davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29
ALMOST A BAD BLAZE
Lightning Backs Up On City
Wires and Reaches Plant.
PHIL RYAN TO THE RESCUE
Light & Power Men Also Work Last
Tuesday Night on "High Line"
At ElIenbOrO.

Phil Ryan and his fellow employees,
Harvey Orion and Floyd Tannehill, of
the Lancaster Light & Power COM
pany were busy boys last Tuesday
evening, and their activities pursued
them far into the night. Mr.. Ryan's
first knowledge of any service failure
during the sleet and electrical storm
was a report from the Herald office
about 9:45, advising a power failure.
The boys realized something was
wrong and went to the old power
plant on east Maple street, now used
as a transformer and distributing sta
ton. Opening the door they found
the wires ablaze above the big power
board and the insulation burned up
up on the street" side of the wires,
so that the wood wall adjacent was
smoking. Mr.. Ryan Immediately sew
cred the connections and eXtinguished
the blaze.
The cause of the fire was due to a
lightning Surge" coming back from
the city lines and entering the power
house where it completely blew the
fuses and plugs to pieces. Not con-
tent with that the bolt practically
crumbled the surface Of the slate
block holding the fuses, and having
wreaked all the damage possible there
turned its attention to the ''choke"
wires used as leads to the lightning
of C
insulated copper wire coils. The in
sulation became so heated that the
wires ignited and while the wall is in
sulated with asbestos for several feet
up, a fire would have started on the
woodwork had an investigation been
delayed Within the next few days
the company will install a complete
new outfit of switches and mountings
to prevent any such thing happening
again. The new switches are of the
oil breaker $500 volt, 800 ampere
type and will serve the county farm,
city lighting and city power leads.
Platteville also suffered from the
storm A 100 X. w. (kilowatt) trans
former was burned open by lightn-
ing stroke. This put Lancaster out of
service for awhile, but it was repaired
toward midnight. Mr.. Ryan finding
the service was still off and being adj
vised by Platteville that the trouble
showed" this way, went to the switch
pole east of the city and found the
Boscobel, Fennimore and Lancaster
line ends clear. Tracing the line
back to Platteville, the boys found
broken wire on the high line" just
west of EllenbOro. The entire top
bow wire was burned away for half
span. Complete repairs were made
early Wednesday morning.
A peculiar phenomena of the storm
was the flare of the eastern sky OPP
posite the fair grounds. This was
caused by leak on the line, probably
due to sleet and as the arc fiickered
from bright to low so did the lamps
in Lancaster vary accordingly. The
recording meter at the Lancaster Of
flee of the light company, shows
break at $50 p. M, which was just
about the time the electric storm
came on. At 1916 a. M, according to
the little meter, service went out en-
tirely and did not resume until $40
the next morning
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29
OUR MUNICIPAL BUILDING.

The Lancaster Herald and the Lam
caster Teller both show commendable
enterprise in boosting for a new mum
icipal building. The arguments are
all on their side, for if there is a
town in southwestern Wisconsin that
needs such a building, Lancaster is
that place. That bond vote ought to
pass by a unanimous vote.-Platte-
Vile Witness
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29
''Birth OF Nation" at PlatteviIIe.

"BIrth OF NatI0n' at PlatteEuIe.
Many Lancaster people took adj
vantage of the improved road cOndi-
tions and went overland to Platteville
when "The Birth of a Nation"
showed in that city. The house sold
DIT practically every performance at
good prices. Friday noon all seats
were sold for the evening perform
4nce, and it is likely that some visit
Ors were disappointed.
The play itself is really remarkable
and thoroughly justifies the packed
houses that have greeted it in every
city
Opening in the ante-bellum period
shows in graphic detail the horrors
of war itself The entire drama is
devoted to the Southern peoples
side of the cause, and their sorrows
and difficulties growing out of the
war. President Lincoln in acts of
mercy, is shown and a wonderful
scene of the assassination thrills and
horrifies the audience.
The second part of the play is CIV
en- to the "carpet-bagger" regime in
South Carolina, and the operations of
the famous ''Klu-KluX-Klan." The
part of Stoneman is said to have been
derived from the character of Thad-
deus Stevens OF Pennsylvania, a pro-
nouncedly bitter Northern partisan in
congress following the civil war. 1t
is said that Stoneman's relations
with his mulatto housekeeper, as
limited at in the play, are fictitious
as relating to Mr.. Stevens, and in
troduced by the author of the Clans
man, Rev. Thomas Dixon, from whose
novel the play was written. It can
not be said, however, that the South
arners did not suffer and bitterly So,
from negro domination inculcated by
their carpetbagger masters. The
play has a tendency to create race
feeling, and from that standpoint is
to be deplored. 1t also reminds a
newer generation of the sorrows of
the past, and depicts some Of the hor-
rors of war.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

