davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
One Way to Prepare.

Statesmen of all parties in Congress and out
could not better put in their time for the next few
weeks than in painstaking study of the bill intro
duced In the Senate yesterday by Senator Cham
berlain, chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs.
For the first time in the history of this coun-
try, in the Chamberlain bill, a committee of Con-
gress has put forward an adequate, comprehensive
and intelligent military program. Senator Cham
berain and his colleagues the Military Affairs
Committee should be congratulated, That the bill
has been framed, not despite the advice but with
the cooperation of the military experts of the
country, and that it represents in their view the
best combinations possible of the professional and
volunteer army ideas, should in itself be reassur-
ing.
The bill aims virtually at all the glazing de-
fects in present system. 1t recognizes the
fact that service to the country in time of peace
must be made attractive if it is to be voluntary.
This is true whether that service be in the pro-
fessional army in some volunteer force The
bill also recognizes the necessity not only of
training individuals in time of peace for military
service, but of organizing such individuals into the
tactical units used in war.
1t is interesting to note that despite the Presi-
dents reputation OF the plan, the continental
army theory has been vtalzed and made practi-
cable by the simple expedent of applying the
volunteer army act to peace times, authorizing the
President to arm and train Federal volunteers in
time of peace and without waiting for further
authorization by Congress.
There can be no question in the mind of any
reasonable person that the offering of slight
compensation for service in the reserve, with the
privilege Of going into that reserve as soon as
proficiency in military training is attained, will
operate to increase the number of enlistments and
at the same time attract to the regular army
many from hitherto untapped feld-thc field Of
young men at time of life when a year in the
army will not interfere with future professional
or business careers and when the year of mill
tary training and discipline will prove an attrac-
ton rather than a horror.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
The Horrors Of War.

Senator Gore said he was moved to offer his
resolution of warning to Americans not to sail
on ships of the belligerents, because they might
bring on war with Germany, and he wished to
avert "such terrible catastrophe" In further
urging the resolution the Senator said the Amer-
can who thus sailed, bore the risk of "ingulfng
this republic in sea of carnage and blood" Just
how terrible a catastrophe how much of a
sea Of carnage or a sea of blood would take
place in a war between the United States and
puzzle With hardly corporaps guard of
soldiers to be spared from the trenches their
many fronts in Europe and Asia, and with prac-
tically no navy to get them over here to invade
us, and with this republic without an army to
speak of, as armies go nowadays, to invade
Germany it is difficult to see where any sea of
carnage or blood comes in
But perhaps Senator Gore was indulgng in
hyperbole, speaking in a Pickwickian sense
after the manner of his friend w. Jennings
Bryan, and then. The latter, not long since,
in one of his Chautauqua addresses, while Cod
blessing the President and feeling for his fifth
rib, said we had been spared thus far the "un-
speakabe horrors of war" Brother Bryan, how
ever, may have been thinking of the war in
Mexico which ragged during his directorate of the
State Department between his friends Villa and
Huerta and Carranza and the unfortunate Ameri-
cans in that hapless country He knew all about
that war, and that it was indeed an unspeakable
horror, largely due to his own act in not recog-
nzing the de facto government OF Gen. Huerta
on highly moral grounds
But Senator Cores war with Germany, for
which he to have voted via his roundabout
and somewhat unconstitutional amendment, might
see little blood-letting after ALL While there
could hardly be battles trench sieges with big
guns in the event of this country could hunt
down and hang the German spies who have been
sent over to blow up our muntion factories and
place bombs on ships carrying American products
to foreign markets. And at the same time we
could send over a few destroyers-we have some
very good ones-to protect Americans with their
property sailing merchant ships and, incidentally
to help out in sinking submarine pirates when
ever they showed their ugly heads on the sea
around the ports of destination which we wish to
reach. AS to other phases of the war on sea or
land they be safely left to the fleets and
armies of the allies, heretofore.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
why Pick the CIerk.g

