davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
Diiatesy Lawmskers at ALBANY.

The taxpayers Of New York State
are expanding over $1,000 a day for
the somewhat questionable privilege
Of watching the Legislature mt Al
bany 20 through the motions of II
lawmaking body. As this Is a Presi-
Dental year. the lawmakers are de-
sirous Of an early adjournment, for
purely personal and political reasons.
and early in January expedition"
was the leaders wntchword.
1t would seem. considering the high
cost Of legislation and the necessity
for haste, that something Of moment
might have been accomplished since
the session opened, but the record
shows that once more a mountain In
labor has brought forth nothing more
important than a small mouse.
That the people Of this State are
in sore need Of a large number Of new
laws will not be asserted. A super
abundance Of statutes that are I'M
necessary and destined to faint the
body polite by becoming dead letters
Is one Of the permanent curses under
which We labor. But the point at
Issue Is the appalling cost involved
in the passage ut Albany OF any law,
good OF bad. necessary or @
sary, and the wrong done to taxpny-
ers BY legislators who dawdlc when
they should he doing and who so neg
lect the real business of the Legisla-
ture that the States lawmaking body
becomes in the sight of men nm ex-
pensive luxury instead Of an econom-
ically administered necessity.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14

II IA military force kept on the
Mexican border was inadequate TO
Overawe lawless bands 1t was from no
dearth Of warnings. 1t has been no.
tOrious ever since the recognition Of
CARRANzA that we were in danger Of
precisely what happened ut COlum.
bus. The attention Of the Administra.
ton has been repeatedly and urgently
called to the fact.
Only a day or two ago Senator
HENRY F. AsHuBsT Of Arizona said
on the floor Of the Senate that he had
again and again pointed out In high
quarters the peril from the existing
inadequate military establishment
along the boundary line. He fairly
pleaded. II would seem. for an armed
strength proportionate to the danger.
Not only was this refused but Sena-
tor AsHURsr vas informed that In.
stead Of being strengthened the Dor
der force would be diminished by the
withdrawal of several unito for other
duty. In other words. anxiety as to
border unpreparedness was dismissed
as a purely academic question, just as
once upon IA time was the anxiety
over nationwide unpreparedness.
Now we ARE facing a situation
which the mere presence Of IA few
additional thousands of men might
have averted and with which 1t may
take many hundreds of thousands of
men. many thousands of lives to cope
before the OminOusly beclouded end
Is In sight. With an overwhelming
American force alert and ever ready
on the border and with it clearly i'm
pressed on CARRANZA and VILLA and
their followers that murauders cross.
Ing the line would he Instantly and
remOrselessly hunted down to the
death no matter where and how fur
their trails might lead-with that oh.
Ject lesson and that certainty ever
present for their contemplation, who
can doubt that the crisis now precipi-
tated might have been avertcd?
Surely II we on our part needed an
object lesson on the deadly war dan
gers of appropriateness we have it in
the prospect of an enforced plunge
into that hateful Mexican Jungle
which now threatens us.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
Made In the United States.

To II EDITOR or THE SuN-Str: Rep
resentative Carew OF ms district received
this letter from me:
STR: II was good OF you 10 send me
4 letter from the House Of Representa-.
tives.
The time has come. the wairus said,
To talk OF many things:
of shoes and ship. and sealing wax.
OF cabbages and kings.
And why tho sea IL boiling hot.
And whether pigs have winea
Are our laws TO he made in Ger.
many to please our German fellow citl.
I"ns. or may We he permitted TO STUN
ole on, with all our mistakes and de.
~iiciencies. to run this country with our
own little band OF made In the United
States?
THAT a German should be German In
quite right and proper but why not
grant US the equal privilege "a be Amer
icdh TIT time has come for Germans
~ concede us this favor, then We shall
continue on a plane OF Justice toward
every country, ard get along amicably
ard am!ably with Germans and all
Others too. bur geographical position.
outside of other reasons. entities US 20
shout the slogan. Made In the United
States
III 'the sea H. boiling hot with mines
and submarines, as we did no, put them
there. why should We share the respon-
sihil;ty for them?
Join. then. . John +. Carew. in our
national cry. Made in the United
states. Hoping to hear your voice
raised In song As suggested.
DANIEL. II. TAMAGHo.
New York. March II.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14

