davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-03-06
OVEREATING.

OVEREATING. - That anarchist
poison story did not have any effect
on me because 1 know from expert
ence that our eating habit will lead
all of US into temptation and, being
human as we are, we arenotthought-
full enough to refrain from getting
too much into the stomach with no
thought of how it is, going to get out.
There is no exception, high or low.
I know what pigs we can be at a ban
qUet or at a home dinner.
1t is a frequent occurrence that
people at banqUets and late dinners
get poisoned; not exactly poisoned,
but they overeat. Most late ban
queters feel they must do justice to
the meal, eat hearty and join the
chorus Everything tastes fine," al
though supper should be plenty for
any grown folks to go to bed on.
Following these double supper-din-
ners the guests begin to get sick and
throw up" The guests who can't
Vomit feel worse and are liable to
other complications.
How often do we hear the remark:
ooh, / am so full l could burst it
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-03-06

tasted so good;" or 'I have eaten too
much" This l believe is the key to
the whole cause or theory of the
alleged poisoning story. The cooks
and management had done their ut
most to make everything delicious,
and the banquet a success, not at all
thinking about the consequences.
A warm glass of milk, a Uneeda
biscuit and tOOthpick are all need
ed just before retiring. No solid
foods should be served at banquets
held late in the night. Fresh water
alone, without ice, is preferable and
healthy, and can be used for a toast
(although it's pretty thin) if a toast
is necessary.
Some years ago at the Grand hotel,
q believe it was), Stockholm, Swe-
den, a similar happening occurred
About 100 guests attending banquet
there got sick or poisoned from eat
ing and drinking and two of the
guests who got seriously sick died.
Investigation failed to locate the
source or cause of the sickness; at
least it was not made public. Serious
as it was, the hotel management took
full responsibility and in each serious
case made satisfactory explanation
and settlement. If any of the help
was to blame the newspapers and pO-
lice never printed it.
But here it is different. Here it is
the anarchists that poison everything
and the daily press that spreads it
broadcast. think decency and self
respect ought to impress the great
daiies of our city and other cities
that stories of this kind are misIead-
ing and are many times pure bunk.
am glad The Day Book is in ex-
istence, so that part of the truth may
be stated publicly on different things
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1916-03-06

wagon and the morals court to the
front page of our newspapers. This
is called justice, but call it hell.
Dirty, foUI-mOuthed judges squirt
ing tobacco juice, are disappearing
their bodies more than the woman
does her body. 70 deprive nature is
just as great a crime as Over-indulg-
ence. Nature surely Furnishes either
extreme, and if the statutes stand in
the way it makes no difference.
The false ideas we hold, due to va
riOus religious dOgmas, simply curse
us. Until we learn to interpret ma
ture correctly, so long will we have
misery and one-half of humanity
damning the other half.
look upon all women as my sis
tiers. Some are bad, due to ignorance
and false teaching, but the remedy
lies in education. When all men and
all women reach my attitude of mind
and point Of view, he'll will be replaced
with heaven. We should all try
Allen Steven.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
THR MYSTERY OF PARRAL

The battle between American
troops and Mexican mob at Par
raj took place on Wednesday after
noon. At the end Of three full days,
there is still profound uncertainty
as to just what happened. The best
information is that the American
force, though preposterously out
numbered, came off with all the
credit of the encounter, and that
probably not more than one Ameri-
can life was given in payment for
some scores Of enemy lives.
Exactly what attitude has been as
sumed by the Carranza soldiers
along the line Of the American ex'
pedition is still uncertain. To what
extent Carranza is able 10 control
his troops is as uncertain as his
exact disposition with regard to
controlling them.
All this suggests the fearful
dangers Of such a state of affairs
as now exists in Mexico. We have .
considerable force beyond the
border; one that, If it were consoli'
dated, would doubtless be able tc
take care of itself. But it is moi
consolidated, and there is grave un
certainty whether it can be. A de
tachment may be cut off at any
time and attacked, with results con
trasting most disastrously will
those Of the Parral encounter. II
may be set down as very certain
that if such a thing should happen
American troops would never CONF
out of Mexico until that countr,
had been thoroughly subjugated
The American people would not sub
nit to any policy Of scuttle undel
such conditions.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
SINKING OF THE PORTUGAL

