prison wall when
ever opportunity offers Within month
two have beeu recreant to this trust. In
the mean time Superintendent Riley, at
Albany. somewhat. coutemptuous Of the
Osborne regime at Sing Sing, has been
reaching over the head Of the STOPPING
warden to do a little Of the hoeing him
self. to the confusion Of husbandman and
human garden.
Under the circumstances TON Brown"
needs every bit of the loyalty of the re
naming prisoners if he would win the con-
fdence of the commu1ity IN his humani-
tartan programme. in announcing that
the escape of Rocco Scalzo will not cause
him to curtail in any respect the privileges
of the new freedom at Sing Sing he has
made as direct a bid for this loyalty as
he could, besides displaying to public view
the courage of his convictions. And
though the people may consider the whole
thing a gamble they will applaud him for
his decision, since they always admire the
gambler who "crowds his luck
But the case Of Rocco Scalzo does sug-
gest a weakness in Mr.. OSborne's system.
In its distribution of privileges it seems
TO ignore the type Of crime for which the
privileged is being punished. @Frederick
Spence, who escaped on June 10, and
Scalzo were both TRUSTEES. though Spence
is a murderer and Scalzo was sentenced to
a comparatively long term for the crime
of importing females for immoral pur-
poses"
Now, those who do not 90 to the
lengths to which Warden Osborne goes IN
his belief in the possible redemption Of
criminals will concede that thieves and
even murderers Notwithstanding Spence's
infdelity) may in individual instances de-
velop into men of honor.
But our imaginations draw the line at
white slavers. No ostentatious regard for
prison rules, no display Of repentance or
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
ON THE BELGIAN FIRING LINE.
The Remarkable Work There OF
Two English Women.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: ! am writing to appeal for funds to
help two English women in n very wonderful
work. Mrs Knocker and Miss Chisholm have
been working with the Belgians since the be-
ginning of the war. They are In the unique
position of being the only two women per
mitted by the British-French- Belgian head
quarters to work up to the firing line with
the Belgian army. They have dressing sta
ton, n portable wooden house, just behind
the firing line, and with the aid OF their
motor ambulance they transfer the wounded
to the base hospitals, treating the badly
wounded for shock and caring for the SICK IN
the trenches.
They have been shelled out of two houses
successfully, which they were using as dress
ing stations. Their last house. in the centre
Of the little sheltered village Of Peroyse,
being now heap of ruins. They stayed
there working amidst a terrific bombardment
till a shell crashed into the kitchen. The
doctor who had been working with them,
leaving a few minutes later, was killed by
shell. They have been able TO save many
lives through being able to render first aid
at once.
1t is tragic to think that two women, hold
ing such unique positions, should have TO
give up their work and all the good they
are doing through lack Of funds The Bel
gian general-in-chief attached them perma-
nently to the Third Division of the Belgian
army, and they have been decorated with the
Order of Leopold by the King Of the Bel
gians In recognition of their services. Mrs
Knocker returned to England three months
ago and collected a little money, but owing
to their being shelled out of the last house
they were in, the Belgian general asked
them TO erect n portable wooden building
which took all the money they had collected
Mrs K has now returned again to collect
some more money. Recently she said that
she had been a week in London, but had not
been able to collect a penny. The Lord
Mayor was very interested, but at the present
moment IN England people are so busy with
English schemes that it is very difficult to get
money for the Begians.
feel that if people in America. who have
been so generous, hear Of these two women
and their gallant deeds and hard work, they
could be interested and might care to help.
feel so miserable to think Of these two
women struggling so hard and unable to get
money. when one sees how generous people
are sometimes TO far less deserving causes.
Any money which this appeal might bring
forth could be responsible for, hand over 20
them and see that proper recei--- were sent.
IRE = WARD.
Sopworth, Chippenham, Wits, England,
June IS, 1918.
Contributions may be sent to the Hon.
Mrs. Cyril Ward at the address given above.
Ed
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
Let All Reapportionment Plans
Die!

