davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
ARBITRATION FOR SWITCHMEN
Satisfied to Have Their Claims Investigated
and Will Not Resort to Force.
n Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. am an old-timer of twenty years eA
nerience as fireman and switcnmah'
switched cars for eighteen years. ielt inc
service in 1908. To my thinking, swltchmah
has more important position thah t"o'e ',
the so-called big four, yet we are paid less anu
work more hours than any OF the me"'o.i y.
the big four organizations, and nave ioui''
from, my experience through eight years ser
,,;co as q travelling man that the pubic are
roisled as to who and what swltchman Is
They, the public shink Of him as man "'O
ipst turns the switches. Men in that position
are switch-tenders, not switchmen'
But want to state that switching cor .
the most important service OF all the i"'i"a'
branches. First, the switchman mas eo' ~
have a good memory. The swltchmah i"aNeS
nm oil tho trains. places all cars around indus-
trios does the transferring from one ROAD 70
ano,bor He is required to be familiar WIN
IN eto+ions and numbers of stations ne
-. ,,rders,and the time card. His MIND ana
-. mus. no ALWAYS on the alert Tor mis-
niacod switches. cars not clearing tram yaru
leads. remembering where he pits all MS ca
Uo must clear all first class trains at le"s,
e,,o minutes To take man from inc lO"N
service is about as soful as the nth wheel on
wagon. The longer he is in the ROAD ser
vico the harder it is to make s"ltchiia" oN'
of him. , too,rrod
Take the engineers, that are always featured
in the magazines as their heroes. Where Goes
ali that gray matter come in? While on uuIy
all he has got 10 do is to keep awake ana loon
AZ his time card, and look out for mana ana
fved signals. A man running a gasoie"e
buggy through the main street OF any large
civ has much more to watch and be respoi.S'
bJo for than an engineer or conductor OF
rroicbt train. and if he gets sixty bucks d
month he considers himself well paid. ~ re-
c,,iros no skill at all II be trainman nova
d.ys The trainmen have for years trieG 10
broek nm the switchmens union ana induce
tho switchmen to join the traInmen' 'he'eOS
making them tools on account OF their pres
,ioe 70 boost the lay 70 the trainmeh:
| write this not to boost the s"itehmen
union. but lust to show the unreasohao'e
oct committed by President Wilson and our
1owmakers at Washington. ] read III your
naner where the switchmens union nave
agreed 10 arbitrate their differences IL Tue
Grievances of the most important branch OF
the service can be arbitrated, why not al :
Arbitration is what the unions OF TINS coun-
try have fought for all along as the ohiy
just way J. W. COLLEY.
Lallston Spa. y. Y, Sept. 9, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Notes or War!

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune talks and argues about
our right and duty. as an American nation,
to restore order in Mexico. Mr. Hughes.
when heckled. said that he would protect
American lives anywhere. Various Repub-
lican organs and statesmen all talk in the
same vein What does it mean? 1t means
that unless trouble across the border ceases
forthwith Mr.. Hughes, upon assuming of
fec. will proceed to intervene! Nothing
more and nothing less.
The Republican party is therefore pledged
TO war. The Lusitania question is not
settled how will Mr.. Hughes settle it? By
notes? Or war?
Does The Tribune stand on this war plat
form? You stand for the truth, and truth
IS never cyasiye.
Some time ago you stated editorally that
the Lusitania would be the issue of this
campaign, but, thanks to Mr.. Hughes, it is
rot.
DO you stand for war; DEE ESS.
Nav York. Sept 8. 1916
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
The Price Of Americanism.
,r of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Senator Borah says: "The working
men of the ou1try have now conceded the
right Of OF gress to fix wages. That is a
concession which, in my judgment, i it were
submitted to the 100000 men represented
here. would be voted down by So per cent of
them 1t would receive condemnation from all
union labor"
And DR.. James r. Day, Oh n"ellor of SYRIA
cuse Universit, avs A thousand times
better strike than the surrender of our
national liberty. We are under much
obl;c-t on to resist this revolt ionaiy attack
upon our governn. We ever have been
to overthrow any Of the people who have
threatened the integrity of tn, government
and the rights Of the people"
If from the standpoint of justice, honor
and de cy" the foregoing observations and
warnings arc unanswerabe, would it be wrong
to declare that the eX, .utive h d of our
government and majority Of tn, members
of the American Congress have committed an
unpardynable crime AGAINST the best interest
of this polti "a idden epubic?
Eternal vigil nee IS the price of liberty
and Of genuine Americanism.
BENZ II. CODDlNGTON.
Brooklyn, Sept. 6, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13

