davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Democracy VS.. Autocracy.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In his article of Sunday. February
l8, Mr.. Smonds suggests the possibility of
the termination of the war by autumn. should
Belgium accept the terms offered her bv
Germany Does not Mr.. Simonds neglect one
very important point? The grounds for the
continuation Of the war are not the same as
the motives which started IT, Belgium is no
longer fighting merely to defend her neutral
ty, or even TO regain her former integrity:
France is not striving TO prevent an invasion
of her territory; England does not imagine
that she is at war to restore Belgium TO her
original state The conflict now is 70 pre.
serve the advantages of democracy against
the menace of autocracy
Peace to-day would spell victory" for Ger.
many To the German people, educated for
years in the belief that they are victims of
the hatred of treacherous enemies. a treaty
Of peace would mmeasurably strengthen the
government which had (for them so sue
cessfully guided them through the war But
the government itself would it lightly set
aside that ambition which led it to precini-
tate this great war? Would IL easily for
get the sting of its temporary failure to at.
tain its object? Hardly. Rather would il
become even more far-sighted. more wary.
than it has been. Backed by the en.husias-
tic support Of now undivided people. in.
stead Of being hampered by the growing So
cialistic party, what achievements would not
be possible.
Whatever the advantages Of democracy. on
the other hand, singleness of purpose is not
one OF them. That very freedom Of the in
diydual for which democracy stands. the
oppcr crtunity for the expression of particular
interests in the government, initiates acains.
efficiency such as that attained by an intelli-
gent autocracy Yet there seems little doubt
that, politically. the net result of the war
among the Allies will be still further exten-
sion of the principle of democracy.
Who can believe, then, that Belgium.
France or England could conclude a peace
which would so perpetuate and strengthen
the menace living among them-a nation
inherently strong by reason of it's autocratic
form Of government, rendered the more in
vincibe by the enthusiastic support of its
people. and nursing ambitions destructive to
national individuality and to the attainment
Of the democratic ideal?
Again the safety of the world may depend
on the action of valiant little Belgium. Let
Us hope and pray that she will again prove
herself worthy of our highest admiration and
deepest gratitude. A. W. LAHEE.
Albany, y. Y. Feb. 10, 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
"An Incapable Governor"

Elsewhere on this page to-day The
Tribune prints some letters from readers
expressing their opinion Of Governor
Whitman's experiment in Teaching The
Tribune" 1t believes the following eX-
tract from THE New Haven Journal
Courier" will also prove interesting:
Governor Whitman has never loomed up
high on the horizon in the good old state OF
Connecticut The impression We received OF
him as the District Attorney OF New YORK
WAS favorable. but the impression he has
made as Governor Of his state is so far dh-
ferent that the conclusion is forced that
capable District Attorney was destroyed 70
make an incapable Governor. The light IN
which The Tribune of that state reveals him
makes even worse impression. The Trlb-
me has been warned by the Governors sec
retary that unless its critical attitude IS
abandoned the states advertising patronage
will be taken from it. In addition to this,
steps have already been taken TO remove the
public utilities commission, which has quar-
ters in the Tribune Building, elsewhere, all
part and parcel Of a scheme to discipline the
offending newspaper. Instead Of developing
At once a contrite spirit. the offensive Trb-
une takes the public into its confidence and
tells the whole story without passion. The
Tribune will be much better of without the
patronage of the state. and its independence
will be of much moro purified character.
In the meantime "The Hartford Tines per-
,inently inquiries; "Will the politicians ever
learn that a party paper may be honest IN
dependent and fearless in the discharge OF
its duty to the public, and especially to its
own party readers?' II is cheap man who
believes that his investment in advertising
with given newspaper is part mortgage
executed on its opinions.
The question remains to be answered;
"Will the politicians ever learn"
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Male Births in Wartime.