"SiR: have your circular letter dated
March !. 1916, and feel II Incumbent
upon me-, as II Of your constituents, 10
inform YOU that I disagree with state
ments contained in said letter, and also
with the conclusion which YOU arrive
at, which ! regard as e~vidrncing "A lack
OF understanding Of your duty as a
member Of Congress ana OF American
citizenship,
in your first paragraph YOU state
facts which think there can bc no
doubt about. namely an American ci,i.
Zen has u right to traycl upon merchant
ships OF belliSereit nations. | will go
further and say that this Is a wight
which Is necessary for many people I'm
times of war as well as peace IN order
80 support themselves and their fami.
lies, in order to maintain their business
interests. in order to visit sick and DIV.
ing relatives. This r. IA right which will
always be necessary 81 long AS a uuuu-
try falls to have a merchant marine OF
IT'S own. NO that II becomes not only a
technical legal right but a practical right
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
ABOUT MILITIA LOBBY,
National security LeRgur sees a..
fort 10 Pass Nny Btii.

The rumor that the mllltiam~n ~
making efforts To have one ut their sup
lprters appointed Assistant Secretary o.
War has stirred u Nations s~rl-it'
league to ISSUE a ~stateueuf emitted -
Secretary ~ War iak,r or 20 the Nitta
Lobby Tn. statement tn par' i".or
Tn. question every ono ruw asHs Is
whether the entire preparedness ssl' II
80 be sacrificed on IN. ,,ltu OF eN7e
dieiry and politics OF tie ilty b., or
whether We are ~ have sc.euunc 'reA''
inent ~ the problem on the lives az the
Chamberlain bill The militia 'oooE
framed The forme- bill. thour, NJ. mp
port IL no, advocated by the better cAs
Of m.l!t!Anen.'
II understand the same lohtv - "nN
ing violent attempts TO serure re ~
pointment of one Of their supporters -
Assistant Secretary OF Wa sad ?
Stanwoot Menken. president q ne
league, Yesterday. 81 hone tha' sore
tary Baker Il acquainted WITH they 7w
poses and past methods-thc,I .'rISp
are selfish.
TIE developments along 'L' NeNH
border have already justified ''' organ
cation of the league and orr .' los
substantial yc.Isuns Why or o-,i b.
ton should continue it, w"r> 49, Re,
doubled cHers!. The League Zee. -"'
tina should We hrroN" IgI"N".
;roubl. with u first class ra''r" or -
diiion OF unpreparcduesS wOu'' r'sl'
a series OF defeats and ia N.Y. "'"''
tory could not Ice obtained wf'''Il ~
Iious loss of liie and prope.ty
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
Church and stage.

The performance Of the play which
| showed the incidents Of the Passion
and was called after its famous pro-
totype AT Oberammergau the Passion
Play was prohibited here when SALMI
MoEsE arranged this series Of pictures
and attempted to place them before
the New York public. This enter
prise, headed by so we'll known an
actor as JAMES O'NEILL, had shown
the play with success In California.
Feeling against the repetition here,
however, was strong. BY an appeal
to the law the sight of a drama
founded on this sacred theme was
prevented.
There has always been more or less
effort on the part Of the managers to
make capital out of religious perform
ances, but the sentiment against the
public exploitation Of sacred themes
has kept these pieces from the com
mercial stage. Yet In various parts
of the country there are from time
To time performances by religious
(matcurs who bring to their task
something of the piety and sincerity
which first inspired the production
In modern Europe. Two years agO
II religious play which had It's origin
In the annual Cbservances of the
Easter season in n Roman Catholic
parish in New England was brought
to the Century Theatre and acted II
few times.
But few of these attempts are at
once SO elaborate and SO devotional
as that which Is now to he observed
In West HIoboken. Here the priests
of II Passionist monastery have mr.
ranged II Passion Play which brings
In the greatest Of all the figures In
religious history. The story Of st.
VERONICA and her veil Is the inspira-
ton of the drama, which Is acted by
those members of the congregation
selected by the priests us worthy of
the honor of impersOnating the men
and women who stand for the early
history of the Christian faith.
Perhaps this religious drama so
near the heart of New York differs
from most of its kind in the introduce
ton of the central figure of Christi
unity. But such II feeling of revrr-
ence and devotion Is said to accom-
pany every scene of the spectacle that
there Il no ground for offence tn the
most sensitive.
In 'St. Neronica's Veil' AS il is
performed across the Hudson River
there is the spirit which has animated
the union of drama and religion from
the days In which the church was
also the theatre. This spirit, more
over, does much to explain how reu-
sonablc, In It's time, wns this union.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
respectable avenue to-day than It was

