davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Washington's Appreciation.

Citizens of Washington last night
paid a we'll deserved tribute to Col. WV
Harts. superintendent of public huild-
ings and grounds. at dinner given in
his honor. Col Harris has zealouslv and
effectively promoted the cause of the
capital in the course Of his tour of duty
here. and the appreciation of the people
was expressed last night in speeches that
realizes the good work he has done and
the importance of the foundations he
has laid for future developments With
keen recognition Of the opportunities af
forded here for park facilities. Col.
Harris has worked untirugly and sue
ccssfuliv to the end of improving them
not merely to make the reservations
places of beauty. but to cause them to
ontribute TO the wholesome civic life Of
Washington by affording spaces for
public recreation. He has been especial
ly helpful in his Appearances al tho
Capitol IA explanation aud advocacy
of pians for the development of the
parks. His project for the use OF the
lower Potomac Park would alone call
for expressions uf public approval but
This Is only one of many important
items Of valuable work conducted by
HIN ia the course Of his service in
Washington. Last nights dinner WAS
happily conceived and executed rs a
means Of aftesiing warmly to the public
sense Of olt'gati"n 20 this officer. who
has :" correctly intrrprctrd the spirit
of Washington and 80 zcalonslv set him
self 7" 'bc task Of It's expression in terms
of works.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
GERMANY'S OVERTURES.

From the thi"ag" Post
peace move is that it is rothng more
or less than what the kaiser SO grandly
calls "a gesture"
From tb" Detroit Free Press.
Germauy's offer to discuss peace
terms is the first rift in an unbroken
cloud of horror.
From the 81, Louis Globe uc,norrat
Tact ard gra "iousness are not yet the
dominant qualities of German diplo-
macy.
From the indianapolis News.
No one, surely, can believe that any
terms ut all likely to he submitted by
the entente governments would even be
considered by Germany.
From the Boston Transcript
A poor time to start peace move
ment is when England, like John Paul
Jones. has lust begun to fight
From the brooklyn Eagle.
Germany's eagerness to end the war
Is surpassed only by her eagerness in
beginning it.
From the Philadelphia Record.
|. 1t seems more probable that the all
lies will push the war until. II pos
sible. Germany and its associates shall
ask them what their terms Ire.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

sion, and let the citizens of Boston de-
eide for themselves what sort of town
they want
This is the more interesting when read
in connection with the report men
toned by The Star the other day re-
spceting Mr. Sunday as political
stumper in 1920 in ease Mr.. Bryan is
Nominated for President that year on a
platform featuring prohibition. Would
he he a help or a hindrance then!
There would be a marked difference
between that campaign, conducted on
national lines and bringing into play
the activity of all men Of public spirit
and importance on issues distinctly de
nominated political, and the recent cam
paign in Boston. local in its nature
and with prohibition as Il non political
issue. Voters did not range themselves
on political lines. Republicans and
democrats mingled on the dry side
and republicans and democrats mingled
on the wet side
While Mr. Sunday is not 4 Bostonan
he has a home, and is a citizen of the
United States. And that fact would
make him as free to visit any town i'll
any state in a campaign wear with po-
litical issues under general discussion
as Mr.. Bryan or any other politician.
Having joined the army of Stumpers he
would do as the army did-givc advice
to any and every locality issuing an in
vitation.
On the political stump. Mr.. Sunday. as
The Star stated in its previous notice,
woul! he lively man-as lively as he
is in the pulpit. Politics. even more
than religion has done would bring ont
the resources of q hard hitter with an
adjustable and picturesque vocabulary.
Voters would be adiured. in a great va
riety of terms. to "hit the trail for the
ballot box Do it. and do it now. And
if he won in that field as liberal meas
ure of success as he has had in the
field ha has been tilling. his assistance
would be Of great value
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Revenue.

