davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1916-02-03
THE FARMER MILITANT.
Does lie Require Reason for His
Patriotic Sacrihcpn

t. THE EpIToR OF TnE SuN-Srv. N
elderly politician has sad that thc,.
can be no NOR" argument AGAINST com.
pu.SOTy military service IcunserIptuII
than against taxes. and you have iu pay
t4Nes, that's all there - t. IT, N.r,
well. have Il YOUR own way. r.t ilft..s
exactly what George III thought and
said. and his tax collie tors were. dr.Nca
from the land,
We collected the 'tv ra.ccio.s u.c.,
they .Hm" tu tell Us what Ne had tn de-
Every american farmer SUSPECTS VITA A
deep and Nlrasut SUSPICION every at
tempt to make him war unless Ns uw
heart and sou are IN that war and
he is past master At trapping al those
who lay military traps ~ COM, llslnn
for him.
This Will always he tue ~ Nmc.,r.,
while the country rs made up mainly If
farmers able 10 fight In their own shirt
sleeves FOR their own shirts. They bs.
l!evc that Pro Bono puhlico is r.gnt only
when FRO Bono Meo has a run for ls
money and good deal tn say about mat
only who shall he appointed 10 office hut
what he does every day while he o,c,l-
pies office,
No moving picture JouraGe ral.r = ,cs
a day undrtcCtcd When the time ,pr,e.
when the farmer hasn't look In ON d.
c!diug what he IL to fight for he v.u
take the country away from the alleged
leaders and PVT real ordinary roD,mu,
sense in charge "f the national frm
Any one who looks like a m,lit,r,
tchman hasn't good adycrt.stu, this
year even II lie gets on the front uty.
RosroN. February > NJ =
The sun., 1916-02-03
THE LUSITANIA CASE.
Germany's Refusal to Di>a,ow Held
10 BE u FOregOne Conclusion.

To THE EpIToH or THE SrS--Str. Tine
submarine commanders action - not
disavowed and Germany viii no, make
any further concession" says a d,sj,.tcn
10 TIVE SuS OF January 81.
All the negotiation Of tins Govern
ment with Germany IN connection with
the torpedoug of th" i.usltania have
been based on tho belief Of the pussi-
hili'y II q different "u'rouo from that
alleged iu N" despatch quoted 4u.s-
tion whether the history II diplomacy
can furnish another instance of such
credulous MISREPRESENTATION as the sup
position that a Government would de-
liberately enter upon a course of az
gression against another. only to aban-
don II because ~ mere verbal protest,
or to repudate Il when It's immortality
had been pointed out as II. like q child
that had not come to the use Of reason.
II were incapable of forming Il correct
moral estimate Of It's conduct
! think T. ought 10 have been s.l'.
evident from the beginning that 4 Ger
many had been prepared to consider
mere verbal protests she would never
have ordered the destruction Of the I.u-
stania, and that, having ordered the
destruction Of the I.usitau!a. she must
have been prepared to take the verbal
consequences at least aud endure the
oblcGuy. Repeated notes Of protest and
moral homiles IN such case are worse
than useless. l. - IUpossihle To uu-
derstand how they could receive respect
ful consideration. iiermauN. apparently.
is getting t,rcd - them. and our state
Department is ahout to l." taught that
the policies " the TsUtouIr Empires are
not heius directed by rrIllren hu' ~
men who can j." brought 20 mod ~
them. not by cousidera' ions o' abstract
!. 10 Al 4,
The sun., 1916-02-03
Clear, with Rising Tenn mperature.