The Registrar Generals returns snow
that in thirty-six of the chief cities ana
towns of England and Wales there has OF
late been a steady increase IN the maze
birth rate, as compared with the female
In the first quarter of 1915 the proportion
was 1882 boys to 1000 girls; IN the sec
ond quarter / .O43 to 1000; III the thlrd
1.O55 TO 1000. The proportion of boys
for the whole period is said to be the hlgh-
est recorded in seventy years.
This discovery has been welcomed as
serving to confirm the popular belief that
nature provides for the waste OF males IN
wartime. and some respectable names ere
used to back it. Thus Professor Hallibur-
ton. the physiologist, is said to have ac'
cepted the fact as established. observing
that "we must look upon it as wise DIS
pensation of Providence" Likewise
biologist of good repute, Professor Arthur
Dendy, is quoted as follows: Zone cannot
put down to mere coincidence the fact that
male births preponderate during and after
a war. Probably there is some natural
law at present hidden from us which is
responsible for this
1t is hardly credible that two men ac-
customed to weigh probabilities should ac-
cept a questionable theory on evidence so
slight. If the reporter did not misunder-
stand them they must have had something
more striking than the Registrar Gen
erals figures to convince them. The IN
crease is so trihing that it is unnecessary
to use farfetched hypothesis to explain it.
Moreover, the ratio of boys to girls
may be unusual in the particular COM
munities dealt with, but, generally speak
ing. it is not at all extraordinary. In fact,
it is, if anything, below what is commonly
accepted as the normal proportion. From
the statistics of nearly 100000 births 1t
was estimated some years ago that the
proportion was about 100 males to 100
females.
All sorts of theories have been formu-
lated to account for various facts that
have hardly been established with regard
TO male and female births, and ono OF the
Oldest is that war stimulates the produc-
ton of males. This was common belief
long before there were any trustworthy
vital statistics. 1t was simply popular
impression, which the Registrar Generals
figures fail to justify.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23

port was made on the strength of which
he nominated these gentlemen.
So far as the public is concerned, how
ever. that report was not entirely con
vincing. The opinion in the council was
not unanimous. Mr. J. Mayhem Vain
wright. its chairman. was opposed to the
exoneration Of Messrs. Lynch, Lyon and
Wizard. and failed 10 register his opposi-
ton by vote only because the law does not
give vote to the presiding officer of the
council. Mr.. Wainwright's position is
bound to carry great weight, because he
is known as high-minded, intelligent
public official. of unusual experience and
unusually well informed regarding ques-
tions of the character involved.
The point of the controversy is that the
public, in the face of everything presented
up to date, cannot feel convinced that the
charges of neglect of duty lodged against
the three gentlemen named have been sat
isfactorily disproved. The Senate Finance
Committee and the Senate itself should
conduct a microscopic scrutiny of their
record before confirming them for the
places to which the Governor has named
them
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Criticism a Duty.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In view OF the attempt OF the G'''
ornor of this state 70 punish The Tri5u"m
its criticism Of his official acts. It would s'7
TO be the duty OF the readers OF this p'Pe
TO take the matter in hand. Every Kep.'f
can voter has a right 10 demand from :,
party paper the whole truth and inPa'''
criticism of Official acts. He requires eo'''''
information on official acts in order 'n'' ~
may vote intelligently.
A paper that does not criticise PUBIC ~,
cials of its own party as freely as II ''s'
the officials of another party fails IA "
duty 10 its readers and the public. he"''
The Tribune was simply doing its duty '0'5 si
it criticised certain acts OF the Governor -.
lts readers should take some steps 70 l's..'
this contemplate exercise Of Official sx ,yrss'''
Brooklyn, Feb. 2l. 1916. ". h. ALL"
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
TEACHING THE TRIBUNE"
Governor Whitman's Effort 10
Muzzle Honest Criticism.
r. the Editor Of The Tribune.

T. the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: read with great deal Of nt,rs,:
the editorial in your issue Of the 18th Inst.
entitled Teaching The Tribune" ard vas
very much surprised to think tha, Mr Wit
man woulf stoop to lie what your .diiersl
states he did. Verify, politics makes s.rins'
bed fellows"
As a commercial traveller Of thirty Ysirs
experience. covering the greater part Of NsT
York State periodically, took a great d'al
OF pleasure in advocating Mr. Whiinsi'
election to the Governorship, baslns NJ
efforts on his success and zeal while he H''
District Attorney. In view Of recen, sYen''
and his Teaching The Tribune should w
Whitman be candidate again for any once
my efforts would be in the opposite dreeiio'
| suggest that a a number Of your reat',
may not have seen the editorial above r.
ferred 20, you reprint it for, say, w.es' |"
that all your readers may know what y0'
have TO encounter in trying to publish
decent newspaper. am placing the edlM'
lial before my friends, and it may result N
something. f. ". WALhEh
New York. Feb 10. 1915.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Up to Specifications.

