davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Fighting with a Boomerang.

I'm the face OF the statement by City
Chamberlain Bruere and Mr.. Wallsten'
Commissioner of Accounts, 1t IS idle
for the county officials fighting Mayor
Mitchels economy programme to main
tain that their Offices have returned a
profit" to the city. Their organization
recently circulated a statement that In
1915 certain county offices paid all eX-
penses and showed profit of S645,OOO.
The offices specified were those of the Com
missioners Of Records in New York and
Kings, the County Clerks in all five
divisions, all the Sheriffs, three Registers
and four Commissioners Of Jurors.
II appears that this alleged profit was
produced by a Juggling of figures akin TO
some corporation bookkeeping. Messrs.
Bruere and Walstein declare that the
statement included collections Of the mort
gage tax amounting to almost S2,OOO,OOO
as fees earned by the offices in question.
This is a general statutory tax, collected
in three counties by the registers, in the
other two by the county clerks, as agents
for the state, and the expenses Of collect
ing it are paid out of the tax receipts.
II has, therefore, no bearing on the ques-
ton of running these Offices economically.
Mayor Mitchell is asking the Legislature
TO empower the local authorities to con-
solidate and rearrange the functions OF
some or all of these offices. That power
should be given. The fight against 1t Is a
fight for jobs, a fight inspired by politics
and politicians who desire patronage. 1t Is
against the interest of the city to continue
the present system when carefully worked
out figures show its unnecessary expense
The fact that the present officials, hght-
ing for their pap system, resort TO ms
and untruths to bolster up
their side of the argument merely shows
its weakness and the lack of real merit IN
their contentious.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Gompers and the Militia
or OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Gompers. in his demand" that the
employment OF Federazed militia 10 quell
strike riots be prohibited, openly acknowl-
edges that his organization approves Of law
Icssne.. and violence He predicts strikes
and the destruction OF life and property by
the strikers, for unless life and property
arc in jeopardy the militia is never called
upon.
The army of country is intended to pro-
tect that country from the foe, whether he
be within OF without our gates. And If such
army is prevented from preserving order
among certain favored brand OF vandal,
what will become Of the country? And, Incl
dentally. if the armed forces of country
be prevented from protecting the country
in time Of internal strife, what will the moral
effect be?
Members OF organized labor, or any one
else, may refuse to work; they are at lib
erty TO strike, but the very moment they
interfere with others who are willing to work,
tho instant they resort to violence TO help
bring about the granting Of their demands,
they are nothing more than murderous out
laws and deserve TO be treated as such. If p
housebreaker belongs TO an organized band
Of crooks. should the police be made power
less 10 curb his thievng?
/ am a member of the national guard. No
soldier relishes riot duty. No man who has
seen active service in the line prefers it 20
straightforward warfare. Every man Who en-
lists in the state service and who expects
and sincerely desires to do his full duty is
willing to help protect lives, homes and
property and TO preserve COR establish and
maintain order; il makes no difference
whether the danger emanates from internal
uprising or invading forces.
Will President Wilson be moved by this
demand? We hope not. We trust that this
dangerous clement mean certain leaders OF
organized labor-which has forfeited lives,
many dollars and much happiness by placing
its stamp OF approval on strikes and by en-
couragng them to ferment into wars of dis
order and destruction, shall not have a hand
in determining the course of government.
EUGENE WHITE.
New York, Feb. 2s, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13

tify change. If the submarine Is more
vulnerable than earlier types Of commerce
destroyers it is also in several respects
more formidable. Nor has the best armed
trading vessel Of to-day as good chance
as the trading vessels Of old to resist the
attacks of the regular cruisers. The Exc
ter incident would be unthinkabie to-day.
To-day, moreover, the trader has Zeppellns
and other aircraft TO reckon with. Are all
the new dangers to be accepted unresist-
ingly merely because there happen TO be
submarines abroad? 1t is of obvious I'M
portance to Germany's enemies to reduce
the power Of the submarine, yet they do not
ask for reforms to meet their needs. They
would probably be content if Germany
would show enough respect for interna-
tional law TO stick to the long established
method of detention, visit and search.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
THE LOGIC OF ASSASSINATION
A Few Flaws Pointed Out to a
German Zealot.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In q letter entitled "Munition Ships
and Passengers" published In the Tribune on
March Mr.. H. 81. Ges.efeld asks; III
there is any flaw in this logic would appre-
ciats having It pointed out" Permit me TO
answer the question, II you please.