Helen is ably assisted by many
mere" men, but it is obvious that
this handsome young suffragette does
the main work of the drama, and
keeps the audience in a continual
state of "ohs" and "ahs" 1.-The Girl
and the game" every Thursday even
ing at the Orpheum.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29
TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY

WANTED-Men who desire to earn
over S125.O0 per month write us to-
day for position as salesman; every
opportunity for advancement. CEN
TRIAL PETROLEUM CO., Cleveland,
Ohio. 5p1
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

NOTICE was Matt Voelker,
Waterloo. Wisconsin, who had that
advertisement on seed corn in this
paper Write him. bel
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

A mans intellect doesn't seem to
have anything in common with his
happiness.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

Some men are really wicked while
others are merely candidates for Of
fice.-Nashville Banner.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

When a pusher enters the race it
a safe bet he will beat the knocke
to the goal.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-29

Some men never realize how mean
they have been until they run for Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Germany's Spy System.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: was particularly interested in the
article by Mr. Gleason in this mornings
Tribune because, having spent several
months in this region in ambulance work, |
am able to support several Of his statements
from personal observation.
The house he mentions on the beach near
Coxy de Bans was beyond doubt intended for
the purpose he describes visited it several
times before it was completely destroyed. and
have now in my possession photographs which
show the nature of the building, besides a
tile from the flooring.
Two instances in which spies were de-
tcctod came to my knowledge; in one case
the person in question was the Mayor Of the
town, in the other a peasant woman. One
ether time know Of information was given
undctected which resulted in the Smelling of
road at time when convoy of motors
was about 10 pass. 2
The high esteem in which the Red Cross
flag is held b. German gunners Gas target
is only too forcibly impressed upon one in
that service.
MALCOLM T. ROBERTSON.
Princeton, ~ j., Jan. %, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
"AMERICA AND EUROPE"
Comment by Readers on This and
Other Articles.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial Of January 20 on
"Amcrica and Europe" il in the main very
fine, but | wish 10 take exception to your
spirit of condcmning England and France for
their attitude toward the United states dur
ing the Civil War. The official stand on the
European war Mt Washington to-day il not
PARALLEL with that of England and France IN
the COS. England and France really stood
for something. The spirit impclling the
South was just ns clearly one for human lib
crtv and Justice M that which impelled the
North Because the North won, and the re-
suit has from many points Of view been sue
ccssful. it does not follow that the South was
rot consciously daring. suffering and fighting
TO the end for principles to it just and
right. And many people still ask to-day II
there nrc not certain rights in those prln-
ciplcs.
The United States officially takes no side
in the present war, which is war between
nations, and really comes down TO being one
between civilizations. And the United States
is concerned vitality in the struggle between
these civilizations. France and England not
only took sides in the Civil War, but they
could have remained really neutral and been
safely within their rights. The south oil
lSGl-'G5 is part Of the present United states,
and France and England were aiding part OF
us in those DAYS. RODDIE MINOR.
New York, Jan. %, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
First Paper Voters.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: viii you kindly answer the follow
ing questions in your paper:
l. Is an alien qualified to vote at the
Presidential election when he has declared
his intention to become a citizen?
2 II he does vote, is it legal or not!
B. Does the Constitution of the United
States permit man who has not obtained
his full citizenship 70 vote for President,
4. When an alien has declared his inten-
ton to become a citizen, what is he consid-
cred then, an American citizen or an alien?
THEO. JENSEN.
Brooklyn, Jan. Is, 1916.
The qualifications Of voters are fixed by
the states, except for some negative restric-
tons in the Federal Constitution. There is
nothing prevent state allowing persons
who have taken out first papers to vote, if
1t sees fit to do Sod
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Britons in the Civil War.
editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: reading of your --rial this morn
ng, america and Europe" leads me to won
de- if you. too, are about TO trim your sails
to the trade wind Of public opinion, which
may be polite when the cal American $
about as har to I'D in this undigested mass
o. aliens as the scar ty pl 80 in q go. ing
house plum pudding.
Do not records at Washington show that
10000 British subjects fol hit on the side OF
the North in t. Cvi. War, far larger p
portion of the number of men engaged Il
that struggle than lie A. rican percentl.e
on the side of the Allies in the present I'M
dertaking? Nor, if history records facts, did
the starving weavers of the North in. igate
any such LABELLING outbreak Of protest "
England as has arisen over the Orders in
Council, and to an even greater extent OVER
The propose Aimed blockade
TRUTH, EVEN If 1T CUTS.
New York, Jan. 25, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
The Twenty four Hour Clock.