We wonder whether the young woman
who originally posed for the Venus de
Milo enjoyed anything like the public at
tention now being showered upon Miss
Margaret Willetts, the Swarthmore junior,
whose physical measurements are consld-
cred a duplication of those of the sculp-
tors model. Vaudeville managers, motion
picture promoters, autograph seekers and
woud-be husbands, it is reported, have
been deluging the bewildered college girl
with kilograms. letters and other messages
of Importantly ever since the publication
Of her statistics. Somehow, we have an
idea that in those old days it took more
than a set of physical measurements TO
convince a community of the beauty or
histrionic capacity or matrimonial desira-
bility of daughter of the land. Helen Of
Troy was never measured, that we can
recall, and it seems quite possible that if
she had been there would have been re-
vealed to us shocking discrepancies be-
tween her figure and that of our CLASSIC
standard.
They put greater store by individuality
in ancient times. Here in America we have
become so accustomed to thinking alike and
talking alike and dressing alike and to pur-
chasing our lares and ponates by the cata-
logue from mail order houses, that some of
us, a great, great many of us, in fact
have come to regard beauty and charm and
personality as a matter of measurement
and model Hence the hysteria over q
Venus de Milo with a college education, a
young lady measuring up to the most ad-
vanced specifications both mental and
physical-style A, No. 1, in any hand
somely illustrated catalogue of the sex.
Poor Miss Willetts! 1t must be a queer
sensation TO be desired for ones measure
ments.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
The Literary Output.

ifIpnl iNf NlFiNVtfin HfUubfcQf
Statistics compiled by "The Publishers
Weekly of New York, show that the book
production in this country last year was the
smallest since 1908. The total number Of
books published in 1915. including pamphlets,
was 9,734, as against 12.0lO in 1914 The
loss was due to the decrease in the number OF
importations. particularly from England. and
to the unsettled trade conditions at home.
The only classes of books which gained in
1915 were history, including war books, busi-
ness and domestic economy. New editions Of
poetry and drama, however, held their own.
falling only point behind the record of the
previous year. In spite OF the greatly in
creased interest in poetry and the new forms
of verse. the number of new books in this
class fell from 647 to 4s7. Fiction leads all
the classes in the number of new books pro
duced, but in 1914 religion led, with sociology
and economies a close second. Fiction was
only third in the number of new books pub
lished. though II led by slight margin in
the combined number Of new books and new
editions. No doubt it was far in the lead in
the number of copies sold. In spite Of the
decline in figures there is no prospect of a
shortage in new boo'is and there is no lack
OF editions-even cheap editions OF the cas-
sizes for the man who believes that whenever
a new book comes out it is preferable to read
an old one.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Careful Scrutiny Needed.

1t is to be hoped the failure Of the Sen
ate Finance Committee to report for con
firmation Governor Whitman's nominees
10 the State Industrial Commission indi-
Gates a careful investigation of the fitness
of the appointees. Charges Of heavy i'm
port have been made against three Of
these men-Messrs. Lynch, Lyon and
Wiard-growing out Of the recent Will
iamsburg disaster. Those charges were
turned over to the Industrial Council by
the Governor for investigation. and re-
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Thanks and Appreciation

To the Editor Of The Tribune. ,,,,
Sir: | wish to congratulate Inc NJ,
upon securing a worthy successor " -,r,,,
DR.. Devins in the religious news deps'., (,
Of the paper. The Rev. Charles A. ~. .,,r
doing fine work. His articles on al
have been most timely and susSe'"', y,s
are read with interest by the people 0' -
York and vicinity. ..l,r
Your go to Church" posters s'' = ,,.,
lated to do much good, and am 'u''
effort in behalf of churchgoins IS spf ~.
ated by all who are interested III - vr.e
welfare of humanity. The man Nn' kss,
these posters is wise man ,snsnfgy
observer. JAMES H. a
New York, Feb. 10, 1915. ---.---'--
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Confidence Repaid.