It is to be hoped that Secretary Of
State Hugos declaration as to the I'M
possibility Of having census returns avail
able before September /, while proposed
constitutional amendments must be avail
able by August Is. in order to get on the
ballot, will settle the reapportionment
controversy. This Is highly practical
consideration, which even the practical
politicians who are urging redistrichng
of the state will find it hard to dodge.
Added TO all the arguments against re-
apportionment. il should cause that mis-
guided project to be dropped once and for
all by the Constitutional Convention.
There is no demand and no need for re-
apportionment now rather than next year.
There is no earthly reason why the Con-
stitutional Convention should bother it
self about a reshufling Of counties into
new political units. Whatever injustice
there is in the present grouping is not so
critical. soi vital, that the people of the
state cannot live under it until the Legis-
lature of 1916 can take up the subject. 1t
is for this convention to settle the prin-
ciples on which an apportonment is to be
made. The Legislature is the proper
agency for making the law which arranges
the details.
Stripped Of all pretences, the demand
which Messrs. Bracket, Smith, Quigg and
their followers are making for an appor-
tionment now is simply an endeavor TO
play politics. They want this convention,
overwhelmingly Republican. to make
partisan redstricting Of the state
doubtless taking care, in doing it, Of their
own particular political desires. They
seek to inject party politics into this con-
vention, which should be kept free from
such issues, in order to take no chance OF
having the apportionment made by the
next Legislature, which might have
Democratic Assembly. They take this
course in spite of the likelihood of a
partisan division in the convention Great
ing such bitterness there and among the
voters that the whole new constitution
might be endangered.
inns is q Narrow NSlli94' o44N4 '~' S7'-'~N
policy. 1t is wrong in theory, and wrong
in practice. The Republican party might
much better run the risk Of seeing the
state redistricted by a Legislature half
Democratic than incur the responsibility
of having its representatives in the Con-
stitutional Convention put across" a
sharp partisan trick, thereby diverting
that body from its proper functions and
prostituting its deliberations in work not
properly in its field. No good could
possibly come from such action. Much
harm might. If the Republican party in
this state were in such bad shape that its
future political success seemed to depend
on such tactics, it would be seasonable to
20 into mourning for it until such time
as it reformed and reorganized
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
INADEQUATE DEMOCRACY.
Government Estab lished on Wrong
Conception of Official Functions.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Is Brother Douglass right in his ssser-
ton, published in The Tribune OF the DIST
Inst that a city government is but branch
Of state government? Admitting that to be
the popular and traditional conception, IS It
not, however, Just the idea Of democratic
organization and government which is PROV
ing inadequate and unsatisfactory Rather
Is not a state government but an agency OF
the government Of cities and all other parts
Of the state political? Are not TOO many OF
our political ills due to just this error Of
thinking that the real government IS that
institution at Albany, Trenton or Washing
ton, thing apart from, over and above oat
not of, the people or the lesser political
units of which it Is but the agency and from
which it derives all its powers?
Unless our state and national agents OF
government are OF the people, in whom the
sovereign power Of government resides, then
II follows that there can be no government
Of and by the people" ! submit that our
past political history and our present polIh-
cal problems are sufficient evidence that our
state and national agents lave not been such
wise. trustworthy, efficient or progressive
representatives of the peoples welfare ana
interests as to justify intrusting them with
any but affairs which clearly are OF genera!
state concern.
Why strict uniformity in our city charters!
Has a city charter been worked out which
il so meritorious as TO warrant perpetuatIon
and infection upon cities OF the state for al
time? If so. what state Legislature has
90 immortalized itself as TO produce u OF
its own initiative? Have our best city char
tiers come from the initiative Of our state leg
islatures? 10 we get much Of anything Win
a spark of virtue and human welfare IN Il
from our state legislators unless the forces
Of virtue and human welfare resident IN the
lesser political communities than the state
call upon their agents at their headquarters
with stuffed clubs, that their agents may be
reminded as TO whom and what they should
represent?
If our Constitutional Convention now at
work would work upon truly democratic
lines it would not attempt to settle for the
people Of the state constitutional provisions
in respect TO suffrage, home rule, elements OF
primary law, etc, but would prepare SIM
pie outline Of the issues on all these Qles'
tons TO be submitted to the judgment Of
the people. With this settled, their task
would be to formulate a state constitution
to embody the will Of the people, and by tho
assistance Of the Supreme Court, II saeh
sensible procedure could be expected as th''
cooperation of our governmental machinery
have the phraseoogy and meaning agree ana
lar will.
