davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
Military Training

[From the Philadelphia lnquirer1
That the sentiment for military
training in the public schools of this
CITY is pronounced and widespread was
demonstrated by the interest shown at
the hearing given before the commit
tee of the Board of Education the 9TH
er day It was pointed out in the
course of the addEesses that the mill
tary training. which is part of the
education of the youth of that country,
was one of the important factors In
preserving the neutrality of Switzer-
land during the present war in Europe.
The fact that the male population is
trained and physically fit to protect
a country is the strongest kind of an
argument in favor of compelling the
respect of a possible adversary. Sup
pose for a moment that Switzerland
was in the same state of unprepared-
ness as China. How long would 1t be
respected by the belligerents of Eu-
rope? Not very long. 1t is safe to say.
And yet because it has the prudence
and the patriotism to be ready to de-
fend itself, this little country looms
larger in the minds of men than the
mighty Chinese empire with its popu-
lation of hundreds of millions.
The arguments against military
training in the Philadelphia schools
are puerile and unconvincing. For in
stance, the physical instructor COM
plains that II would require the SER
vices of additional instructors. Well,
suppose IT does, and suppose, for the
sake of argument, that 1t will require
financial outlay on the part of the
Board of Education? Won't it be worth
all that II costs, and more besides?
New York has just reached the con-
clusion that the youth of the land
must be developed and trained to pro-
tect themselves and their families.
Governor Whitman has placed the seal
of his approval upon laws which prac-
ticalIy introduce compulsory military
training into that State. New York
has taken a positive stand and the
time is not distant when Philadelphia
and Pennsylvania will have to join
in this highly important movement.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
WEST SHORE ACTIVITIES

TINE citizens of Washington
Heights are considering the mat
ter of incorporating themselves
into a borough or of annexing them
selves to Camp Hill. Back of this
movement is a wholesome desire cor
civic betterment The population of
the community is growing steadily and
township government is no longer
considered adequate. The property
owners do not want their town to grow
up in hit-or-miss fashion and they de-
sire a proper return for their taxes.
This is extending the thought of city
planning to the rural districts, a mat
ter that is just now commanding the
attention Of municipal experts every
where, for the growing suburb soon
becomes part of the city itself. What
is good for the city is, therefore, good
for the suburb. to a limited degree.
and the people of Washington Heights
are wise in taking up their problems
in this line before they become press
irg. The whole West Shore from
EDola to New Cumberland is bound,
in the course of a very few years, to
become one great. thriving city, and
now is the time to see that its plans
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
Cooperation and Cleanup
Erpt,, Tho Dh{I,IaINhi, l

But it will not do for the citizen
who would have a spotless town to
sit back or stand aside. relying upon
some impersonal power to come by
night, like the pixies in the fairy tale.
and do all the work. 1t is always so
easy to prate that they" ought to do
this and that and the other thing, in
stead of bringing the duty home to
oneself and the first personal pronoun.
Men with sweeping machinery and
maids with mops' might busy them
selves proGigiously, and an army of
thoughtless householders could nullify
their efforts. If paper blows about
the streets. who put the paper there?
If ashes and garbage are spilled right
and left, is it always the careless fault
of the collector? Some people SEEM
ingly expect a vacuum cleaner to
travel in their train and obliterate the
rubbish that they make on picnics and
excursions. If n park belongs to the
population at large, and not simply to
the authorities, it is the property for
the public to conserve as well as en-
joy. Cleanup week is not a cele-
bration, but a cooperation. 1t is a
chance for the citizen to help the city
no matter who is professionally paid
to remove the rubbish.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
A Jury Properly Chosen