The flaw in your logic, Mr. Gestefeid' IN
so obvious tina. II Is only necessary to recite
the conclusions which you reached TO discern
II. You contend that il Is not only right
but the duty OF nation st war TO destroy
all passenger and merchant vessels OF an
enemy, without warning and without making
any provision for the safety OF the passen-
gers or crew, IL such vessels are carrying
arms or munitions OF war. In attempting
20 support this postulate you argue that a
ship carrying such a cargo is "a much on
the firing line as IL actually on land between
the oposing lines Of trenches" and upon this
hypothesis you declare that neutrsls travel
ling on such vessels have no rights that a
white man is bound to respect
The flaw in this logic is that IL Is German
logic. That is the general fsv. The speeihc
flaw is that such an argument carried to It's
full conclusion becomes reductio ad absurd
um. For instance, il the cargo OF an enemy
liner were to contain a single case OF pistols
consigned to an individual enemy, then 1t
would be right and proper to send that liner
10 the bottom OF the sea, together with all
its non contraband cargo and passengers. in
nocent men, women and children. Such an
act would be illogical because the loss to the
innocent parties would be so disproportion-
ate to the gain OF the destroyer, not to men
ton that IL would be murder, wilful, de-
liberate, unjustifable murder, which would
not be justified, much less excused, outside
the Central Powers and Turkey.
The law Of self-defence protects the killer
in so far only as he can show an impelling,
immediate necessity for his act, and It Is
ariomstic that no more force than 10 neces-
ssry TO preserve life may be employed This
execusatory defence had never been extended
10 include unnecessary wholesale slaughter
In any civilized community until tho German
ran amuck in Europe, and IL is hardly to be
expected that civilization will modify the
rule for the benefit of the Butchers OF Bel
GUM. When the killer exceeds the limits
of necessity h. loses the protection OF the
law and is held TO be a murderer. Nor does
it affect the application of the rule that the
killer was unable TO save his own life save
by the wholesale destruction OF innocent by
ISLANDERS, especially if he happens to be strut
ting around with chip on his shoulder.
In other words. my dear sir II footpad
were TO hold you up at the point of a pistol
on crowded Broadway and you were TO an
swcr his demand by she'll from .42-ccnti-
metre Krupp gun, incidentally killing null
titudc of innocent pedestrians, your plea Of
Justification would hardly be entertained in
any court outside OF Germany. f. ". T.
Easton, Penn March t. 1916
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
High Living Costs Still Here.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Ex-Governor Glynn, in his reply -
TO the masterful indictment OF the Demo
cratic party by ex-senator Root, neglected
TO explain one thing that in days gone by
he used to dwell upon at great length. On
October /. 1912, Mr.. Glynn addressed .he
Democratic State Convention at Syracuse, and
among other things said:
The cost of living will cease 10 be a
political question after the fourth Of March
Mr.. Wilson and Democratic Congress will
attend TO that"
Three years, years crowded with all man.
ner of blundcrs, have passed and apparently
this matter, along with one or two others
has not been attended 10 by President Will
son and the Democratic Congress. Perhaps
Mr.. Glynn can in some future speech tell
why the high cost OF living has not ceased
to be political issue. G.. P. GLEASON.
Albany, y. Y, March 3. 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Neurotics as Soldiers.

There has been a great deal OF talk
about the influence Of the war on the
nerves of the soldiers, as if in no former
war had the strain been so severe or the
effects so disastrous. In reality, more
careful provision is made to-day than
ever before for the care OF mental and
nervous cases, and il may well be doubted
whether in proportion the suffering has
actually been greater. Il Is undenable,
however, that there has been a great deal
of mental disorder clearly attributable TO
fatigue and shock, and the probability is
that many men have been sent to the
front whose nerves were not sufficiently
stable TO justify their enlistment as
fighters.
An eminent specialist in mental dis
eases, Sir George Savage, has lately
drawn the attention of the profession to
the apparent laxity of medical examiners
in this respect. He says that in various
hospitals he has visited he has come
across a great number of invaided SOL
diers who, in his opinion, ought never TO
have been accented. The difficulty is that
many who are not really fit TO serve are
extremely DESTROYS TO join the army Tor
fear that they may be condemned as
shirkers. Among those who have con-
suited him are men subject TO slight at
lacks of petit nal and men who have had
one attack or more OF insanity in one
form or another. Any trace Of epilepsy
he has naturally regarded AZ absolutely
prohibitive, but II Is difficult TO decide
what to do In some Of the other cases, be
cause IL not allowed TO serve, the men
are apt 10 "worry and look upon them
selves as suspects, this suspicion produc-
ing sleeplessness and general i'll health
which might readily lead TO fresh break
down."
Sir George Savage thinks that any man
showing a tendency 60 recurrent insanity
ought TO be rejected, but he is apparently
inclined to permit the enlistment Of those
who have been free from acute mental
disorder for period Of three years.
There are some. however. whose history
shows that mental breakdown which
may have occurred years before was
caused by overwork or mental strain. and
in these cases it is not always easy TO de
eide what advice to give. "The notion
that the training will buck up the men !
have not found 70 be true" he says. 81
have in my experience, however. TO report
that have known definitely detectives
who have proved valuable army service
men or motor drivers"
It is possible sometimes to put the
doubtful cases in nunition factories or
other labor associated with military ser
vice. and this is often the only solution
in dealing with neurotics who are over
apprehcnsive Of the judgment of their
fellow men.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
70 oft IVY a
Tbratn.d-Tbe eProbaby Nesad by Discomfort"

Verdun 10 restore his prestige. Than,
and thousands more widows, THOUSAND.
Thousands more orphans The Germ. ~
ton to-day is not so enthusiastic ana ~.
sure of success. DR.. Liebknecht, the S,s,'s"
leader. in his speech the other day beto,.a
diet. gave us 10 understand, notwiths,,,ns
the censorship, that conditions in the ,-..t1
are not what the Berlin news ageneie, -
them 70 be Private letters received -"
few days ago show between the lines Ia, a
beginning Of the end is not very far o.
Another indication Of the Kaiser. A..
nointment is the increased severity !, :.
conquered provinces OF Belgium and Pa
Even in Alsace a reign Of terror keen, ~
inhabitants. whose only crime il to hay. =
relatives lighting on the French side in ~
slant fear of court martial and subseos...
imprisonment. II not death.
An Alsatian residing in Strassbur,
row a refugee in Switzerland write, "a NJ
brother. living in New York. that life n ~
SAGE is almost unbearable. No one il spo,.,
to speak one word of French. A repu,,N.
citizen, so writes this absolutely ,ru.,vO-..,
correspondent. met friend on N. .,,...
and greeted him in French. saying Bon ,or,',
y AL
the man was sentenced 10 prison for -.
month. The jails are filled with repr,sy,
people whom any uniformed scoundrel -.
accuse of imaginary crime, OF treason o, !,
lesc majestic.
In Belgium, which is a vast military a-,
Won Bissingen regns supreme, and in YorI
ern France the military governors OF Vale.
ciennes. Lille and Cambria spend their lsi,,,.
hours by imposing heavy fines and impri,.,.
ing the mayors Of the cities who refu,, !,
levy extraordinary taxes on their cor.,n,.
ents. Big posters announce every day 70 Il.
bereaved inhabitants great German vic.or,
real or imaginary. II is as a lesson 70 t,.,,
conquered people that the drive on Verdi, 1,
so magnified in the reptilian press.
To resume and 20 answer the ou.s,,
which heads this article: VIVA. OF verd,,,
Il may be stated without fear OF contr,A.
ton that the drive on verdun, who's. co., 1,
human lives cannot be estimated, Is nec.,s.
tated by the increased disqualification OF a,
German people, who refuse 20 be deceived An,
longer: by the corresponding fear OF y.
Kaiser, whose throne is I'm the balancr 4,
the hesitating attitude Of some OF the r,s
trail powers, as. for instance, Rumanis, o.
last, but not least. by impressng the irh,y
tants Of the conquered territories Of Frs,o
and Belgium that they can expect no deliy,,
ance and that they are and will remain Ga,
man subjects.