But this is probably expecting too much o.
any such body Indeed It IS. Witness Us
makeup and present propensites. Human
nature does so like 70 trust itself so NOR
oughly with other peoples business. mere
fore is our task Of establishing a democratic
government a long one.
ARTHUR W. RICHARDS.
Yonkers, y. Y, June 20, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02

all-year schools In Newark, N. j.,
and Gary, Ind. shows there need be no
hardship for teachers or pupils, while there
is bound to be an excellent result in point
of efficiency of the pupils. 1t is well known
that in several European countries the
school year exceeds that in this city in the
number of hours, while the pupils profit
in attainment and show no deterioration,
mentally or physically compared with the
children here.
While the Board of Estimate and the
Board of Education have the summer
school problem under discussion they
might well give careful attention TO this
broader phase of the matter.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
John F. Stevens.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The communication in to-day's Trib-
une from Douglas Brown is accurate in all
save one respect The tree he speaks Of was
not known as a monument TO John F. Ste
vens. nor had he any personal association
with it, The John Lloyd Stephens that the
tree stood as a monument for was chief en-
gineer Of the Panama Railroad when it was
originally built II is said he died under il.
In the interest Of historical accuracy call
attention TO this slip Of the pen. The monu-
ment to John F. Stevens is in the knowledge
OF work well done and the love and respect
Of all for the man who did things.
J. G. HOLCOMBE.
ROsebank. Staten Island. June 20. 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
Save the Palisades.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Cannot something be done TO stop 'n0
Disagreement Of the Palisades along 'A'
Hudson River?
have noticed that quite recently Two
quarry operators have begun 70 destroy 'A'
beauty Of that grand old mountain storm
King, few miles above West Point. ms
Is one Of the mos. beautiful sections OF th'
Palisades. Here the river rarrows and turns
and the rugged mountain slopes he"'"'
wooded. rise abruptly from the waters e'ss
No more beautiful scenery can be iouHS
anywhere. and it is nothing short OF erin'"s.
on the part Of the State Of Ne" lorA ~
allow this native beauty 70 be desttoye1
The time 20 act is now. N. n. Il " 30
New York, June 20, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
ireland and the War"

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Armstrong seems quite uneasy
over the numbers Of young Irishmen who
are coming over here at the present time
presumably TO avoid conscription. He asks;
"Are we to conclude tia. the Irish are los
ing their fighting qualities" The answer
lis "No." All the benefits which have been
granted by the British government have
been forced from it because Of those same
fighting qualities; not from any desire on
the part Of the English to do justice to Ire
land for the sake Of justice.
| believe, and numbers Of other lrishmen
also believe, that the governing powers OF
England intend TO give Nationalists in Ire
land the double cross" Ny reasons for SO
believing are as follows: AS soon as wal
vas declared Mr.. Redmond, living up to the
spirit Of loyalty which the passing Of the
Home Rule bill had brought about, devoted
himself to raliying the Irish people around
the British flag. The response from Eng
land and Scotland Of men Of Irish birth OF
descent was all that could be desired
In ireland the response was not as pro-
life in men as it was in questions; w ha'
about Home Rule? What about those lOo'-
600 Orangemen who were all armed, drilled
and ready to take the field at minute
notice? VIII they go to the front at once
or when will they go? Tell US that and we
will tell YOU when we will be ready TO 90
20 the front" And how were those questions
answered? Mr. Armstrong, Of course, knows
that the Home Rule bill was hung up, high
and drv. till the end of the war; that that
gallant army Of patriots az a dollar day
and free life insurance have not gone 70
the front as vet, although wars alarms seem
n have sadly diminished their numbers.
