davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
Tie Tn the Mohansic Scheme!

Corporation Counsel Hardy is on the
safe side in determining TO press his ap-
plication for an injunction 10 prevent the
building of the Mohansic State Hospital
and the New York Training School for
Bows on the Croton watershed. Leg1sla-
tive action on this question has not been
encouraging 10 this city. Both houses
have definitely voted down in committee
the bills for the removal of these institu-
tons.
Senator Brown, the majority leader,
thinks the best thing to do now is to do
nothing. He argues that, as there are
at present no inmates of these partially
erected buildings, there is no sewage to
drain into New York's drinking water,
and, therefore, no danger to the public
here. lie believes the Legislature should
not make any appropriation for further
this year, but should investl-
gate through some committee to find out
what disposition can be made Of the in
stitutions if they are not to be located on
the watershed, or Of the inmates they
we're intended to house; also to ascertain
what can be done TO safeguard the state
against loss on the property.
That is good as far as it goes, but the
metropolis has not a great deal OF con
fdence in the legislative wisdom on this
project. The public here has become thor
oughly aroused TO the menace Of sewage
polluted drinking water. 1t does not feel
pleased at the prospect Of the matter
dragging along for months and months,
even if at present there is no sewage IN
the water.
New York would be able 70 feel safe
and satisfied if the question could be
closed before the Legislature adjourns.
If that is beyond the Legislatures gener-
osity, the next best thing for the city is
10 tie up the possibility of construction
through the appropriate legal processes.
Then we shall know that at least there
will be ample warning and opportunity
for further fighting before the potential
monaco can become actual
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
MILITIA INEFFICIENCY
Criticism by a Former Member OF
the National Guard.

To the Editor of Tn. Tribune.
Sir: With all due respect for an old vet
eran and his championship OF the militia
beg 20 differ as 10 the efficiency OF the ma
tioral guard fifty year. ago and to-day. II
all hinges on one word, -Discpline,' and the
militia is not properly disciplined, officers or
men There Is not an active militia ohce'
who could properly pass IN. eXscting exam
nation Of the Army War College, Win Jew
exceptions. The service regulations for 'he
Connecticut militia tell one 20 look af'er tne
care Of his feet, and then blandly leave tnat
most important. passage out entirely.
When the militia regiments entrained IN
1861 for ii. first campaign they treated their
..rvic. as . lark. Bull Run told another
story. When the various militia regiments
wen, 70 IN. front in the Spanish American
War they either died for want Of proper camp
sanitation or held back, as did one militia or
ganization az San Juan. We're we TO engage
in combat with any foreign army the lack OF
discipline and lack OF proper ot'cers "ouiu
be most serious handicaps. Dancing hoofs
and full dres. do not make an efficient soldier.
Riot duty doe. not train for war, and until
the militia is freed from that duty it vii! re-
main As inefficient for the real service OF war
as IL has ever been.
I have studied for the army service ana
have served in the Connecticut militia, ana
can truthfuly say that the Connecticut ma
tional guard IL not fit, either IN whole or IN
Part. 70 take up the duties o. active service
The men are without adequate knowledge 20
keep themselves in condition, either in camp
or in trenches. have never seen an IN
trenching tool in the kits OF the LIST Con
necticut Infantry.
BY all means foster the spirit OF the ma
tional guard II you will, but make 1t most
thorough body. Have each officer pass the
full examination prescribed for the regular
service. Take away confusing numbers ana
state initials while on field service and re
place them by q given reserve number TO each
regiment, allotted, a: they are At present ih,o
districts. Make the summer training month
instead Of fortnight. Build less ornate ar
mories and provide plenty OF equipment
Above all, let US have the discipline IN the
guard that there is in the regular service II
can be done. Let officers be appointed on ex-
animation merits, and not voted in as at pres
ent. thus placing them in position where
they cannot fully discharge all their duties
Hoping that these few words are not IN
vain. JOHN J. LYNCH.
