davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Health Above Dollars.

Il is an earnest Of the opposition TO the
legislation intended TO Danish state instltu-
lions from the Croton watershed that in
spite of Governor Whitman's order to sus-
pend work on the Mohansic State Hospi-
tai and the Training School for Boys the
Merchants Association recently found
vorkmen operating AT the training school
site. This instance Of disobedience Of his
orders Governor Whitman can settle with
the persons responsible. But the spirit
which persists in pushing forward these
enterprises against the present policy OF
the state and the interests Of New York
City is highly serious.
Bills are pending providing for the re-
moval of these institutions from the water
shed and forbidding, in future. the loca-
ton of any state institution on watershed
from which public water supply is being
drawn. In justice to every resident of this
city, in Justice to residents of other sec
tons of the state whose health and lives
may easily be endangered, this legislation
should speedily become law. Equally
available sites for the state hospital and
the training school can surely be found
where their sewage will not possibly seep
into the drinking water of a city of 5,OO0,-
600 people. 1t would be carelessness. reck-
lessness almost criminal, not to find such
sites and preserve the safety Of New
York's water supply.
Opposition to the change proposed seems
to come chiefly from Westchester County,
where there is fancy that some property
values will depreciate if the institutions
planned be moved. 1t would be lamen-
table condition Of affairs if the possible
loss of few dollars should be permitted to
outweigh the possibility Of an epidemic Of
disease here from filth-laden, germ-pollute9
drinking water.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
THE PHILIPPINE SCrTTLE
Public Opinion Should Halt til;
Senate Plan.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The series Of articles being p15.sst
in your paper dealing with tae Philips
question and tho action Of tie Senate u gas
ing the bill giving them independence. viz
out the slightest protection. without 81
anteeirg their freedom. o. ever assing or
nations TO respec; or guarantee their I'D.
pendence. is deserving Of al comnendat.or
But cannot The Tribune go a iitt.e fur,E
and Try in some way 70 still bring defesi
Congress 20 this most unpatr.otic seie;
Could not The Tribune start a petition !
postcards. sending them 20 the voters a.
asking them 20 sign and return aia''c
card. which would be q petition 20 Cong'ea
For this or any other movement under y'I
supervision that has for IL. object the def.'
o. this measure / will gladly give eon'r''
ton toward the expense. ! SIN sure there o.
enough patriots left in our country who w'st
sign such a petition and contribute 70 -
EXPENSE ~ would cause the House 20 pas"
a. long time before ratifying the acton Of "
Senate.
Our real American ia going 70 ask why I"
must abandon the Philippines, espees"
under the conditions or lsck o. conditions
contained in the bill passed by the Senate. i
the Senate afraid that by holding on 10 T''
rgh,fully belongs 20 US, what we psie h'
and IN the Imminent o. 'Ne oO''s"'.'"' a,
sumed before the world when we oous'' -
islands and Of our treaty covering our ?"
session Of them. IL will bring Us war Ar
az, co,,,rv,,sr u,irirg 20 give up tt'r
r;ch,s tnoir Iard and declare void our no1
at1 ~, ,,.aI o,,.aa,,o.s - .yo,d war; VI
ana .esai oDNg cations ~ ..,.,..
'N' -. With q,
Ism becoming 'ni"s -.' ..,,.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Legal or Illegal.
= Of The Tribune.

To he Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: As international law has come 10 be
accepted. the destruction OF the LusitsnIs as
j. occurred was either legal or an Illegal
act II legal act. Germany justified
and cannot be held TO "strict accountable
ity" for an indemnity or otherwise. II the
act WAS illegal. then Germany can be 20 held.
We are told that Germany has expressed
willingness TO pay an indemnity for the
American lives lost. But why should Ger
many pay when she had the RICH, TO Kill? II
she did not have such right. why should she
not be required to admit in actual words the
illegal &C. for which she is willing to pay
Does Germany really think that We are so
sordid people that if given a few thousand
dollars We shall no longer question her right
10 do wrongful things? Come what may, the
best thought Of this country is that Ger
many should be held 10 strict accountable
ity" for her illegal scts.
F. c. JOHNSON.
New Haven, Feb. 8, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Savings of German Pastors.

