davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: If the Mexican facts which the
Administration has just allowed to be seen
by the Senate Committee on Foreign Reia-
tions are no more accurate than that part
of the report covering ". 5. Windham's
death. they will be Of little use TO the com
mittee
The statement in the report that Mr..
windham was "killed by Indians" is techni-
cally false and morally false in the cbvious
inference to be derived from it.
stayed with Mr. Windham two nights
going and two nights returning few days
befors he was murdered, and, while did not
see the actual murder, the persons who dld
il and the reasons for it were so evident IN
advance that there is not the slightest doubt
about il. 1t was by half-breed bandits pos
ing as revolutionary patriots, just as are ana
always have been the bulk of Carranzas fol-
lovers and Villas followers the precise type
OF savage that President Wilson has been
representing to the American people as
patriots capable of forming republican form
Of government, a piece of ineXcusable hypoc-
risy which the present unspNakaole con-
ditions in Mexico have so amply punctured.
Mr.. Windham was cultured gentleman oil
Los Angeles. Cal, with all his money IN
vested in company, of which he was presi-
dent and manager, operating very iarse
agricultural property, the Quin'ichis kanch'
raising cattle, corn, sugar-cane' e'c' ne
bsd been there for several years. When the
Wilson Administration extended ITS protect
ING neis over Americans in Mexico and told
,ben 20 .beat it," Mr. Windham was unable
% comply. He had family. was almost an
invalid. and could only have gone home to
face starvation for himself and family. lie
was a brave man and stayed on his job.
When the Carranzistas, who have been in con-
troll of that section for many months wanted
a large bill of goods from his store, to be
paid for in "pesos' made on the spot with
his own typewriter he refused, and they
were peeved. When little band of exactly
the same type of people, but calling them
selves Villistas. hid in the bush on the place,
killing and living off his cattle. he could do
nothing. But when they came out and de-
manded undershirts from the store which
they wear for business suits, as II were, he
refused, and they shot the leg off the chair
he was sitting in, and made other threats.
The Carranzistas offered 20 furnish him
with garrison. but he told me he had just
as soon be robbed by those who called them
selves Villistas as the others. who, being
more numerous, ss a garrison would demand
much more.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
Fighting for Their Jobs.

Through the formation of the organlza-
tion known as the County Officials of the
Five Counties of Greater New York one
important source Of opposition to Mayor
Mitchers economy programme is brought
out into the open. 1t is to the credit of
these officials that they intend to fight
frankly for their jobs and the existing
system which produced and fosters them.
In other years there has been fight when
ever abolishment or change of county jobs
was proposed. but it was not in the open.
II was a vicious political fight by political
ORGANIZATIONS and spoilsmen to hang on
to what they had.
l. is natural enough for the men hold
ing their jobs to want to retain them and
the attached salaries. and equally natural
for them to defend the workings of their
offices. The fact remains that the central
city administration. which is responsible to
the voters for the size of the tax rate, has
advocated consolidation of certain OF these
Offices and sweeping changes IN others;
while these protesting officials, who are
endeavoring to cling to the payroll. do not
have to bear any responsibility regarding
the tax rate. So far as their political
fortune is concerned. it means nothing If
the public has to produce dollars for work
which could be done cheaper and better in
other ways.
Mayor Mitchell has estimated that from
50 OOO. 900 to S2.5OOOOO could be saved
annually by the changes he proposes. This
new organization disputes his figures
1t declares that the offices which he would
disturb paid their expenses last year ana
actually returned a profit for the city Of
S645.OOO. Here is a question which should
be easy to settle If the county officials
can make good their contention they Will
show some justification for their existence.
