The Washington herald., 1916-06-04
SEEN AND HEARD
BY GEORGE MINER


of different things. Just now,- or last week
rather, it aeroplanes. Soon he intends to
devote a good deal OF time to motor boats in
connection with their use by the navy aux
iliaries in time of need and to that end he is
an active and enthusiastic member Of the COM
mlttce that is organizing the motor boat service
Ito take part in the naval training cruise this
summer.
In the course of the last year two, he
has taken more or less prominent part in a
number of public and civic undertakings 1t
shows that his whole tendency is toward public
spirited career, and | have heard it mentioned
by number of men who know what they are
talking about that Mr.. Astor is simply in
training to day be mayor of New York.
possibly governor of the State, or at the least
"a representative in Congress.
All OF which looks though the Astor
family in New York to emerge from
being merely society leaders and great real estate
holders into the limclight of more active af-
fairs.
Mr.. Astor has also done lot of building
since he became the head OF the family and
the posscssor of its many millions. He has
put up several apartment houses and big
market on the West Side that is the finest in
1.-THE city
Just now he is completing a very beautiful
apartment house on upper Broadway. There is
none better in this whole city of apartments,
although several arc more expensive. friend
lot mine is arranging to rent one of these apart
tments, and showed me the lease, which con-
tanned several clauses that made him furious,
and which he refuses to agree to.
why, look here!' said he "Astor asks his
tenants to make all the repairs No other land
lord in the city makes such an unreasonable
demand that And, again, let me call your
attention to the fact hat Mr.. Astor is very
strong in upholding the welfare work among
ilaborers and so on. He attends the meetings
and gives his full sanction to the endeavors Of
the propagandists.
But how does he treat the people who work
for him? Look over the contracts with his en-
tPloycs and you will find there is employees
clause that the law demands making en-
ployers pay people who arc injured in their
service
so suspect that Mr Astor has not had
time yet to apply his philanthropic beliefs to
his affairs
suppose Maj. Gen. lack" Organ, COM
mandng the New York National Guard was
about the maddest there was in the whole
Icity last week. When he had gathered some
10000 men for a sham battle at Shecpshead
Bay last Sunday some t'uritancal-mindcd purist
sprung one Of the old-tme blue laws on him,
and lie was not allowed TO FIRE gun
The law was SC years old, but as it
had never been repealed it was just as good as
Ia ncw-laid law, and Jack" Ryans soldiers
were not allowed to let off single blank
cartridge.
vi course the newspapers made all kinds
Iof fun of the noseless battle, the struggle to
defend New York without firing a gun and so
forth. They neglected, howcve-, to point out
Ithe fact that the law was obcycd nowhere else
in the city. 1t forbids public games, noise.
amuscments, pleasure riding, etc Within a
mile of the noisccss battle, Coney Island was
going at full swing, all golf links were crowded
with players and thousands OF automobiles were
dashing about with joy riders The law was
not only broken, it pulverizcd.
And Jack Ryan's soldiers had to be the
goats.
There is considerable talk of taking this mat
ter up and making such fuss over it that the
real animus that took the firing out of the bat
tie will be brought to light The thousands and
thousands who enthusiastic over prepared
ness and the military and naval training schemes
Sabbath day purists OF course, there was some
Interior reason for demanding that the police
inforce law that had been forgotten for a
century Nobody supposes for a moment that
law.
This is going to be great summer so far
as mems clothes are concerned. Nine out of
every ten OF the suits to be seen in the
streets are gray in color. Checks, pads and
stripes IN coors are hardly ever seen. In the
tailors shop windows, there is the same mo-
n0tonous showing of gray and black and white
fabrics.
It's all on account of the war For wear
the cloth makers have been practically out of
all dyes except black, OF which there is plenty
made in this country. To be sure, the dyc
crisis is now passed and the manufacturers will
their needs, but it is too late for the summer
goods. All winter they have been compelled
to make grays and blacks and black and whites.
It's lucky thing that the conventions don't
demand that we should wear red or green or
yellow coats to business. We'd have to use
paint.
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndcate)