davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

not necessarily reasonable but that he
is necessarily unreasonable because he Is
drinker. Science teaches u.s." says
Mr. Chase, that the drinkcr cannot be
reasonable"
There is too much of what Science
teaches us" in the sermons Of abstaincrs.
History and common experience teach us
that for hundreds Of years there have
been men by no means incapable of rca-
son among those who used alcohol in one
form or another, and nothing put forward
in the name of science can nullify that
obvious truth. No doubt Mr.. Chase is
right in believing that knowledge and edu-
cation may help in reforming mems man
ners, but sheer rubbish parading as
science will not affect even the alcoholic,
though his reasoning faculties be dead
ened. Science teaches us that even the tee
totaler can be Enthusiastically unreasonable.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

social nature. The importance of their en-
deavors cannot be lessened because at times
woman shows petty weaknesses and character
istcs. The point is to sec that her shortcom-
ings are not inevitable. How much are you
interested in the outcome? Is the force diff
fused in both sexes TO be dried up in one an
nurtured in the other? Finding woman weak
and different it is logical to condemn her
past environment and habits and give her
access TO every expression and opportunity
which have proved so fecund to man. We
cultivate brains for better Imagination. bet
ter reason and will; let a woman's brains
come into full possession.
At any rate, to restrict women from voting
because of inherited weaknesses and then %
stand by and see those weaknesses preserved
by present conditions. is sheer folly and
backwardness. Has our man-msde political
system no vibratory influence? Is it so weak
as 70 fear contamination by weaker SIX?
Tolerating millions of women in industry,
crafts and trades and somewhere in Europe
what will we not find them dong?) the in
consistency Of denying them voice in the
selection OF political leaders cannot hold out
much longer. THEODORE MICHEL.
Brooklyn, June 10, 1916.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Playing "Hookey.'

Years ago, when there were no truancy
laws and no truant officers, the school
bow who didn't play "hookey" was almost
too good to be true. Certainly he was
regarded with suspicion by his fellows,
and was rated in the Rollo class. There
was a certain risk in wilful absence from
school-corporal punishment had not been
banned then; and if the teacher didn't ad-
minister it an irate parent might. But
the joys of stolen freedom outweighed all
terrors of penalty.
Those were the good old days. Now
comes Mr.. Justice jerks with an opinion,
in which his associate justices of the APP
pellate Division, Second District, join,
that the luckless individual convicted OF
truancy is criminal. He is criminal,
that is, if he has been committed TO a tru-
ant school. His status, after release, Is
that Of an ex-convict. If, as is likely
enough, he becomes a lawyer, he may be
disbarred because Of his youthful crime.
If he serves city or state, save by election,
ne may Oe SUBJECT W uiSihiS'"''
Doubtless this is good law, but 1t Is
hardly good sense. The truant, even IN
these enlightened and law-ridden times, is
not always an incorrigible. The spirit
of adventure still persists in the youth
of the land, despite compulsory education
statutes and truant officers, and those
who follow its call, even TO the fracturing
of rules, are not the least valuable citizens
in nation which demands achievement
as a justification for existence. Under
the law as Justice jerks and his col
leagues have interpreted it, the lad who
plays hockey" draws double punishment.
There was more justice, though rough, In
the spanking of the good old days.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

the sentence quoted above, includes these
phrases: "A very sentimental people
"a very small minority "a very happy
thought and "a very interesting thing
Il is easy TO believe that his drafts OF plat
form planks contained several "verys ana
"indeeds."
Ease was the A. S. Hill term, and case
is the chief quality Of Mr.. Wilson's style
4 good ear for sounds has the President
and it is altogether likely that grace
full succession of consonants and voweis
is foremost in his mind when he produces
such arrangements as unprecedented
outpourings of thousands of sober citl-
zens.' He is far from the extreme OF
"Alice in Wonderland care OF the
sounds and the sense will take care OF
itself" Yet sound unquestonably plays a
large part in determining the actual words
selected. One cannot help wondering for
example, whether "too proud to night
would ever have been Uttered If too brave
10 fight" or "too noble to fight had been
equally effective on the lips. If 1t was
our friend. Ease, that led Mr.. Wilson
astray, she has a great deal to answer Tor
more than rightly or usually belongs TO
goddess of rhetoric dabbling in politics.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Poudre aux Yeux.