So many wild and eXtravagant utter
ances Of the German clergy have beer
published in the last year and half in
the German papers that it is hardly nee
essary to turn elsewhere for evidence that
the war had turned many of their heads.
The other day, however, "The Spectator"
of London reproduced a number of eX
tracts from "The Methodist Times" by
way Of iustifying the suspicion that
they have been modified by superior civil
authority Just as the professors have been
modified"
Though these extracts are said TO have
been chosen and translated by the gen
eral superintendent of the Wesleyan
Methodist Missions in Italy, it would. per
haps. have been safer to 90 to the origi-
nal sources before drawing conclusions
They are extremely fantastic. Thus, Pro
fessor Reinhold Seeberg is said to have
preached a great sermon in the Cathedral
at Berlin showing that the Germans were
engaged in work Of charity" that they
"1oved other nations" and punished them
for their good, thus insuring their saliva
ton. Pastor Zoebe, without any cant
about love, justified severity, declaring, so
il is alleged, that there ought to be no
with hell, no mercy for the
servants of Satan-in other words, no pity
for the English, the French, the Rus
slams, nor, indeed, for any nation that has
sold itself TO the devil" Pastor Fritz
Philippi likewise is said TO have impressed
upon Berlin congregation the necessity
of killing, burning and destroying the
friends and allies of Satan" for "just as
the Almighty caused His Son 10 be cruel
fed for redemption. so Germany is des-
tined TO cruelty humanity for the renewed
salvation Of mankind"
An inquiry into the origin of these
blasphemies was undertaken some time
ago by NJ. Correvan, Of the French Re
formed Church at Geneva. II he is to be
trusted the Methodist translator is not
He says that the sentence attributed to
Pastor Philippi (who, by the way. never
lived in Berlin and Is now at the 'front.'
should read as follows: an Christ, hu
mainly is crucifed with Christ; il is so
afresh every time q deliyerance has to be
accomplished in its favor; this monstrous
war is itself such a crucitiXion of human
ty." As to Zoebel. NJ Correvan is unable u
IDENTIFY him. and makes bold TO say that
no such pastor exists in Germany. Finally,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Widows Pensions.

