davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Rehosression in Postofices

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Administration has been
somewhat unfortunate in the manage
ment of the State, War and Navy de-
rartments at a time when interna-
tional complications have required
careful and efficient attention at Wash
ington. However, one other depart
ment, most intimately associated with
the everyday affairs Of our own peo-
rle, has suffered material retrogression
in personnel and efficiency. That is
the Postoffice Department over which
Mr.. Burleson, of Texas, has presided
with economy at the expense OF honor,
Justice and the sort Of postal service
we expect and demand.
Mails are being delayed, lost and de-
stroyed. There is said TO be more
stealing than ever before. The service
is poorly organized and undermined.
There is an enormous waste OF time
and money without any gain TO the
service.
p. NJ. G.. Burleson and his assistants
have done much to demoralize the pos
tai service by exercising petty econo-
mics and resorting TO actual persecu-
ton. Their idea Of efficiency seems to
be to get the greatest possible amount
OF work done by the fewest men and
for the least money possible, lnciden-
tally requesting a substantial increase
in their own salaries. Efficiency in the
postal service cannot be obtained that
way. ONE WHO KNOWS.
New York, Nov. 2, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
A DEMOCRATIC HYPHENATE
Likes Mr.. Wilson's Legislation and
Lusitania Action
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have always made point OF vot-
ing for a democrat, however labelled.
| voted for Cleveland because he was,
in my estimation, man who held by
the people, the disinherited and ex-
plotted, rather than by the rich and
privileged. voted against Bryan be-
cause he was too much of demagogue,
and demagogy and true democracy are
incompatible. | voted heartily for
Roosevelt because, with his aggressive
democracy, he had succeeded in impos-
ing himself upon the Republican ma
chine of this state, which dreaded him
as flock Of sheep dread wolf. Ivoted
twice for Hughes because | believed he
would serve the people and would not
let the professional politicians use him
for their private ends. And again
voted for Roosevelt the Progressive,
because | thought that through him
democracy in this country would be-
come less of sham.
At this election hope to vote again
for a democrat. At first I believed IL
would be Justice Hughes, though | had
no faith in his party. But he has re-
vealed himself in the course Of the
campaign as a man whose mind is sub
dued to what it works in, man Of
merely legal fibre, having little sym
pathy with the people and no political
and social vision other than that of
standpat Republcanism, unleavened by
the Progressives whom it has swal-
lowed. President Wilson, on the other
hand, has redeemed all his errors by
obliging the Senate, that stronghold Of
wealth and privilege, to pass the child
labor and the eight-hour bills.
Then, too, as a citizen of German
birth, / think | have reason to feel
grateful to President Wilson for his
considerate treatment OF Germany in
respect to the Lusitania affair. Like a
sensible man, he deemed it unjust to
involve in a war, in which they would
be called upon to do the real fighting,
the millions of honest folk who stay at
home earning living, for the sake of
the handful who are so accustomed to
gadding about the capitals and pleasure
resorts of Europe that they cannot
stay at home even when Europe is in
the throes of the fercest OF wars.
P. T. A. NEUMANN.
Brooklyn, Oct. 80, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04

