davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
BRITISH LOSS OF OFFICERS

Since the war began the British
army has lost 25,033 officers. The
disproportionate toll of officers to
men began in the first days Of hos
tilities. Every effort has been made
since that time to reduce 1t. Officers
have been stripped Of every indica-
ton of their rank which would be
visible at a distance. Insignia on
cops, sleeves, and shoulders have
been removed, field glasses are con-
cealed, rifles are issued to the off,
GERS, and in every way possible they
are made to look like private SOL
diers. Yet the marksmen "get"
them.
No doubt detection is inevitable
when the troops are in sight, because
Of their movements and bearing,
made necessary by their duties. 1t
is safer to be a private than his su-
perior, notwithstanding the popular
impression to the contrary.
Britain's loss in officers is $4,000;
our whole army available for service
in the United States and Mexico ia
$4,000. We might enFoll volunteers
and make privates Of them, Of some
sort, in six months. But you can't
make an officer in six months. This
is one of the many things we have
to consider about preparedness.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
has rHR veRouN TIDa TURNED,

Almost all the commentators are
now Of opinion that verdun will not
be taken by the crown princes Ger
man forces. That much, once estab-
lished, would mean a very important
French victory. II the unparalleled
efforts put forth at verdun shall not
break the allies line, It may be as
sumed pretty safely that II will not
be broken elsewhere in any such
fashion as TO make Paris safety
doubtful.
Since April 8 II has appeared that
the offensive has passed to the
French; and today's dispatches from
Berlin pretty unanimously tell Of the
repulse Of French attacks. This Is
decidedly different from the stories
that Berlin was giving the world a
few weeks ago; not only were the
Germans doing the attacking, but
they were making gains. Now they
admit that the initiative Is with
General Petain, and the French dis
patches insist that gains are making.
The French must have, by this
time, a considerable advantage in
available material, II not in numbers
Of troops. Never has such profit
gate use Of war material been under
taken as that by the Germans since
February FL, in the Verdun move
ment. All reports save some occa-
sional fragments from Berlin, have
agreed that the German losses in
personnel have been vastly the
greater. The French strategy has
been to conserve men and material,
even at the expense of small conces-
sions in ground; and it has been ex-
ecuted as relentlessly as was like
program in the retreat from Mons
The time seems to have come for a
turn, as 1t did at the Marine; and il
so, the world may see substantial
results from the allies offensive
such as were not possible at the
Marine because the allies did not YET
possess an advantage, nor even ar
equality, in men or material.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
SENSE AND NONSENSE ABOUT
TELEPHONES

Not all the gentlemen who believe
that the price of a commodity or of
a service can be regulated by law
come from Kentucky. Ben Johnson,
apostle of gasolene at so much per
gallon by act of Congress, has fol-
lowers in various necks O. woods.
Even some citizens associations in
Washington, deliberations of which
usually are marked by intelligent
understanding of causes and effects,
occasionally fly off at tangent and
indicate that they regard the law of
supply and demand as an archaic
economic furbelow.
Reports state that one citizens
body passed resolutions to urge the
Public Utilities Commission to fix
the monthly charge for a telephone
at ST. and minimum of cent for
each call. Contained in the same
RESOLUTION is a plea that the tele-
Bhone systems be put on the same
basis as other utilities, that the in.
struments be sold, not rented, to the
Users, and that meters be affixed to
the telephones t. indicate the num-
Der of calls made.
With the last portion of this Piles
there may be wide sympathy, anG
the suggestions are worth consider
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Laborer's Wife Pleads For Higher
Wages For Workers On Railroads.