Stories are beginning to come in from
eyewitnesses of the recent battle IN the
North Sea. Some of them are surpris-
ingly picturesque, but they are all more
or less vague regarding the main course
of events The latest is from a young
ensign serving in one Of the German
ships. who remarks that "the worst feat
ure from the sailors standpoint was that
when the guns opened fire, especially in
salvos. the powder few in their eyes, max
ing observations of ones surroundings diff
fcult"
This circumstance may account for a
great deal. But disconcerting as 1t must
have been from the sailors standpoint,
it seems to have been turned success
fully to popular account among the
landsmen Of the empire.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
"The Empiric Drinker."
Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have read with interest the editorial
in to-days issue under the caption "The
Empiric Drinker" I agree with nearly all
that is said, but regret the manner Of saying
it, and also that the article ends before
enough is said.
The reader is led TO think by what IS said
that the writer of the article believes that
the only one to be considered, when DIS
cLssng the drink problem,'s the drinker. As
is said, The drinker is not necessarily rea-
sonable" Science teaches US that aconoI
even when taken in small quantities, de-
ceiyes the drinker of it. He thinks he
can take a drink or let II alone; but lie
can't He thinks" ne is happy; but ne
isn't. He thinks" he is safe; but ne isn't.
Alcohol is the prince of deceiVers. Re
cause of this it s seldom the moderate
drinker realizes his condition until ne IS SO
far along in alcoholism as TO be unable TO
stop. The number who do reform ls so small
as to be almost negligible.
take exception 20 the last sentence IN
me editorial when he the drinkerl IS lrea-
sonablel. il is needless TO ply him with such
arguments; when he Is not, II IS useless
Science teaches US that the drinker cannot
be reasonable, because alcohol deadons his
reasoning faculties
While it may be useless 70 argue win
any one far along in alcoholism, to my mind
education along the line Of alcohol and IT'S
effects on the human body has its great
est value with the young or those who have
not yet taken their first drink. The edi-
torial would lead the reader 10 believe that
all such education was mere piffie and use
less
Your other editorial. "The Coming o. the
Slav." proves to the contrary. Who to-day
would dare to say that abolition Of vodka
has not wrought miracles with the whole
Of Russia? Without vodka Russia as ma
tion is making progress so rapidly ss TO
fairly startle the world.
CHARLES F. CHASE.
New York, june 90, 1915
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
The Rhetoric of Politics.

From the dim memories of freshman
year long since sunk below the horizon
there comes a faint aroma Of rhetoric and
the late Mr.. Hill of Harvard. Neat
parallel columns fit before the eye, the
one showing how to say a thing, the other
how not. And as we enter upon Presi-
Dental campaign three Of the Hill saints,
by name Clearness, Force and Ease, hap
pen to come to mind. BY worshipping
these goddesses devotedly enough you
could learn TO write Cantabridgian Eng
lish and toss words Alright at waiting
world.
What occurs to us is the odd coincidence
by which these three divinities of style are
represented in the politics. Of the hour.
The great A. S. Hill is no more, and fur
ther illustrations Of how to write clearly,
forcefully and with ease are scarcely
needed. Yet If they were, it occurs to us,
what prettier examples of the three quail
ties could be found than in the three great
men lately rivals before the public eye?
Take these three samples from writings
still fresh in the mind:
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
The Most Powerful Battleship


The Pennsylvania, our latest superdresd-
nought, was put in commission Monday at
Norfolk. and she is declared to be the most
powerful sea fighter in the world. It has
taken two years and seven months to build
her and get her ready for service, though had
it been necessary the time could have been
much shortened. Her most celebrated con
temporsries are the five Queen Elissbeths of
the British navy. The Queen. irreverently
styled by the British tars "Big Liz" vas COM
pleted in time to share in the bombsrdment
of the Dsrdanelles forts, and tho others are
now in commission.
Because these British ships mount 15-inch
guns, while the Pennsylvania main battery
is composed OF las. it has been suggested
that the latter was outclassed before she was
ready for service. But = comparison on all
points justlfes the statement that the Penn
sylvania Is the most powerful wsrship aHoat
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Don't Forget the Cat.
Iitor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Many families now anticipating a
pleasant summer away from the city do not
include in their plans the family cat. whose
outlook for the long months until the fsmilys
return is not promising. Pets cannot forage
FOR themselves when cast adrift, and, indeed.
so many houses are closed that even the
street cat finds il difficult 70 pick up living.
Those owners can have no spirit OF kindness
or put yourself in his place feeling" so
heartles,ly TO abandon the family pet 20 a
long drawn out starvation. No one has a
right to leave unprovided for an animal which
at any time has been included in the family
circle. The Society for tho Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals will always call for un-
wanted animals which is better than turning
them out of doors.
Drop a postal 10 the Society for the Pre-
,ention Of Cruelty 10 Animals.
L. B. WESTLAKE
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Women and Their Cause.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your correspondent who signs her
self "P." says, "The Tribune is nothing II
no: gallant 20 women and their cause
am glad to see The Tribune saved from
position Of nothingness. Personally lave
always had more sympathy for and confidence
in newspapers favoring equal suffrage than
in others. Pro-sufrage means an under
standing Of certain principles and facts; II
means a wisdom. a stout-heartedness and
capacity for seeing things as they ought 70 be
that is bound 10 show itself in other lines OF
work 1t embraces fundamental democratic
principle which is vital Before We go step
further in working out the problem of the
best way to get the full expression Of the peo-
pies will, let US give all the people the op-
portunity Of what expression there is now.
Only after doing this can we fairly approach
the question Of how best 70 use our freedom.
"P." sees turmoil and wasted energy in the
women's congress. Naturally. Outside OBJ
servers and neutrals are superficial. They
have not the enthusiasm to sec and TO hear
and to know. Many women in the congress
have their hearts and souls IN life work Of .
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Great Lakes Traffic.
Prom Tbs Washiro'on stdr


The getting under way for the season OF
traffic on the Great Lakes emphasizes the fact
that it is not only in far-awsy Panama that
Uncle Sam has a canal which permits tre-
mendous tonnage OF produce TO pass. Right
at home he has the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, or
the $500" az II is usually known, through
which pass the millions of tons of iron ore
on their way from the Superior mines to
Eastern smelters and other millions Of bush
els Of grain and barrels Of flour from the
mills Of the Western lake states.
How the 500 and the Panama canals will
compare after the conclusion Of the war
which s booming the trade OF the one and
reducing that of the other, it is impossible to
say, but il ia self-eyident on the basis OF
present traffic that the 500 waterway is in
comparably the more important. Even though
the latter canal must be closed for approx
mately four months each year because of ice
while the Panama Canal, so far as weather
conditions are concerned, can remain open the
year round, it had passed during the year
ended the middle of September last when
the Panama Canal became blocked over siA
times as great a tonnage as the isthmar
waterway.
The monthly average Of the Sault Ste
Marie Canal, in fact, was nearly as great ss
the total for Panama for the year. the re-
spcctive tonnaGes being approximately $500
600 and 100000. The comparisons are made
more significant, il is shown by reports of the
United States engineers in charge Of both
waterways. by the fact that the United State.
500 Canal must divide traffic with a parallel
Canadian waterway only a stones throw
away.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Let Us Go Slowly.

a state or war HAS cNiSVVu
the United States and Mexico for many
months. The killing of American SOL
Giers in the latest affrsy changes the
situation in no real detail.
Sooner or later a condition of war will
have to be transformed into fact OF
war, based upon the actual declaration.
This must wait upon the decision Of the
President and the action of Congress.
There is no good purpose 70 &c served
now by urging an immediate declaration
OF war or clamoring for any punitive
operations on short notice. The grave
responsibility that rests upon the gov
ernnent is manifest, and it must be left
10 the government to decide what shall
be done. Past and future failures will
lie properly criticised in due time, but
now there is nothing TO do but trust the
government and give it whatever further
strength may flow from national unity
and general solidarity.
Above all, no one should be a party to
any agitation to rush the militia INTO
action prematurey, or . the border be-
fore preparations are completed for car
ing for them. There is no present sign
Of any grave danger on the border that
has not existed for months. The solu-
tion Of the Mexican problem vii! take a
long time. 1t will be a matter of years
rather than weeks, and haste now will be
expensive hereafter.
The present moment is one for pa
tience, both with the government and
with the War Department. We are Civ
ing up many thousands Of young men,
putting thousands of precious lives in
danger, and the first concern is to see to
it that what has been offered splendidly
shall not be wasted shamefully.
II is time for calmness, for self-re-
straint and for cool judgment. One Of
the nastiest and most disagreeabe of all
tasks seems about TO be put upon our
shoulders. There is no apparent avenue
Of escape which holds out any hope for
anything but postponement Il looks rs
If we were "in for it," but the first con
Germ must be to see that what is begun
can be carried through and that nothing
is begun before proper preparation mas
been made
About the most absurd thing in the
world would be TO yield to passion or
anger because Mexican sodiers-of sorts
have murdered American soldiers. We
shall have TO put an end to murder We
shall have to stop the sort of thing that
has been going on for several years on
either side Of our frontiers But we shall
DO it as we did the Cuban job. We shall
do 1t as physician operates 20 remove
a canoerous growth. Above all, we shall
do It as great and civilized nation deal
ing with a weak and barbarous state-and
this circumstance we must never forget.
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Science Teaches Us

Il was suggested the other day that the
Department Of Health was at needless
pains in recent bulletin to demonstrate
the costliness and worthlessness Of alco-
hol as food. for the plain reason that
the drnker does not take to alcoholic bev-
erages because he thinks they are cheap
substitute for nitrogenous substances. 1t
was likewise intimated that he cared very
little whether alcohol ought properly 70
be called stimulant or a depressant. the
main point being that he found the effect
agreeable.
Mr. Charles T. Chase, In letter printed
in another column, declares himself in
agreement with nearly all that is said"
and particularly with the observation that
"the drinker is not necessarily reasona-
ble." But he goes further, and hints very
openly that no drinker can ever be rea-
sonable and that moderation in drinking
is almost impossible. And in the familiar
phrase Of the teetotaler he proceeds TO
enlarge upon what Science teaches u.s."
First of all, "science teaches US that
alcohol even when taken in small quaint
les deceives the drinker." Hence It is
impossible even for the moderate indulger
10 be sure of himself, and it follows, Of
course, that the opinions Of such men can
not be taken seriously. Indeed, Mr.. Chase
is satisfied not only that "the drinker is
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Support for The President.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 7 congratulate you on your patriotic
and brave editorial in this mornings lrloune
Stand By supporting President wilson
voted for Hughes for Governor, out can
not support him for President. Ris silence
and sudden "outburst' almost before ne
left the Supreme Court has and VIII nur'
him with right thinking Americans.
This is no time 10 triae with true Ameri-
canism or true Americans.
A TRUE AMERICAN.
New York, June 90, 1915
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

You can purchase merchandise advertised IN
THE TRIBUNE with absolute saic'y-ior
n dissatisfaction results in any case lht
TRIBUNE guarantees 10 pay your money bach
upon request No red tape, no quibblng. we
make good promptly II the advertiser does not
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
"Stand By!"
, ~ The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: You are all right in your stand BY!
editorial. Give Mr.. Wilson some good advice
instead OF so much criticism. He's not SO
bad. and is improving every day. Give him
your support, and we'll show them that the
German vote will not elect the next Presi'
dent. There are enough true blue Americans
to keep out the pussy-foot. s. BLADEN'
New York, June 20. 1919
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
c.N.nr.N RATES
roRElGN RATS Is

In,,-cd a, "a. ro~,onc. New York /" Second Oi"
Mail Matter
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

o-r.d .,e published daily eJ Ths r'eun' A''ce'"'n
NV rcst -corrorsuon ogden Reid ''c'o''' -.
po,.,. VIC. r-,s,1sn,: Rlchsrd " Waldo e-Ie"''
g. 7-.s,,,., Addr.s. Trbuns Buildns l''
~,,.,n SIRE. New York T,lephcn.. Bskm'n So0V
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23
Clearness.