To the Editor Of The Tribune. =.
Sir: Thank Heaven for an honest ne, 9,
an honest newspaper. Your editorsI 0i
day, February Is, Teaching The i''O'
was a Joy TO my soul. For thirty ys'"
have been a reader OF The Tribune anu r,,.
sadly hurt when saw the way Charles w n,
man was deceiving you during the '0nH ="
investigation. -, r.
However. I never lost faith IN YOU
am now repaid for my confidence ,nvs
Newark. n. j.. Feb. u. 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Help for New York.

The bills introduced by Senator Brown
affecting the finances of this city embody
most Of the recommendations of the legsla-
tive committee of which he was chairman
which investigated financial conditions
here. There can be no question of the
wisdom of abolishing the Ludlow Street
Jail, abandoning the extravagant custom
of paying Sherif's fees to that official,
giving the city control of the expenses of
the Board of Water Supply, the Court
House Board and the Public Service Com
moving forward the date for tax
payments and making the pay you
go" policy statutory.
1t seems unfortunate that the Legislat-
ure deems it advisable to delay giving the
local authorities power TO fix all local
salaries other than those of judicial and
elective officials and also to fix county
salaries. The referendum provision in
these bills will bring up the question In
such fashion and at such time that in
evitably it will be confused with political
issues, a highly undesirable state of af-
fairs. There ought to be no politics, no
suspicion of politics, in this phase of city
government. Taxpayers belong TO all po-
litcal divisions, and all suffer when the
tax rate is unduly high. Nevertheless,
the city. unable TO do anything else, will
take what the Legislature offers and en-
deavor to make the most Of it.
New York City's good demands that
these measures become law. 1t demands
more far-reaching relief than these, how
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
King Peters Discourse

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: would thank you for that vital prose
poem by King Peter of Serbia in your issue
Of to-day.
Is there no artist who will build it for Us
in poignant, potent music?
DAISY SANIAL GILL.
Douglaston, Long Island. Feb. IL. 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
Strong Approval.

To the Editor Of The Tribune. ,.,,
Sir: was born in Vermont am 0,'' .r,,
wears old. have fed hogs, made n'ap'' .,,,
fshed on Sunday and been licked '0' .,,,
ing. The best and most hopeful tn'"s Gear,
read in any newspaper is your s'T g
Teaching the Tribune" J am io'
RANSOM TANKEKo'~
New York, Feb. ~, 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23

1t must be great relief to Mr.. Wilson to
feel that Lincoln's Birthday and Washing
toms birthday are both past for this year.
These comparisons are so unpleasant.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are
now German crisis" days in Washington.
New-York tribune., 1916-02-23
v-rp<FspAN. FEBRUARY ~ ''io'

Owned and published daily =, Lne r-..1,nt. a Werner
@ 's~ ,',a s,sVy .~d rcnrrr Addocs Tribune b0uo"'
! New Nnrk
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-07
ROUGH HOUSE DEBATE
T HE ELECTION is Methods of candidates i 1 sion may be compared with some chance of

|T~ ELECTION Methods of discus U sion may be compared with chance of finding a non-partisan judgment
 In Bridgeport Mr. Roosevelt divided those who do not like him classes, class big enough fight other small enough to squash The colonel with method the galleries wild with joy lkened with him to vermin whom he would squash on rough but not polished one for fear marking the floor.
 methods these set the ingenious to finding methods Roosevelt which shall be parliamentary his search into the domain able matter, mostly gaseous and vbraory
 describes the colonel big nose and another after making certain little animal of the wood land describes him big smell.
 Thus unpardonabe verbal license in the colonel sm ulae other cense Debate conducted by the colonel into of those yah yah yah ments favored by quarrelsome little boys
 President Wilson keeps discussion within the limits of
 ass, Ooaa2 to the AIoarcan neanle is the
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-07
RUMAN|ANS'
 ERRORS SEEN
 BY THE BULCARS
Premier Radaslavof Says Country's Indepen-
 dence Is Lost.