To the Editor of THE TINES:
While this great fight Is on TO secure
better wages foy the Government en-
ployes. owing to the high cost'of living.
what Is to be done for the railroad men,
especially the car cleaners, who work
from a. m. until p. m. for IL cents
per hour. with no sick leave or vacation
time allowed them? During the sum-
mer months they are allowed to work
only nine or ten hours a day. Out OF
this small sum they are compelled 10
pay N.50 month TO the railroad in
surance.
Nearly all OF these men are trying to
raise families on these starvation
wages.
is II any wonder that the children OF
the laboring class OF people have to be
taken out of school as soon as they are
any size to help make livingf N the
would have healthier children. happier
homes ana less crime.
Sunday night l attended church, and
the preachers text was, "a Question OF
the Times" One line from his sermon
war. ut IL h. to be poor" and
certainly agree with him there.
i would like to take my hat on to Mr..
Nolan for being the author OF this most
remarkable bill providing that hereafter
this Government shall not pay any en-
pioye less than 80 a day.
| sincerely hope this may come to pass
in the near future.
wish that all laborers might receive
an honest wage for an honest days
work. WIFE OF A LABORER,
Washington, April ~.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
THE ANTnR AcITe TUATIoN

After more than two months Of
negotiations, the representatives Of
the anthracite miners and the oper-
ators in the anthracite field have
given up, for the time at least, the
effort to reach agreement of wages
and working conditions. The split
is on the question Of the closed shop.
The operators have offered to re-
duce working hours from nine to
eight, and to increase wages per
cent. The miners insist that in ad-
dition to This the operators shall as
sumo the business of collecting fines,
dues, assessments, etc., for the
union; and that these shall be COL
lected not only from some $4,000
men who belong to the union, but
from $4,000 more who do not.
The question of the closed shop
was prominent in the arbitration in.
stituted by President Roosevelt in
1902, and the decision was against
it. The operators are now standing
by the terms, in this regard, that
were fixed at that time; terms under
which until now the industry has
been conducted to the satisfaction OF
the men and the operators alike
That settlement was generally re.
garded as fair to all parties. The
present demand that it be modified
in SO important q regard seems un'
reasonable and unjustifable.
A tie-up in the anthracite fielc
would be a calamity to the country
for coal stocks available are yer,
low. The freight congestion in re
cent months has been in part respon
sible for this situation. 1t will b
a tremendous misfortune for tn,
country, the operators and the mel
if a crisis is reached in which tn,
miners walk out; and it is incon
ceivable that such a result will b,
permitted.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Says Fire Automobiles Should Be
Provided With Bells.

To the Editor OF THE TIMES
At last the expected has happened.
man has probably lost his life be-
cause OF tho desire OF the fire DEPART
ment TO see how high a speed II can
attain.
When the chief and deputy chiefs Of
our fire department had their horse
and little buggy they managed to get
TO n fire In time. But now with their
automobiles they must "hy!" 1 have
seen deputy chiefs travel at such
speed they could hardly be dis
Now that our FIRE department has
so far advanced that speed IL the
thing. at the risk OF life, why not let
the IRE department and the various
chiefs use the old familiar bell. the
sound OF which can be recognised Tor
blocks. instead OF the horn which Is
confusing with other automobile
horns: The adoption OF the bell will
dents as that OF last week.
Please. why - II necessary for the
chief or deputy chief for that matter.
TO travel at such speedT Do they
think the fremen who respond to n
fire on the hose carriage or engine
when they reach the FIRE would sit on
the curb and await the arrival OF their
chief before attacking the fire, and
likewise what good would IL do for the
nre chief to arrive ahead OF the ap-
Washington. ApriI n
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
DRAWING AMERICAS TOGETHER

1t will not escape attention that
the countries Of the Americas are
fast being drawn together in new
league Of sympathy and common
purpose with regard TO the Old
Worlds war. From Chile, Brazil,
and Argentina, especially, have come
repeated testimonies that the leader
ship Of the United States in main
tanning the neutrality and insisting
on the rights Of American countries
is thoroughly appreciated. The South
American countries have come to
realize what It means to them to be
partners Of the great northern re-
public, which the world naturally re-
CARDS as their leader and protector.
Brazil has been profoundly at
fected by the fact that It's mother
country, Portugal, has openly joined
the cause Of the allies. When Portu-
gal seized the informed German ship
ping in its ports, there was prompt
demand in Brazil that the same
course be adopted there. In the other
South American countries real pub
lie opinion has been getting better
vocalization than it gets in Spain,
where the ruling class is to large
extent Of German sympathy. The
Latins of South America lean toward
the allies; France and Italy have
given direction to their sentiments,
rather than the decadent aristocracy
Of old Spain.
One Rio journal fatty declares
that all indications point to the evo-
luton of the neutrals toward war,
and that it is impossible that the
United States will back down. An
other says that solidarity of the New
World is now such that should &C.
casion arise all the governments on
this side would without reserve sup
port President Wilson.
These are significant signs. They
tell US that real progress has been
made in establishing an entente, a
true understanding, among the
American nations. The United States
is no longer suspected or distrusted,
as for many years it was. It's good
faith toward the minor republics is
accepted as a matter of course. Its
preponderant sympathies, in the
worlds crisis, are found to run par
allel to the sentiments Of the other
American countries; and from this
realization will assuredly flow conse-
quences Of high Importance and long
continuance.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Tns IRISH "RRBELLIoN"