respectable avenue to-day than It was
In the time Of "A Trip to China
town" Its old frauds and nuisances
have In a great measure disappeared.
1t has ceased to be the happy hunt
Ing ground of the guileless strangers
who used 10 flock there.
IL the more extensive business en-.
terprises Of the earlier period Of the
Bowery's history have departed from
this region. II would seem easy to
find the reason. Grand street, which
was ut II time n shopping centre
Of the city. lost this Importance with
the northward movement Of popula.
ton. There were at one time large
retail shops Of quite as much impor.
lance as those named by the associa.
ton which calls the decline Of the
Bowery as a business centre the re.
suit Of Mr.. HoYr's couplets.
The poets who write a country's
songs do not make history. They do
no than record the mood Of the
people. They r only incidental !: and
thus the refrain that HAIRY CONoR
sang for ~ many years to the delight
Of a nation was an echo. not a voice.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14

The State Reservation Commission
Of Saratoga Springs has acted wisely
in leasing the right to sell the waters
Of these springs to a responsible cor.
poratiOn for five years with the priv.
lege Of renewal. The State has spent
over $1,OO0,OOO on this property to
rescue 1t from wasteful exploitation
and to conserve this valuable salutary
possession to the people.
That the public will now be relieved
Of a large part Of the expenditure re.
Nuired for the further maintenance OF
the States interests In this important
enterprise by turning over the mnn.
agement of the water sale TO compe-
tent persons is gratifying to the tax
payers, and II is equally satisfactory
10 PHYSICIANS and persons resorting
10 the health giving waters of Snra.
iOga Springs to realize that q reliable
business firm viii now administer this
part Of ia" enterprise In q business
lih" manner, make the waters known
I" the world through liberal advertise.
mont and :" ""miurt the drink hall
that Visitors viii have no cause To
make nntasorable comparisons with
European springs, like Marienbaa and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14

DEAR SIN: | HAY" your circular let
ter OF March .
y note that YOU consiie- II YOUR duty
"s my Congressman to point out. iirs;.
thit /. as an American citizen. have an
~uNdouot"i right to travel on the mer-
chant ships ~ the b-!ligertnt nations :,
se|ol Il, TIA. tt!s right is ON. nhic,
neither the President nov congress can
or should surrender (brave words) (;
third. that II is my duty TO surrender
what neither the President nor Congress
should surrender. and that ! should be
guilty OF Il reasonable disregard OF nv
duty should ! not do so fourth, that |
should Use only American ships NTH,
that YOU would regard with indifference
the fate of any one who MAY disregard
your warning.
-! note Also that YOU make no dis
'n'tinn Whatever hetween using un-
armed or armed merchant ships. between
Journeys where American ships are in
service and journeys where American
ships are not to be had, between Jour
neys OF pleasure and Journeys OF husi-
ness and necessity.
MANY americans ,lHe ms sci. have
business aud property interests and reli-
tons IN France VIII you point out, Mr..
Congressman. how we are 10 get over
there on An American ship 10 attend to
these matters
Many are constantly making these
journeys in behalf of transactions that
concern the highest interests, trade and
other, 81 this county. the welfare OF
millions OF our farmers and millions OF
our working people.
Are these to heed your warning and
wreck the interests committed to them
because you will not insist upon their
safety AT sea under rules Of interna-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14