That is what the drive on Vcrdun mean,
The news agencies on the other side Of ~
Rhine may tell us every day how the P,rl,
crowds shout "TIoch der kaiscrl" when ~.
parade Inter den Linden. The same thin,
happened in France in 1870 Al the beginni,,
of the war. Crowds Of Parisians ASSEMBLE,
in the Tuleries Gardens, shouting "yp
l'Empereur!" and get few weeks after ,hs
Napoleon III, Eugene and Loulou were igro
miniously bsnished and his cd out Of Franc,
History sometimes repeats ITSELF
JONAS LlPpMANN.
Formerly OF the journal d'Alsacs'
Now York. March n. 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: What Of Verdun. A few weeks ago
The Tribune, under the caption OF Germany
Is Beaten" published a remarkable editorial
which the present drive on Verdun, with its
appalling loss Of life, amply justifes What
Of Verdun is the question which to-day DIS
turbs somewhat the friends OF France.
One need not be strategst nor retired
army officer 70 realize that the present Ger
man onslaught is not necessitated BY eventual
strategic movements, but is merely hopeless
attempt on the part Of the Kaiser to reglld
the very much furnished Teutonic e.cutcheon.
The pride OF the Hohcnsollern more than
the prestige OF German arms has been some
what humbled by the bulldog-like resistance
OF the French nation, which at the beginning
of the war the German press sneeringly called
chose degenerate Frenchmen. whom aosinthe'
cigarettes and women have rendered power
less 70 resist the vigorous German armies.
That the Kaiser should have chosen TINS
time OF year, when mud, rain and snow are
supreme, when heavy artillery can hardly De
moved. 70 force the French lines, can only De
explained by the desperate plight IN when
the hhlSer mas ulUiNtAA anu - 49,
conditions now obtaining in the empire WI
helm III commences 10 hear IN the lar ais
lance the cries OF the mob yelling for 1000
He can feel an undertow of discomfort among
his civilian population. History teaches US
that when women are clamoring for food in
popular uprising repressiye measures 90 not
always repress.
The German people had a beautiful dream
in August. 1914. when their Kaiser hypnotlzed
them in the belief that he could celebrate
in Paris the anniversary OF the battle OF
Sedan, on the I'd Of September, 1914. 1t was
but dream, dispelled at the battle OF the
Marine.
So since then German strategy and so
called German efficiency have resulted only IN
sacrificing thousands and thousands or pre-
cious lives TO gain few miles of trenches
situated at the outposts Of French defensive
positions The French front is not broken
il IS not even bent. Conservatively speaking
the German losses since the battle OF Nerdun
began have exceeded 100000 mon to gain a
few miles Of territory AZ that rate and
figures don't lie assuming continuous Ger
man success, how many men will there be
necessary to reach the outposts of Paris? At
least 2OO0.0OO Where will the Kaiser find
them? His trusted allies, Austria and Tur-
key, cannot spare one soldier. Salonica is
taking care Of that. Therefore the shortage
of men, as shown By the present attacks
against Vcrdun, one time on the cast bank
another time on the west bank OF the Meuse
is more than evident.
Let US even assume that Vcrdun is capt
ured. What then? Outside Of possible de-
moralzng influence there will be very little
harm done. Behind the fortress there are hun
dreds Of miles Of trenches, supported and pro-
tccted by fortified positions. which must be
taken before Paris is reached.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
A King in Exile.

IRON The Philadelphia Pres
On the broad vivid canvas OF this war there
is no figure ss pathetic as that of old
King Peter of Serbia, hunted from his native
land by hostile armies, hidden away on a re-
mote island OF Greece. broken in health vir-
tually blind, but confidently awaiting the day
of his countrv's deliverance. All there is left
OF the strong man who ruled his people craft
lily and led them through several successful
wars is this frail shadow that waits and hope.
and dreams, despite his seventy-two years Of
again into Serbia at the head OF g
conQuering army.