If the prophetic grounding escaped
grip. pneumonia and rheumatism
when he made his annual observation
yesterday he was fortunate. Ger
lainly he saw no shadow assuming
that he regaincd his burrow before a
germ caught him-and as he lodges
a bullet with ease he may have-he
is preparing for spring houseclean-
ing. Yet there are disbelievers who
contend that the ancient seer likes
not more than others to leave his bed
and who accuse him of befooling the
weather purveyor by stolen snooze
after the rising bell has sounded.
Trustful and contiding, we refuse
to doubt his infallibility. We have
watched him for years, and find him
more reliable than the breast bone of
the goose or the highs and lows Of
the Weather Bureau. He has told
the world to prepare for spring; to
arrange it's affairs 50 that golf and
tennis shall not bc intcrfcred with ;
to make ready To lay down the snow
shovel and put up the mosquito bars.
Arctomys monaN has spoken. and
from his decision there is no appeal.
The sun., 1916-02-03
IL This the Chief Offence?

In tho first trial Of the directors Of
the National Cash Register Company
charged with violating the antitrust
law, the Government obtained n yer.
dict Of guilty, which was set aside by
the Appellate Court. The Depart
ment OF Justice now announces that
the criminal action will be dropped
and the Administration will be salts
fed by the correction Of the practices
Of which complaint was made.
This decision is Of particular inter.
est because Of the proclaimed inten'
ton Of the Attorney General to at.
tempt again to convict the directors
Of the New Haven railroad with re-
spect Of whose guilt the jurors were
unable to agree. In the Cash Regis.
ter case the prosecution was able to
convince the jury that the men ar
raigped In court had violated the law
in the New Haven case 1t could not
do this. The Cash Register case Is &c
he abandoned. but 1t Is seriously as
serted that the New Haven case will
be pushed. and that. too. while the
company Is seeking to meet the re
quirements Of its critics.
Is the Attorney-General in earnest
about the retrial of the New Haven
directors? And II he Is. does their
real offence lie in their Identification
with the transportation interests OF
the nation?
The sun., 1916-02-03
GOVERNING THE RAILROADS.
Suggestion for Improvement OF the In
terstate Commerce Commission.

To TIE EprToR OF THE SuN-Sr: l
have read Mr. Otto kahn's valuable
pamphlet on "'rhe Government and the
Railroads" and the lucid comments
thereon OF your correspondent tiNitss
In THE SrN
Would II help TO meet the defects or
.he present situation and the objections
raised by "Civitas" to Mr.. kahn's pro
posed remedy to have the Interstate
Commerce Commission consist of a
board, a certain number OF whom should
be selected by and recommended Tor APP
poin,ment by the presidents OF our rail-
roads In joint convention assembled
and certain number appointed by the
President Of his own choosing. as now
The interests Of the shippers and the
Government would be guarded by the
Governments anpointces and the inter-
ests Of the railroads by their recon-
mcnded sproiutees Efficient Germany
has given MS a precedent frr some such
method aS this in its handling of the
German potash controversy.
The produ tioH, price and allotment
Of sales of German potash salts are now
determined by n commission, or when
the chairman and two other members
are chosen by the Chancellor OF the
Empire, and the other members by the
potash mine owners. Tho Fundamental
quest ION to he met and disposed Of 80
long as the railroads are not owned
ny the Government, will always b- Ia
reconcile the conflicting interests of the
railroads and the shippers
The railroads want TO pay dividends
TO those who have invested their capital
IN them. and the shippers want low
transportation rates 10 enable them 10
get dividends on their industry.
LAWRENCE GopktS.
NEW YoRK, February 2
The sun., 1916-02-03
PATRIOTISM.
Until II IL Subordinated to Humanity.
We Must Re Ready to Fight.