BROOKLYN, March 81, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
To The Editor of The rribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: One would think. in view Of the pres
ent conditions in Mexico, that the pacihs'
would at last be able 70 reduce his doctrine
to TIE concrete facts Of Villas raid and the
demonstrated unprepsredness OF this country
20 Get az once 20 capture him. To me this
ptiiul impotency, this lack Of power 20 pro
tect our nationals, demonstrates that we have
no right as We are now constituted 70 be
called nation. The potential power and the
potential cohesion present, but they have
not a. yet become efective-partly because OF
Ignorance and apathy, but more largely be-
cause OF the false doctrines of the peace So
cie.!es and the pacifsts, who have based
their conclusions upon the premises that hu-
man nature has changed. With most OF the
worlG involved, we must look 70 our arms
The pacifst is a danger within. We must
quiet him as we would a squalling child ard
protect him in spite of himself
Some time ago heard Mr.. Willard. the emf
inen. scholar and journalist, deliver a long
and eloquent address on the blessings Of
peace, the evils Of war. the immortality of the
men in the United States army, and con-
clude with an imprisoned plea TO give the
psciists a chance 20 demonstrate what they
can do TO secure peace. am heartily IN
favor OF Mr. Wizards attempt, and sugsss:
that he try his eloqueuce on Mr.. Villa. The
latter would probably surrender az once and
accompany Mr. Willard back 10 this country
to answer FOR his crimes,
Mr.. Willard claimed that it takes two ID
10 II 10 IAN . \
make ,rite remarks Of this kind. II it be
true, | should advise all pacifsts 70 take up
cross-country running 20 improve their
wind" II they don't wish 70 be killed tney
will probably have good long run ahead OF
them. trust that fear doesn't prevent them
from running in good form. But Belgium had
no quarrel with Germany. Being a nation
sh- couldn't run; having honor, she couldn't
submit. II each of the nations attacked ~
the Central Powers had submitted, II would
have put premium upon militarism and
erded democracy forever. But, thanks 20
courage and honor and manhood, democracy
has not yet persisted from the earth.
To the paciiist the mlitarist is often con-
fuseG with the patriot To him any one who
bear. arms is a miltarist. The claim that
the n,ilitarists have utterly failed TO prevent
war calls for some modification. When
Switzerland was unprepared Napoleon cyni-
CALI disregarded Swiss rights and marched
his legions over Switzerland at pleasure.
Switzerland learned her lesson well and when
Bismarck threatened her his threat was met
b. the almost instantaneous mobilization OF
the Swiss army, one hundred thousand
strong Bismarck changed his mind. Surely
it isn't necessary 10 point out that Switzer-
lands efficient army Of four hundred thou
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
OYSTERS AND POLLUTION
The Results Of Show that Oysters Grown Jamaica
Bav Sewage and Are Menace Public Health This City
Consumer. Should Make h Point Not to Eat Them.

they had signed statement submitted 20
the Conservation Commission page 237, ap-
pendix No. g., dated October 20, 1914, in
which they say: "The Sealshipt holding In
Jamaica Bay amounts 70 about 100 acres,
located mainly in the Pumpkin Patch, east Of
the Rocksway Beach railway trestle, with two
small beds in Big Channel and three south
Of Rufle Bar While these beds are possibly
as well located "a any in Jamaica Bay, the
amount of sewage discharged into the bay
from all sides is so great that the oysters
are undoubtedly polluted" CDR. Pease stated
that he had signed the report without read
ing the appendix
In the case just decided in favor OF the
government Dr. Pease and Mr.. Provost, OF
the LeGerle Laboratories, testified 10 the ef
feet that the oysters from these same beds
are not polluted. Mr.. Barnes asked Mr. Pro-
vost on the witness stand: "You didn't mean
10 testify yesterday, did you, that oysters
taken from these beds would not be polluted %
He replied, "Yes"
IL is true that the government has won its
case for decent oysters this time, but how
about those same Jamaica Bay oysters now?
Will they not continue shipping and selling
them as before, only taking care not 20 let
them cross the state line into New Jersey
lest the government seize them The very
fact that these "Rockanay' sever-infected
oysters cannot be shipped out Of New York
State means that just that many more Of
these sewage polluted oysters will be left for
home consumption.
There should be some way OF protecting
the public health from dangers incident 70
consumption Of contaminated food. II the
State Board Of Health and the New York
City Department OF Health are powerless 70
do anything lest they interfere with the
oystermen's business, then in the name of
common decency let the consumer take a
hand in the matter and refuse TO eat oysters
until they are given a clean bill OF health
New York is not the only state where the
polluted oyster Ia menace 20 public health
Better to drop the use OF oysters as food If
they cannot be grown in beds unpoluted by
filthy sewage. Human life is more precious
than money. If there is to be choice be-
tween improved public health through non
consumption OF sewage polluted oysters and
better business among the oystermen and
oyster dealers, LEI US choose improved public
health. ALICE LAKEY.