Editor of The Washington Herald
Why is II that every time the govern
ment is threatened with a shortage OF
funds or the Treasury sees in its horo-
scope a big deficit the big bulls eye OF
Congress seems naturally to flash its
binding rays on the government clerk
for a solution OF the situations Con-
gress seems to say to itself: Let's
see, / guess we can get around that by
cutting down the salaries OF the govern
ment clerk, or by increasing his hours
Of labor"
Why can't Congress get wise to the fact
that every time il molests the govern
ment clerks with threats Of injurious
legislation, 1t lessons the efficiency Of
that part Of the government machinery.
Add another hour to his already labor
lous task and the government employe
becomes less efficient brooding over the
injustice that he feels is being doled out
TO him.
Surely this measure will not meet with
the approval OF the members Of the Cab
met and that great big-hearted Wood
row Wilson who is sagacious enough to
know that his approval OF increasing
labor hours for those under him would
be an approval OF increasing the hours
OF laboring men and women generally
such a measure would require his sig
nature. which fact would be communi-
Gated to every labor union in the United
states dnCluding those in your own dis
trt"t. M. BorlandD But you are al
ready on record, and am sure that
when you increase the hours Of labor
minish to an appreciate degree.
u
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
Flat Feet No Infirmttr.

Editor Of The Washington Herald: I
want to express my pleasure in reading
and TO tell you that I heartily endorse
your editorial Wrong Name for a he
feet" In fact your editorials generally
give me great satisfa Ction on account OF
their fairness. frsnkness. fearlessness. in
dependence, and patriotic spirit As TO
flat foot ! have seen many persons with
that condItiOn-"the hollow OF his foot
makes a hole in the groUnd"-who could
bear as much standing marching or any
kind Of use OF the feet as those who
have what Is regarded as the normal foot
sometimes more. Flat foot is common,
II not the rule. in the oolored race and
Yet they can stand walking and march
ing As well IL not better than the white
man with his arch. and have seen
numbers OF white men with flat foot
who suffered no inconvenience from St
Tho shaue OF tho foo, as TO being srched
or flat. in my experience. is no index
20 its usctuln,ss. In other words ! be
Iicye that thu arch~d foot is just as often
source OF trouble 20 its owner. from
strains infIammaJions, rheumatism. etc.
as the nat foot G. T V
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
Civil Service and Pensions.

There is this to be said about the Borland
amendment. If all government employees were re-
quired to do full days work of eight hours
there would be less objection in Congress and
elsewhere to civil service pension system. In
other words, if the impression prevailed through
out the country that government employees in
Washington were required to work the same hours
that employees engaged in similar private employ
are required to work in ordinary business estab-
lishmeuts throughout the country there would be
less opposition in Congress and in the country
to the idea of a civil service pension list
Following out this idea, it would seem to be
a mistake on the part of the civil service au-
thorities to oppose the Borland amendment, which
proposes to increase the term of service to a
minimum of eight hours per day Eight hours is
accepted a standard of days work by the
American Federation of Labor and by the Federal
government in all of its statutes.
Why should any exception be made Tor the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
THE OPEN FORUM
Writers Discuss ync Boand Amendment and Use Of Schools Sunday