Homburs, the late King EDWARDS
favorites, and Kissingen, Nauheim.
Oyenhausen and other carbonic ncid
resorts which the Saratoga springs
closely resemble.
1t remains now for the Legislature
to continue Its former close scrutiny
Of further expenditure in appropriate
ing funds for the necessary bath ia
cillties and other work needed to COM
plete the equipment to the extent at
least which has been attained in the
drinking waters part. so that these
bath privileges may also be made
ready for lease to responsible parties.
In that event the method adopted by
other State spring water properties.
like vichy and Carlsbad. Will be put
into profitable operation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
dren from homes where a foreign

dren from homes where a foreign
language Is spoken spell English
words even more m%iserabiy than those
who come from English speaking
homes, ever though VIC might expect
the aliens to take more pains and
achieve better results.
These are but the commonplaccs Of
spelling examinations. The important
thing is the light thrown upon char
actcr and vocational fitness. Boys
who expect to become farmers or
baseball players IRE poorer spoilers
than those who anticipate entrance
into the professions. The examiners
recognize the fact that inability to
nut the alphabet through Its drill
may not he organically associated with
that element in the boys composition
which determines his inclination to n
job on the diamond hut there Is the
incontrovertible fnct that all the boys
with major league aspirations were
"no%tcriously poor spoilers" Yet II Is
also notorious that where the collie
gintc outielder screams II got IT,"
the professional coolly warns his
teammate away with an unimpcach-
ably grammatical II have IT,"
From Oakland. through the Educd-
fionot Rcricr, VIC learn that the auto
mobile repaircrs. aviators and hair
dressers Of the future spell better
than do the wireless operators, mai,
clerks and merchants OF the rising
generation an exhibition Of perver-
sity in the mundane constitution.
Those who spell least spell hest. The
ancient wisdom is confirmed II your
boy Is a good spcller, make n black
smith Of him II he cannot build n
word on paper. encourage him toward
II learned profession.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
Laws, Not Men.

Representative JOHN F. CAREw OF
the Seventeenth New York district,
who hereafter Twill be inclined to re-
gard with Indifference the fate Of q
man who disregards" his warning not
to travel on the merchant ships of
belligerent Powers in the present war,
illustrated unconsciously In his inter.
view In THE SuN OF yesterday the
practical difficulties which beset the
course of the individual who seeks 10
guide his conduct by standards at
variance with accepted law and prece-
dents. Mr.. CAIEw admits that there
may be cases when II would be "abso-
lutely necessary" for an American to
travel on n vessel of a belligerent ma.
tion. OF these he said:
eff this was the case, and IN. Amen.
can met death. I would b. az quick a.
any one to demand that he b. revenged."
BY whom is the ~"ahss,ute neces.
sity" to be established? Would Mr..
CAREw have the American citizen con.
WINGED that the exigencies OF his pro.
fessional, commercial or social en-.
gagements compelled him to travel on
u merchant ship Of a belligerent ma.
tion submit a statement Of his Obli.
cations and ambitions to a judicial
tribunal for assessment Of their valid.
ity? Would Mr.. CAREw insist on sub.
shutting his WI Judgment for that
OF the person contemplating the ex.
%cursiOn: Or would he be satisfied
with a declaration. duly attested over
the signature Of the traveller. that
the trip proposed was absolutely
necessary?
Such questions might be propounded
Indefinitely. One more that occurs to
us we submit for consideration, In
determining the exact degree Of neces.
sity that took an American citizen
exercising his unquestioned right on
board q merchant ship Of a bellIgerent
Power sunk by the act of that Hbwer's
enemy, would Mr.. CAREw invite the
offending nation to discuss the sub.
ject automatically?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
which should b strictly s~asesuarded by

which should b strictly s~afesuarded by
every Government.
you state in your letter that II is
entirely unnecessary for an American
citizen to exercise that right. What do
you know about the necessity OF the
Individual? How Is your judgment as to
the necessity Of the individual to exer-
else his right better than that Of the
individual who chooses 10 exercise h a
risht7
This question has been a personal
question with me within the last few
days. when II seemed likely that l might
DO required in the interest Of a client
to 60 to England. and II I had gone IT
would havA been necessary. TO go
promptly. affd you assume to tell me that
l should have no right TO &C on 4 mer-
chant vessel flying the flag OF a bellig
erent because II might involve the uni
ted States in war. II there Is a major
ity Of Congress with such a feeble pa.
triotisin as you have. war would not be
declared, no matter how great the INJURY
lone to American citizens. .
with most marvellous ~franknesS and
lack Of common humanity you state that
you will be inclined to regard viii In
difference the fate Of a man who disre-
CARDS your warning
you may inform our constituents
that II is not necessary for them to
travel on any but tho United states
ships; you may inform your oonstitu-
ents that II they are killed while travel
ling, legally and rightfully. that you
will regard their fate with indifference.
but I fear that your advice TO your con.
stituents will be regarded AZ lightly as
you will regard the death OF "a constitu-
ent and fellow citizen.
II beg to state to you. sir, that
many Others Of your constituents VIII
regard your future political career with
indifference, because We believe that II
will O be ended.
STEPHEN @. WILLIAMS.
NEW YORK, March TO-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
HUMOR OF A SENATOR.
stone ~ Missouri FlavorS His Mercy
With Fun.