Mr. Kitchin has gone home for the
holidays frankly confessing that at this
time he has no idea how more revenue
can be raised As it is not likely he
will work out the problem during his
absence he will return III January still
at sea on the subject. If the President
has a plan it is yet to be announced.
He has his hands full Of other things.
and things that may burden him still
more in the near future. If raising
revenue in America were as easy as
raising hades is in Europe we should
all be happy in this country.
Mr.. Garner of Texas. q member of the
ways and means committee has q plan
He would levy horizontal tax of from
10 to Il per cent on all imports except
salt. and says in explanation:
a 10 per cent horizontal tax would
net about 100000 d year at the
present rate of imports. This amount.
added TO the sale of the remaining Pan
anna canal bonds. would meet the
threatened deficit
If this plan is presented to the House,
it will produce a most interesting de-
bate on both sides of the chamber. As
its author and champion, Mr.. Garner
will be kept busy replying to the OBJ
jections raised.
As all revenue measures must orIgi-
nate in the House. the situation there
is disauieting to those who are consider
ing the governments pressing need of
more money. The need exists. and is
confessed by both sides Even in these
DAYS of large figures a deficit approach
ing three hundred million dollars gives
men pause.
At this time the Senate has no sug
gestions to make. howsoever primed it
may he with them. There are democrats
in that body well qualified to handle
the subject from the democratic point
of view Mr.. Underwood is among
them; and in the last Congress he and
the President were in accord. The meas
ure they turned out, it is true. is partly
responsible for the present condition of
things; but it was accepted as the partys
response.to to the tariff pledges made at
Baltimore in 1912.
Later. as usual. after the House has
acted the Senate will act. While it
lacks the power TO originate. the Senate
possesses the power TO amend revenue
measures and ii sometimes exercises
the power in rather heroic fashion. It
did so in the ease of the Underwood
bill. and tinkered il five months before
putting it on its final passage
An empty purse and heavy obiiga-
tions do not make for either comfort or
progress: and such is Uncle Sans pres
ent plight How shall the old gentleman's
difficulties he relievedl
Evening star., 1916-12-24
PRESIDENTS NOTE TO NATIONS

the crime against humanity which was
and is Belgium. But now American
influence for real peace. for just peace.
is abolished.
From the New York American.
We are confident that his eloquent
and admirable words will move tho
warning governments to lay down their
arms and seek to settle at the council
table the differences which the sword
was helpless to settle. 1t is great
and memorable deed you have done.
Mr.. President.
from the Boston Transcript.
If the proffer meets with an unfriend-
Iy reception among the entente allies.
the effects of that unfriendliness will
plague the people of the United States
long after Woodrow Wilson has left
the White House. What he did with
his pen in u day II may take years
for the sword Of his countrymen 10
UNDO.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Oak Leaves for the Somme Fight.

The kaiser has decorated Prince Rup-
precht of Bavaria with the oak leaves
of the Order of Merit for winning the
battle of the Somme. Evidently it is
grand offensive of the allies On the west
ern front has failed This decoration is
accompanied by statement that Prince
Rupprecht's leadership in arresting the
entente attacks in Picardy made the Ger
man destructive blows in Rumania pos
sible. This suggests that if the allies
had been able to press farther into the
German lines On the Somme they would
have compelled the concentration Of
the Balkan campaign could not have
been undertaken. 1t will remain for
historians Of the great conflict to de
termine whether this was the case,
though at first glance it would seem
probable that the gradual 4essening of
the allied offensive III France enabled
that could otherwise not have been
spared.
As the case stands today the allied
drive at the Somme has not availed the
entente powers anything of value. 1t
has been comparable with the German
drive at Nerdun, save that at Eerdun
~ l,s-& Il
while the allies are still i'll possession of
the territory wrested from the Germans
at the Somme. But the possession of
a few square miles of territory. more or
less, is of no consequence to either side
save as some economic or strategic ad
vantage acerues. The possession of Ru
mania has an Importance apart from any
political consequence in the control of
oil and grain fields. There is no eco
nomic advantage in the territories that
may be gained by either side in France
until perhaps the region Of mines is
reached Neither at Nerdun nor at the
Somme has anything been gained or lost
or regaincd of the least value.
( These successive offensive movements
can only be rated as valuable to the re
! spectivc sides in the at-rition that is
1 effected. In the absence of exact figures
I il is impossible to determine whether
as a result of the t~o great western of.
! fensives Of 1916, Nerdun and the Somme,
| Germany or the allies have been actual
| ly weakened. II has already become an
I axiom sin This war that Germany can i'll
afford to lose one man for two lost by
! her enemies, considering the great
sources in man power of Russia and
! Great Britain. This fact must he taken
/ into account IN Judging the value or i'm
/ portauce of any operation or series of
/ operations such as that which the kaiser
! has just officially declared to be "a Ger
/ man victory.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
The Next House.