The Russian Red Cross ship Port
ugal was sunk about three weeks
ago, in the Black sea, with a large
number of nurses, physicians, and
wounded persons aboard. A subma-
rine did the business, and the fact
was duly announced from Russian
authority.
Now comes from the Turkish gov
ernment an explanation which re-
moves all uncertainty. The vessel
was topedoed by a Turkish subma-
rine, aad Constantinople admits it.
It looked like a war vessel, and it is
declared that no Red Cross flag was
shown. Not only this, but it was
dragging a number Of crowded
punts, and was believed to be trans
porting soldiers.
The Turkish statement is clear, de-
tailed an dcandid. It is regrettable,
of course, that the "unspeakable"
Turk should have violated the Red
Gross; for the "unspeakable" Turk
is the only combatant on his side
that has paid the slightest attention
at any time to the humanities. Kul.
tured Germany and enlightened Aus
tria could have managed to deny the
torpedoing, or to charge that the
Red Cross ship committed suicide
or that a British submarine did II
in order to bring opprobrium on the
enemy; but Constantinople is no
doing things that way. The barbar
ians Of the near east are 30 un
civilized as to be frank, straight
forward and honest about such mat
teYS. They seem actually regretfu
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
cHNT-A-0ALLoN "oAs"

An inventor claims to have devel-
oped a process by which he produces
hydrogen from water, by decomposi-
ton, so cheaply that he will be able
to market IL at cent a gallon. He
can't patent II safely, because II he
does 30 his formula will have to be
filed at the Patent Office and every
body will then know II and be able to
make his own "gas." He wants to
get as much as possible out Of II,
and insists that II is the real thing,
but just how to turn it into cash is
beyond his ken at this time.
However, Henry Ford is on his
trail, determined to pay a few million
dollars for the secret and take the
chance Of keeping tiff he wants to
keep It. There is a suspicion that
Mr.. Ford doesn't want to keep It, OF
to make money out Of it directly,
Rather, his theory is believed to be
that he can make money enough
selling cars to run with 1-cent fuel
to justify him in paying all the in.
ventor wants for his discovery.
Scientists, with their cold-blooded
way Of spelling good stories, insist
chat It takes a certain amount OF
power to decompose water and gel
the hydrogen out Of It. Hydrogen
can be exploded in an internal com
bustion engine, and will make It ego,
but the stuff that would provide the
necessary power to decompose watel
would have to be about 100 times al
powerful as nitroglycerin.
Every now and then something
happens that the scientists knew
couldn't possibly happen-and mayb,
it's happening in this matter Of mo
tor fuel. It is a trife startling Il
think what it would mean IL fue
as plentiful as hydrogen is in thil
world should be turned out at such {
price. The roads would have to b,
heightened to accommodate the cars
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
TEACHERS SEE THE LIdbT

The rapid and general crystalliza-
tion of sentiment among Federal and
District employees to organize unions
to further their demands for in
creased pay and for pensions is no
where better illustrated than in the
call sent forth yesterday for a gath
ering of high school teachers to form
a union.
Less than six months ago teachers
of the city had a referendum upon
the matter of union organization, and
there were only a few scattered
votes for labor union. Since then
things have happened. The Govern
ment clerks have awakened to 5he
need of union, and the School Jani-
tors Union has been active in its de-
mands for increased pay for the
heavier duties imposed by the wider
use of schools.
Teachers have been urging, for
many years, in sporadic fashion, a
pension for superannuated members
Of their force. They got nowhere
because they were not effectively or
ganized. They now see the benefits
that accrue to them from a form Of
organization which will bring to
their support the ranks Of organized
labor. Not only in Washington, but
in Baltimore, this idea is reflected in
proposals to organize teachers into
unions.
The same bugaboo that for a long
time hampered the Government
clerks has handicapped the formation
Of q teachers union. Both held to
the theory that theirs was profes'
sion, and felt that there was loss
Of dignity In allying themselves with
the ranks OF lnion labor. Both are
now facing the fact that they are
salaried employees, that they are
subject to the same economic forces
that regulate the wages of carpen'
ters and plumbers, and both are be-
ginning to realize that dignity il
added to their calling by placing
themselves in the ranks of unionism
and not trying to pose as a class
apart from the operation of economi,
principles.
Both the clerks and the teacherI
can gain inspiration from the ex
ample Of postal employees. While tn,
movements for clerks pensions ant
for teachers pensions have languish
ed, the postal clerks, who are or
ganized, are making progress il
their demands for a pension, an,
they have been given at this session
an opportunity to present their cas-
to Congress.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
FEAST OF PASSOVER
STARiSAT SUNDOWN'
Special Services Planned for AN
Synauogues to Open Week
Of Observance.