from The Providence JournGD
The twenty-four-hour clock as horoogi-
cal reform seems queer. But it is learned
that this old method Of keeping time has
now been adopted in Denmark, beginning
New Years Day, following the example Of
the nearby countries Sweden, Norway and
Russia. Spain, also, has the system IN the
railroad service.
The change from the time keeping system
we are familiar with is made at l o'clock
in the afternoon, which becomes 10 o'clock.
Midnight is "a o'clock. Half after p. m.
is 1880, and so on. The symbols a. m. and
p m. are. of course, abandoned. In the
twenty-four-hour system they are not need
ed. Some labor and the possibility of con-
fusion are thereby avoided.
The telegraph and telephone companies,
il seems. are the promoters Of the system in
Denmark. Its usefulness for railroad sched-
ules is obvious. II is not necessary, OF
course, TO reconstruct clocks and watches.
but simply to mark the twen;y-four hours
in a double circle on their dials.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
The One Ray Of Light.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The black cloud Of disgrace that has
hung over the United States during the last
nine months, since the Lusitania was sunk,
has been pierced only by the shining light of
The Tribunc's editorials -"Mr. Wilson's Ger
man Policy" "Muddling Through" Dollars
and Our Dead" Remember the Lusltania!"
The New Americanism," "What Was To BE
Expected "Americansm vs.. Cowardice,'
Moral Bankruptcy" "Ancona and Lusitania,'
give Ia France," "Where Mr.. Wilson Has
Failed Us" 1916, America RIGHT" These are
all masterpieces, and they have served 20
kindle the nations Indignation at its betrayal
and humiliation by President whose motto
is "Cowardce First"
The strict accountability" note, the de
liberately unfrendly" note and all the sue
cessive notes TO Germany and Austria, re-
spectively. have caused all loyal Americans
to put 20 Wilson the same question that
Cicero put to that arbitrator Of Rome:
"Quo usque tandem, Catiina. abutere nostra
patientia?" GLOW much longer Catiline, will
YOU continue to abuse our patience?')
Previous to the last election had GER
tain amount Of respect for the Democratic
party and | read The Times Woodrow
Wilson has made me an Incorporating Re
publican, and now | read The Tribune only.
CHARLES PARSONS.
Rhyolite, New, Jan. s, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Thanks and Thanksgiving.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A little tardily, but none the less
sincerely. | wish to thank you for your ed-
torial Of some days ago, "What 1t Meant"
How wish that President Wilson could be
obliged to read it through a dozen times or
so.
would also like to express appreciation to
George II. Horne, jr., for his recent letter
in your columns and to join with him in
his concluding sentence: Thank God. we
have but one more year of Woodrow Will
son" NJ. {.
New York, Jan. 10, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
He Fits the Job.