! neither impugn motives nor under
estimate difficulties But it is most regret
tably true that in our foreign relations we
have suffered incalculably from the weak
and vacillating course with regard to both
our rights and duties. We interfered with
out consistency, and while seeking to die
tate when we were not concerned we ut
terly failed TO appreciate and discharge
our plain duty to our own citizens.
Force.
He has dulled the national conscience
and relaxed the spring of lofty national
motive by teaching our people to accept
| lhgh-sounding words as the Offset and
atonement for shabby deeds and to use
words which mean nothing, in order 70
draw all meaning from those which have
a meaning.
The spectacle of the morning has been a
very moving spectacle. indeed-an almost
unprecedented outpouring of thousands of
sober citizens to manifest their interest in
the safety of the country and the sacred
ness of the flag which is its emblem.
Three oddly contrasting styles, these.
and it requires no expert memory or knowl-
edge TO discover that they are, in order,
the work of Mr.. Hughes, Colonel Roosevelt
and Mr.. Wilson. The first is an excellent
example Of clear prose. in which the desire
to be accurate comes ahead of every con-
sideration of effectiveness or grace. The
prevailing element of words of Latin deri-
vation would do credit to Macaulay. There
is no appeal to the car and scant use of
vivid Anglo-Saxon. The second Is a fair
example Of Colonel Roosevelt's manner 1t
lacks smoothness and it is easy TO feel in
the phraseology the Colonels tenacious
mouthing of an idea. Yet it has a down
right force (to use Mr.. Hills world which
is uHmstakable.
The sentence taken from Mr.. Wilson's
speech on Flag Day brings TO mind an cpl
sode Of the st. Louis convention. When
the platform trainers had passed through
twenty-two-hour debate upon sundry
planks a member was asked what had
been happening. Eve took out the in
deeds and the 'verys' of the President" "
was the answer. OF course, as the plat
form saw the light Of day II had nothing
so informal or cheerful as Every" Plat
formese is language by itself. and one of
its first requirements is that every CON
ceivable element of reliability shall be
eliminated. The party convention that
wrote n platform in plain English that
anybody could read without choking would
be ashamed to look its constituents in the
face.
Mr.. Wilson's style, as it happens, goes TO
the other extreme. In both his speeches
and his writings his first effort is to be
simple and have the words flow smoothly
and rhythmically. lie has partiality for
the little words that give colloquial
flavor. Every" is his pet, as it happens.
This same Flag Day speech, in addition to
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

srrscRrrrox rArrs.-By Man ro,i's, r"d oo''ia'
New-York tribune., 1916-06-23

He has dulled the national conscience
and relaxed the spring of lofty national
motive by teaching our people to accept
high-sounding words as the Offset and
atonement for shabby deeds and to use
words which mean nothing, in order 70
draw all meaning from those which have
a meaning.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-10-06
Earthauake caused chanaes.

An effect of the Nevada earthquake
Of the last quarter of 1915 has been
an increase to three or four times the
former amount in the flow of streams
and springs throughout the northern
part of the state. Observers have pro-
nounced this earthquake more violent
than the one that caused such disaster
in San Francisco in 1906. but in the
thinly settled region the damage was
small. Beginning October ,, there
were more than 500 shocks within
three months. The most notable mark
of the disturbance has been left on the
east side of Pleasant alley, where the
alluvial detritus at the base of the
Sonoma range has settled away for a
vertical height of to u feet and a
horizontal width of s feet over a dis
lance of nearly % miles.