The abortive invasion Of the west
coast of Ireland by Sir Roger Case
ment in a German ship with German
arms and supplies; the combined
North Sea attack by German Zeppe-
Inns and war vessels and the out
breaks in Dublin-called, forsooth, q
rebellioa-all point to German pre-
arrangement for such strokes in con-
cert.
Nothing. could have been sillier.
IL Sir Roger Easement had succeed
ed in getting ashore he couldn't have
done anything to arouse the people
to- rebellion; the Irish themselves
would have taken care Of him. II
the Dublin rioters had been more
numerous than they were they
couldn't have done anything; the
Msh themselves would have taken
care Of them, too.
A handful of men could seize the
New York postoffice or the city
hall or both. It wouldn't be diff
cult thing for a handful of men to
Interfere with the telephone and
telegraph connections of big city.
But they wouldn't last very long
at such business; and, with the Irish
people as strongly, as CALAMITY, as
Splendidly against the German war
machine as. the bravest and the
Hoblest of all the brave and noble
men who are on the battlefields OF
Europe, Easement must have been
mad to let the German plotters use
him for such tool as they made OF
him to no possible purpose but an
indelible blot on his own name.
The German war machine plotters
must have been made to think that
such a puny, miserable affair as the
whole thing was-North Sea raid
west coast attack, and Dublin out
break-could achieve anything but tc
make laughingstocks out Of the vic
Tins who were sent to such folly snt
to arouse Ireland more than ever II
send her men and to shed her bloot
in the cause which is the cause o.
all civilization, to which no peopl,
have been more devoted, could b,
more devoted, than the mer of Ire
land battling, 100000 strong, il
France and Flanders, in Serbia ant
Saloniki, in Egypt and Mesopotami'
wherever there is fighting agains
German and Austrian, Bulgar ant
Turk.
What fools these military in
triguers in Berlin always have beef
with everything they have touche,
from the first day to the last!
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
year since the company was formed:

Judge Gary, chairman of the cor
poration's board, declined to make
any statement concerning the prob
able future of the steel business, be-
arsn of the uncertain international
conditions. But he pointed out that
the company now has little available
CAPACITY for the rest of 1916, while
orders have been booked for delivery
we'll into 1917.
It is worth while to consider how
the American iron industry compares
to others in the world. Before the
war Germany was producing as much
pig iron as France and England to-
gether; she is now in possession Of a
much greater capacity than those
two countries together, by reason of
holding the Belgian and French steel
regions. Yet the capacity of the
United States is equal to that of all
three countries together.
This, of course, does not point any
definite conclusion about what will
happen after the wars end. But II
is very certain that Europe will, fol-
; some time after the war, need all
the iron it can produce for purposes
of rebuilding and restoration; To
make new ships, erect new buildings
restore railroads that will have beer
worn down to the last limit of oper'
ating possibility. The United States
may be called upon to provide a goot
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
THE HUGE STEEL EARNINGS

The future Of the iron and steel
industry of this country may be
imagined from its present condition,
as shown by the report, just issued,
for the first quarter of 1916. In
that three months period the corpor-
alton showed net profits of $60,713,-
900. This is by far the greatest
quarterly showing of earnings in the
history of the company.
How great is the increase is shown
by these figures, giving the earnings
in the corresponding quarter of each
year since the company was formed:
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Washington Readers
To Honor Shakespeare