In view of this permit me to call at
tention to the fact that there is IN
Washington an organization which
dates its foundation back to the year
1870 that for at least twenty years
past has conducted on every Sunday
afternoon during the months Of oc-
tober to April inclusive, an open forum
for the free, aII-sided discussion Of all
questions OF human interest, and espe-
cially Of intellectual and sociological
concern. I refer 20 the Washington
Secular League. II IL true that the
primary purpose OF this organization
Is the affirmation and promotion Of
the principles OF secUlsrism. but one
OF the fundamental aims Of secularism
is "the removal Of all obstacles 20 tho
fullest freedom Of thought and the in
teIlectual emancipation OF the race"
and It stands primarily for free
thought and free expression OF
thought
The custom Of the league is 20 have
an address on some subject Of interest
by an invited speaker. who in many
instances is not identified with the
league nor in agreement with it's phil
osophy. The programs will show that
many subjects OF public, sociological
and community interest are corHidered
Following the address the meeting Is
thrown open for speeches not 20 eG-
coed ten minutes by those who may
desire to express themselves on the
subject.
Now, while in a sense Il IL correct
to say that this excellent innovation
OF the EchoolhoUse open forum iE q
new thing in Washington. il would be
Inaccurate and unfair TO the Wash
ington Secular League to convey the
impression that there has been here
tofore no forum in Washington where
all who cared to do so could meet for
the open. free, sll-sided discussion Of
subjects and matters Of general in
terest. 1t is the just distinction Of the
Washington Secular League that Il
has for many years been conducting
in this city q Sunday afternoon com
munity open forum. for the forum has
been and lie open TO all members OF
the community. Our organization. how
ever. will be much pleased to see the
extension TO every schoolhoUse com
munity in the District Of Columbia
Of the practice of this open forum idea
for which it has so long stood alone,
Notwithstanding. as evidenced by many
faces in the audience at the second
meeting Of the community forum at
the Cleveland School Building. Il is
very likely to lose some Of its at
teudants thereby. Any loss OF sttend-
Snce will be amply compensated for
by the extension and victory OF the
principle and idea for which we stand.
The development Of the schooIhouse
open forum idea lie directly in line
with the principles Of seculsrism ana
will be heartily supported by every
secularist JOHN D. BRADLEY,
President Washington Secular League.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

Editor of The Washington Herald:
There is one phase of the controversy
about the "eight-hour law" which has
not been emphasized. Most of the gov
eminent clerks now employed IN
Washington. D. c, entered the service
with distinct understanding that the
hours of labor were to be seven. This
understanding had the force of a con-
tract. To arbitrarily change this con-
tract without mutual consent and
without increasing the pay of the
clerks seems to me plain breach of
faith and consequently a dishonest act
on the part of the employer
Another argument which has been
considerably thra shed out is in re-
gard to the mental and physical cx-
haustion caused by long hours of Cler-
ical work. Labor done under such
pressure is sure 10 be badly done as
Mr.. Gompers points out. and poor
work is not in the line of efficiency
or economy
I have worked in the Treasury De
partment. the Census Office, the De
partment of Justice. and the Depart
ment of Agriculture. and my obserya-
ton has been that the great majority
OF the employees are faithful and in
dustrious. Sometimes "shirks" are
found. drawing pay for work done
Congressional pets forced into posi-
tons in defiance of the civil service
regula tions. Why cannot the heads of
divisions remedy this? Simply because
they depend absolutely upon the good
will of Congressman for the funds
necessary to run their work, and they
are compelled to submit to injustice
just as the clerks. who do the work
for which these few "shirks" or
sharks" draw pay. are compelled to
submit to this eXtortion
Injustice is the death of ambition
and efficiency. Put person where he
is forced to cherish but one idea, get
ting away from the grind or being
able to resign. and you cannot ex-
pect the best class of work. Does the
United States want the work Of slaves
or the work of free, happy men and
women, who are glad and proud to
bear their part in the service of their
country?
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
Bluing the Atmosphere.
BY JOHN ID. BARRY.

One OF my earliest memories relates to play
ing around at home in room that used to be
mainly devoted to the washing of clothes Every
Monday morning brought scene of activity there,
further enlivened by the coming of raw-boned,
powerful figure, whose rich brogue expressed the
richness of the heart within. To have endured
my presence under those circumstances was alone
a testimony in her favor. Not once did she COM
plain of or insist on my being bundled out Of
the way. With good-humored patience she would
answer my questions and she would let me look
on while she batted in the cause of cleanliness.
Each Monday there was moment that had for
me a curious fascination when into tub filled
with clear water and white clothes, and out OF a
blue bottle she would throw large drops of buing.
l used to watch the water as, to my wonder, it
changed color, turning TO a faint blue and then to
a deeper blue.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

departmental employees in the District of Co
lumbar
1t has been charged that the civil service en-
ployss are underpaid. That is true. as The Herald
has often said. But the surest way to secure an
increase for these nnderpad employees is to enact
law which would, require all employees to per-
form what is recognized a full days service.
Such a law will give excuse to cut out the super
fluous employees and dispose of the incompetent
ones.
If Congress will get down to practical basis
it will be easy to put through business-likc sys
tenn OF civil service pensions.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
A Defender of Anderson.