The Tribune has received the following
letter. which indicates an unfortunate
ignorance of the actual operation OF one Of
the states valuable humanitarian meas
ures
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In reading in yesterdays issue OF
your paper the sud plight Of Mrs. Anna
Rensdrsth. | was forced to wonder what mas
become Of the widows pension law passed
bv the Legislature not long ago. know an
other case of destitute widow with hve
Young children who is forced TO go out TO the
hardest kind of work 20 help support them.
Would be obliged to you or your readers for
information on this subject. ANXIOUS.
Brooklyn, Feb. Z, 1915.
The widowed mothers pension law took
effect July of last year Mayor Mitchell
has appointed a Board of Child Welfare to
administer it. of which William II. Mat
thews is chairman and Charities Commits
sioner Kingsbury an ex ofico member.
Several thousand applications for relief
have been made to that board and are
under investigation; some pensions are
being paid from an appropriation the
board has. To be eligible the widow must
have dependent on her child or children
under sixteen years of age; she must have
been resident Of this state for two years
and her husband must have been citizen
Of this country and resident of this state
at the time of his death. Applications
should he made TO the Board Of Child
Welfare. at the City Hall.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
NOW, AND THEM
Vacillation and Instability Through
Mr.. Wilson's Career.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your mornings editorial strikes the
KEYNOTE I'm the character OF President wilson
Two words can be used to Thoroughly de-
scribe him e., uncertain and nsncere.
In a previous letter pointed out to you no"
he shifted from position TO position on othet
questions Of legislation and how disastrous
lis first advice given cmphatically and with
the apparent force Of conviction -hnf II
been followed would have been. follo"
his career on all public questions. including
those enacted into legislation. and you VIII
note this fact most alarmngly
You may remember that | called attention
20 the fact that most Of US were gwen nut
one chance Just one opportunity and If we
went wrong VIC lost out. The same apples
TO the commander on the held OF battle.
What sort Of leader is It that hrst must
discover the thought and opinion OF others
before he can give his own, or Who. when
he has given his own, shifts about so ms to
not simply agree with the opinion OF the
others. we'll founded and carefully reasoned
out. but. rs il were, goes It zone better just
to exceed?
Suppose Mr. Roosevelt should now come
back with, say, this proposition, and let us
imagine using words about "a follows;
at has been said that our navy shou'n
be stronger than that OF any other nation
Well srid a. far ne il goes. But no" say
tina. our navy should exceed in It's power h'u
capabilities that OK any combination o. ma
tons and AZ this time that means eFc'ep
irr the combined navy OF Great Britain
France. Russia Italy and Japan.
Would such statement be more groiesque
toan the thought actually given utterance to :
rcar The President overlooked the sreater
cppor,urit.. TO bring down" the House.
Sor,c dav NC MAJ muster the difference
l..ucer politician and a state be
tucen q talkcr and thinker, between the
commonplace and the great. = D.
New York. Feb. 3, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Huns In Other Days.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: A. IAN appreciatiye reader Of The Trlp-
nm. allow nc 20 compliment you and 10
think you heartily FOR your editorial Bel
0iur Again" which appeared February =
For the very future of our existence as
VOL a. in the light Of moral righteousnes''
this netion must grasp the fac, that II -
German Kultur" pitted against "Clviiizs-
tior" that makes this war In Europe. Shou!a
that Kultur be victorious II would be 81
lpartly because of reversion 20 phfpa' isi'
Of 300 and 1900 years ago.
The message Of your Belgium Again g.
set forth cxcellently There IS reference e.
"tbc other barbarian hordes" which recalls
a mage in Gibbons Decline and FaiI J
quote from CHARTER XXXIN. with such cns.
siors for breyity's sake as 10 not disturb the
sense Of the original;
v1, s ga7' 49, E ' ny n. ,.. s'H s'i, 70 2e %,
,is'dei 10 Mosu th, rlunsn t'gs, - ,he rrh Of
ar "a; e'sr,sd Ri'h regl." laim % d''lPla, b,
33 s. .d 90 .m M, , "a .a s ,saa, into ,s-,
gsfis The fsf c.a,. .or'sri - mo gaf'l.f a.n ..
stsn'lv decided hes acre sa'r enlisted anonE Tho No9''
fIsy we're mastered or I'D" sf.; b, o.; i'';'
women o. 'lc an aro5s - ~ p, slol aAl %
ne no,r vcst, and iolosa5- from naom private
por.os5- lots The remainder Whose ne or d5ah wa
ao useless the ooucuerors. permitted 90 f,usn %
To civ. ghica ia tho mean".e had be,n sr9peI o, rs
valuable furniture sri "a Was ugossf on these
rfeccd inhabitants FOR The Indulgence g. ofeshing tAelt
native cir
Tic mot casual pfos,-z'iou the slishes- motive =
ap'ie crVcrece ofs provoked 'h-fn % Involve a
who, people f. indis 1uaae msssscrs. ard ~ rin -
rousiD. cltlcs executed VIII suh tnrceni.is
th6t according c eApfr Jon. hurt =
mi sh' run without stumbling ground where they h.i
o-ce stood Eifl.sr ~ Tartar tho Hun I'D ,
deserve ne epth.' OF Tie scourss o. God
When reading these words we think in
stinc;ively Of the story Of the last eighteen
months The fate of Belgium az German
hand, must never be forgotten
HANS WILLIAM MILLER.
Cambridge. Mass, Feb. 6, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
THE. ONLY WAY
Now Is tn. Time to Insure This Country by Being Ready
Enforce It-Nationa Absolutely Necessary-A Plea for
Political and Military Preparedness