The situation as to- the next House,
despite the seriousness of rhc subject
has amusing features. Now one side
now the other claims votes enough to
organize the body The division is close
with sevcyal members outside the two
old parties.
If the democrats control, that party's
responsibility for legislation will be
complete, With = democratic President
to recommend = ,d "a democratic Con
gress to pass upon his recommendation
whatever is done will bear that party's
hallmark. Ii IT is good. the party will
gst the praise; if bad, the party viii get
the blame.
On the other hand, if the republicans
control the House, responsibility will be
divided aad compromises on measures
made neSessary. The House might ig
Evening star., 1916-12-24

rrGin the Baltimore American.
Germany prcroSes reare IN the name
of humanity Bitt why this belated in
tercst? There was the Lusitania. TOR
instance.
From th. columbia state.
Coming so soor after their Institii-
lion Ger,nany's peace proposal is rath-
er unconplimentary 10 those arnored
autos.
rror, the r't' 'shrrgh p'spat"h,
The really important thin" is that. at
last the first formal proposal lof the
discussion of peace terms has been
made.
From the BOSTON Globe.
The German government would not
talk peace If it thought II could win
world domination.
From the New York Mail.
Germany could not have found "A more
propitious time to make a tender of
peace.
The possibility that Germany would
conquer the nations Of the entente van
ished long ago. 1t disappeared on the
banks of the Marne.
From the Philadelphia Record.
The reported minimum peace terms
of the allies do not suggest an immedf-
ate cessation of hostilities.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Billy Sunday and Prohibition

While several explanations of the de
feat of the "drys' in Boston are offered
Billy Sunday. The assertion is made
that. instead Of being a help. he was a
hindranec. On the quiet. bat effectively.
ers and the unconvinccd in this WAY ::
"What right has this man tp come in
here and undertake to regulate our local
affairs! He is not one of US. He has
no thought of becoming a Bostonian.
His mission. if he niay bc accredited
with one. is to save souls Religion is
his proper theme; and prohibition s not
. religion. Let him stick to his mis-
Evening star., 1916-12-24

more the Presidents suggestions or go
directly contrary to them, and yet it
would be in the power of the Senate to
take Il course in accordance with the
Presidents wishes. Thus would be pro-
duced a deadlock requiring negotiations
for agreement and concessions by both
sides
The next Congress. as all may see.
will have much important business to
transact. Some of it will relate to and
he amendatory of measures enacted since
the democrats came in. but thrown out
of plumb by the European war. Some
will be on lines altogether new. The
war has not only thrown old things out
of plumb. hut introduced pressing
things until now nnheard or unthought
of In the next few years Congress will
he legislnting for new United States
in lis obligations to itself as a great
nation among great nations. We should,
and will. keep up with the procession.
Al assurance of value is that, how
ever the dispute may be settled the man
in the Speakers chair will be altogether
competent for his duties and representa-
tive of the party to which he belongs.
Mr.. Clark has made good in the place.
and Mr.. Mann has given such evidence
of ability on the floor as minority leader
that his promotion to the chair would be
considered thoroughly we'll deserved
. As is always the ease, there is much
talk about changing the rules in this
and that particular. Changes here and
there could he made to the advantage
If all. But if any changes are made
we shall probably find that, in what
ever has been doue. full care has been
taken to preserve majority control to
the extent of expediting business ac-
cording to the majority's Judgment of
its interests The House is so large a
body, and has so many questions pre-
sented to it. majority rule needs strict
Interpretation.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Toys for the Reckless.