was called from the bench to run for Presi-
dent because of high qualifications, uni
versally recognized. But he is doubly fort
innate in having setting in his favor
deep and powerful undercurrent OF nos
tility to an Administration which has
never represented a majority of the voters
and has never strengthened itself against
a day of reckoning with that majority
Names vote shows clearly what that
reckoning will be. Using the Maine hg-
ures as a basis for calculating the COM
pleteness Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
reunion, Mr.. Wilson can count with GER
tainty only on the Solid South with Mis-
souri,. Kentucky and Maryland doubtful
and in the rest of the Union on Arizona
only, with faint chance in Nevada.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Continued Submarine Activity.

If we are to believe recent report from
Berne, steps have lately been taken IN
Germany to silence those who were con-
stantly clamoring for the unrestricted use
of submarines. The story is that "disil-
lusionment about submarine warfare IS
now complete in official circles" and that
such hints have been given to the more
truculent editors and orators as must con-
vince them of the futility of their demands.
The Chancellor. so it is said, has for the
first time laid all the facts before the
leaders of the several political parties, IN
formed the newspaper correspondents OF
the appalling losses suffered by Germany
in attacking commerce, and by these and
other means succeeded in persuading them
that submarine warfare does not pay
There is little reason to believe this
tale. Perhaps endeavors have been made
TO put stop to the demands OF few
hotheads who would disregard all neutral
protests, but considering the activity o.
the German submarines during the last
month it is extremely unlikely that this
method of warfare is to be abandoned
1t is pointed out in "The Brooklyn Eagle
that Lloyd's lists for the month of August
record the loss of forty large steamers or
several nationalities with an aggregate
tonnage of over 100000, besides fifteen
more of unrecorded tonnage, not to men
ton trawlers and various sailing vessels.
In all. more than a hundred ships and
vessels have been destroyed, the estimated
tonnage amounting to more than $4,000.
Now, for the first three months of sub
marine activity-beginning, that is to say,
with the establishment Of the so-called war
zone-the Germans claimed less than
$4,000 tons; hence the estimate for last
month, instead Of showing any falling off,
rather indicates increased efficiency. II
these figures are correct it is impossible
TO believe that there is any intention in
any quarter of relaxing the war on COM
merce, for however heavy the German
losses may be, it is clear that the losses
of Germany's enemies must be heavier.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Speed Classes"

To the Editor or The Tribune.
Sir: In an editorial in your issue of yes
terday you state that DR.. tlexner, of the
General Education Board. is working out a
programme whereby the bright children in
school may not be held back in their progress
By the dull ones. This is splendid but do
feel that credit should be given TO the Board
Of Education, which has already installed
classes to meet the needs of the bright boys
and girls. These are the so-called speed
classes" and are by no means new thing.
know personally of the work done in
these classes at Mr.. Hirsdansky's school.
which is No. (, The Bronx, and can vouch
for their value. The children make an extra
term every year. The social work done by
the teachers of these classes is commenda-
bile. and in No. there Il no such feeling as
Indicated in Jour article yesterday, namely.
that the entire attention OF the school is
concentrated on the ungraded children. al
though in passing | would like TO say that
exceptional work is being done with the de-
fcctives there along experimental Ms well as
educational lines. VIOLA MANNHEIM
New York. Sept. s. 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13

the Reserve act apparently it could not
have been passed without such help, but
seems to evade recognition of their invalu-
able services in making workable measure
of it. He may recall that they succeeded IN
reducing the proposed number OF branches
by more than half; that while the Aldrich
commission proposed one central bank, the
new act even as modified, provides for
dozen.
Now, as far as Professor Fisher shall par
ticularize and lay emphasis on the points on
which he cannot approve the Wilson policy
he surely is playing into our hands, and /
personally bid him go ahead, particularize
the particulars and emphasize the emphasis.
GEORGE X. BISHOP.
Salisbury. Conn. Sept. 9, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Was St. Paul Joking ?