Editor of The Washington Herald:
have read an article in your issue
of February 81, signed by T F Mon
ahan. Mr.. Monahsn. in discussing what
he calls extravaEant appropriations by
Congress for public buildings makes
this statement:
But Anderson, :. G., caps the eli
max. With & population Of only SIS
IT gets S7oH0 courthouse. although
court is never held there"
There are two ClarinE inaccuracies
in this statement. The census Of 1910
gives the city of Anderson a popula-
ton of s,654. and the population has
probably increased 50 per cent since
1910. Anderson is the county seat OF
a county OF approximately 100. 900 pop
ulation. and there are half dozen
manufacturing plants Just outside the
city which bring the total OF popuIa-
ton up to 10000 or $4,000 There is
no courthouse there There is A post
office building. which cost, I believe.
$4,000. Federal court has never been
held at Anderson. but it is reason
able to assume that il the city keeps
growing in population and commercial
importance it will not be long until
the court is held there
II Mr.. Monshan Is as inaccurate in
his other statements as he is in re-
gard to Anderson, l respectfully sub
NIT that he is not a proper person
to argue against the proposed law re-
quiring government clerks in Wash
ington to do the same amount Of work
that is required of government clerks
in other parts of the country. and that
is required OF clerks in private estab-
lishments everywhere.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
Says Janitors Would Suffer.

Editor of The Washington Herald:
cordially agree with all you say OPP
posing the BOrland amendment which
proposes to add one hour TO the work
day of the government clerk.
Can't you use little space in your
good paper to oppose the use OF the
public school buildings on Sundays?
That means adding nearly a whole day
to the other six workdays Of the jan
itors, who must heat the buildings be-
fore the Sunday meetings and clean
the buildings afterward. And they are
to get no increase Of regular pay for
all that extra work.
OF course the organizations which
meet in the buildings on Sunday may
take up q collection" for the janitor,
but is it fair to compel the janitor
to work seven days every week and
have to depend on tips" to pay him
for his extra work on SUNDAY The
Board Of Education cant pay the jan
itor an extra salary for Sunday work
and it can't employ an extra JAM or
for the work. Congress has. by law
regulated that and the board ha.
neither tho money nor the authority
to help the janitor.
The ianitorS work more than eight
hours in each Of six days now. pu.-
ing the cold weather they frequently
are obliged to be in the building as
early A. or 6 O'Clock a. M. in order
that the buildings may be warm
enough for the children by $50 or 3
o'clock. After school is over the jan
itors must clean the buildings, bank
the fires, clean. the yards and attend
to the thousand and one things which
must be done before they can 20 to
their homes. They more often work
twelve hours than eight. During night
school season the janitor has night
work besides and gets only a mere
pittance for it.
In spite OF all this it is now pro-
posed to make the janitors work on
Sunday, in addition to their regular
six days work at long hours. Many of
those who belong to the forum" arc
government clerks. They have all Sun
day to themselves and they object.
rightly, to the proposed added hour
on their workday. Yet they are ask
ing the poor janitor to add another
whole day to his work time Is it
fair?
/ And there is no good reason for II
either. / telephoned the Franklin
School Building and am informed that
the Forum" has been granted, by the
Board of Education. the use of a
school building on any week day or
evening. A TEACHER.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