No recent criminal case has been
more discussed than that of Waite,
who was put on trial accused of mur-
der yesterday. The audacity of the
alleged crime, the large sums of money
at stake, the circumstances of the
young mans life aroused the greatest
interest. Yet a jury was obtained in
a single session of the court, and the
prosecution was able to open in this
afternoon. The twelve satisfactory
jurymen were found among the first
fifty-siX talesmen called, and four
ftfths of those summoned were re-
leased at the luncheon hour.
These facts speak well for the jury
system as it is now administered in
this jurisdiction. In the past there
have been notorious delays in the
selection of juries, discrediting the
methods followed and exposing the
courts to ridicule and adverse criti-
cism. Such delays are unnecessary,
as has been demonstrated in Justice
Shearn's court and if they occur here
after the public will know they are
due not to faults of the system but to
mismanageme in Its application.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
a CENSORIoUs CRITIC

a CENSORIOUS newspaper critic
N out in Arkansas raises an edi-
torial storm over the announce
ment from Washington that President
Wilson attended a circus not long
since.
Very likely this same editorial
writer, armed with a handful of
passes, ducked his office duties many a
time on circus day, bundled his wife
and children into his Ford-aIl Ar
kansas editors are popularly supposed
to have gasoline buggies-and hied
away to the showgrounds. Most edf-
tors do that, and then blame it on the
children. But the President has no
youngsters and the grandchildren are
all too young. He makes no excuse.
therefore. except that he wanted to
see the circus.
The Telegraph has been casting
about for, 10, these many months to
find some particularly praiseworthy
thing for which to commend the Pres
ident. just to prove that even in the
heat of a partisan campaign it is not
biased in its opinions. It is happy to
take UP the cudgels in his behalf in
this instance. It knows of nothing the
President has done since his inaugura-
tion that will meet with such general
approval as this circus-going incident.
on this issue we most heartily endorse
him.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25

roads amounting to half that sum an
1t is upon this rock that burns, this
coal of great hardness, that has been
built that remarkable community
which supports such towns as Scran-
ton, Wilkes Barre, Carbondale. Halle
ton, PottSVille and a dozen others. All
of these towns are pitched in little
valley which, roughly speaking, is five
miles wide and 65 miles long-a val
ley which probably produces more
wealth than any other similar area in
the world.
All the anthracite coal in the world
is in this little valley During all
the ages, when the geologic forces of
the past were working to fashion the
world of the present, there was ap-
parently but one spot where conditions
were such as TO form this black rock
that burns. Soft coal is far-flung,
but anthracite exists here only in
marketable quantities.
Beneath the floor of this valley there
are from eight to twelve layers of coal,
from two to twenty feet thick, and
running down nearly two thousand
feet. on the surface are green fields,
trickling streams, thrifty villages. Be
meath them all are tier after tier of
mining operations, tens of thousands
of miners working at different depths,
a maze OF shafts and tunnels, of rail-
road systems, of drainage operations,
of artificial Misunderstanding ant
hills of human industry that do not
appear at the surface.
once every mile or so huge, sheet
iron building raises its head. It
might be a big grain elevator ten
stories high. In reality it is a "break-
err" Near it is a shaft that leads deep
into the earth and from which tunnels
run in all directions at all levels on
which there is coal. Up this mas
ter shaft the coal from all levels for
a mile around is sucked. A huge belt
carries it to the very top of the break
er. There the great chunks of black
rock are smashed into usable sizes.
The coal passes down over screens
and through chutes, in order to sift
out the rock, clean, grade and assem-
BILE the marketable product. Twelve
great railroad systems have been built
that the product of these mines might
be hauled to market
1t is a remarkable community that
has been built up about these break
ers. The descendants of the families
who lived here as modest farmer folk
before the coal days, nave mostly
grown wealthy by selling to the min
Continued on Page Il
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
The Incredible Thing
TErpr, the New YORK. Sur, |