To THE FnjroR oF THE SvS--S Sir: I
am a racihst proponent or prepared
ress But should We merely prepare
for war; 1s there any reason why We
should not recognize that We must bear
arms continually beraus" mankind 3
divided into many governments. each
with its separate political aims. emb-
tions. "destin!es' and patriot 'sr'. placiug q
tho destiny OF nation higher than the
good OF mankind"
Patriotism is the rally!ug cry ~
those who favor an increased army aud
navy. and patriotism, thev try To- con-
vince MS. is the safeguard Of the ma
ton, IL patriotism q greater tie than
that which links us 20 all humankind
Is mans creation greater than natures >
Revolution Ia the last resort Of an op-
pressed people. II Is the weapon Of hu-
manlty in revolt. not nations plan to
conquer
Was Washington pa'r'otH Vera
Lafayette. kosciuskO. Steuhen and Pu-
laski patriots" or did thcy fight for
all mankind? Did Gayihald he'ong to
Italy alone
Sentiment IN this country is agalns
war OF any kind, but we s,!il believe
In self. preservation lie; US arm there
fore for protection. hu; not through
patriotism F'RArKFNIrv
NEW YORK. February
The sun., 1916-02-03

obscuration will be at its climax for
New York amateur astronomers
They will have to wait until 1918 to
view a. total solar observation.
Chinese. Babylonian and Assyriau
records Of antiquity relate disturb
ances in mundane affairs caused by
eclipses in conjunction with the fears
born Of ignorance. In Roman history
they decided not n few battles. The
days of their usefulness in the machi
nations Of politicians and soothsayers
are long past. but It Is not at all un
likely that the fears Of the supersti
tious in harassed Europe will bt
played upon by fakirs.
The sun., 1916-02-03
Why Deface the Washington Monu.
ment?

The Senate and the House have
rcmittcd to a conference committee
made up of Mr.. MARTIN of Virginia
and Mr.. FITZGERALD OF New York the
bill authorizing The appropriation of
sum Of money sufficient to destroy
the beauty Of the Washington Monu-
ment as seen from Arlington. and To
impair the present and prospective
beauty of Potomac Park. Specifically
the measure would provide for the
erection, Il short distance east of
south of the monument. of Il power
house for the generation of electricity.
a power house whose proposed SER
vice could be performed by the pres
ent plant supplying the Capitol, were
II suitably enlarged. and whose prin-
cipal contribution to the capital city
will be DETACHMENT Of the landscape
and destruction of some of the most
pleasing vistas it now presents.
This building was authorized by
Congress last year, but no npproprla-
tion has been made for il. The House
has passed bill making the ncces-
snry allowance from the Treasury
and its appearance in conference Is
The result of the efforts of Senator
NEwLANDs. who opposes the conver-
sion into n sordid manufacturing dis
rrict OF park that may one day
he very beautiful. If the proposed
structure is erected the Washington
Monument as seen from the opposite
side of the Potomac will rise from a
foreground of chimncys continuously
belching black smoke. From the op-
pOsite side the monument will have
the power plant rs a background, and
wherever il obtrudes itself the SEEM
liness and appropriateness Of the
scene will be seriously marred. The
monument itself will take on the
character OF "A great smokestack, a
pervcrsion of the memorial not lightly
IN be permitted.
Senator MARTIN and Representative
FITZGERALD will he asked to-day by
competent authorities on architecture,
landscape gardening and art to agree
to plan which will save Washing
ion from this defacement, but they
should need no expert guidance to 1,
civilized course. The capital city, mag.
nificently planned. has already been
developed 10 degree disclosing the
possibilities L'ENPANT saw in It's site.
Americans In every State take pride
in the creation within the District of
Columbia az II city creditable TO the
United States; and they will not con.
done the neglect or destruction Of It's
hcauties by the needless or unin.
formed action Of Congress.
The sun., 1916-02-03
The WatchdOgs OF the Treasury.