this is what universal service means, then
the sooner We have il the better.
Mr.. r. S. Oliver says: "The beginning Of
wisdom with respect TO all problems OF de-
fence is the recognition Of the two-headed
principle that policies depend on ornaments
just as surely as ornaments depend on poll
cies' We arc now face 10 face with the IS.
sues preparation, universal service, etc. Is
il not time then 70 face the truth plainly and
bluntly and recognize this self-evident prin-
ciplc?
What arc we getting ready for? What
docs the Monroe Doctrine involve? We all
say Let our experts, the regular army officers,
suggest the reorganization OF our army. We
must all agree that this is unquestionablv
right. but in order 20 advise must not
tell the army officer what policy his arma-
ment Is to depend on?
In Germany last summer the gentleman
visited said AS soon as We win this war
the Monroe Doctrine will come up. We have
100000 people in Brazil; we are moneyed
and governing power there Why should
the Fatherland's sons be expstristed for the
sake of UNFOLDING your policies?" Without
argument as 10 whether they are right or
wrong in these views is il not a ss!bility
that we may have TO face and agans. which
Our generals say that troops TO the extent
of 100000 can in the space of short time
be landed on our shores; then it is not unfair
10 assume that the same number could land
in Brazil. who would join forces with the
trained men already there. What size army
and navy would be necessary to get them
out Of Brazil if they had once landed
Ask the army officer that question, and
then realize what sort of problem confront
the UNFOLDING of the Monroe Doctrine. Der
Tag was drunk to for years before August
1914, and i this Smoke" is only on the hor-
zon. and ii there be "smoke" on still another
horizon, Is il not good judgment for people
Of this country 20 prepare themselves, and is
not Colonel Roosevelt at the presen. time
the only man who can convince all the peo-
pie of the United States that the time has
come to insure the future peace OF this coun-
try by being ready 70 enforce peace if neces-
sary? TCC
New York, Feb. 4, 1916
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Firm Words and Weak Deeds

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Let me thank you for your splendid
editorial Of yesterday, "Now and Then" !
cannot believe that the great American pco-
pie will be fooled by this change-b y-night
Tilsonian policy.
when Nr. Wilson believed Americans de,
sired E firm policy with Germany he used
hrm words" He dare not offend the poiti-
cans. but rather would he recall those words
for softer and milder ones. VIII the Ameri-
can voters be deceived b. this old game OF
playing politics?
MIR. Wilson is playing for the German
American votes. believing az the same time ne
has the support Of the regular American
vote. He has lost both.
What this country need. is leader with q
firm and decided policy. and such = man IS
found in Theodore Roosevelt. And can as
sure the American people if he. Theodore
Roosevelt, should write note Of strict &C
Germany would know that Mr..
Roosevelt meant every word he said
There would be no need OF disavowal to-
day from the Imperial German Government,
as there would be no sinking of a Lusitsnia
ARTHUR G.. KAYHART.
New York. Feb. 3, 1918.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Grammar Plus Logic

To the Editor Of The Tribune. 49, q
Sir: II We follow the singular fe'. me-. !.
reasoning of my relentless critics 80 80 D,
lust a. logical 70 say Ia Evening r1' ,A,.,
Evening Mail" inasmuch as oo'n y. III.
are feminine nouns in French. Inc ~. ,,or
with nv critics Is that they all res'O ,..is,
The wrong premise. They persist ID a.. .osr
the French article with the Ing" 4.
The correct designation IS lie 'r' -.
Times" lie World" not lie Sole'i' - w.
lie Monde uort
Let Us forget that tribune Is Freh'' .x..
and only think o. Il as the name Of ,c,s
paper in English. In that case We =, !,
refer 20 it in French as Ia "Ir'ouns, he
Tribune depending upon wn r',bs.,' o.
gender may be-. and not as la :, MAJ.
lie Tribune" The latter, OF course .ui,y.
TEST absurdity OF which was he.s, 20, %
beinr good Frenchman myself A"- In %
y,ter ignoramus, as all my er'ie'
surmlse D., RI Trlbsis
Ny sole contention is tina, u me and DC,
is a t,ibur. then it is lie Tribune, ..,,os .!
la Tribune Il is not only L c.
grammar. but Of logic. ..,.
Glen Ridge, n. J, Feb. D. WV
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
Shall Reprisals BE Illegal?