few days ago I read in your columns that
tbev had almost raised 10000 men, and they
intended to supply enough men 70 keep that
strength in the field. This after thirteen
months! 49,,
Don't Hesitate to Shoot" Balfour, "The
Kaisers Friend" Carson and "Galloper
Smith in the government and a brazen at
TEMPT TO force Jimmy Campbell into the
Lord Chancellorship Of Ireland Let me
make the Judges Of a country and don''
care who makes the laws
England has raised men from all over the
empire. the great majority Of whom had nc
previous military training. Countless thou
sands Of these brave men have died heroes
deaths. but these treason mongers have been
panpered and held safe in their dearly loved
Ulster. Their leaders who are chiefly tc
blame for the war, for i is impossible "a
believe that Germany would have gone e
war II the Kaiser had not been advised that
civil war was unavoidable in Ireland) occupy
instead Of cells in convict prisons, the high
est positions in the government. Irish news
papers have been suppressed. Men have
been driven from the country without charge
or trial. On the ST. Paul last Monday one
of her passengers was j. L. Hawsitt, sec
rotary Of the Cork Industrial Society who
was ordered 20 leave the country at four
DAYS notice, and yet Mr.. Armstrong Won
ders why the young men are leaving Ireland
instead Of staying and fighting willy-nilly fol
England. PETER MELIA.
Brooklyn. June 25, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
"Red Eye" Disposal.

The path of the prohibition officer is
strewn with thorns. Whiskey is forever
being Struggled in to wet the whistles of
the dissentients and incorrigibles in dry
state. It's packages assume every disguise
known to the ingenuity of man, and he
must be very alert officer indeed
mentally and physically, to do any ap-
Proclamation of his full duty to the laws
which he has sworn to uphold.
But once he has nabbed the contraband
one would suppose that he might proceed
to destroy it much as he pleased. Just
here, however, comes the rubin West
Virginia. Prohibition officers in that
state have been pouring the whiskey
seized into the streams, notably the
Kanawah River, safe enough method of
disposal if the sole object is to put it be-
yond the reach of West Virginians. But
on its way to the Gulf of Mexico it has
been poisoning the fish and it now looks as
if the practice might involve the prohibi-
ton officers with the game laws.
Evidently this West Virginia "booze"
in both quantity and quality lives up to
the best traditions of prohibition. To give
it proper outlet, therefore, presents a
problem not unlike that of sewage dis
posal. The West Virginians might try
septic tanks in lieu of the stomachs of a
selected number of criminal citizens. In
the meantime let US refrain from saying
of our erring brother that he drinks like
q fish" The fish is exonerated.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
"1813-1915."
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Reading through a mail sent by
friends in Connecticut, L. S. A, came
across your article "18l3-l9l5." consider
it a very sterling leader and splendidIy put
Thank you for your championship Of RICH,
and justice against the teacning Of nigh,
is right" ! asked my neighbor 10 read it,
and | believe he has done 80 several times
and has copied it, so that he might read
il in book again. am passing it round
TO other friends here. who, like myself. will
enjoy il, I feel sure. | m ght be late, bu,
sincere nevertheless. II. 2. BRUFTON.
Sheffield. England, June u, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
General Cadorna.
From The Dundee Adreriis,

tFrou, The Dundee Aduertiser)
Luigi Cadorna the Italian commander In
chief, has been connected with the army from
his earliest boyhood A genuine aristocrat,
his father being count as well as a brilliant
general, he was entered as a cadet in a mill
tary school when only ten years Of age. After
several years Of hard study he passed to the
Military Academy at Turin. and from there
entered the Italian army. He was aide-de-
camp to his father for a time and passed
through the various grades with distinction
until, on the death of General Folio, he was
appointed chief of the General staff. Gen
ersl Cadorna is a brilliant tactician and an
able leader of men, in whom the soldiers
have the fullest and most complete conf
dence. lie has a tall and elegant figure, with
an ease in his movement that indicates the
practised horseman, and the quick eye Of the
soldier born to command. During the ma
nGuvres Of 1911 he occupied a prominent
position and won the appreciation of the
military chiefs by his brilliant powers as a
tactician and sklful general He has pub
hshed several military works, all of which
are characterized by n clearness and lucidity
which denote the great military knowledge
Of the writer. Himself the son Of SOL
der, Cadorna has son who bids fair to
rival his father and grandfather as a brill
liant cavalry leader