The difficulties encountered ny the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment
in its endeavor To "cut the cloth nc
cording to the measure" in order that
the tax rate OF the city may he placed
at minin mum, consistent with the in
terest of the people. are doubtless
greater than the public appreciates
THE SIN has found it necessary, at
times. to criticse the policy of the
board in refusing 10 grant appro-
priatiOnS for the most vital objects,
as, for instance. in It's failur. To
supply a sufficient number 81 ply
sicians Ia certain erworkcd hos
pitals. or in its withdrawal Of former
appropriations for the maintenance Of
that branch of education which in
culcates that cleanliness Is next 10
godliness," the school baths.
1t Is gratifying to commend the
bonrd for having cut ont II large ex-
penditure Of money. hitherto neces-
sary. for surgical operations 10 relieve
defective nasal breathing of school
children and for the removal Of ton
sils and adenoids. which handicap
children in their studies.
A recent weekly Bulletin of the De
partment Of Health states that in the
Judgment of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment the time has come
when the dispensares and hospitals
should take care Of this important
work. and accordingly no provision
was made in the Health Department
budget for the maintenance of thcse
clinics In which had been performed
one-third of all the operations for ton
sils and ndenoids on children during
the past three years.
The Public Health Committee Of the
New York Academy Of Medicine, after
submitting this matter 10 careful
study. has recommended that all ade
mold and tonsil operations on children
should he done under general anTs
thesia and that hospitals where these
operations are performed should he
equipped to keep their patients in the
wards for at least eighteen to twenty
four hours after operations
The Associated Out t-patient Clinics
have also been studying this question
and are making provisions for the
proper care Of school children in
whom the inspectors have discovered
defects in the nose and throat that
demand immediate attention, in order
that the unfavornblc effect OF these
distractions upon the mentality Of the
school children may he removed.
This instance Of the watchfunrss
OF the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tionmcnt is cited to illustrate the dlf.
ticult task that rests upon the watch,
dogs Of the treasury.
IN this relation may he mentioned
| the wise combination inaugIrated hy
| the Department of Charities. which
eliminates III" drug labora tory of the
Depa rtment ~ lIealt which formerly
furnished all medical and surgical
supplies required In the hospitals.
The sun., 1916-02-03
GRIP THOUGHTS.
Sick Bed Discoura cement Of q Patri.
otic American.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-S,r;
Thoughts" and Opinions on the Eu-
ropean struggle have been the great
American war products since Belgium
was invaded and the world was once
more reminded of the old truth that all
treaties are mere scraps OF paper IN
the face OF necessity.
As to the value Of this production
less than nothing good can be said.
In most instances there IL not even n
drop OF good intent to save the inanity.
the futility. the presumption Of these
thoughts and opinions that multiply like
housefies In June. Most OF America s
war literature has but one noteworthy
impulse. self-advertisement Of the au-
thor. The most tragic episode In human
history Is employed as a means to prove
that certain men and women among us
are actually capable Of thinking some
thoughts upon this world compelling
theme.
The value OF all that has been
thought on this side of the Atlantic
since the war began Is perhaps best
measured by the fact that after a
year and half OF the struggle We have
not as nation yet made up our minds
on the vitality important question of
whether we are to have an adeuua te
national defence or none at all. We have
formulated no national programme for
meeting the problems that the FIRST
weeks Of the war brought before us
and that every subsequent week Of
the struggle has brought before us
again. After a year and half Of a
worldwide conflict we have not made
up our minds whether II IL wise for US
to be able to night to defend our ma
tional honor and our national rights
or whether We ought to strip ourselves
Of all defences excepting our powers
OF persua sion to righteousness.
We have put many European en-
peror in his place during these months
OF fighting. We have turned many a
neat phrase. Younger brothers and sis
ters of ''watchful waiting" We have
passed our judgment on the Gallipoli
campaign. have been very severe with
British strategists. as kinsmen should
be. have formulated many interesting
puerilities OF International law. that
almost perfect American conception OF
amiable futility. But We cannot point
to one single fact In the archives Of our
Government accomplished for the world :
good or the honor of this country.
The staying Of eighteen Americans
In Mexico is symbolical OF all that this
country has accomplished during the
last eighteen months OF the world $
most eventfu history by "watchful
waiting" by being too proud to fight"
by all those Bryanesques about the
duty OF Americans to keep on OF Brit
ish. italian and French ships in travel
on the high seas Il is symbolicaI ot
AL our thinhing and opiuioning during
the past year and half ~ dream life
What horrible spell has fallen upon us
that We must go on and on and on
forever thinking. never reaching one
important thing"
The above are thoughts from a
grip bed, useless ss are all other
American thoughts in this enchanted
accursed time. \ SorE AMERICAN.
GREENWICH. Conn, February :.
The sun., 1916-02-03
CHERISH INDEPENDENCE
DO Employers Hurt Their Workers
and Themselves by Paternalismn

