davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
Selected by Tavenner

been made in the effect to mislead the
public. Our nation is composed Of
sovereign citizens who appreciate
their independence and realize the diff
ference between their condition and
that of the millions of men now mere
subjects of some despotism and used
as food for powder"
1t has been said by the critics of our
naval strength that our navy lacks
auxiliary vessels. Admiral Blue, chief
of the bureau of navigation, in his tes-
timony year ago said:
Il believe l am correct In stating
that we have now more auxiliary YES
sells in the navy than any other ma
ton maintains in times of peace tp. 40,
Hearings before House Naval Affairs
Committee)"
Another criticism of the navy, which
has appeared in all the eastern papers
and many elsewhere, is that our navy
is deficient in submarine strength. Ad-
miral Fletcher, commander OF our
fleet, testified before the house naval
affairs committee, and as to subma-
rines he said:
81 should think it would be reason
able precaution to provide few more
submarines, considering our extensive
coast line in the Atlantic and in the
Pacific. Yet I will say, that, COM
pared to other nations, we are well
provided with submarines today (p.
520)"
In further statement the admiral
said:
81 think a reasonable increase of
submarines. eight or 10, or something
in that vicinity, would be proper in
crease"
The secretary Of the navy, speaking
for the administration, had requested
congress to provide eight new sub
marines. On the heels Of Admiral
Fletcher's statement that We needed
eight or 10, and Secretary Daniels re-
quest for eight new submarines, Con-
gress appropriated for IS submarines
which was eight or 10 more than Ad-
miral Fletcher said we needed.
| In the effort to brighten honest
peace-loving people the statement has
been glaringly flung across the head
lines that the German submarines
would come to our shores, destroy our
cities, sink our battleships, and do di-
vers and sundry other frightful things
The fact that the American navy con-
tains more than twice as many sub
marines as the German navy, and what
is mora the German submarines could
not operate against our coasts, be-
cause the Germans have no base Of
supplies from which to operate then
on our coast. Such is the testimony OF
Admiral Badger, member of the nava,
general board and the predecessor Of
Admiral Fletcher as commander Of the
Atlantic fleet, at page 504 Of the hear
ings.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

It was announced short while since
that the United States Steel corpora
ton is about to build another mill at
Gary, for which it expects to pay $685.
100000 Also it was mentioned this
mill will employ several thousand ad-
ditional men.
At once several people IN many cor
ners of the country arose to remark
that it is a great thing for a city to
be the favorite Of big corporation.
Gary is to get more, as they point out,
in a day than Industrious and capable
chambers Of commerce will be able
to land for other cities in generation.
That is the way the story sounds to-
day, but there may be another note
10 years from now. Pullman was a
model city to the south of Chicago.
People all over the country rode in
sleeping cars and helped to build it.
Pullman got all this, some thought,
without being called on to pay any
thing. A few years later many began
to think that Pullman was unfortu-
nate and in bad way.
The trouble was that one company
owned the town. Depression overtak-
ing that one industry put the whole
town to the bad. There was no vari-
ETY. of industry; all the eggs were in
one basket. Somebody rocked the boat
and then the basket was in difficult
ties.
There were other objections, as time
showed. There was too much of one
mans will and say in Pullman; an
American community doesn't fare well
with too much Of this sort of thing
And what do you imagine We shall
hear from Gary at times in the next
20 years? If you are just fairly wise
you will much prefer to take your
chances in town that is run by LOT
of people. There is variety in such
place, and this is essential to real
living. It is discovered in the end that
full price must be paid for the thing
that apparently drops out of the
clouds. The days of mama are gone
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16

fee uneQualed by any other war. The
worlds greatest disaster may at least
bring with it a touch Of universal
brotherhood.
Some criticism is heard just now
about the spirit Of caste In the United
States army Such talk, for the most
part, comes from persons not familiar
with the facts, or persons who are I'M
fair In their Judgment. There is as
much democracy in the army as there
is in any community in the land. There
is a certain Difference to official sta
ton and to superior training and skill
in every walk of life and In every
occupation there is line drawn be-
tween those capable Of directing and
planning and those who assume les
ser, though still important, tasks in
bringing every work to completion.
without this there could be no organ
ization and no progress in any direc-
ton. This by no means implies a lack
ON sympathy or brotherly feeling be-
tween the different elements engaged
In the work.
Professional and social distinctions
are everywhere in evidence-and they
are to some extent natural and I'M
avoidable. They are no doubt carried
to the extreme, but until American
society is perfect in this respect it is
in vain to point to the same condi-
tons in the army. In this war, as
illustrated in Europe and as would be
illustrated If our country were to be-
come involved, caste and snobbery will
suffer more than democracy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
SLANDERERS OF OUR NAVY
Extracts from the Great Speech OF
Martin D;es,)