Except in such cases as are manifeStlyI
homeless reformers commonly endeavor to
show that the advanced thinkers of other
ages were on their side. Their opponents
naturally try as hard to prove that they
were not. An instance in which one set
of reformers has hitherto had no chance
NAV be found in the attitude of St. Paul
toward the enfranchisement of women st.
Paul has been given up by most women Of
the modern sort as hopelesSly old-fash-
toned. But not by all. The question o.
women preaching in the churches has late
" been revived in England by an incident
which need not at present be considered,
and st. Paul has of course been quoted on
all hands as irrevocably opposed to the
practice. One. however, who signs her
self "a Wife, makes an ingenious effort
in "The Nation" to prove that his real
sentiments have been quite misunderstood.
Her argument is that in his advice to
the church at Corinth he spoke ironically.
and that what has hitherto passed as his
sober opinion was really intended as dig
at the "antis" of those days. II was mani
festly a part Of St. Paul's policy to adapt
himself to his audiences, and the clew to
his observations on women may be found
in previous chapter. Here he admits
quite frankly that he is willing upon occa-
sion 10 become all things TO all men. Thus
"to the weak" he says, 81 became weak
that | might gain the weak" Hence, when
he bids the women keep silence he is mere
ly pretending TO make concession to the
old fogies Of Corinth. "And if they would
learn anything, let them ask their owr
husbands at home" This, she holds, as
plainly ironical and must have caused
much amusements 10 the ladies Of Corinth.
though its point is sharper in our own
day." In a word St. Paul was "poking fun
at his converts"l
The Interpretation is possible, but UNI
fortunately there are other passages not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
THE TARIFF THE ISSUE
The Question Which VIII Be in the Voters
Mind.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have read with much interest ~
letter of Mr.. L. II. Johnston appeafas
in to-day's issue Of The Tribune and uP'-
showing the same to my associates we q"
heartily agree with Mr.. Johnston. We s''
cerelv hone that some capable politician viz
has the ear of Mr. Hughes will present To-.
matter to him. as we have heard gre''
many people speak about the tsrlH IS Wv
main issue of the campaign.
President Wilson in his Shadow Law"
ceptance speech emphasized the TACT ths' Wv
Democratic party considered that the hms',
can industries were large enough 70 dele''
themselves against foreign competition, o'',
two years ago Representative hitcnin "h'pp''
the House into line and passed the OHos'.
wood tariff bill; day before yesterday sen''',
Underwood stood up and vigorously Oppose
the placing of a duty on dyestuns' s'S''I'
in substance that the Democrats were gus
over to the Republican policy. sen''''
Underwood stated he was fighting ior pr
cplc, and that the Democrats IN p''''.s
protective duty on dyestutts were sse''H'-'
the principle of the party.
There is a distinct line Of division pei
the Republican and Democratic parties
wit. protection free trade, and from re
dent Wilson to Congressional leaders Wv
all acknowledge this difference, and >
good old issue, too, for Mckinley won on u"
issue and Mr. Hughes can win on It,
The "moralstic" talk. the hyphens'eu Sis.
ment, Americanism and all such, are all BE-
but you must get down to comparative ngD''
show the small business man, the wee
Garner in every walk Of life, Just ". 30.
revenues arc being brought in under ~. ~.
Underwood law, what free imports are -
mitted what our business men ana %. -,
were threatened with and were actuSH! 49,,
ing prior to August /, 1914, and men Pc %,
these unanswerable facts before the 'o''l -,
his appreciation and realization with re- re-. Il
to the future, and ask the public 10 Or'"s .
its verdict on November on that issue 70,
i'll which was the backbone OF indus,
prosperity and happiness in practically e, 60.
home in the country during the admi"'''
tons OF Mckinley, Roosevelt and lSS,,,v
EDWIN Z. VR0ONAN'
Washington. u. C.. Sept 7. 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
A Strange Lack of Information.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Is it not strange omission on the
part of the patient American people that so
little thought has been given to the number
o. states whose geographical locations and
pol,tical compilations have responded TO the
Presidents call for volunteers? The war
Department sent me letter on September l,
1916. replying to a letter In which | sought
the following information: | desired to be
informed as TO the number of troops re-
spending to the call of the President on June
Is. 1916 and the number of troops respond
irc in the respective states, and the number
O, the troops from the respective states actu-
allv serving on or near the Mexican border.
The departments reply to my letter was as
fellows: 1.-THE War Department has not sui
fcient data in its possession TO enable 1t TO
make an accurate statement as to the number
Of the members Of the National Guard from
eech state that responded TO the calls OF the
President on May and June IS, 1916. How
ever. it may be stated in round numbers that
there are 100000 of such troops now in the
military service Of the United States, that
10000 arc in the vicinity Of the Mexican
border, and that $4,000 are located at various
camps throughout the United States. Signed:
H. p Mccain the adjutant general"
Can it be believed for an instant that the
War Department was actually so ignorant OF
the whereabouts Of men from each of the re-
spcctve states which had so periodically re-
spCnded to the Presidents call for volunteers
that it could not make IAN accurate state
ment" "a TO the number of troops furnished
by each state now serving on the Mexican
border? The purpose of this evasion is too
plain, and it is employed for the purpose OF
escaping the charge of NARROWING American
troops in Texas until Election Day.
w. :. WOODWORTH.
Norfolk, Va, Sept. Q, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Park Vandals.