To THE EnIroR OF THE SuN--Sir, There
IN no substitute for good wages and
there can he none. No amount OF $50
cial service FOR employees. no degree
81 paterralism. however benefcent. is
the equivalent Of a fair wage honestly
earned,
Employers Who provide iunchrooms
gymnaslums, neat little houses or even
insurance for their workers are on the
WRONG track It is better Tor every man
10 work ont tho problems O. his exist
ence for himself
Apply this simple priuc!nlc n the vast
spread OF paternalis'ic and phlauthropic
activity in business and government.
and see what a mass Of complex and
fudd!ing management and legislation il
sweeps away II is the death OF state
socialism and of overorganized CHAR.
ity, II rids the statute books OF endless
meddling laws; II restores to every work
man his independence and selt-respect
New YoRK. February .. o.
The sun., 1916-02-03
CORRECTING Belts.
Does He MisJudee the Feelings Of
the Progressives?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: Mr..
Belts says that "Mr Tsfts friends were
In absolute control OF the convention In
1912. Quite true. And how did they
get control7
But why. waste time squabbling over
the past? Why not rather consider the
present needs and the best way OF meet
ing them? The Progressive party pro-
poses to unite with the Republican party
In an effort TO elect the best man they
can find. Both the Democrats and the
Republicans. with the exception OF some
reactionaries, have seen the light and
are now, in measure at least. progress
sive. But the Democratic party stands
for principles or lack of principles and
a leader, against which ProEessives
and Republicans can unite. On tne
other hand the Progressives and the
Republicans now stand for many prin-
ciples on which they can unite
But who would BE- the best leader FOR
these parties united? Mr.. Belts would
have US believe that Mr.. Roosevelts
backing has dwindled TO almost nothing.
| ] think that Mr. Belts Is wrong. His
opinion sounds very much like biassed
one. lie seems to have chip on MS
shoulder.
In regard to Mr.. Roosevelts present
strength there Ia one point that should
like to call attention to that have NOT
seen mentioned In the communications
published in THE SUN. II IL this: Be-
cause I. who was a Republican before
the convention OF 1912, who was Pro-
gressive after that convention. and who
voted for Mr.. Roosevelt. have since
voted the Republican ticket, does Il nee
essarly follow that ! am now against
Mr.. Roosevelt? I know that quite the
opposite IL true Of myself and OF many
of my friends. Furthermore. I Know
some Republicans who voted FOR Mr..
! Taft In 1912 who are now wishing Tor
n chance to vote for Mr.. Roosevelt. And
Furthermore. know some Democrats
who voted for Mr.. Wilson in 1912 who
are now longing for a chance to vote
! for M. Roosevelt.
Now feel that n this is my expert
enCe in "A very conservative corner OF
the state OF Connecticut. there Is al
least little reason to believe that IL
! is the experience OF many and many q
man all over these United States. Would
not Mr.. Roosevelt make the very best
| leader that We could elect AZ this time
How well ~ he equipped for thus lead
| ershipr Who is better equipped
Why not endeavor to answer these
| questions instead OF indulging In preJu-
diced arguments about the Chicago con-
| vention and about the size or the Roose'
Welt vote. which neither Mr.. Belts nor
any other individual can estimate from
| tho last elections, FoRHIM.
LAxEvir.rE. Conn. February :.
The sun., 1916-02-03
TO-day's Solar EcliDxe.