l come now to answer those who
feel it incumbent upon them to decry
and SANDER our navy and coast de-
lenses In furtherance of the campaign
to alarm the American people into
reversal of our policy of antimilitar-
ism. Why, let me inquire, do these
superheated patriots find it necessary
to underrate and libel our means Of ma
tional defense? The answer Is appar-
ent. If our coast defenses and our
navy are what we have built them to
be, no foreign enemy can land upon
our shores. And unless the American
people can be made to believe that the
country Is in danger they will not bur-
den themselves and endanger the
safety of civil supremacy by maintain
ing in time of peace a larger army and
colossal navy. This same agitation
was in progress year ago. although
it had not assumed the large and vio-
lent proportions of the present. Con-
gress was in session, and the commit
tees of both the house and senate con-
Quoted Investigations into the state of
our defenses. Let it be kept In mind
that l am quoting from testimony TAX
en- a year ago. We have spent $780,
100000 on our coast defenses in re-
cent years, and in rigid examination,
General Weaver, chief Of coast de-
lenses, testified In this hearing a year
ago that our Notifications were ample
and the most efficient in the world. In
summing up his testimony General
Weaver says:
Il have been close student of the
whole subject, naturally. for a number
of years, and 1 know Of no fortifica-
tons in the world, so far as my read
ing, observation and knowledge goes,
that compare favorably in efficiency
with our Up. II, Hearings before the
Notifications Subcommittee of the APP
preparations Committee"
Within the past few weeks General
Weaver has reiterated his testimony
given year ago.
General Nelson A. Miles, in a state
ment the other day, testified to the
strength and efficiency Of our coast
Notifications. He said:
Having had much to do with plac-
ing and construction of our fortitica-
tons and inspecting every one along
the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts
as we'll as having had an opportunity
of seeing all the great armies of the
world and many of their strongest
Notifications, including the Dardan-
Giles, l am prepared to say that our
coasts are as well defended as the
coasts of any country, with the same
class Of high popwer guns and heavy
proiectiles, and I have no sympathy
for the misrepresentation that have
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
CASTE IN WAR.

Some wars have called to the service
few business cares to leave behind,
but not so with this war. From the
Worlds Work we learn:
The recruits that come to the COL
ors in Canada now are men who have
Jobs or families or both to leave, and
they are coming as fast as they can
arrange for the care Of their depend
ents-as fast. indeed, as the authori-
ties can handle them.
twenty-five per cent of the bank
clerks OF Canada have enlisted, and
their places have been taken mostly
by women and girls. Toronto univers-
fly has 1,700 graduates and under
graduates in active service; MoGill
university has sent men in about the
same proportion. Young doctors and
lawyers who are heirs to big prac-
tees and big fortunes have gone to
the front by the scores. The best
blood Of Canada has gone or is getting
ready to go.
Men IN Quebec beyond the years
Of military usefulness-business and
professional men-work' at night in
the munitions factorie~ testing car
fridge and doing other tasks within
their strength. In every city the wom-
en- work ceaselessly on Red Cross sup
plies, on socks and shirt for the SOL
diers, on the care Of the dependent
wives and children Of men at the
front"
The same situation must exist in
the United Kingdom, in Germany,
France and other belligerent countries.
1t is not a war where any one class
can complain that the burden has been
put upon them while the more favored
are excused. Il has enlisted every
rank and condition. every profession
and calling 1t has entailed democ-
racy Of suffering, devotion and sacri-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
Why the Baby Holds Its Breath