The Washington Readers Club will
hold a dinner this evening at the Uni
versity Club. to celebrate the SOoth ami
versary OF Shakespeare death.
A notable program has been arranged.
A number Of the members OF the club
have been on the professional stage.
The plans were in the hands OF COM
mittts made up OF Mrs. Claude n. Ben
nett, chairman; Mrs. William K. Cham
berlsIn. Mrs. ]. Leyjen White, Maurice
JArvts, and Frank b. Maxwell.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

deal Of the steel for these uses; II
II is not, IL will have TO take care Of
the world-demand in other quarters.
that commonly has been supplied
from Europe. There is every rea-
son therefore to assume that the
steel business Of this country will
90 on expanding after as well -as
during the war.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

was another member or Tho Colony"
who did not take a similar experience
In the same spirit.
She. too, was falsely accused OF speak.
Ing against Germany; and wi was swicS
lime she was told that. II complaints
against her were repeated. she must
prepare for the worst. She did: She
cat in window where she could see
distance on. She had decided that. II
she saw a policeman coming to arrest
her. she would commit suicide.
AS 1t turned out, the policeman did
from a very high source, apologizina
for the mistake that had been made
And later her feeling was somewhat
softened when she learned that the
whole affair had sprung from the NAL.
ice OF a personal enemy.
But" asked Prussian friend after
ward, III you had n clear conscience.
why should you bave taken 1t all so
lie :, mniled her. OF all 'he EIent
PrusS,ans who had been under surveil-
lance by the police. from scharnhorst
and Gneisenau. the generals who I'D
poleon. down to the Socialist. and even,
Reichstag leaders. ffe seemed to have
an idea that she should feel hattered
Her attitude appeared to him TO be an
extravagant exaltation of the idea OF
personal privacy.
Ore Important American.
There was a man who came to Berlin
not long ago. / don't know what his
business was. But for the purposes OF
this visit, he was not merely an Arneri-
can. He was America.
Not that he staggered ana boasted.
On the contrary, he was aimost.nous
like He spoke so list i;, that me Ger
thing he did say must be highly I'M
portant. They courted him as II he
wers President Wilson himself. They
argued with him for hours about tina
He never argued. He listened. And
whenever his acquaintances among tire
German officials and diplomats would
point. he would reply. with sympa.
thetic smile:
OF view. But you see In america they
would reply to you by pointing out QUIZ ,Sa,
combined the most impressive charac'
teristerics OF Metternich and Disraeli,
he would state the American point OF
view in the most offensive form to Ger
man pride. And they listened polite.
ly! with a humility that was almost
| touching. He was from the Middle West.
There is still another type OF Amer
lean I'm Berlin. One OF them, with q
most un-German name, got to the fir.
ing line and went into battle. He had
been wounded and had received an iron
cross before the proper authorities
caught up with him..
They told him, as he lay on his back
on the hospital bed. Extraordinarily
speaking--he was not there. For the
lazaret was only for German soldiers
and he-again speaking officially-had
never been a German soldier, since II
was forbidden for foreigners to serve
lin the German army.
But they didn't take away his irol
J eross-not even officially. =
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
The Difference Between Work and


Labor.
To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
I believe II Is all right to pav un-
skilled laborers 81 day. but. unless
Drawn In worth as much rs brains. a
skilled laborer Is worth more than an
unskilled Iaborer.
Bricklayers get more than hodcarrlers.
and plasterers get more than the men
who mix and deliver mortar. That Is as
II should he because brickiayers and
plasterers are skilled laborers and hod-
carriers are unskilled laborers.
Someone might saw that bricklayers
and plasterers are mechanics. and me-
chanics are not skilled laborers.
A mechanic Ii a skilled workman. and
there Is not much difference between a
skilled workman and a skilled iaborer
Labor is toll or exertion. physical or
mental" Work Is physical or intel
lectual effort directed to some end"
Three dollars q day would mean a
raise amounting to Mt least 20 DER cent
of the salary OF everv unskilled laborer
In tho Government service. and some
of them would then get twice as much
as they are getting now. Would IL be
fair to give to the unskiiled laborers a
raise amounting TO from 80 to 100 DER
cent OF their present salary. and give to
the clerks and skilled laborers little or
no raise at all7
I believe that every unskiiled laborer.
man or woman. who Is getting sss0 or
less a year should be raised to at least
$500 year. providing they work seven
week and that CLERKS and skilled la
borers who are getting more than $500
a wear. working seven or eight hours a
| day. six days In a week. should be given
raise Of s2Ao Sss nr;;,N .>,.c,,,uz
Washington. April II.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
MAIL BAG
(From The FINES Readers)