The eclipse Of the sun today will
not be visible in totality hereabout.
The effect Of this intcrposltion of the
moon between the earth and the sun
will travel n path OF terrestrial visi-
bility beginning in the Pacific Ocean.
moving across Colombia. Mexico and
the United States. Our Pacific coast
Will see the sun rise in shadow. En-.
ropes Atlantic coast will see ii SGT in
eclipse. In this region smoked glasses
Will h" in demand M about halfpast I
!" ANA viii serve for the gratiticu-
fi"n of curiosity about celestial mo-
"hnnlcs until high noon. At sixteen
minutes past II o'clock the solar
The sun., 1916-02-03

clinics and milk stations Of this de-
partment. The new arrangement con.
centrates under one control the pur.
chase, care and distribution OF med.
ical and hospital supplies for the hos
pitfalls and dsrrnsaries Of the Depart.
ments Of Chraities and of Health, also
Of Bellevue and Allied Hospitals. The
overhead charges will thus he consid-
crably reduced while more efficient
service will be obtained for these
city departments.
The sun., 1916-02-03
QUALMS OF CURIOSITY
Col. B0wie's Knife and Col. Crockett',
Coon In Gramercy Park.

To THr EpIlOr "r THE SUN Sir. Nv
thanks 10 A. Bowie for his authcntir
account OF the original weapon known
as a how,e knife II IS a good con-
tribution 10 history Rut wish he
could have furnished a description OF
tho cussed contraption
How can ! get into tho PLAYERS cuh
TO view bowie knife, guarded an that
exclusive organization is by the same .
may be stuck on" bowie knife bu,
! have no Idea OF letting one Of those
actor chaps "cut" me with even a "prop.
erty" knife in an endeavor 20 force an
entrance 20 that Forrcstian domain
Colonel James Bowie may have been
all that his portrait paints him. "a
strong man and gentleman Thoroughly
disillusioned. and az true as steel" INT
] have no Illusions as q leader of "A for.
lorn hope on the citadel in Gramercv
Park
When the iucisilc peruliaritics Of A
bowie knife are reelected upon. even in
the hands OF thcsplan. class me with
Davy Crocketts coon,
JoHN WORTHY
NEw yoRK, February :.
The sun., 1916-02-03

10 THk fniroR or TIVE SrN Sh. WAY
should those who have PAID ~ 500 =,
moving picture be first subjected t. ,he
screened Information concerning rhns.
by whom 1t is presented, released, sup,r.
vsed, copy righted. picturiaed, sctuaI.oed.
directed, executed and passed
These may he very important mat.
ters To those who make moving pi,-
lures. or even 10 those who exhibit them.
but By those who pay for them the ir-
formation is neither desired nor upnre.
ciated. FRANZ \ ECAS
NEW YODK February I"
The sun., 1916-02-03

The Hostmaster-Genera IN tho en-
crctse e the severest economy. asked
Congress for modest SIS. 800. 900 for
the rural free delivery service, but
Chairman MooN and other members OF
the House Post of'lce and Post Roads
Committee. moved 10 generous i'm
pulses 10y such evidence Of self-den!al,
ceased applauding long enough to dip
their hands into tncle SANS pocket for
enough more small change to make the
item "a they reported II just the nice
even sum Of $4,000. 600 II is reas-
suring - know that while Brother
MooN SITS al one end Of the committee
table j krHlo KALANl,NAoLE. created
prince by royal proclamation IN 1854"
craCes the other end.
The sun., 1916-02-03

To me EptoR ~ Tue Sun Sir. / re'.r
20 the report Of tho Bach -Bcrthoven fes.
ttval In the SrS Of January ~
rho "Maguihcs'' had been sung twice
previous "a the concert Of January 90 on
February "s, 1910 under Frank Damrosch,
and March -, 1919.
WILLIAM RrENET TurHLL
SEw YoRk. February .