Old "Santy" brings some useless toys
To aid the Christmas charm.
They please the little girls and boys
And hold no hint of harm
Bat mighty, fox tn" cheer dis,aiu
OF engines built of tin
With huge machines they seek to gain
Rcnown mid martial din
Old SANITY" never brought those guns
Nor lethal submarines.
His mind toward gcntler fancy runs
In simple. peaceful scenes
The monster plaything that destroys
With hideous fear is fraugIt
Let's clear away the useless toys
That "Santy" never brought
Evening star., 1916-12-24

From tie. New York Times.
Compliance with the President sug-
cestio preceded it's making. it seems
TO us The belligerents are already In
the way of disclosing to each other
the terms on which they would De
willing to stop fighting. Necessarily.
If anything is to come OF II. they
must make known the guarantees OF
the permanence of peace which they
have in mind
From the IsaAimnre American.
II is but right that the United states,
thrauuh it's President. should use all
the influence at its command 10 heip
forward the peace movement among
:he warning nations OF Europe.
From the New York Tribune.
II only Mr. Wilson could have Walieu
,,utiI there WAS anv Sign that Germany
really sought peace. If only lie couio
have waited until. there was single
fact to show that Germany renounced
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Comparison.

"Lct nae write the songs of II nation
and | care not who writes the laws -
quoted th" patriot
81 don't see so much difference" re
piled Raggirtou Phnkct. "Of course it
may take much longer to write a song
than it takes to writ lrw, but
neither is likely to remain popular very
long"
Evening star., 1916-12-24

The Boy Scouts did fine work in re-
minding people of the way to cross
crowded thoroughfares. During the
holiday crush they might have con-
tributed further assistance to an over
worked police force by reminding shop
pers to beware of pickpoekets.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

During the last three years, say OFF,
continuous and effective
Iiouor and assault has been made
upon the liquor interests
AAuioAo. which have debauched the
Indian race. Increased appropriations
have enabled that office to place in the
field IA corps of detectives, who have be-
come terror to the bootlegger and
drinking man in the Indian country
From the earliest colonial days in
toxicating liquors have been the curse
Of the Indian. Prior to the advent of
the white man he did not know alco-
hol either in distilled or fermented
liquor. 1t was the gift of the white
man to the red man. and since that
time the best element of the former
race has endeaVored to overcome the
evils which have come from it, For
years there have been statutes with
drastic penalties against the sale of in
toXicants to Indians but until the past
few years they have proved almost
dead letters.
According to the elaborate statistics
that are kept by Uncle Sans Indian
ward office during the past three
years, 5ns,sso pints of whisky. beer and
other alcoholic decoctionS have been
contiScat.d and their contents destroy
legged vIolators of the law: and the
courts have assessed fines against con
Victed offenders in an amount practi-
caliE equal to the annual hppropria-
tions of Congress for the support of
this branch of Indian work.
While the strong arm of the Law is
being invoked to prevent the Indian
from obtaining whisky and to punish
the man who provides him with it.
moral awakening is being brought
about through nlore peaceful means.
say those experts who are in charge
Of this special work.
Up to a short time ago many Nlo-
latOrS of the iaW have escaped through
inability of the government to discover
how the intoxicarts were Introduced on
the reservation. but this feature has
been helped by recent legiSlatIoh lhe
ioophoie has been closed by ma KING
the possession of int"Xicants within
The Indian co'-fltrN s''ifo"re ~ is r't't'-
nal Introduction and extending certain
OF her provisions Of the present la" to
cover beer and other rlass"s of InfoNi-
eating LIQUORS not heretofore covered
bv the statute.
With the closing Of saloons. brewer
los etc in III. "drr" sites III" Indian
officials were confronted with other
Evening star., 1916-12-24

"Seasonable weather is always
spoken of with approval during the
holidays. Nevertheless the average cit
izen can be quite content with imitation
snow for Christmas tree purposes.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