Colonel Roosevelt's entire interest in
the present campaign is to make sure
that in the White House we shall have
Americanism instead of Humanity"
Preparedness instead of Pacifism. vigor
and resolution instead of watchful
waiting.
Everything that should not be in
the White House is there now, in
Colonel Roosevelts patriotic opinion.
in the person of Woodrow Wilson.
Colonel Roosevelt put President
Wilson in the White House four years
ago by breaking the solid Republican
vote.
He knows now what he did then.
Nobody else has described with such
absolute candor the deplorable conse-
quences of his own stupendous mis-
take in 1912.
Is it not inconceivable that knowing
what he now knows of DR.. Wilson,
and saying what he now says of DR..
Wilson, Colonel Roosevelt should de-
liberately repeat his performance of
1912?
1t is not inconceivable that under
any circumstances he should so act at
Chicago as to insure the reelection of
DIR. Wilson for four years more of
executive power?
Colonel Roosevelt could only do that
If his motive were personal instead of
patriotic, if he thought of himself first
and his country afterward. The sup
position insults him.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
TELEGRAPH PERISCOPE

The U. s Bureau of Education
says that Newark pupils like to go to
school twelve months a year, but it is
safe to say that this conclusion was
not reached by a popular vote
The only thing certain about the
Chicago convention is that its results
are very uncertain.
This. it would seem, is a very good
time for the Germans to conclude the
French were not bluffing about the
impregnability OF Verdun.
Now that benzoI promises some
relief from the high cost of gasoline,
we suppose John d. will start right
in and buy up all the coke ovens.
Our idea OF recklessness is to go
into restaurant overheated and eat
a softshell crab under an electric fan.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 25.
COMMISSION sHORTCONnNGs

a MONG the third class cities of
"A the State, including Harrisburg,
there is increasing dissatisfaction
with the commission form of govern
ment. After a brief trial of the new
tangled scheme of municipal admins
tration most of the cities have come to
the conclusion that they jumped out
Of the frying pan into the fire, so to
speak, when they changed to the
present form Of five commissioners.
This alleged reform was the result
of a demand for a more centralized
and responsive kind of administration,
a system which would place respon-
sibility upon the individual and that
would disclose discrepancies when
they occurred without waste of time
or effort.
Admitting some little Improvement
in this direction, the evils which have
grown out of the new system are in
finitely greater than its benefits. First
of all, public interest has waned, and
that is the most serious phase of the
matter. When the people themselves
cease sto have real interest in the dis
charge of public duties, the officials
who are their servants will certainly
lose that enthusiasm which is almost
as necessary as other qualities sup
posed to be requisite to efficient public
service.
Nor has there been any less political
wire-pulling as a result of the new
ha
of municipal administration seem to
have been aggravated by the new form
and the fact that only five men are
interested in conducting the govern
ment of the city destroys that measure
of popular support which is needed TO
maintain general interest in admins
tration.
1t is quite probable that the next
Legislature will be asked to make i'm
portant changes in the law. Many
weak spots already have been re-
vealed in working out the experiment
and cities which were the most hone
full of satisfactory results are now
among the most vigorous objectors to
the new scheme. 1t is believed that a
single council of seven or nine men,
bers comprising high-minded, public
spirited and unselfsh citizens, serving
without pay. would be more effective
arrangement. Under this plan the
salaries which are now paid the COM
missioners would go to the superin-
tendents of departments, who would
be operating officials under control
of council.
Such an arrangement would over
come the loss sustained In the abolition
of the Board of Public Works, the
Park Commission and other bodies
which previously served without pay,
but which rendered Harrisburg and
other cities operating under the old
system invaluable service.
Governor Brumbaugh is known to
be making study of the municipali-
ties of the State and doubtless will be
in position to submit such recon-
mendations to the Legislature as will
form some basis of action in applying
remedies for existing shortcomings of
the commission government.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
THE ANTHRACITE COUNTRY
.HE minors and operators seem to T
By Frederic ]. Haskin