Bitter exile has not embittered him toward
the world. lie blames neither his allies for
their tardy and Intellectual aid. nor Greece for
her refusal to join in his country's defence
Even Of Bulgaria he remembers that she
fought side by side with Serbia for the free
dom Of the Balkans, and he only deplores the
fact that the deluson OF Balkanic heGemony
row obsesscs her. Tolerance. clear under
standing and sound philosophy were evident
in every utterance Of that long interview he
recently granted TO a representative OF The
Associated Press on the Island Of Eubrs
While there arc many who doubt the purity
Of Serbia's motives and the spotlessness o.
her record in this war, none can fail 10 be
moved by the simple prayer of this king
without a country. 81 believe in the liberty OF
Serbia a. ! believe in God. Il has become
the faith Of the twilight OF my life I only
live to see Serbia free. | pray God TO let
me live until the day Of the redemption OF
my people. That day am ready 10 die II the
Lord wills"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
A Schoolgirl Pacifist.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir: Marjorie Sterrett advises that we
school children give 10 cents to build q
hattleship big enough 10 click other nations
with"
Don't you think it would be better if they
gave ten good reasons why there should not
be any war?
America, ! always thought. was too moral
to try 70 lick the world" A batteship is
10 honor 20 nation, but progressive men
end women who build up a strong interna
tional honor are.
Or IL the school children would give this
same 10 cents toward getting the less fortu-
nate ones out OF the factories, where boys
and girls OF Marjorie's age work ten and
twelve hours day for perhaps a mite more
than 10 cents a day. This i. national IA
triotc defence OF children's lives and limbs.
Good patriotism means good democracy
end not war msddened slaughter
Another thirteen-yesr- schoolgirl patriot.
CECILIA ALDERMAN.
p. s. 80, Wildwood School
Brooehynp Feb. ., 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Prohibitionist Fancies.
o the Editor OF The Tribune.

q the Editor OF | ne lrlbune.
Sir: A syndicated article appearing in
various newspapers contains the following
false statement
"The people who are working for prohbi-
ton are trying to get Congress to pass an
amendment 10 the national Constitution which
which will submit the question 10 all Of the
people Of all the states at one time
As a matter of fact, Congress cannot sub
nit the amendment 10 vote OF the people
in any state at one time or at any time, for
the simple reason that the proposal to amend
the Constitution would be voted on b. state
legislatures and not by the people.
There are forty-eght states, and the
amendment to be adopted would have TO
have the legislative approval of thirty-six
states. The census estimate for 1914 fig
ured 98.7s1,324 population for the United
States, and placed 53.97l 40 in twelve wet
states, as follows: Massachusetts. New York,
New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana
Illinois. Michigan. Missouri, Texas, Wiscon-
sin and California.
II is evident, therefore. that vote BY
states. instead of expressing the will of the
people. might enable the minority 70 over
with nearly ten million inhabitants. would
be on an equal footing with North Dakota,
which has less than 100000 population. Penn
syvania, with over eight million population,
would have no more weight in the count
than Arizona, which has less than 100000
population.
In consideration of these facts 1t is not
surprising that the leaders Of the prohibition
movement should wish TO convey the impress
sion that nationwide prohibition would be
voted on By the people, but il is surprising
that they would venture into cold print with
statement so easily disproven. However,
1t is in line with the policies of the prohib-
ton leaders. They start work by claiming
that prohibition" is temperance They pre-
tend 20 favor local option and home rule in
one state and seek 10 destroy local option
and home rule in another.
They claim that nationwide prohibition
would stop the use OF liquor. and az the
same time make provision that under nation
wide prohibition every farm could have a
distillery and every family could have il,
kitchen bar. M. GILMORE.
President National Model License League.
Louisville. KY. Feb. IS, 1916
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Giving the Voters Facts.

In the twenty years OF its existence
the Citizens Union has built up ono feat
ure of civic work of exceptional value to
this city. That is its information service.
1t scrutinizes all legislation at Albany
affecting this city on its introduction, has
it analysed by committee of experienced
lawyers and laymen and gives publicity to
the results. 1t follows ordinances before
the Board Of Aldermen in the same way
and keeps track of pending proposals be
fore the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment. During campaigns it publishes
summaries of the records of local candi-
dates prepared from its extensive files.
No other agency in New York has the
facilities for doing this work so thor
oughly and Systematically as the Citizens
Union does it. Owing to it many an evil
bill has been killed and many desirable
one brought to public notice with sufficient
emphasis to focus voters sentiment on 1t,
thus assuring its adoption. The general
public, slow to be aroused, can be trusted
to act in its own interest once it has the
facts. This organization, non-partisan and
devoted only to promoting the welfare OF
New York. builds sound foundation for
all such effort when it devotes its chief
attention to obtaining the facts and
spreading them abroad