Editor of The Washington Herald:
In your editorial, "Lynchtng in Geor-
gia, you say obviously the govern
ment OF Georgia is not doing its duty
to society or it would suppress lynch
ing. One mob repulsed with rifles, II
necessary would be long step to-
ward restoration OF law and order"
As a Georgian. loyal to my native
state. 1 realize the truth Of your in
dictment and the force of your sug-
gested remedy. AS commanding officer
OF military company the writer, not
many years ago, came near having the
opportunity Of applying the rife rem
edy. There is a reason for the unto
ward and unfortunate conditions re-
sulting in the lawless treatment, muir
der. Of alleged criminals in that state.
Following the days of reconstruction
when II appeared that the Ku Klux
hlan was necessary TO save Georgls
from negro domination, the black
rapist was summarily dealt with on
the theory that IL was necessary TO
strike terror to the hearts of those
who had in mind the crime against
momentarily unprotected white women.
but Intelligent and observant people
mad years ago become convinced that
the remedy was failure and that its
application was doing harm, that II
aggravated the situation. and that
lynch law was becoming a greater
menace The conditions in Georgia
would now be normal and lynching
a thing Of memory but for one unfor-
tunate incident, the murder of Mary
Phagan. pencil factory girl Of u
years. and the fact that pub
hsher of a libelous and incendiary
weekly paper capitalized the incident
as matter of business and political
expedtency. The publisher claiming TO
know the law tells his more or less
Ignorant readers that mob law is the
highest law. He is a strong and dar-
ing writer who appropriates the lewd
ana lacivious side of every incident
to hold the attention of the low and
gross readers interested in his dia-
tribes against decenCy and against law
and the courts.
That the frequent lynchings in Geor-
gia, and less frequent crimes of that
nature in adjoining States are outcrop-
pings OF his baleful influence no well
posted man doubts. Georgia should
not be condemned, but rather pitied.
Her white people are like the native
born white people of the other States,
probably no better, certainly no worse.
admit that the record is against her
but the eXtenuating circumstances. the
explanation Of the unusual conditions
should be generally known and well
understood
or course, Georgia will resume her
high place among the moral and law
abiding States of the Union whenever
IT may be possible to eliminate the fre
brand He will not be lynched for
the reason that the lynchers are all
with him. J. Z. MERCER.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05
surraEe Figure. Inaccurate.

Editor Of The Washington Herald:
ON page q, Of the hearing before the
committee on woman suffrage of the
United States Senate. December Is,
1915. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, presi-
dent Of the National Woman Suffrage
Association. says, In New York city
only 20 per cent OF the voters are ma
tive born 1t seems Incredible that
any one would make such a state
ment At any time. with the census re-
ports in reach OF every one. but 20
make such an inaccurate statement
before committee OF the United
States Senate. to endesvor TO influence
them in their decision. and for pub
LEGATION as a Senate document, is un-
pa rdonable.
The fact is that in the City OF New
York, there were only SlS.Os1 foreign
born voters page 1917. vol. L. s
Census 1870, while there were 56Se7S
native white and 3O.s56 negro men Of
voting age. page 1854. vol l. [. s.
Census. 1910. while there were SIS. go
S2S native born citizens. or $50 per
cent of the voters Of New York city
native born instead Of 20 per cent as
Mrs. Gait states.
In an article which Senator Thomas.
of Colorado. had printed in the Con-
gressional Record on February IL,
1916 page 3239) the statement is made
that 54.5 per cent Of the men Of vot-
ing age in States where women could
not vote, voted at the Presid ent ial
election of 1919, while 566 per cent
computing from the figures they sub
nit the result shows only 4s5 instead
Of $3.50 of the men and women voted
at the same election in the six woms n
suffrage States Of California, Colorado
Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washing
ton, also that only l2.52l,Sss votes
were cast for President in States
where men alone vote. while in fact
nearly a million more votes were cast
To be exact, 13.512,Oe7.
Why do the suffragists try 70 mis-
lead, not only in figures, but in com
parsons? II they wanted to be fair
why did they not compare the vote OF
California, Colorado. Idaho, Utah.
Wyoming and Washington with IN.
CONTINUED OK PAGE NINE
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-05

My observations have convinced me that the
girl who is most sought after by young men makes
tho best kind OF a teacher" says a Philadelphia
school official "fhe same qualities that attract
young men appeal strongly to children Cupid
has robbed OF some of our very best teachers. :"
Sounds like tribute to the good sense of Phila-
delphia young men, but if it's true we don't see
how they manage to keep any good teachers over
there at ALL certainly not if they have rule IS in
operation.