The average healthy adult should be
able to hold his breath 40 seconds by
the watch. If he can't his heart or
his metabolism is at fault. An ath-
lete in California held his breath 10
minutes. Anyone can hold the breath
two minutes by first breathing a lit
tie more deeply, not forcibly, and at
the ordinary rate of 16 or Is times
minte for two minutes and then tim
ing with the watch.
A good, solid, life-like young baby
can just about brighten his mother to
death by holding his breath. Generally
he is mad about something and he
there is in his veins-he holds his
breath till he turns blue, becomes
limp, nearly unconscious. Then the
spasm of the larnyx relaxes, breath
ing begins, and though little done
up by the test the youngster is all
right until something happens again
to rouse his indignation.
But it is no joke for the young
mother when the baby cuts this alarm
ing caper. She wants to know what
to do.
If such attacks are frequent or Sc
we're there may be some underlying
disturbance of health accountable
Thus, ricketts, develops in a good many
babies who have fits Of crying them
selves blue in the face. The food is
wrong.
II the baby holds his breath an un-
reasonable length of time-say min
uate, slap his face with cold, wet
towel, or dash cold water upon the
face from a glass. If you are afraid
he is going to have CONFUSION.
place him in a hot bath-very hot,
but not hot enough to burn-and con-
tinue sprinkling the face with cold
water or apply cloth wet with cold
water to the forehead.
If the baby cries from temper-tbat
Is. If the breath-holding stunt is
enacted under circumstances which
show it is case of temper, discipline
is the remedy. You must train him
to do as you wish, when you wish.
and when it should be done for a
normal baby, as in feeding, bedtime.
and other regular habits. If you allow
the baby to make the rules for YOU.
then you must expect to suffer for
your lack of discipline.
1t is nothing less than a CRYING
shame, literally as. well as figuratiye
iy, that so many babies under four
years are permitted to be I'D after
dark. Parents who keep babies
awake until late in the evening ought
to be taught by the law what a baby's
rights are. One Of the cruelest snec-
tacies Imaginable is a poor little babe
ln-arms at a movie show at night
Such a baby usually receives sooth-
ing syrup or whiskey on slight provo
cation. and grows up to be A neur-
otic or moron-what else could YOU
expect?
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16

Gosh hang 1t, but believe am an
idiot! l not only believe 1t. but know
I am. Here am I most thirty years
old and still am a bachelor instead Of
having n wife"
1t was Giles Stebbins, seated in his
farmhouse three miles from the town
of Dawson. Outside it was raining
heavily.
NO dog. no cat, no wifer' he NUT
tered as he looked into the fire and
then gave the wood vicious kick. II
ought to have been married years ago.
ought to have a wife to do the cook
ing and make the bed and sweep up
this litter on the floors, but / have
been fool and had to pay for 1t. |
am too homely to go ACQUIRING Ike
other men, but ought to have taken
desperate chances"
1t was true about Giles Stebbins be-
ing a homely man. Nature had not
been kind to him. He as long, lank
and lathy.
Yes" continued Giles as he reached
for his old clay pipe and filed the
bowl of it with the dried leaves Of a
hazel bush as a substitute for tobacco;
81 am going to bring a wife here.
Then will follow cat, perhaps ca
nary, then some decent meals and q
happy home"
At about the same hour, in the vii
lage Of Dawson, Mary Parker, old
maid and Twenty-Five years old, sat
talking with her mother.
Mary" said the mother, II don't
want to hurt your feelings, but both
your father and me are bitterly dis
appointed in you. I say 1t Is almost
scandalous, with you being such a
good housekeeper as you are"
"You may call it scandalous or any
thing else, mother, but I have no
chance with the other girls. and you
know that as well as do. can cook,
mend and wash, but am SO dreadfully
homely."
But there is Giles stebbins," said
the mother after brief silence.
why, he is more homely than l
am" ruefully laughed Mary. II shall
wait hundred years if necessary for
some other man to come along"
"They say he is getting well on"
"And it may be true, but that is no
compensation for his looks. He al
ways reminds me Of a scarecrow hung
on a pole"
With that Mary went to her room,
and after fussing around for moment
she sat down and took long look at
herself in the glass. By and by she
said to herself:
Eyes, that IS my homely face. and 1t
will be homelier as I grow older. 1
ought to have found a husband long
ago, homely as I am, but none came
along. I'll put myself in the way of
being kidnaDed. At least If some man
tried to kidnap me 1 wouldn't Shrek
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
The Daily Story
Did He Kidnap er7-<By M. Quad.