Executive Secretary American Pure Food
League.
Crawford, \. j., March 90, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25

and mon has again in the present 1reS'
Gained for her freedom from INVASION sPVt'Ii
IL, and indemnities Let our country w.
81 Sutherland for an antidote for paclhe'sin'
Had Belgium been as we'll prepared nv
rou,d have been no holocaust az Lou'''''
ninan. ard nurberless places.
r-rIcss I am mistaken, Mr.. Willard eI,eu
~, ,,ucb cited case OF Canada ana Nh'S
.,,,r.-,, living q. peace with an uniortiueu
,-or.ier What does that prove? Does " PRIV
,ba. Germany and France, with their his'olI
col BACKGROUND. could do the same: fern"p'
,bev should. But the millennium IS not mere
and every Frenchman has scared IN nj M.
The results Of the war OF le'V' o'oNs"
bv the trickery Of Bismarck, the e'usu'"S
indemnity and the PrussisniImg OF H''a 90
Lorraine. The panic and terrorism OF io,V
have not been repeated in France to-uSy o"'.
because France had her warning anu
prepared. She answered Ready. al 'le
Marine. And to give Germany her
nIease remember that Napoleon left his IN
delible impression on the German Hi'nu tne
Canadian border line argument simply proves
that Canada and this country have H'eu u.
neace for a number of years and notni"s
- The unfortifed frontier has nothing
70 DO with II. . ,,.,tl
.ra;,ed that our navy was strong enough
S.,oro enough for what? He claimed that
some able statesmen at Washington have
nroved tina. It stands second or at least a
,ood third To the British navy. trust ne
doesn't mean Josephus Daniels when ne re-
fers 10 some able statesman. why prepare
nou,eD he SAYS He tells US our docks are
crowded. our shipbuilding plants are con
gested: that even If we appropriated the
money today, it would take years TO accom-,
nli,h ANYTHING effective. Does Dir. Niiaru
know when lightning is 10 strike? Does ne
know "der Tag" appointed for our destrue'
ton,
According TO him, a certain japanese
statesman or admiral was asked point blsns
the question, IL war were declared between
Japan and the United States whether the
Japanese fleet would be able to defeat our
Pacific Coast squadron. The japanese oeihs
a truthful man couldn't give the reply ne
would have liked 20 give and hung his
head" Maybe he did hang his head, but ~
was only TO hide the smile on his face.
Rear Admiral Winslow, commander OF
chief OF the Pacific feet, told the House
Naval Affairs Committee, according TO The
Tribune Of February %, 1915, that the ma
tional defences Of the Pacific Coast at pres
ent amounted 70 nothing at all" The entire
feet which he commanded, he said, might
be an easy victim for single good enemy
battleship."
Joseph Edgar Chamberlain, writing In The
Evening Mail" May II, 1915, says: That
vessel alone the Queen Elizabeth, by rea-
son Of her superior speed and power, could
destroy the whole American navy" and fur
Their on that "the war has demonstrated the
fact that the most important type of war
vessel, for battle purposes, is the battle
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
Stand by the President !"
Z The Tribune.

To The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: "Stand b. the President" OF course
we should. No good American will dispute
this. and there has never been time. with
the exception Of 1916 and 1861. when loyalty
to the Executive was more necessary than it
is to-day.
But how can WEI One no sooner makes UP
HIS mind 10 be on the side OF the President
and swallow his doctrines than tho President
nopS and there VIC are. left suspended in the
air, supporting a policy that Washington
ID. Co. has repudated.
stand by the President" OF course W.
VA; TO do So but We are not a nation of
acr3hats, and cannot, and do not want o.,
turn somersaults just to satisfy the within OF
the First Gentleman Of the Land T. F.. n.
New York. March %. 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
SUPPORT OF HOSPITALS
II Should be Shifted from Private to
Public Hands.
New York, March p, 1916.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Apropos Of your recent able editorial
discussion Of health insurance, the facts here
with are significant and new to the public.