Communications 20 the Mail Has must
only; must not exceed 900 words In
length, and must be siEned with name
and address Of sender. The publication
OF letters IN The Times Mall Beg does
OF the opinions OF the writer. The Mail
Bag u an open forum. where the cft-
xens OF washington can argue most
questions.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Agrees With Times Stand In Favor
Of Using Schools As Meeting

Places.
To tho Editor Of THE TIMES:
heartily concur In your editorial OF
today entitled Mistakes Of the Govern
ment." The people should have the
right to meet at any time in the school
buildings (when not In use for school
pnrposes) for the discussion OF any and
all questions affecting the public well
fare. and as you so aptly state 1.-THE
community will settle the matter by
going TO them or staying away"
one specific room (the children's play
room, perhaps. would be best should
be designated In each building for
Forum purposes. when twenty or more
persons living nearest n particular
school building shall apply for use OF
the same TO discuss matters of interest
expense OF the janitor's services should
he borne by the persons present at the
meeting. They should proceed by the
election. of chairman and secretary,
who should be In charge and responsible
10 the Board OF Education for order
and decorum
I hesitate to make comparison with
ether organizations. such as the many
citizens associations, but do not think
they are democratic enough; they often
reflect the personal views of onlx a
few leaders IN them. who control COM
mittees. etc, while a forum can be
made to voice the sentiment every man
and woman In each school neighbour
hood IL conducted impartially.
outspoken advocacy Of giving the people
LORENZO q. WAKEFIELD.
Washington, April II.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
WHAT'S ON PROGRAM
IN CAPITAL TODAY
Meetings Of Societies and Clubs.
Amusements at. Capital
Playhouses.


ihu,u s,, lecture haIpn stone; OF 1eolem-
cal survey. Tor benent OF the FRANKLIN
Hone and school Association, Thomson
school, Tweifth ana IL streets northwest.
SD. m.
Reception, Woman's Evening Clinic. 10
Thirteenth street northwest, 4 to %. m.
ueetins American Oriental socIstv. audi
torium New NationaI Museum an : \,
ana q p M
,,.-.. M.,r., ~ p.rx.~ r.S.. ~. ., -
D"" e. h:n.es "a a. t,,,,S,o. g,,a'
h.na,,.t ,oom Northsast M.son,c T.mnis
90 - "a - - N"r'N'
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

Villa probably realizes now the
martyrdom of fame. Undoubtedly he
would like to retire to the private
life of looting railroads and butcher
ing ranchmen.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

This ought to be a test of jap
anese friendship. The Waseda base
ball team invades the country about
the time the California issue shows
symptoms Of warming up.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26
Americans in Berlin
Always Pack Trunks
WheneperNOte Comes
Members of Colony" Prepared to Leave at Once If
US. Should Break With Germany-Must Ever
Be On Guard Against REASONABLE
Utterances.
By GILBERT HIRsCH.

by q
BERLIN April 2There has been another packing Of trunks in
Berlin-American trunks.
There breahss waiting for the telephone bell ring
For months since Ambassador Gerard got the telephone
Of all Americans resident Berlin II he calls them up
the trunks will be locked.
So much have the Americans assaed Of German efficiency!
npacng always happens whenever submarine being
considered.
There deal be done when have to leave place
where you have been living for fifteen years.
There is the lease on the apartment
There all your furniture soe-unless course you
sublet.
MUSICIAN MUST BREAK OFF.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

One Of the worst features of this
favorite son situation is the number
of speeches that will come out Of
Chicago nominators.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

Germany, says a dispatch, has a
periscopeless submarine. That will
not do her any good until she gets
bronzeless torpedo.
The Washington times., 1916-04-26

Now il some one will run on a
platform providing optional change
of your day off when it rains, we
know Of one vote he'll get.