If. on the other hand their bookkeeping
prove faulty, and its Interpretation merely
founded on the desire to beat the Mayors 5
programme another argument for the
changes he proposes will exist.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
Our Duty to the Filipinos.
iron ne Washinotoa Posfl

tfrOW The Washington Posfl
The United States either owes a duty 10
the Filipinos or 1t does not. If il does not
why is it trying to help them? Why is it
educating them and civilzng them? If it
is doing this from a sense of duty. which
appears TO be the case. why should it sud
ienly refuse TO DO its duty? Can a day and
hour be fixed in the immediate future at
which the duty of this nation will abruptly
cease? Can an hour be fixed when the fur
ther educating and civiizing Of the Fill
plnos would be a crime instead of duty
Premature action may plunge the Filipino
into hopeless revolution or Corean servitude
% a foreign conqueror. Postponed action
may hold the Filipinos under the S:ars and
stripes after they are able 10 paddle their
owD canoe Which state is worse? If there
is doubt, which side shall get the beucft OF
tie doubt?
There are some fstes that are worse than
lat OF the Filipinos who are suffering un-
der the yoke Of American civilization. Il is
halC tc convince the average American that
the Filipinos have reached the stage where
n ey cannot only maintain government OF
their own hut one superior 20 that which
the United State. is trying TO teach them.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
A School Teachers Union.

Sam Gompers would like to organize
into union. affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, the school teachers
of this city. He has arranged for con-
ference with a committee of teachers and
principals, at which he hopes, no doubt, to
point out Just how as a union the teachers
might strengthen their hold on the city
treasury. increase their influence with the
Legislature and defy the criticism Of par
ents and investigators. And there is moth
ing in the recent conduct Of the associa-
tions into which our teachers are now
organized to warrant a belief that such
arguments will not have weight. They
have displayed SO often the trades union
temper that the public might even applaud
their abandonment of pretence in adopt
ing Mr. Gompers's suggestions.
Still, it may appall a few of the old
fashioned among the city's teachers to re-
fleet upon the possibility of strikes under
union leadership. Would these entai
picket duty and riots and arrests? What
an example to the children, and how help
ful in the maintenance of dignity in thu
schoolroom afterward! And yet how nee
essary, after all, TO the proper advertise
ment of the cause The teachers, if they
organize into a union, should be prepared
to 90 the whole hog.
Unless, of course, they train the chill
dren to do the dirty work. This method
worked rather well in a strike of union
lied school teachers in one of the rura
counties of England not so long ago. Th'
children refused to be taught by scabs
and upon assembling in the schoolroom
attacked the new incumbentS, wrecked th'
premises and marched home with wha
impunity their parents chose to permit
Father Knickerbocker's scant million O
school children might make things decided
ly unpleasant for him under similar cir
cumstances.
A highly edifying prospect, all thing
considered.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
President Wilson's Discretion.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Re your editorial THE Issue" you
seem to be dissatisfied with Mr. Wilson's
peace policy. As far as can see, he is do
ing his utmost when he writes his protest
ing notes, as he has nothing 10 back him
up should he decide on stronger measures.
Or do you think the "Pifle Fusiliers" would
be the saviors of the country in the event
Of war? 1t seems to me that President viii
son is acting with the utmost discretion.
As for the spirit of 1876 and 1861. kindly
note what odds the Americans had over
their opponents and you will see that num-
bers had something to do with success as
well as spirit; in fact. if it had not been for
greatly superior numbers | am afraid there
would be no Star-Spangled Banner to-day.
If you are so anxious for fight. why not
enlist to-day and help to swell the meagre
army which you are so anxious TO see on the
Job? LEONARD SPAETH.
Buffalo " Y, Feb. l6, 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
Cruelties of Modern Warfare.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Colonel Roosevelt has all along taken
the position that whenever any OF the COM
batants in the present war violate treaties
law or the rules or analogous
PRINCIPLES of war. it is the duty of the United
States. for the present and future benefit oi
itself and neutrals, at least to protest against
such violation. This just course the wilson
has honored by breach rather
than by observance.
one of these breaches Of tremendous mo
mcnt is the failure to make any protest
against Zeppelin and aeroplane raids on non
comba.ant communities. If these are per-
sisted in. it is not improbable when such
great. influential. eyen-tempered and fair
minded men as Lord Rosebery advocate Eng
lands retaliation in kind that that course
may soon be taken, whereupon this savagery
outdoing anything of which red Indians or
the lowest denizens of Africa and Australasia
have ever been guilty. will become permitted
forms Of war among Christian and Moslem
nations in the twentieth century.