Although Police Commissioner Woods
recently referred to the Office he holds as
"the graveyard Of regulations" he says
he cannot think of any job he'd rather
have. And, strangely enough for Com
missioner who has the great disadvantage
eff being associated with a reform admin
istration, he seems to be just about as
satisfactory to the city after nearly two
years Of trial as his job is to him. The
man and the job fit each other.
In Mr.. Woods's term at Police Head
quarters a great deal has happened to
make the Police Department better in
strument of public service than it has
ever been before. There has been no dras-
tic reorganization, but the department has
been reorganized just the same and nerve
and ginger put into the service. The ideas
of modern science have been applied with
advantage. 1t has been recognized that
noticing the town was not merely having
a certain number of men pounding the
pavement" at a given time. The instruc-
ton of young policemen has been broad
ened by a series of lectures from the wise
and experienced members of the depart
ment. Above all, there has been built up
a spirit of fair play for the men, balanced
bv q demand for the broadest and most
loyal kind Of service from them, which has
gone entirely through the department.
The result is a keen and effective body of
bluecoats such as this city has long needed
and never before had.
New York may be glad Mr.. Woods did
not take whatever job it was the Governor
offered TO him. He is needed here.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Why Not an Out-and- Out Blockade ?

Most Americans will regret the failure
Of the British House of Commons to
supersede the Orders in Council, now I'M
fairly restraining neutral commerce, with
an out-and-out blockade. On this point
"The London Times" and "The Manches-
ter Guardian" which predict that the ac-
ton of the Commons will be disappoint-
ment TO the United States, have rightly
interpreted American sentiment.
Sir Edward Grey defends the present
irregular system Of restriction on the
ground that it permits the British govern
ment to exercise a large discretion in
dealing with the commerce of neutrals.
1t allows Great Britain to purchase goods
held to be destined to possible enemy use,
instead of confscating them. But neutrals
cannot be expected TO be very grateful
for such small favors. The United States
would gladly forego minor courtesies un-
der the existing system and accept the
full rigors of real blockade, because un-
der such blockade all commerce would be
entitled TO equality of treatment and the
treatment meted out would have to con-
form to definite standards Of international
law
Replacing the Orders in Council by a
real blockade would be like returning from
the unknown to the familiar. The conduct
of the blockading forces and of neutral
carriers would again become subject to
well established rules. The vice of Great
Britain's procedure under the Orders in
Council is that it subverts all precedents
and sets aside all rules.
The Orders in Council rest on no logical
basis. The dissidents in the House Of
Commons offered a blockade resolution.
Yet in order to justify the Orders in Coun-
ell when they were first issued, Sir Ed
ward Grey described them as constituting
q cruiser" or Gordon" blockade Ihey
have. of course, never constituted DOCK
AIDE. and Sir Edward Grey now comedies
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Weakness Bad as Wickedness

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The following paragraph is quoted
from the Ordeal by Battle" by Frederick
Scott Oliver. 1t refers TO England's foreign
policy of the last fifty years. 1t seems to
me, however, lesson for Americans to-day.
"Vacillation on national policy usually APP
pears TO hostile observers in the light Of
periidy; and it must be admitted that there l.
good excuse for the mistake, seeing that
weakness in such high matters is quite as
likely TO injure everybody concerned as wick
edness itself"
AN ADMIRER OF THE TRIBUNE.
New Bedford, Mass, Jan. 5, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