and cry for help. I'll take little walk
through the streets tomorrow evening
and see II something won't occur.
With a new hat on and veil hiding
my face think can pass muster"
On the evening Of the next day after
his frugal repast Giles Stebbins hitch.
ed the old white mare to the top buggy
and then donned bis Sunday suit ard
started for the village Of Dawson.
Yes, ! am going to be kidnaper
and husband" said Giles to himself
as he rode along. II shan't stop to in.
troduce myself or explain anything"
1t was nearly 0 o'clock when he
drove into the village. It's citizens
kept early hours. Most Of them were
in bed or preparing for 1t when the old
white mare and her driver appeared.
Miss Mary Parker had stroled out as
per her program. She had taken
walk of half a mile and had just turn.
ed to retrace her steps. somewhat dis
appointed, but still hopeful. when
vehicle dashed up beside her and a
man leaped from it. 1t was Giles Steb-
bins. of course, but she did not recog-
niZe him.
"You are going with mer' he ex-
claimed In low. tense voice. "If you
resist the consequences may be aw-
full!
Don't you call for help" warned
Giles as they dashed through town.
"If you are married woman tell me
80 and will take you back. If you
are single l am going to take you to
Deacon Carriers house to marry you.
am not villain, but I have lived alone
long enough. What do you say?'
Giles thought she Struggled up to him
little for answer, and he was salts.
fed that he was not running away
with some good mans wife.
Now to get spliced," said Giles as
he descended from the vehicle and
reached up his arms to aid his victim
to follow. She had no objections to
offer. as he expected. He took her arm
and escorted her to the deacon's store
and had the good fortune to find the
justice winding the clock preparatory
to retiring to his bed.
1--WE want to get married" was the
kidnaper's salutation.
ut won't take over three minutes,
and the fee will be S." was the reply.
Now came the crisis. Mary Parker
had to raise her veil, and at the same
time she slipped ring off her finger
and handed 1t to Giles to be used at the
proper moment. She looked him full in
the face, as he did her, and there was
mutual recognition.
There was no scene to scandalize the
good deacon and his wife. The kid
naper and his victim clasped hands and
were quickly made man and wife.
Giles Stebbins was never arrested for
KIDNAPPING. and he never sat alone in
front of a green wood fire again. a
cat and his wife were with him.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
PERIL OF FUTURE.

A recent compilation of official sta
tisticians shows that during the u
months just past So corporations were
organized in the United States for the
manufacture Of munitions, with a to-
tai capitalization of 1926, 000-and
average capitalization of nearly a mil
lion dollars.
The DUPONT powder corporation has
booked orders during the year for
$500, 100000 worth of powder and made
profits aggregating nearly s5S 5000, 900.
Several war stocks" have increas-
ed in value as much as 500 to 1000
per cent.
Besides the tremendous additions
made to the fortunes Of the already
rich, it is estimated that some two
hundred new millionaires have ap-
peared on the financial horizon
All these things have a serious por-
tent in connection with the question
of preparedness which is now absorb
ing the interest of the country, says
the Peoria Journal.
Are the benefciaries of all these
huge, easy-come war profits going to
be content to give up their fat in
comes at the cessation of Europe's
war? If not-and they certainly will
not-isn't it pretty safe to assume
that they will look to the United States
itself to continue their market by the
purchase of vast quantities of NUM-
tons and supplies?
With the nation at peace, It will be
impossible for the government to alb
sorb any such amount of war ma
terials as the munitions profit-suckers
will demand. II will be necessary to
have war, or war scares The NUM-
tons parasites will make it their chief
end and aim to promote war and war
scares. If this suggestion seems to do
injustice to the munitions trafflckers,
consider the huge sums of which the
powder makers have mulcted the gov
eminent, consider the righteousness
of the armor plate ring in unloading
on the navy armor plate full of blow
holes and worse than worthless; con-
slider the audacity Of the same inter
ests in threatening the government
with an arbitrary advance of 5000 per
ton in armor plate in case Uncle Sam
decided to make part Of his own ar
NOR: consider the mammoth cam
paign even now carried on by propa-
gandists mysteriously financed and
operating under high-sounding names.
Greed knows no patriotism; embalmed
beef taught us that in 1898.
The menace Of militarism and OF
made-to-order war lies in the avidity
OF the munitions traffickers whose
market must needs be stimulated af-
ter Europe's war. The one sure, safe
method OF removing this menace is to
take the profit out OF war by turning
the business OF making all war ma
terials over TO the federal government
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16
QUESTIONS AID ANSWERS.
Operations i'm Pregnancy.