If such methods are now permitted with
out challenge or other effective action by
neutral nations, we may see, il Germany be
triumphant by such methods in the present
struggle. these horrible cruelties brought
home TO the United States in this fashion
Suppose a war shortly follows between the
United States and Germany. and suppose the
latter should obtain a foothold in Eastern
Canada and thereupon make the latter base
for Zeppelin and plane attacks upon Ne"
York City. Buffalo. Detroit. Chicago and Other
cities Germany might quickly compel an enc
Of the war on its own terms. In case Ger
many wins now, the above suppostions ar'
not improbable. and the results would but
serve the United States right for its failure
70 act humanely and courageously at the
present iuncture. SMITH CURTIS.
Toronto, Ont, Feb. 6, 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
The Y. w. G. A. Jubilee.

From The Boston Hsfdidl
Just about fifty years ago some thirty
women met at the home Of Mrs. Henry r.
Durant in this city and counselled together
over "the temporal. moral and religious wei
fare of Young women who are dependent on
their own exertions for support lhey be
gan work in a couple Of rooms in Chauncy
Street building. After two years they opened
two houses in Beach Street After six years
more they erected a new building in War
renton Street. And in 1884 they dedicated
the present Y. W. c. A. building in Berkeley
Street, with the Durant gymnasium, the first
TO be incorporated with such an enterprise.
Meantime the association had been spreading
all over the world group of students in
the Middle West organized for work in the
colleges. New York adopted the idea with
enthusiasm. and under the leadership of such
women as Grace II. Dodge, whose abilities J.
Pierpont Morgan used to praise without
stint, that city has developed the biggest and
richest organization now at work for young
women. with a just-raised endowment Of
three millions. To-day the Y. W. {. A. is
at home in Australasia, South Africa, Pana-
ma. Hawaii, Alaska, the Philippines. Japan,
in practically all the important lands of the
world 1t has branches for various races in
the great cities, and it goes TO the docks
where immigrants dsembark, and to the in
dustrial camps where girls are employed, and
to such places as the Joy Zone" at worlds
fair, and to all fields where young women
may be helped, and does for them what it
can. and that--as the reports of fifty years
prove a great deal.
Such is the bare outline Of the half cen
tury which this month the association is
celebrating in the series OF functions which
ii has planned for the Jubilee The asso-
citation always has been not only religious
but practical combination which has been
all too rare in the history of such enter
prises. 1t has problems still TO solve, but its
past is secure and its foundation sound.
Boston is proud of the cornerstone which
was placed in position here fifty years ago.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28

these veterans ask; it is not to he mann
tained. but 60 he self-supportlng, that they
appeal. Every American history has re
corded. every American child has learned
in school. of the service France rendered
to America. Can we do less as Americans
now than to repay that service? Time has
not outlawed the debt we owe. Years have
not obscured or obitcrated the obligation
What Frenchmen did for us by persona!
service. 10y bravery even TO death, we can
repay now IN part. by giving not life. not
blood. but only little from our prosperity
To refuse such call. to DENY such a
claim. is to prove false TO the highest obli-
cation that men or nations can owe:
debt of honor sealed century and half
AGO bv the sacrifice of French lives.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
FALSEHOODS ABOUT MEXICO
An Fxnosu Of the Nendacou Methods by Which Weak Administration
Endeavors Excuse Blundering and Bad Faith the
Conduct of Foreign Affairs

| myself was held up in the night by two
different bands of Carranza savsges, who
were trying TO surround the Villistss and
stop their "poachng on their preserves"
Only the fact that my driver, one of Mr..
Windhams men, knew both bands personally
kept ne from losing everything that ! had
on" There were about fifty in the two bands,
whose combined intelligence would not make
one competent voter. Finally. the Carrsnzis-
tas burned some shacks out in the bush in
which the Vllistss were sleeping, and they,
assuming Mr.. Windham was a party to IT,
murdered him in his bed.