Berlin, Nov. 6, by wireless to Say viI1e.-Rumania in her present seri-
 ous position is suffering because of the mistake she made in contracting
 an alliance at variance with her trad itions and her geographical position,
 declared Premier Radaslavoff of Bull
 garia in an interview published in the
 newspaper Az est of Budapest, obtain
 ed by it's Sofia correspondent.
 "Rumania is in serious position"
 said the Premier in the interview.
 ''She became false to her historical ] aims and now must atone for it. The geographical position of the country showed clearly road which should
 have led to an alliance with Germany
 and Austria-Hungary. Rumaflia had been deluded and misled by her suc- cess of 1913, and now the country has fallen into German hands. Such a collection of mistakes could not re- main unpunished.
 "Rumania already has lost her in- dependence, as the Russian censor and the Russian policemen rule in the land She is entirely in control of the generals and general staffs of the Entente"
 Asked as to his opinion regarding the rumors as to a separate peace, Premier RadasIavoff said:
 ''I do not credit such rumors, which undoubtedly originate from the fact that the Entente press planes Russia for the Rumanian defeat, while the
 Russian press rebukes the Entente for a like reason, declaring at the same time that Rumania took up arms not in the common interests of the En- tente, but for the satisfaction of her own aims. These mutual imputations are undoubtedly the reason for these separate peace rumors. Russia has fallen into the net of England and is
 now unable to act by her, own will. For this reason peace can only come when Russia is forced by the military situation to conclude it. Competent | opinion uniformly asserts that this decision will come in 1917.
 eff our enemies hope that we shall allow them to make preparations dur 1 ing the winter they are mistaken. The | war will go on, in order to hurry de. cision. I shall not prophecy as to the | consequences which will arise from the menace to Bessarabia and the Ukraine, but I repeat that it is only 1 in consequence of a hopelessly had
 military situation that Russia will be 1 forced to conclude peace, and not by | the fact that Russia is now further from her goal, which is Constanti- | nople, than at any time before.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-07
ATTENDANCE BIG PROBLEM SCHOOL
 LEADERS ASSERT
Essential Factor In Deter mining Actual Length
 Of Term
(By J. L. McBrien, School Extension Agent, U. $. Bureau of Education
 Department of the Interior.)

Agent, U. 5. Bureau or EducallOn
 Department of the Interior.)
 School attendance is an essential factor in the actual length of the school term How to make compul- sorry school attendance effective is one of the most perplexing problems con- fronting lawmakers and administrative school officers. Prior to 1890 only 27 States and the District of Colum- bia had compulsory school laws and many of these were optional and there fore imperative. Now all the states except Mississippi have either n1anda- tory or optional compulsory school attendance laws School attendance in percentages of children to IA years of age is as follows, according to the bulletin on Compulsory School Attendance published by the Bureau of Education in 1914:
 High-9O and Over
 Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
 Medium-SO to 90.
 California, Colorado, Delaware, Ida ho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine,
  tana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Da- kota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn sylvania, Rhode Island, South Dako- ta, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
 Low-zO to 80. Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas.
 Worry Joxu-ReJOxv 7O
 Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia. No law can be effectively enforced unless public sentiment is back of it. One of the most effective agencies in the enforcement of compulsory school laws is found in an act of the Nebras- ka legislature for 1915, which provides that three-fourths of the State school fund shall be distributed to the sev- eral districts pro rata according to the various districts. Such a law is not only fair, reasonable, and just, but it immediately appeals to the enlightened selfishness of the people themselves. Under such a law as this, public opin- ion will demand that all pupils of school age who are without a reason able excuse shall give proper attend ance while school is in session. It is much more equitable to apportion school money upon the attendance of pupils at school than it is to make ! such apportibnment on their non-at- | tendance. To equalize the burden of 1 a reasonable school term, Nebraska apportions one-fourth of her State school fund equally among the sev- eral districts of the State, and where a school district votes the maximum school. tax and conducts it's business properly, the State comes to its as- sistance by direct State aid in suffi- i cient amount to provide a minimum school term of seven months.