TIME miners and operators seem to
have adjusted their differences.
- at the time this is written and
the work of the great anthracite mines
is going forward as usual. The
threatened strike has called attention
for a moment to one of the most re-
marlSable sections of American indus
trial life. For the mining of anthra-
cite coal is an all-American story,
which had its beginning back in the
days when the farmers of Schuylkill
discovered that the black rock would
burn, and which has grown great with
the nation.
A hundred and forty years ago no
one knew of the existence of anthra-
cite coal But long before that time
eastern Pennsylvania was compara-
lively populous and sturdy farmers
TILED the lands in the valleys of the
Schuylkill and the Wyoming. The
farm lands were not of the best and
there were many outpourings of a
hard black rock that interfered with
their plowing.
1t was just before the Revolution
that hunter was lost one night on n
chilly mountain-side near the Schuyl-
kill. He built fire beneath a stump
and dozed off. When he awoke in
the morning he found that the stump
had burned away, but, to his surprise,
the broken ledge of black rock just
above it had been transformed into a
glowing bed of coars. The rock, in
fact, had caught fire and was burn
ing.
The hunter carried the story of the
burning rock to Obadiah. Core, a
blacksmith of Wilkes Barre and Oba-
diah put some of the black rock of
his pasture into his forge and il
burned. 1t was half a generation
later that Judge Jesse Fells, of Wilkes
Barre, used this black rock as fuel
in the manufacture of nails. 1t was
another half a generation before To-
cal enthusiasts floated two barge loads
of this rock coal down to Philadel-
phia and offered it ror sale. 1t was
tried by several householders without
success and finally broken up and
used for graveling garden walks.
1t was less than a century ago that
these pioneers in the anthracite
region built a CRATE that made it pos
sible to get sufficient draft beneath
this hard coal to make it burn. This
was the forerunner OF all those hun
dreds of thousands of furnaces that
burn only anthracite coal. 1t was
the thing that built an industry in
which is invested 81 billion dollars,
which yields 4 hundred million a year,
and which produces freights for rail
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
The Reckless Drivers
tFrom the Kansas city Star.

IT TOW INC hdHsds CITY 6IaT.I
Every Monday morning people Won
der as they pick up the paper how
many persons were killed in motor car
accidents Sunday. 1t has come to be
expected that a day of general driving
will produce death list. And the rea-
son is speed-speed with its frequent
complication of booze. Accidents dom [
happen with the car under control. 1t
is when the driver hits it up" that he
endangers not only his own car and
passengers, but everybody he meets on
the road.
Conditions are reaching point
where as matter of public safety IT
is going to become the duty of persons
to report every case of reckless driving
that they see. Certainly 1T is essen
tial that reckless drivers who are ar
rested should be punished. Every
such driver is a possible homicide
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
Peeittc4 tM
Pe~~oqeOo~io
W the Ex-Committeeman

The Brumbaugh headquarters 20.
day declined TO MAKE any statement
regarding Governor Brumbaugh's con-
test for head of the Republican dele
cation to Chicago aside from saying
that quite a few replies had been re-
ceiVed to the requests for support sent
out by the Governor yesterday.
This request of the Governor for
the delegation craftsmanship in .he
Statewide factional contest means
that the primary election, in the minds
of the respective leaders. did not settle
the questions of party supremacy and
leadership. Therefore. it is planned
to settle it by lining up a majority of
the delegates either for the Governor
decide the craftsmanship, which car
ries with it. at least on the floor of
the convention, the titular leadership
of the party in the State.
Aside from that. the chairman is
important for these reasons: He
speaks for the delegation on the Iloor
OF the convention; he virtually con-
trolls the selection of the States repre-
sentation on the convention commit
tees, such as platform and credentials;
he appears as the leader of his State
and becomes perforce a vital factor in
all conferences in which the great
issues are discussed and often decided
for the convention as a whole.
Senator Penrose said last night he
had not the slightest doubt he would
be chosen. The Governors friends
likewise were optimistic. Penrose
leaders asserted that more than fifty
of the seventy-siX delegates would
favor the Senator Replies which
each received to the kilograms asking
for support indicated that lines al
ready had been established that would
hardly be broken, according to news
paper reports to-day.
In some cases, of course, noncom-
initial attitude was assumed which
Penrose construed as favorable to
him. For example, William Potter,
whom both factions claim as their
ally, and who is an uninstructed dele
gate from the Sixth district. in Phila-
delphia. said last night that there
would be plenty of time to answer the
questions as to the craftsmanship when
the official count had been completed.
Senator McNichol. an uninstructed
delegate from the Second district, said
he did not answer either the Gov
ernor's or the Senator's telegram. He
for Senator Penrose. Congressman
Ware. on the other hand, promptly re-
piled to the Governor, assuring him of
his full support.
A touch of the dramatic was lent
to the Governors telegraphic cen-
paign by the fact that his messages
were delivered to the delegates about
/ o'clock yesterday morning. Senator
Penrose's followed shortly afterward.
There was much speculation over the
simultaneous efforts of the rival con-
testants. Senator Penrose's telegram
simply asked for a vote for the chair
manship. The Governor gave his rea-
sons for asking. as noted in the fol-
lowing copy of his message:
Having received n substantial
preferential and a large vote as dele
gate-at-large. I respectfully ask your
vote for me as chairman of the Penn
sylvania delegation. Will you support
me? Please give answer. (Signed)
MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH.'
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
THE STATE FROM DAY TO DAY