The Wilson list divides up the various
Killings Of Americans in Mexico into three
classes:
First. directly connected with revolution;
second by bandits; third, BY Indians.
Windham was listed killed by Indians.
His case, however belongs IN both the other
classes rather than in the one reported, ex-
cent that, the bulk Of the revolutonists be
ING bandits. all the bandits being revolution
sts. and as most OF both are mostly OF Indian
blood. because Mexico is an Indian nation,
almost any case could be listed in all three
classes.
A classification like the one given, II used
in reference to the United States during the
here it means nothing, and the President
knows it means nothing. But il can deceive
those who do not understand Mexico and it
mnimizes by division.
The President refused TO give a collateral
branch of the government the facts that real
y show what his so-called policy has done
to Mexico. on the ground that information
given our agents in Mexico by civilians
might embarrass them" Presumably the
same reason covers The refusal TO state what
orders were given the marines who landed
at Vera Cruz to be slaughtered, though it
doesn't need much guessing TO see what civil
ian would be thereby Embarrassed"
Incidentally. reports By officials and by
civilians could be furnished the committee.
with names omitted, and would help show to
what kind of government are asked TO
send an ambassador.
In view of the manifest hypocrisy in the
report of Americans killed | would like to
ask two questions, the answers TO which can
not hurt any Representative Mexico or
any "civilan furnishing information:
First Did any high official of the Admin
stration order til. marines TO be sent ashore
at Vera Cruz with guns, but without am
munitlon?
Second-EIave any records OF the State
been destroyed by order of any high official
of the Administration? II so, what was their
general character and upon whom did they
reflect? CASSIUS +. GILLETTE.
Philadelphia, Penn, Feb. ls, 1915.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
MEN WHO WANT RIFLES
Evening High School Pupils Are
Anxious to Prepare Themselves
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: II is now about four months since
the Harlem Evening High School Rife oluo
ioincd the National Rife Association of Amer
lca. and so far il has not received any hc'p
whatsoever from said organization.
This is the situation There are forty
Young men in the club, and with the news
that We will have a rife range upon when
To practise our membership VIII increase
no. but where are we to get IA range, rlneS
and ammunition?
According TO the book which the former
assistant secretary. A. :. Jones, OF the Ma
tional Rife Association Of America. sent me,
Il free issue Of krag rifles. at the ratio oil
ono to every five members Of the club and
eighty rounds OF ammunition to each mem
Ter was promised as soon aa the club became
affiliated with the association.
Ed J. Wcstcott. assistant adJutant gencrai
of the State of New York. writes:
"Your letter relative to gallery range Tor
the Harlem Evening High School Rifle Clup
has been referred to General George W. WIN
gate. president Of the Public Schools Atm
letic League. New York City,
General G. W. Wngatc writes the follow
ing:
"The Public Schools Athlctc League ms
all it can do to provide facilities for the pu-
piIs of the day schools (high) to learn TO
shoot. and | do not sec how it is possible
for us to do anything for the pupils oil the
Harlem Evening High School
Colonel +. F. Austin, commander OF the
Nincty-ffth Street armory, writes:
81 am glad 10 inform you that the Harlem
Evening High School Rife Club can have
the use OF the regiment armory at Ninety
fifth Street and Madison Avenue any Satur-
day or Sunday.
"Rifes and ammunition will be furnished
AT cost. which will be SO a day
Can any one help us? Here is chance
for preparedness advocates to assist BODY
of men in preparing themselves for their
country. Our club is not able TO pay Sio a
day. for the use Of range
H. KANOWITI.
New York. Feb. Q. 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
Post-Mortem Drinking.

II seems TO have been set forth plainly
enough in the last will and testament OF
the late Patrick Kearney that only upon
one condition was his son William to nave
a share of his estate. this condition beng
that William was to stop drinking Shouiu
he fail TO do so before his fathers death
the property was to be divided among
the rest of his four children.
Now. it happened that when the time
came to distribute the property Wiliiah'
was already dead, and as 1t was known
that he continued to the last perscverlne
and Industrious drinker the three survlV-
ing children proceeded each to take th'rd
of his share. Williams heirs protested
arguing that inasmuch as he had ceased
70 drink the moment he died his brethren
we're manfestly entitled to no more thaii
three-auarters of the estate.