that he does not want TO see real block
EIDE instituted.
Both he and Mr.. Balfour admitted NJ
the beginning that the Orders in Counch
had no proper standing in international
law. They agreed that the British Gov
crnmcnt in trying to reap the benefits OF Il
blockade. without proclaimng or nam,
tanning one. was merely countcrlng on
Germany for the lattcr's illegal submarine
warfare. The measure was one OF re-
prisal, pure and simple, cNcuscd-as the
German submarine campaign was excused
ON the ground of military necessity.
Germany having violated the rights OF
ncutrals on the high seas Great britain
assumed "A similar license to violate them.
Both nations ignored international law
with the same purpose; yet Americans
have always been willing to distinguish
between the offences resulting, Germany 5
activities leading to the wholesale murder
e ncutrals-mcn. women and children
while Great Britain's have touched only
the propcrty Of neutrals, for the illegai
.eizurc of which full naturalization could
he made subsequently.
Putting aside the question of PREPARATION
for the Unprecedented restrictions put upon
our trade by the Orders in Council, Ameri-
cans have objected to them chiefly because
of their purely arbitrary character Inc
nrcscnt situation is annoyingly irregular;
il could be rcgularizcd to great extent
if Great Britain should abandon the Or
aers in Council and proclaim real block
AIDE. We Americans are perfectly Wiling
to live up to the broadcned theories OF
blockade which we applied in the Civil
War. We ask no favors-no suspension
of the normal penalties for blockade run
ming. We shall not object to Great Brit
aims using our doctrines of continuous
VOYAGE" and ultimate destination II an
effective blockade of Germany's coasts Is
proclaimed and established.
Sir Edward Grey told the House OF
Commons that neutral nations must an
swer one main question: Do they admit
our right to apply to the full the principle
applied by the American Government IN
the Civil War and to do our best TO pre-
ven, trade reaching the enemy through
neutrals?"
The United States is prepared to stand
on its own record on this issue. We seized
goods transshipped at Nassau intended TO
run the blockade of Southern ports. But,
on the other hand we never seized non
contraband goods destined TO neutral ports
beyond the Southern border of the Con-
federacy. Our blockade, according to the
Supreme Court in the Matamoros cases,
did not interfere, and could not interfere,
with non-contraband commerce between
Great Britain and Mexico.
The attitude of the Allies toward Ameri-
can commerce with Holland and with the
Scandinavian states can be clarified only
through definite declaration of blockade.
Neutrals would then know exactly where
they stand and what their rights are,
which they can never know so long as the
eouivocal Orders in Council remain in
force. Such step would be very welcome
here. for it would mark a return toward
conditions in which injuries to neutral
commerce could be dealt with intelligently
under accepted rules of international law.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

You can purchase merchandise advertised
in THE TRIBUNE with absolute saict,-ior
if dissatisfaction results in any case THE
TRIBUNE guarantees to pay your money
back upon request. No red tape, no gum
bling. We make good promptly II the adj
vertis,r does not.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
Undeserved Censure.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | want TO express TO you my appre-
citation and thanks for this mornings edi-
tcrial, "America and Europe" Its patriotism
touches my heart deeply at a time when our
beloved country is receiving a criticism she
does not deserve. l.. V. ROMANS.
Englewood, y. j., Jan. %, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28
His Successor Can Wv

To the Editor Of The Tribune ..sses.'S
Sir: OF what use would "f'ePS ,slet 't''
in the hands Of commands
proud to fight? ,orcy ALLlGsN
Kingston, y. Y, Jan. a. 1910
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

81 always accept perhaps by some impulse of my
native blood the challenge 10 a hght.'-Ihe fresi-
dent Of the United States.
Why, Mr. President, where's your prIde
I'M In5orse Wilson Says Chief Murphy.-Iiead-
line.
The unkindes: cut of all.
The Kaiser is hfty-seven years old. Vive
a France!
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

Entersd ., the Tosioscc New York as Second 'a''
Mall Matter.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

oa.t 49,, ,r,,,hi a,r, p, Tho Tribune A'sccia'ion.
New lork c,rp,ratioa. ogden NJ Kcid President. 4"
Nerror R,rcrs Scerctar, AMI TIcasurcr Ail' Tribune
Iuidins No. - Nassau Srcct Ne" N'tN
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

Buidius No - Nassau S'rcrt Ne" NotA.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Ky Mail Postage rad. outside
oi Greater Now York
D.r, S,r4,y M, Is Daily on'v ! month ... $ 80
nsi, 4 SUNDAY, @ mos. - paiN VnN, . minus oo
paly SUNDAY year. So Daily oIN. l'att-t.-' IN
sr'JsN o, u,r-tis g. Suuda, ouy. 3car..... 81
yoprrcx RATS CANApINN RATES
DAILY AND 81 \pAN. DAILY NM N'N'N, Of,
One moath 81 - ono "a
one 80 o. one see gov
II NpAN ONLY. DAILY oNLN. =,
81, month, ... 3 So ono month. ~
o. ye.r .... g 6G Our lcar...... 80. oVV
DAILY ONLY. - NIN "N"' "a
month - orc fi''i
zeal. .l'.-' ''h' A'"'---'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Ky Mail. rcstase RAID
AT ,.-rrf.r NrW York.