DR.. Hornaday's profound indignation at
the practice Of littering the Zoologlca.
Park with newspapers, remnants OF 1000
and kindred refuse is well founded. what
he finds there is, unfortunately, the case IN
all the rest of the city's parks-at least
in Manhattan and The Bronx. He may be
able to check what he terms "the dlrtlest
human element that exists in any Anieri
can city" by removing the park benches
wherever any litter is found. But no such
expedient would protect Central Park or
Morningside Park or Riverside Park
It may be, as Dr. Hornaday insists, that
10 per cent of the people of the city are
"human swine" equally indifferent 10
filth and dirt and all forms of mora
suasion intended to wean them from Their
filthy ways. Certainly no course yet tres
bv the park authorities and the city police
has proved successful in protecting the
parks from being made general dumping
ground for refuse, especially on Sundays
and holidays, or in preventing the lnJurlng
of shrubs, plants and trees. The one nope
for that part Of the public which is decent
and law-abiding lies in constant, unre
hitting watchfulness by the park officials
and the police and concerted action DIV
MAGISTRATES before whom offenders are ar
raigned to impose penalties which Will no.
alone punish the vicious individuals, but
serve as peremptory warning
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
A Clear Call to Duty.

The recommendations of Mayor Mltchel
and the Public Service Commission for
settlement Of the traction strike by the
abandonment of hostilities and the re
sumption of arbitration are proper ana
wise. They are direct challenge, by the
official spokesman of the public, OF the
right either Of the Interborough or of the
strikers to infict on the people OF New
York further annoyance, further hardshlp'
They assert and insist on consideration OF
the publcs rights, which are paramount
to those Of either party to the amentaDle
controversy.
Both the marlborough and the strikers
have declared repeatedly that the ques-
tons now at issue are not arbitrable. Yet
their representatives signed an arbitration
agreement, underwritten by the Mayor and
Chairman Straus of the commission, when
the recent surface-car strike was settled.
Both have violated that agreement, both
have sought to advance their own inter-
ests OBVIOUSLY and by trickery. The TACT
that they have heretofore violated that
agreement does not, as the Mayor and the
commission well point out, release them
from their obligations under it now The
public was also party to that agree
ment. It was brought about in Difference
to public opinion; it was an acknowledge
ment of what both the warning elements
owed 70 the public. What they owed then
they owe now.
1t is idle to say that the matters over
which Messrs. Shonts and Hedley and Mr..
Fitzgerald of the Amalgamated union nave
been battling are not arbitrablc. They
are. if the contestants are willing to be
reasonable. In spite Of the bitter feeling
now existing, in spite of the unwarranted
calling out of the men of other transit lines
than those controlled by the lnterborough,
and the consequent widening of the strife,
in spite even of the threatened general
sympathetic strike, employers and en-
ployes can get together and get this issue
settled without further violence-lf they
want to do so. The spirit in which they
receive these recommendations by the pup
lies representatives will be an accurate
measure of their good faith and their good
will toward the people Of this city. 1t Will
furnish test by which the public can
gauge them with justice and basis for
the apportionmcnt of responsibility for
the future.
1t is unfortunate that the city's officials
have to appeal to the railroad company
and the strikers to live up to their solemn
" pledged word, instead Of ordering them
to obey. That will be attended to in good
time-it must be one of the paramount
duties of the next Legislature to enact
laws which will prevent the recurrence OF
any peril to the city such as this strike
Meantime the Mayor and the
Commission have done all they could
thew have pointed out the errors of both
elements in this class battle, they have
stated clearly and accurately the people S
rights, and they have called on the con-
testants to keep their pledged faith.
To defy this clear call to duty vii! be
70 antagonize and assail the public, delb-
erately and knowingly, and not even the
Iuterborough or the Amalgamated will
care to do that, if their officials still pre-
serve their sanity.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13