The case was decided against them and
they have appealed, apparently putting
their trust in common experience and sin
cerely believing that dead men cannot
drink. This opinion is disputed by counse'
on the other side, the argument beng the
court certainly cannot presume that Will
lam is not still able to use intoxicating lq-
uors. and is not still using them And
indeed. a wealth of examples might he
brought forward TO show that time out Of
mind the dead have been credited with
appetites essentially similar to our own
Nor is it necessary to 20 back to the
Egvptians of old, who furnished meats
and drinks for the nourishment of the ka,
or double for in our own era, too, 1t was
held as a reproach against the Christians
that they "appeased the shades of the dead
with wines" Even to this day a survival
cf the ancient belief is seen in the wake.
The psychologists of the present are W.
doubtedly inclined to discredjt the opinion
that the habit survives bodily death, but
nhvsiologists are VIGOROUSLY materialistic
II is reasoned in favor of Williams heirs
that "the common law and the statutes CT
our state allow the use of intoxicating
liquors. and the court cannot presume thai
such use would not be allowed In any
future state, and cannot presume that the
widespread. if not universal, belief in its
use is unfounded.'
Without in any way prejudicing the case
it may be remarked that the conditions OF
the future state cannot with certainty be
duplicated in the laboratory. In a question
Of this kind. therefore, dvines are quite as
trustworthy as Psychologists, and there Is
a massage in which one of them appears
TO express a pertinent opinion on the point
at issue: Animo, q,ia spiritus est, IN s'ccc
hdbitGre non potest.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
TRAIN CLASSIFIED SERVICE
A Scheme of Military Instruction
for Nations Civil Employees.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: A bill has been introduced in TIE
United States Senate by the Hon. Mr.. Sau,s-
bury IS 1920 to encourage military training.
It provides that no person under the age o.
forty years shall be eligible for appointment
in the classified service unless prior 20 such
time such person shall have voluntarily re-
ceivcd under rules and regulations made ard
published under the authority Of the Seere-
tary OF War military training for a period
of at least two months, and further, that
from and after the first day OF January, 1919,
no person under the age of forty-three gears
shall be permitted to take an examination
for appointment 20 the classified service or
to remain in said service unless he shall
under said rules and regulations, have re-
ceved the training thereby prescribed for
military service or its equivalent. A ilf-
ther provision covers course Of training n
hospital work for women in the c.assined
service.
This is step in the right direction, but
it does not go far enough. An applicant Tor
appointment in the classified service should
be required, should he or she qualify lot
said appointment, TO enroll for period Of
from three to five years for the course Z"
training as outlined in this bill, said training
or instructions not 20 conflict with the duties
of the position, but TO be taken up outsia,
the regular hours of employment, and shouio
consist Of at least three two-hour per'ou'
OF drill or instructions each week ana on0
month of field service each summer lhN
latter would be made possible by extending
the individuals vacation from fifteen cay,
as at present, 10 full month. me "s''
service would cover the months OF july A'
gust and September; not more than one-'n"'
of the force would be absent at any time u''
ing these months, the same AS under the p's''
ent vacation system.
OF course, this would apply not alone ~
the new appointees. but would include o.
in the classified service, unless exempt ~
reason of age or disability Al the eAp"s
ton of the term of military instruction Q,
duty. the employe. aside from an OCCASIONS
inspection or muster, would be relieved from
active duty. and when he or she attains '''
age specifcd in this bill should be relieFe'
from all further obligations Of mlli'S''
nature. ,.
In ,imo If war. under our present volunteer
system. a situation could arise WHEREBY '''
entire classified service could be crppeu ~
large numbers Of employees eniistng a. ~
viduals in the military and naval estao"'"
ments. II this bill were enacted INTO "a"
proper disposition of the force for eNr ~
military purposes would always be p'ss,tV
without affecting the usefulness OF err
arm.
New York, Feb. Is, 1916.