Last year the forty-six associated non-ns'
nicpal hospitals Of this city cared for 100
$50 bed patients, of whom 81 086 "a per cent
we're wholly free and 28.3ss l23 per cent.
were public charges, partly paid for by me
city, making a total OF 69,47f cases (5i per
cent Of the total who paid nothing for Their
treatment These same hospitals gave during
the year 2,1s3 ,j38 days Of treatment, Of which
l,5sl,675 (63 per cent Of the total were with
out any payment b. the recipients.
Under a proper system Of health insurance
thousands OF these people would have beea
able and glad to pay at least in part for Their
treatment. Beyond question there are large
numbers who need hospital care, but fan %
apply because they DO not want TO become o.
jects Of charity.
At present only one in ten persons 'er'ou"y
II or injured in this city gets treated N sly
hospital. For this lack thousands lose tns'
health and efficiency and become burden
their friends and the community.
The expenses of the forty-siX sssocisN'
hospitals last year were S5,659,4+Zo'. Of'nN
amount only s2,390,57365 ~ per cent? VS.
paid for by the patients themselves. lN
payment b. the city 20 these hospitals on 90
count Of public charge amounted 70 $o.-L
$3.50, only 10 per cent Of the total NV
leaves more than g. 100000 which these nos.
pitfalls have 20 raise from voluntary sources
every year for maintenance Of free WORK
Is il fair or wise 10 leave service OF sue
Importance TO be provided as a matter o
charity By a small body OF phiianihropie peo'
pie? Surely, it is high time that after cav.
ful study such laws be passed As VIII inss..
proper medical care OF all wage earners uno..
conditions that Will guard their seli-'esPe.
and at the same time be just 70 private p,sNI
titiouers and to the hospitals AeahNn,..
generous contributions should be SEM
Charles Lsnier. treasurer, % Cedar S''seS .
help the associated hospitals continue wv
great service 20 the poor.
FREDERICK d. GRbtNb'
General Secretary Hospital Saturday '"'
Sunday Association.
New York. March p, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
SEND WILLARD AFTER VILLA
Exd His Doctrines OF rr and Who Thick
Ofas GodOp """ '@-
sromEm

cruiser. which unites great gun power x;.,
the highest speed. The r,,,',
States has not single vessel Of thl, 49,.
and Congress refuses TO authorize ANS
As Japan had in commission on ju,,
1914. two battle-cruisers and had au,hor,.t
Or was building two more. and. moreo~.,
had authorized 7s,s37.569 TO be exns,S.,
from 1911 10 1917 for the eonstr-e,i5n a; -
vessels COfice OF Naval Intelligence Dsn.'.
ment Washington, D. c., should -
that the pantomimic reply Of the Jap,,...
gentleman was solely for the benef. OF v,
Willard.
One Of the gentlemen present. replvio. :.
Mr. Wizards doctrine Of non-prepar,.,..
read letter from the father Of vo,,.
British soldier who in his coun,ry's hOu, !,
reed was hurried 10 the front without Al.
auate instruction and killed in one o, d,
heroic charges made by his regiment v.
father said, as nearly as ! can rcmerb.,
that while il was hard enough 70 bear -,
loss OF his son. IL made IT even harder sh,,
he considered that the lad because 81 ~.
almost criminal unpreparedness OF hi. con-.
try. hadn't even had n sporting chsn,.s
And Mr.. Willard replied that preparation h,1
nothing 70 do with Il. that under the ,er,Ihl.
conditions of modern warfare 10 one hsa
sporting chance.
Does Mr.. Willard intend By MS vote ,ns
his conduct then TO so keep his own peo,l.
from preparing that the invader Of III,
country only shall have the sporting chance,
Doesn't nc wish 20 see our soldiers given
sporting chance az least equal 20 that OF ~,
enemy?
But hasn't Mr.. Wizards long association
with Josephus Daniels and some Of the mem.
bers OF the present Congress distorted III,
vision? Mr.. Maxim in his "Defenc.,u
America" says that in modern warfare M,
actual loss OF life for the numbers engaged
is correspondingly less than il used TO B.
while the cost Is correspondingly greater
And I might quote Or. Henry e. Emery %
the same effect In Golfers" for March II
1916, after comparing the casualties Of III.
Great War with the losses in our Civil War
he SAYS: an the case 81 all countrie. 70
date il may be stated that whether IN nun.
bers engaged or In numbers dead they hsv.
not yet approached the record Of the Con.
federscy," in proportion 20 population.
bear no malice toward Mr.. Willard or sny
other honest pscifst. have cited nj. 70.
marks in part so that Others may know In {,
general way what 10 expect.