For some time after the civil war
the question of the legality of trials
by military courts and COM
Military missions was pending before
the civil courts of this Coun
"is. try. and in December. 1866.
the Supreme Court finally ruled that
such trials were in time of peace not
legal. on this matter The star of
December Is. 1856. says:
THE Supreme Court of the United
States in the case of the Indiana con-
spirators who were tried by a military
commission during the war yesterday
decided against the power of such a
commission to try person not in the
military or naval service in a state
where the ordinary courts of justice
We're open. This decision is very
important one and will doubtless lead
to a great deal of litigation in the
civil courts by persons who have sut-
fered in person or property through
the action of military tribunals. To
be sure. 1t is too late to undo much OF
what has been done. but the civil courts
will have to conform to the ruling OF
the Supreme Court in all cases brought
before them. 1t has always been urged
bv many local citizens whose pa
trintiSm cannot be doubted that the
trial of persons in civil life by military
tribunals was in direct opposition TO
the spirit Of our institutions: but their
action was approved by the loyal
masses as were other measures when
were deemed necessary 70 save the
life of the nation. Had the executive.
upon the incipiency of the revolution
to overthrow the government. and dur
ing the dark and gloomy days or the
war, weakly and tamely opposed only by
regular legal and constitutional means
rebellion which was organized IN de-
Hance Of the Constitution ana laws
such "A course would have been not
only foolish but criminal. resulting IN
the disruption and ruin of the country.
Eut the rebellion having been sup
pressed. It is The duty of the judiciary.
as it is of other branches of the gov
ernment. to de mand and enforce strict
conformity to the laws: to right the
wrongs com,nitted while the nation
was struggling for existence and to
efface. so far as can he done. all traces
of the disorders which We're the natural
results of Il fierce and desolating civil
war.
x
Evening star., 1916-12-24

\ government clerk is required to
support the Constitution, even though
it did not 90 into details so far as to
provide a government pay rol! that will
support the clerk.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
The Real Transaction.

!
"What did you pay for that set of
books"
II didn't pay for the books " replied
Mr. Grn,vchcr "Thev were thrown in.
paid the book agent to 20 away and
give NE u "hanrc tn finish up my work
and play golf
Evening star., 1916-12-24

The exchange editors of Berlin and
Paris must have difficulty in remaining
calm rs they read ottr another's publ
cations.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Chicago has been suffering from 4
shortage in coal, This is one commod-
ity to which household "bovcott'' can
not conveniently apply.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

It would not be pleasant to have that
constant reference to "the verge of
war; transferred to this continent,
since Europe is no longer using it.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

No intimations have as yet been
deemed necessary by Mr.. Bryan that
he is unalterablv opposed to third
term for any President.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

difficulties in connection with the in
PRODUCTION of near beer and the nke.
found their way into the Indian ter
ritory and in some instances. so the
officials found. they contained large
percentages of alcohol and We're merely
substitutes under false names for intoxi-
cants. Various subterfuges were used
which the Indian officials say have
kent our suppression officers extremely
busy" They think. however. that this
practice is also being rapidly closed
up.
The fact has been brought out by
recent studies of the federal childrens s
beau that the
inheritance of child's welfare
Child Welfare. from haeyhood to
grown manhood. is
bound up with industrial conG G,tions
Officials of the bureau have Just re-
Gently completed study of infant NOR
tality in one Of the New England
towns. the evidence of which adds new
proof that when the fathers earnings
are lower or the mothers work out of
the home the infant mortality rate is
exceptionally high. In the town studied
the rate varied from one death among
every four babies where the fathers
earned less than $3.50 a year to one
death among every sixteen babies
where the fathers earned $50 or
more
AS a result Of its investigative work
along this line. the bureau has recently
prepared a statistical study of ma
ternal mortality. and finds that 150no
mothers die year by year in the United
States from largely preventable causes
incident to maternity, and that the
death rate from maternal causes has
not decreased since 1900.
The experts of the bureau have also
recently again taken up the matter of
protecting the child from premature
labor law. according to the officials.
tude of the United States toward that
one third of its population which is
under sixcen years of age. Merely
keeping the breath of life in children
is valueleSs to the nation. these ex-
perts point out. unless they are brought
on to adult life trained masters of their
full powers of body and mind.
Up to this time the bureau has not
been able to ascertain, even in a de-
gree. what proportion of the children
of this country at work are dependent
upon their own earnings. or support
families IN whole or in part. 1t has
not yet aScertained either the number
Of dependent children now supported
by public and private funds. although
1t is probable that this will be taken
up in the near future.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

japan apparently has taken up pre-
parcdncss' rs one vi the incident, of
the new civilization worth considering.