so easily explained away. If st. Paul was
hooking the Corinthians for their preJu-
dices. how are we to account for his very
definite warning to Timothy? For here
he speaks in his own person and with I'M
mistakable clearness: "Let a woman
learn in quietness with all subsection But
| permit not a woman to teach, nor to have
dominion over a man, but to be in quiet
ness" If that advice caused amusement
to the ladies of the time it was surely fo-
another reason.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
Historical"

To the Editor Of The Tribune. ,,o.
Sir: If the contributor who sisnsu .:.le
self Historical" will please give me ~ -
OF the certain speech beginning WI" ,,rg
words 1.-THE world will little note nor , ..,y
remember" he would probably 20 long ~, ~
toward enlightcning the readers o. "a,
article in your issue Of to-day. Althous" -,
a professor Of history, do not reeai' 80 -,
speech of Lincon's beginning with the apo, ",
mentioned words. Any one who signs hlni' ',,
ought TO know that th"' - 80
speech to which he undoubtedly S'lS ''..s
begins with the words "Fourscore ana
years ago" Historical please note.
A READER OF THE TRlbOHh
Middletown. ". Y. Sept. 2. 1910
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
In Time of Slaughter.

lFror, The Spectator
When weekly knew
An ancient pew,
And murmured there
The forms of prayer,
And thanks, and praise,
In the ancient ways,
And heard read out
During August drought
That chapter from Kings
The Trinity-time brings;
How the prophet, broken
BY gricfs unspokcn,
Went heavily away
To fast and to pray,
And while waiting to die
The Lord passed by;
And whirlwind and fire
Drew higher and higher,
And small voice anon
Babe him up and be gone,
did not apprehcnd,
As | sat TO the end,
And watched for a smile
Across the south-aislc,
That this tale Of seer
Which came once n year
Might, when sands were hcapmS,
BE like d sweat creeping,
Or in any degree
Bear on her and me.
When later ! stood
By the chancel-rood
On a hot afternoon,
And read the same words
To the gathered few
Those Of nocks and herds
Sitting half aswoon,
Who listened thereto
As women and men
Detached even then
| did not see
What drought there might be
With me. with her,
As the Kalendar
Moved on, aud Time
Doyoured our prime.
But now, at last,
When our sun has passed,
And spiritless
In the wilderness
| shrink from sight
And desire the night
Though, as in old wise,
might still arise,
Go forth, and stand
And prophecy IN the landJ.
feel the shake
OF wind and earthquake.
And consuming fire
higher and higher.
And the voice catch clear.
what docst thou here?'
Thomas Hardy
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
A Bit Too Soon.

To the Editor of The Tribune ,
Sir: In view Of the fact that Thomas
Edison has announced in an interview y"
he will support President Wilson LOT -
election, il would appear that your 'V' =,
spondent W. c. Speakman, who quotes
great inventor as throwing the Admih's"'
ton down." has spoken a bit too sOo.
JOHN b. hlN|
Plainfeld n. j.. Sept. ). 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13

Entered a, Tho Posto-co New Yor. a. Second Class
Mail Matter.