The pacifst has right to make doormr
Of himself il he chooses, but he has no rgh,
to subject his wife and his children beesu.
of his idosyncrasies TO insult and III treat
ment by the enemy.
The doctrines Of the pscifsts will be A.
futile "a their treaties They must be 81.
fenced so that the voice OF the country may
be heard at Washington as one demanding
an adequate army and navy. demanding uni.
versal military service, and demanding pro.
lection for our homes and our country.
EDWARD A. CHlLVER.
New York, March %, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
The New Prosperity of Portland.

philadelphia Pubic LfG0cr)
Since Lonrfcllow's youth in "thc beautiful
town that is seated by the sea- Portland
our Eastern Portland on the Maine coast,
has had a smaller place on the seafarers
chart. Changed conditions drove away much
Of it's seaborne commerce, rs in the case OF
others Of the lesser Atlantic ports. Only in
could one see the
Spanish sailors With bear1e. lip.
And ne beauty nni mystery Of the ships.
And tho magic Of tho sea.
Yet Portland is once again coming into is
own. II has been for some years favoritr
winter port for the Canadian liners. but since
the war broke out, as the national CORE
spondcnco Of "1he Public Ledger" reveals,
it's business has vastly increased. It sees in
ITS harbor flags that it seldom saw before.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25

tributed three Republican votes to save the
Wilson-Hay programme OF unprepareu-
ness and Ohio contributed six Republican
votes. With these and only three add
tional Republican votes from the granger
states the Kahn amendment could have
been adopted, the Wilson-Hay programme
could have been smashed and the way
could have been cleared for the Senates
cooperation in passing a bill creating
real. modernized army.
1t was a great opportunity lost, ana tne
Republicans of Illinois and Ono shouid
bear in mind the names of these members
who helped to throw it away: From Hi
nois-Messrs. Mckenzie, Sterling and Ko-
donberg. From Ohio-Messrs. Cooper
Tess. Hollingsworth, McCulloch, Mooney
and Ricketts,.
The Hay bill represents the minimum OF
preparedness with which the pacifst ele-
ments hope to satisfy the country's de-
mand for real system Of national de-
fence. II combines the two weakest feat
which we have long outgrown-an under
sized, imperfectly organized regular army
and a second line of militia not under ma
tional control. The militia, "federalized
or not, can never constitute a dependable
second line. Every past attempt to utilize
il as such has failed disastrously.
Some state organizations are well
trained-our New York guard among
them and probably heading the list. Major
General Organ said on Thursday that the
$4,000 militia in this state could be mob
ilized in two hours for duty on the MeXi-
can border, and that 5000 Of them could
probably be at their destination within
four days.
We cannot but think this assurance
highly optimistic. If the Administration
believes in the variability Of the militia
feature of the Hay bill there could be no
better opportunity for testing 1t imme-
dately than ordering out the militia or
CARNATIONS. They are needed at the Mex
lean border. Now is the time TO demon
strate how quickly they can be mooiiizeu
and to what extent they can adapt them
selves at once to the conditions Of active
service.
We do not believe that the outcome of
the experiment would justify the eXpecta-
ton of the President and Mr.. Hay-if
they have any real expectation that the
theory of relying on the militia to supple
ment a regular army not large enough to-
fulfil its purposes will work. We look for
wiser action in the Senate, which has been
recently showing some appreciation Of the
gravity Of our present military problem.
The popgun army of the Hay bill will
not do. We need first line regular army
Of 100000 men. The nearer the Senate
gets to creating such an army the closer
WI it come TO performance Of the duty
laid upon it by the exposure of the whole
ale deficiencies in our military system
which the Mexican situation has so pain
fully emphasized, but which the experience
Of the nations warning in Europe had al
ready brough. to light.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-25
Accountants.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In the article on page {, third eoi"na'
of Wednesdays Tribune, Senators Vote f''
Armor Plant" reference is made TO 'es"
tered public accountants"
There amt no such thing" IL
In this country they are known as eer'''. :.
public accountants. and in England. etc.
chartered accountants
knowing your prediction for eorree'n..,
OF statement, have pleasure IN info,m'''
you on this point. ROBERT AIhNs.
New York, March %, 1915