trustworthy, dependable public
man. He had strong convictions and
followed them. He represented the
progressive thought of the commu'
nifty. He pushed through many pro-
gressive laws-the Public Service
Commissions act, the workmen's COM
pensation act, the acts reducing the
hours of labor for women and chill
dren-which were accepted after
ward as models by the legislatures
of other states. He fought public
gambling and wiped it out.
He was a stanch supporter OF
really progressive legislation. But
he had no demagogic streak in him.
He was not afraid to stand up,
against pressure, for what he
thought was fair and just. He
vetoed the two-cent passenger rate
law because he knew that it would
work an injustice to the smaller rail-
roads. He advised the Legislature
TO reject the income tax amendment
to the Federal Constitution, not be-
cause he was opposed to the income
tax, but because he felt that the
amendment, as drawn, did not pro-
tect state and municipal bonds from
taxation.
Mr.. Hughes is progressive
statesman of the constructive type.
He wants to build not for the mo-
ment, but for the future. His word
is his bond. He is not profuse in
promises, but any promises which he
makes he will keep. He has pledged
himself to maintain American rights
at home, on the high seas and on for
cign soil. He is pledged to protect
American producers and American
workmen from the disastrous effects
Of European competition after the
war.
He stands for clear conceptions Of
rationalism and Americanism. He
has the firmness of character, the
tenacity of purpose and the intellect
ual grasp to put into practice the
principles for which he stands in this
campaign. And it is only by apply
ing these principles that the United
States can hope to recover its lost
prestige abroad and to consolidate
at home the fruits of its present
prosperity.
As for the Vice Presidential candi-
dates, Mr.. Fairbanks is a man Of
ripe experience and sound judgment.
He would fill the Office admirably, as
he filled it from 1905 to 1909. Mr..
Marshall is an eminent Chautauquan,
given to loose and irresponsible talk
"a near-humorist rather than a
statesman. For the patriotic, self
respecting American there can be
but one choice between the national
tickets of the two parties.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
CUTTING OFF MARKETS
The Wilson Foreign Policy Would
Keen Trade Seekers Home

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | have read with interest your
editorial in to-day's issue anent Mr..
Wilson's violation Of the Democratic
platform of 1912 by failing to extend
protection "to American citizens resid
ing or having property in any foreign
country" You refer to the new Wilson
doctrine that Americans who go TO for
eign countries to engage in trade are
"adventurers" who put themselves De-
yond the protection of the flag, and you
deprecate the effect which this policy,
if continued, will have upon the Mon
roe Doctrine and our foreign relations.
Strong and convincing as your editorial
is, il seems to me you might well have
placed little more emphasis on the
effect such a policy would be bound to
have on our quest for foreign markets,
and particularly for the markets of
South America.
If after the war there is TO be a gen.
eral scramble among the nations for
the markets of the world, it ought to be
patent that those countries which, like
England and Germany, protect the lives
and property Of their subjects abroad
will have an advantage over the unpro-
tected adventures" from the United
States. The markets of South America
have long dangled before the nations OF
the world, and tens of thousands OF
American young men and women, thou
sands of them right here in New York
City (as the language teachers will tell
your, have been studying Spanish 70
qualify themselves for opportunities
expected to come through the South
American trade.
The subjects of nation who go
abroad to assist in the exploitation OF
undeveloped resources create markets
for the manufacturers and producers az
home. The long history of the British
Empire and the more recent history Of
Germany afford the most convincing
proof of this fact. By virtue of pc
litical ties, common ideals of govern
ment and geographical advantages the
market of South America should be
ours, yet both England and Germany
"beat us TO it."
we are no" enjoying P'i'N
artificial and temporary prosperity
caused solely by war orders" from
European nations. If we have another
Wilson Administration, what will be
our industrial condition after the war
Shall we encourage our young people TO
seek trade and build up markets for US
in South America and other countries
or shall we encourage them to stay at
home and eat the bread of charity when
out of work, as thousands of working
men, clerks, stenographers and shop
girls were compelled to do until the
European war lifted the burden Of in
dustrial depression from the wilson
Administration! f. c. BILLINGS.
Brooklyn, Oct. 81, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Democratic Treatment Of the Negro