To rHE t.nIruR or THE SuS-Sir, Sen.
ator stone Of Missouri means well. pos
sihly but he has developed the habit OF
getting AL ballcd up" a. h., would ,x.
press II. whom he would lee impressive.
lie had given motto" tnu he "voull
on Tomorrow address tho senate ON tho
subject Of armed merchant ships and an
other related subjects" Fortunately. he
~as pulled or by som" of his col
leagues II l. holding his und.liyercd
speech IN solution II have concluded"
he told the Senate or Wednesday. mot
Ia say anything AZ this junc'urc. Suf-
iicient unto the day IL the evil thereof"
From which II appears that Senator
Stone has a sense 81 hurnor. J. G. II.
WASHINGTON. March -.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
MR.. BAKERS PORTRAITS.
A Ply siognOmlst Thinks Nc Doesn't
Look Like . Secretary Of War.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. As
Stunning that the portraits OF tine new
Secretary OF War. Mr.. Newton d. Baker,
represent him faithfully. ne Is All ami
able and perhaps highly intellectual man.
whom one would pick an having the
qualities for an ideal Sunday school
superintendent, lie ppear to have
been appointed b. MIR. Wilson with no
thought as to his Qualifications for tho
responsible post OF War Secretary.
However. n MIR. Baker has sense
enough 10 listen to the advice OF the
General Stan Of the army he may no
make such a bad Secretary. II he IN
s!sts upon his half baked Notions OF
preparedness the nation will continue
in It's present helpless condition.
Why should not Cabinet officers be-
selected for their fitness for the position.
In the same way that the manager of a
biz industrial plant In selected?
NEw YORK, March IT. NJ. r. u.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
The Mexican situation.

II is President WILSON'S obvious
purpose not to allow the pursuit Of
VILLA to grow into Intervention In
Mexico's internal politics, II that
measure Of foresight he and his ad.
visers possess can prevent 1t. He has
given heed to the situation in which
CARRANzA finds himself and the DO.
litical difficulties that must inevitably
arise from the crossing Of the from
tier by u troops. To minimize these
difficulties and to prevent any mis-.
conception of II plans by the Mexi.
cnn people Is the task that must now
absorb n large portion Of Mr.. Wn-
SONS. attention.
That CARRANzA Is not less DESTROYS
than another for the elimination of
VILLA is self-evident. If the First
Chief Is to complete the establishment
of his government, VILLA must be re-
moved from activity in Mexican af-
fairs. But CARRANzA must deal with
n population jealous and suspicious of
the United States, In many districts
opposed to his rule and generally dis
posed to put the worst Interpretation
on the intrusion of American forces.
His plight cannot be ignored ut Wash.
ingtOn, and for 1t every reasonable
allowance must be made in the ad.
justment of the details Of our expe-
ditiOn south Of the line.
The United States Is determined
that VILLA and his bandits shall be
suppressed. but 1t does not want war
with the Mexican people.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
The AppOintse's Pathetic Admission.

To THE EDITOR Of THE p N-Sir. This
II one of the most critical times In the
history Of u Wal Department, and the
President should therefore have selected
a man eminently lifted for tho Important
work to be done by the Secretary of
War. But has he done so? Mr.. Baker
himself has nswered the question. for he
IN reported to have said "Of course !
know nothing OF tho duties of the office
and shall have to learn II all Think OF
it! 4 man who saws he will have to
learn! 1t is positively pathetic.
7. l.. STRArroN.
New YORK. March IS.