Some of the leading citizens of the
State enjoyed exercise to-day that was
as beneficial as any they have taken
in years. The manipulation of a
shovel was new to the majority, and
few there were who did not discover
new muscles that hadn't heretofore
existed
A writer to the Philadelphia In
quirer inquiries whether there is a troll
ley line from Philadelphia to Harris
burg. The Inquirer's information bu-
reau replies that it can be done with
the exception of six miles, and the en-
tire trip, via Reading, will take nearly
eight hours and cost $1.95, excluding
the siX-mile stretch.
Pocahontas Council is in session at
Shamokin with 200 delegates present.
There are no John Smiths among the
number.
Jasper, the Dog Star now appearing
at Keith's theater in Philadelphia,
worked clever press agent stunt on
the city editor of one of that city's
daily papers yesterday. When the city
editor answered the call, a peculiar
barking sound emanated from the re-
ceiver and it was only after consider
able difficulty that the newspaperman
was enabled to make out that the ami
NAL was merely trying to make a date
with him to call and look over the es-
tablishment.
A number of Penn State students
held mock Republican convention
the other evening and after the with
drawal of the favorite sons. T. r. land
slid into the nomination with a COM
Portable margin over Hughes.
Faithful unto death, the big st. Ber-
nard owned by late Police Sergeant
of New Castle. died of grief.
Ever since his master died over a week
ago, Rusty has neither eaten nor
drank.
A freak of nature was recently born
in Fallowfield township consisting of a
ball-shaped head with ears no larger
than rats ears, and minus mouth,
nose and eyes. The animal started out
to be a lamb, but didn't live long
enough to prove an alibi.
An umbrella mender has been
chased out of Shamokin for begging.
The Daily News of Shamokin deducts
that he is ION his way to some other
town whera there is easier picking"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
WELL KNOWN PEOPLE

Justice Emory A. Walling, of the
Supreme Court, used to be in the State
Senate.
Mayor Smith, of Philadelphia,
likes to play baseball with his fam
lily.
e. B. Babcock. one of the dele
gates-at-large, has lumber interests in
half a dozen States.
Herbert l.. Clark, of Philadelphia,
has been elected one of the vice-presi-
dents of the Harvard Club association
He will serve for Pennsylvania.
Michael Francis Doyle, Philadel-
phia lawyer who was to have inquired
in the Easement case, was taken i'll and
had to go to a hospital the day he was
to sail.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-25
EDITORIAL COMMENT

The less we have of this kind of a
May the better. AS we look at it, it
is merely May-be.-Philadelp In
quirer.
Johnstown has too much of the
spirit of Let George do it," There
Is too little willingness to take hold
and cooperate personally In attempts
at civic Improvement. We are unit
In our hopes for better things, but
too few of us are yelling to contribute
thought and muscle to the cause. -
Johnstown Tribune
Our idea of a trusting soul is the
oid-fashioned Republican who thinks
the matter can be settled satisfactorily
to Colonel Roosevelt by having the
national convention give him every
thing he wants except the nomination.
Ohio State Journal