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Presidential election will be
of peculiar interest to the 1O,OOO,ooo OF
negroes in this country, as it will pre-
sent to them the question whether they
want four years more of serfdom or
whether they will strike the blow that
will give to them the political prestige
thew have been robbed Of under the
Wilson rule. The negro stands to-day
practically political nonenity, stripped
OF every vestige Of political manhood,
little better than he was fifty years
ago when he was given his freedom.
Federal Offices that he held under the
Republican rule have been taken from
him and given to white Democrats.
Precedents have been broken by send
ing to negro countries, notably Hayti,
white men as United States ministers,
many times over the protest Of the ma
tives.
Then came that infamous policy Of
segregation WntIc Hckloco "SAS SHN~
off from their fellow employees.
They were required to DO effective
work, screened off, in unsanitary places
in the departments, without lights and
other conveniences necessary to good
work. All the little courtesies due all
employees from their employer were
ignored by the Wilson crowd. Not con-
tent with this, infamous measures have
been introduced in Congress and the
Senate, all tending to set back the
progress of the negro. The most ha-
grant of these was to introduce jim
Crow cars in the capital city.
In the last four years over twenty
five government positions, with salaries
ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, have
been taken from negroes who filed
these Offices creditably and with entire
satisfaction.
The Republican party for years has
recognized the political worth Of the
negro by rewarding his efforts
CLEVELAND G. ALLEN.
New York, Oct. 26, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Shadow Lawn Estimates

Our President, oh, he is bold, he's not
afraid, you know,
OF witches, warlocks, long -nosed things
of things that are not so"
Now, Colonel Ted is easy scared, and as
for Mr.. Hughes,
Why, when he sees long-nosed thing
he trembles in his shoes.
But Bryan. Baker, DANES, all! there is
your valiant crew!
With Mr.. Wilson at the head with Mr..
McAdoo.
Let the lang-nebilled spooky things
come on just now and see
II anybody in this squad is quaking.
No, Stree!
A feather bright and very white sur
mounts the Wilson hat;
His step is firm, he always knows pre-
cisely where he's at.
His old nurse taught him how TO 60
forever straight ahead;
He never turns except upon his other
side in bed.
A constant man, a changeless man, twin
10 the northern star;
Nothing can keep our President from
keeping out Of war.
When Tirpitz did his devil deeds did
Mr. Wilson vince?
Oh, no. He shook his fist and he's
been shaking ever since.
Now, these are things that might be
thought a trihe overdrawn,
But they are largely in a speech pro-
nounced at Shadow Lawn.
The President said that he and his
were firm and bold, but Hughes
And those who followed that weak man
were scared by bugaboos.
This is a serious world indeed; our
way is in the dark;
As we march on our little lives are full
of care and cark.
We should not always grinn!ng be, and
yet. once in a while,
II is permissible to break into a gentle
smila Z. D. BEACH.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Of-Shore Windjammers