PreDaration IL being made in every
Hebrew home in the District today for
the Observance of the feast Of the
Passover. which will begin this evening
at sundown. II will conclude at sum
down one week hence for the members
OF the reformed church. while the or
thodox members will observe the festi-
val one day longer.
Special services will be held In the
synaRoRues of the city this evening.
At the Eighth Street Temple OF the
Washington Hebrew CONGREGATION there
win be a brief service at o'clock 10
allow the families to assemble In theIr
homes for the sedar service.
This latter service is celebrated nv
the reformed Hebrews on the iirst ave.
ming OF the feast. while the orthodox
hebrews hold sedar service on both
the first and second evenings OF the
Festival. The gedar involves the gath
ering Of families in their homes ana
the telling OF the ancient story OF the
Hebraic fight for emancipation.
Services also will be held in the syna-
goRues tomorrow morning THE Rev
DR. Abram Simon will deliver the SER
mon at the services at the Eighth
street TEMPLE at 10 O'Clock. He will
take as his topic. "Under His Own
Vine and Fig Tree"
The Rev. @. Silverstone will deliver n
sermon at the Fifth Street Synapogue
tomorrow morning and at the Northea NJ
| synagogue on Wednesday morning
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
TRADE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Just when the nations at war by
swift revolution of standards are
thrusting women into untried ways
our States and cities are beginning
to fit them for skilled service in
broader fields by the slow process of
evolution.
For a hundred years technical
schools for boys have been in opera
ton in Scotland and in England, in
Germany. and in France. Young men
in these northern countries have been
trained in them and then have found
in America scope for their best pow
ers. So long as these skilled workers
came it was a canny bargain we
Yankees made; but when men immi-
grated In hordes from countries
where no scientific knowledge had
been gained and no manual dexterity
had been developed, educators saw
the need of systematic training in
arts and crafts. About twelve years
ago the demand for vocational
schools met an encouraging response.
With Federal aid this response will
be more effective.
While there are ten States which
make annual grants to promote in
dustrial intelligence, the cities of
New York have been the most gen.
erous and most progressive in de-
veloping the type Of school required
by the manufacturing interests Of
the people. Girls as we'll as boys
who had been considered dullards in
brain work or irrepressibles in mis-
chief making showed unexpected
powers of application when they saw
how they could apply their theoretic
knowledge to practical problems.
In each city the trend of progress
has been in line with local needs and
has deserved the support Of the
community.
The work of placing girls, Of fol-
lowing up the graduates and getting
better places for them when they
have had experience is an absolutely
new feature in a school supported by
the public.
Great demands are, made on oui
school funds, but not one promises
surer returns for the money expend'
ed than those from this pioneer
among schools, which by its expert
ments is breaking ground for rich
harvests.
The Federal Government has beer
generous in providing for agricul
tural colleges. The bill now undel
consideration for an appropriation
! for technical schools is only tard!
J recognition of the fact that we are 1
manufacturing as we'll as a farming
people. In the shops women as wei
as men will have their part to pla!
: in industrial preparedness for the re
, adjustments that peace is bound t,
, usher in, and the comprehensive plal
l now before Congress has taken int
{ account the training needed by girl
3 as well as by boys.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
EXPERTS AT 81 PER YEAR

If the hearing on the Hollis-John-
son community forum measure ac-
complished nothing else, it called at
tention to an abuse which the Fed
eral Government has practiced for
many years which should be aban-
doned. It brought out that Edward
J. Ward, an effective and devoted
worker for the cause of community
forums, is in the employ Of the
United States Bureau Of Education
at the salary of 81 per year.
Would that the committee which
inquired into the forum matter had
investigated further the practice of
attaching experts to Government
bureaus at nominal salaries. II
should be understood that such en-
ployment Goes not entail any re.
Asstion on the individual. But II
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
Defends Boy Scouts and Asks In.
vestigation Before Criticism.

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
Will you be good enough to publish
the following answer TO "B. BIS" re-
marks published in your issue Of
April 81
The writer does not deny that II Is
possible for such an incident as mem
toned by "B. b." to have occurred. but
regrets that he should condemn tho or
ganization for the thoughtlessness of
two OF its members. For "B. B." in
formation. however the Boy Scouts of
America Is an organization. directed
and managed by volunteers who are
willing to give up their time. to help
and encourage the younger generation
TO become good citizens. and to instill
In thom loyalty. chiVairy. and helpful
ness, but like all other organizations II
has, unfortunately. a few members
whose shortcomings lead TO criticism.
In this connection. however. Il would be
Interesting to know where "B. B." was
sitting at the time of the occurrence
about which he speaks.
II those people who are ever ready TO
criticise and speak disparingly of the
work of the Boy Scouts, would interest
themselves enough to investigate the OBJ
ject OF the Organization. no doubt. many
of them would hesitate before dis
couraginR those who are endeavoring
to assist the boys to become better men.
Washington. April 10.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
THE UNDRRPAID CIVIL SERVICE
WORKERS
A meal for 5 centsl