Is there any danger in having an
operation for the removal Of enlarged
tonsils during pregnancy? Would
there be danger of marking the child !?
Answer-In spite of the older no.
ton, any necessary operation may be
safely done in the course of preg-
nancy. Marking" is mere old wives
gossip. Whatever is good for the moth
er is good for the baby.
A "Cold, Like "Seyen- Year Itch.
Three years ago l caught a cold in
the head and it stopped my ears up,
writes j. s., graphically. I have a
continuous ringing in the left ear.
What is good for a cold that hangs
on?
Answer-Your cold" reminds us Of
the "seven-year Itch Forget it and
consult doctor who will examine the
nasal cavity and ears. When a cold"
hangs on it isn't cold"
Sex as a Factor of Pneumonia.
A asserts that statistics show that
women are less liable to pneumonia
than men. B denies the allegation in
toto. A declares this immunity of
women is largely due to the current
style of low necks and exposed ster-
NUNS. Will you please arbitrate the
question?
Answer-A wins on the statistics.
But in view of the well-known habit
of wrapping the chest, neck, throat,
chin, mouth, and nowadays even the
nose in furs, we can't follow A
throughout. Rather we suspect the
males fondness for Kicker" accounts
for the preponderane of the wicked
sex among the pneumonia statistics.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-16

neutrality-suspicious. Of The
Associated ress.)-Almost complete
disappearance of the ragged but pic
turesQue street vendors and other
itinerant frequenters Of London's
thoroughfares is one Of the notable
changes brought about by year and
a half of war.
Before hostilities began the curb
stones Of the principal streets were
lined from morning to night by haw-
kers of pirated copies of popular
songs, cheap toy sellers and match
vendors, while at every few yards the
passerb-by was accosted by man or
woman carrying a fruit basket or
tray laden with chocolates or other
candies. Now these are gone and pc
destrians are grateful for the the re-
lief from the constant appeals to buy.
At the same time the police are pleas
ed to be freed from the continuous
duty of keeping the ragged army
within the limits of the city ordi-
nances.
Other characters of London's streets
whose disappearance, on the con-
trary, is regretted are the red coated
shOe-blacks formerly seen on every
street corner and around the railroad
stations. The disagreeable London
mud, oozing up in case Of wet wealth
er owing to the clayey composition
of the sUbsoil, makes these mems alb
sence noticeable, and also that of the
crossing sweepers who at the juno
lions of frequented streets swept mar
row pathways through the mud and
whose services were much appreciat-
ed by the women.
The push-cart men or "costermon-
gers" with their little donkey barrows
full of cheap vegetables which they
loudly offered for sale in the subur-
ban districts away from the shopping
centers have gone-many of them TO
serve in the army
The muffin and trumpet" men with
their warm wares for afternoon tea,
whose advent in the streets after lunch
was heralded by the ringing of bell,
have quit their rounds, for bakers
have been turned into a starred"
trade whose services are required for
the making of army bread and cannot
be spared for Injuries.
The shell fish" stalls, formerly
much used for saloons after theil
favorite houses had closed at midnight
and where they consumed whelks and
cookies soaked in vinegar and sprin-
killed. thickly with pepper are no more
in evidence, having accompanied the
hot baked potato can into oblivion
with the introduction of the new light.
ing regulations which they could not
avoid infringing if they desired to con-
tinue their trade with success,
Many of the workers at these pecu-
liar trades" are now engaged in the
service Of their country In making
ammunition for the troops at the
front, and whether they will ever re-
turn to their old stands after the war
is a moot point
Hamburg, Germany Manufacturers
and retailers have increased the price