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The basis OF the settlement OF the
Iusitania matter, az just given out by the
State Department. begins thus:
FIRST Germany. while considering re-
prisals against an enemy legal and knowing
that the United States government regards
reprisals as illegal. admits that the attack
upon the Lusitania was an act Of retaliation
that was not justihabc in so far as 1t in
volved the lives of neutras, and also assumes
liability for such loss Of neutral lives.'
This. il accepted. constitutes pledge by
the United States TO Germany; that Is, 1t is
deliberate acceptance OF the proposition
that "reprsss' are illegal
The measures OF the Allies against German
commerce on the high seas were announced
as being and are "reprisals.'
The bargain by which this last great diplo-
matte victory has been attained has been well
known and is now made plain 20 all in writ
ing. l. is just such bargain as the Admin
istration announced repeatedly It would not
make under any circumstances.
The Senate of the United States in which
the Constitution vests the real power over
our foreign relations, should Immediately
take notice of this extraordinary bargain
which. If lived up TO. will bring the United
States into the war on the side OF Germany
MAURICE LEON.
New York, Feb. 2, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
TOO Proud to Fight

Nine months ago. when the Lusitanis
massacre was on the lips Of every Amer
can citizen. The Tribune said: "The nation
which remembered the Maine will not for
get the Iusitania."
Il +, now clear that in 50 far as TINS
was n forecast Of the purpose and policy
Of NJ. Wilson'S administration The Trib-
une was mistaken. Not only has Mr.. VII
son forgotten the Lusitania, but under the
menace Of further German assassinations
he has consented 10 approve an agreement
which permits the crime TO stand for all
time as an act of murder. uncharacterized
and without disavOwal.
Thanks to Mr.. Wilson's course. Zoo
proud 70 fight has now been established
as the controlling spirit Of American for
eign policy. and henceforth no nation will
be restrained from numbering any Ameri-
can citizen by the thought that such muir
der is regarded as illegal by an Ameri-
can administration.
In SO far as he was able. Mr.. Wilson has
.hus committed his country to the doctrine
that there is nothing in national honor or
national safety worth defending, and that
peace at any price is the noblest and high
est goal statesman can seek
Mr.. Wilson has forgotten the Lusitania.
The case now passes from his hands TO
those Of the American people. II is for
them 10 accept or reject what has been
done i'm their name.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
He Saw Lincoln Shot.
the Editor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir; | have on several occasions told the
story in The Tribune Of what saw in Ford's
Theatre on the night Of April IA, 1855. con-
corning the assassination of Abraham Lin
coin. ! venture to assert again that no one
save the assassin himself was witness OF the
act Of shooting not even the other occu-
pants OF the box. Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris
or MAJOR Rathbone. It was not possible 70
see INTO the box from any other point, and
certainty not from the stage which, by the
way, vas entirely unoccupied, awaiting an act
preceding change Of scene
The entrance into the box By Booth hv vvay
Of the narrow passage leading from the right
hand gallery, the whole situation being faril-
lar TO him, must have been the work of sec
onds, traversing distance of few feet only.
70 the back Of the President. TO whose head
ne applied and discharged the pistol. The
place of the wound did not disclose itself
until the examination was made al the house
across the street Booth fired the shot which
was distinctly heard throughout the theatre:
ne passed by his victim and climbed over the
balcony preliminary TO the drop t. the stage
Inc boxes were drapcd with the national flag,
and while turning to jump. by the entangle-
ment OF one OF his spurs in the folds Of the
flag, he was thrown of his balance on reach
ing the stage, and II WAS then that the small
bone in his leg was broken, which urtimely
accident doubtless served fatefully TO inter-
iere with his plan of escape.
Booth passed, unimpeded by any one dag
onally across the stage making his exit from
the left side, and so out 20 the alley in the
rear, where horses awaited him ana his at
tendan,s.
waited in the confusion and outcry and
presently saw the unconscious President par
tially disrobed, carried on, Of the theatre 20
the house across the way. where he died the
next morning. JOHN Y. CULVER.
New York, Feb. &, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10

Professor Scebcrg. who halls from a Rus
sian Baltic province. never preached IN
the Berlin Cathedral and declares that ne
is unable to recognize the observations at
tributed to him.
German clergymen have so much TO an
swer for that it is only Just to aoquit the
three concerned of the absurdities attrip
uted TO them. which have been widely aa-
ycrtised and commented upon. 1t Is opVi-
ously the duty of the superintendent Oh
the Wesleyan Methodist Mission to JUS
tify his translations.