No one would guess off-hand that
the murder of an archduke in Serbia
would mean much to the State Of
Maine, and, specifically, that it would
thrill the ancient and fading tribe Of
windjammers from stem to stern.
Yet such is history. AS Mr.. Ralph
d. Paine, in the current "Scribner's,"
expounds, the great war, with its high
carrying rates, has awakened every
seaport from Portland TO Machias.
Every last old fore-and-after that
could be kept ahoat has been patched
up and put overheard and the great
yards of Bath and Camden have been
working night and day to launch new
keels.
1t is a pleasant anecdote that de-
scribes one Andrew Robinson stand
ing by the launching of his new craft
at Gloucester in the year 1913 and
cverhearing a bystander exclaim in
admiration: There she scoonsl"
"Scooner let her be-" said the
builder; whence came the name of
that famous breed. "Scoon" is a
Clydesdale word, meaning to glide, or
slip free, and the Gloucester bystand-
er may have meant the easy flowing
lines of the first schooner as much as
her new-fangled rig. But it is her
rig, her many masts of fore and aft
sails with never a crossyard from
fore to mizzen, that has become her
distinction. And that is proving a
real handicap, it is safe to guess, on
her present off-shore voyages. Our
Yankee schooners are fast, fine wind
tanners for the headwind coasting
work for which they were built.
With the wind aft they are hard TO
steer and moving by comparison
with the square-riggers. Also, their
huge sails are hard to shorten in a
tight moment Yet golden profits
call and Yankee shippers have an
swered, and Maine schooners are TAX
Ing the Stars and Stripes around .
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: II is refreshing 20 see in your
columns still another dispatch from
Washington, giving us the real truth
regarding the low estate 10 which all
our military forces have fallen, in that
they are regulated not by military men,
but by politicians. 1t is well known
that, as far as military men are con-
cerned. the withdrawal OF the militia
from the border and Of Pershing's
expedition from Mexico was approved
and strongly recommended some
months ago, but that the nearness Of
election and the fear Of dire political
consequences resulting from any
movement of troops whatsoever for
other than political purposes has kept
our long suffering Guardsmen doing
constabulary work on the border, for
which purpose they were never in
tended, and our column OF regulars two
hundred miles over the border in a
foreign country, under conditions that
are slowly but surely undermining the
| health OF all the officers and men
there.
All the hardships, discomforts and
risks as to life and health can cheer
fully be taken when there is a national
emergency and a real need for such
sacrifices. In his reply to Governor
Whitman's letter, President Wilson
stated that "the emergency which led
to the call of the militia . still
unhappily exists, and | am advised by
the military authorities that the with
drawal of the militia at any time from
the date Of its original call up to and
including the present would, in al!
human likelihood, have been followed
by fresh aggressions from Mexico upon
the lives and the property Of the peo-
pie of the United States"
The President is correct. There was
an emergency last June-a national
emergency-and this serious national
emergency still unhsppily exists" but
this emergency was not, and is not now
on the border or in Northern Mexico
1t is in Washington, and its principal
features lie in the personal political
fortunes Of the commander in chief Of
the army of the United States and the
gentlemen of his Cabinet and the
members Of Congress of his political
| faith.
| have been to the border, and know
whereof l speak when | say that the
people Of Texas, state normally SOL
idly Democratic, normally approving Of
anything done by Democratic Presi.
dent simply because he is Democrat,
are simply Disguised with ;he Presi-
dents sham and the political swindle
that he has handed out to the patriotic
members of the organized militia. The
| National Guard is now in a fair way
toward disintegration, and it may be
, that this will be a good thing in the
end, because it will bring US more rap
idly to a real state Of preparedness via
the universal service route than would
otherwise be the case.
But this is not the point. No such
Interior motive was intended by our
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Do as | Say, Not as ! Do

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Last spring when the Natio's'
Guard were ordered TO the border 's'
Administration in very patriotle an
paternal way urged employers or q.
listed men to keep up their salaries s''
hold open their places At lesst " pe'
cent did. Many OF our pos,otee e.
ployes belong 10 the National D'n.
When the call came they Responded "
once, and naturally expected their en-
ployers (the United States go'e'r.
menp at least 10 do for them As 'A''
urged the merchants. The facts an
their pay was cut of at once. Employ.
in the Postoffice Department do no' 8.
large salaries and the sudden call ga.
the men no chance 20 arrange Tor 'hs'
families. IL
All government employees are sin.
of losing their Jobs II they TAX v,
much. and therefore the writer eAa'
give names, though he has MADE Ps.
sonal investigation and can vouen :"
the facts. The government Was es.
siderate to the extent that j, gave ~
men their old jobs when they re'u'as '',
Friends of the Administrator -,
point 20 a sum which the s2'OOO'oVv.'s.
nearly Congress, in burst OF sa co..
ity, appropriated for needy '0'a s.s,
etc. These postal clerks heard az. ~.
it. but so far the writer can't ma Na .i
one of them has had any attention q,
TO his application anyhow mOh.. hs
food and rent was needed during y.
time the husband was away, ana 80
!, will be very welcome now. u ss ....
make up for the fAmily'' hunii''
last summer .re
Is it any wonder that these men - =
glad that they will have ensn. n
vote against the Administrator -
YOU were in their places how woS wcx
votey WiLovN
New York. Oct. 80, 1915. -
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
POLITICS AND MILITARY DECAY
uadsmen Mexican Border Are Disguised with the Shabby
Treatment They Feel They Have Received from the
Authorize. in Washington