A meal for 5 cents!
II can't be done, you probably will
say, in these days Of high living
costs.
Yet The Times published yester-
day an illuminative and appealing
story Of men and women in the Gov
ernment service in Washington who
have to figure their meals on the
scent basis.
Testimony taken before a House
subcommittee on the Nolan bill
showed that a Government employe
receiving $720 a year and support
ing family Of three children and a
wife, cannot spend more than 8 cents
per meal for each member Of his
family. Even at that rate eatables
cost $273.75 per year.
This same family must spend at
least $24O per year for rent, and out
of the small remainder of a meager
salary pay for clothing, shoes, gas,
coal, water rent, household utensils,
and doctors bills for a family Of
five.
Many witnesses came before the
committee who see movie" not
oftener than once a year. One
father testified that he had never
been able to buy talcum powder for
his baby, and it had never had new
clothes. The cast-off clothing Of the
mother was made over for the child,
Hearings on this same bill reveal
ed that there are more than 1000
Government employees in Washing
ton receiving less than 50 a day, OF
$72O a year.
The disgracefully low salaries paid
by the Government are emphasized
by statistics showing that approx
mately AZ per cent of employees ir
this city would be affected by the
passage of the Nolan bill, which
proposes a minimum Government
wage of SO a day. In other words
| uedTly OHC-Ildil bhC NONCAhhCh
workers in the Capital City are be
low the $3-a-day grade.
How long will a nation that spends
money freely for public buildings
rivers and harbors, salaries Of it
higher officials, monuments, nationa
parks, and mileage grabs" con
tinue to underpay its helpless clerks
messengers, janitors, and laborers
The full-page story published
in The Times yesterday, giving tn
tragic stories that will be told in tn
printed hearings on the Nolan bill
constitutes an almost unbelievable
indictment Of a rich Government
niggardly treatment Of its employe
and exposes a policy that is not fol
lowed nowadays even by industria
concerns.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17

does seriously reflect upon the fair
ness Of great Government.
The practice is open to objection
for two ends. That IL has never been
made the object Of abuse is trib-
ute to the integrity Of the men who
have accepted such service rather
than to the principle Of the terms Of
employment. It encourages these
employees, even tempts them, to ex-
plot their Government service for
individual ends. For a man to go
abroad and state he is an employe Of
the Government, when he is getting
81 a year for such employment, is
not altogether candid. The Govern
ment should not lay the way open
for such a practice.
But worse than that is the fact
that these employees are really doing
a full days work for the Government,
in many cases, but are deriving their
pay from other sources. The Gov
ernment is placed in the position OF
getting a great deal for nothing,
The more valuable the services OF
these employees, the more disinter-
ested their efforts, the more the Gov
ernment is misrepresenting itself in
taking unto itself the credit for their
employment.
The practice is one for which there
is little excuse, and It would be in
teresting to know how extensively II
In cultivatad.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
Announces Dates for
Civil Service Tests

Examinations to NIL vacancies in the
various Government services were to-
day announced by the United States
Civil Service Commission, as follows:
Assistant in poisonous plant investi-
cations. male. N.5o to 1850 a year.
May IT,
chronological inspector. male, $1,000
to Sl,740 year, May II.
General mechanic. male, $500, May g.
Assistant In water requirement In
vestigatlons, male. Sl,OS0 to $3.50, May
shop apprentice. male, $3.50 to S5IO
May IL.
Instructor in pattern making and
foundry work. male. $500, May II.
Printer. male and female. 60 cents an
hour, June Z and 8.
Heating and ventilating engineer and
craftsman. male, 81. 200, May II and lS
The commission also announces the
postponement to Nav IL OF the exam.
ination for assistant In dry land arbori.
culture male. 500 to 81 500. announced
TO be held April 10.
The Washington times., 1916-04-17
Wants Better Conditions On Street

WbntB better OOnoitlOnb On Oueos
Cars.
To the Editor Of THE TIMES: J..
Arc you interested In the general
health OF your family and friends? IL
you thought there was u livelihood or
their catching somo disease from a
cause which YOU might. by a little ex-
crtion. ncVent, would you use little
exeition and prevent It? or course
you would. and II is In your power to
do just this thing by giving your help
TO secure letter vcntilatlng condi-
tons on the Ninth Street car line.
The tired shopper, probably your
mother, gets on one of these cars on
rtiny afternoon The windows arc
sealed tisht. and "Everyman" as a
germ carrier, must stand or sit should
der to shoulder--and breathe the same
your mother, esks that n window be
raised, and the obliRing conductor
raises one; tho next moment a Strident
voice rsks that II be closed-and tho
conductor must contirLe 10 be Oblig-
ing. Maybe II is. that the latters mot
the con,!uctur'E) spring bonnet VIII be
ruined by the rain drifting N; certain
Il -, that the former must have pure
air to breathe.
We do not ask that your spring bon
net ho left AZ home nor that you must
either rIin your neiehbor'a or 70 with.
out fresh air. What we are asking for
Is action: your help in securing con-
ditiins that will chance ,Nssatlsfac-
ton into ccntcntment and danger into
safety. Are wo asking too much7
HELEN EASTMON.