shortsighted Statesmen" in Washing
ton at the time the Guard Was called.
They are simply abusing, for their own
political ends, strictly state troops,
called into Federal service "as such"
in accordance with the provisions OF
the Constitution, when no emergency
and no necessity for that call. or at
least for being retained 80 long IN that
service. really existed at all.
To prove the great power OF poll
tics in this whole matter, you have only
TO refer to the instances Of the return
of certain organizations from certain
districts OF certain states, where
careful watch was kept upon public
opinion and full value placed upon the
political consequences, favorable or
otherwise, in regard TO the return
from or the retention on the border of
that particular organization. We had
a glazing example Of it here in New
York State in the case OF the I'd Regi-
ment, and this same rotten state Of
affairs existed in other cases with the
entire force Of states south Of Mason
and Dixon's line. Louisiana troops
went to the border two months after
the arrival there of Northern troops,
simply TO present "clean bill Of
health" in answer to charges of sec
tionalism, and after four weeks Of per-
functory service were returned, good
Democrats all, to their home state
in time to vote.
The statements Of "Never again"
and "I'm through" have a deeper sig
nificance than merely dissatisfaction
with the medical conditions, or the eli
mate, or the food, or the discomforts
Of active service, or the plain SOL
dier's right to grumble. All the mill
tiamen still on the border have been
graduated beyond these amateur-sol-
der complaints. Their disgust comes
from a realization of the mean, cheap
and petty politics being played to-day
by those in power in connection with
the regular army and the National
Guard Of the United States; the un-
necessary suffering caused their fam
lilies, and In many cases the absolute
ruination Of their business careers;
simply because OF tHiS pOilbiCS pldsihb
at Washington; and finally, the usual
American public apathy which consid-
ers its part done after it has waved
goodby to the last khaki-clad soldier
and read about his doings as long az
the newspapers care to print the same
on the front page.
So it is refreshing to read in The
Tribune articles refuting Wilson's and
Bakers statements as TO what they did
on the advice Of military authorities"
At least $4,000 Of the 100000
Guardsmen who have been on the bor-
der have got this whole thing clear
in their minds in the way that | have
just stated above. and have got Will
sons number" It remains to be seen,
with the aid Of such papers as yours,
how many more of the voting public
will "get his number" on this and many
other matters before November 7.
NATIONAL GUARDSMAN.
New York, Oct. 20, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Mr.. Wilson Himself the Issue

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In recent speech at Shadow
Lawn President Wilson charged that
the Republicans had abandoned all the
issues put forward early in the cam
paign and had nothing to present now
worthy of notice.
There has been in this campaign
from the first but one issue of i'm
portance, and it stands out to-day as
conspicuously as ever-that issue is
Woodrow Wilson himself and his "too
proud to fight" policy.
If the spirit of &c was not dead that
phrase "too proud to fight alone
would damn him in the mind of every
true lover of his country and insure
his defeat by an overwhelming ma
jority. NJ. I. X.
New York, Nov. 2, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
Gentle Judicial Sarcasm!

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In to-day's Tribune an account
of the fning of Miss Jessie Ashley for
distributing birth control information
gives Justice McInerney's opinion. To
quote: 81 voted for the defendants
being sent to Jail for thirty days. She
merits the punishment. Those who
break the laws ought to be punished.
II they want to disseminate such in
formation they ought to change the
laws"
Bully for the justice! That is exact
ly what "they" wish TO do, but, I'M
fortunately, the great State OF New
York does not see TT that they"
should.
Is Justice McInerney really in favor
Of woman's sufrsge-or is his opinion
only gentle judicial sarcasm?
JANE BALSAM.
New York, Oct 81, 1915