davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
If Germany Should Win the Warl

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I wish you would publish and repuo-
lish the following paragraph taken from one
Of your recent editorials: ITO believe that
Germany can win this war would be to be-
lieve that all our faith is empty; that all we
have loved and believed and trusted IN the
wears of our lifetime and all that has been
believed and trusted by our fathers AMI
erandfathers is now going into the melting
rot; that barbarism is at last to prevail over
civilization, and brute force to replace hui
mainly and justice. To believe that Ger
many can win this war is to cease to believe
ir all that life holds for any of US"
These are the truest words that have ever
been uttered, and personally | might add
that If Germany can win this war | want %
die the day before it happens.
New York, Aug. 2, 1917. NJ. CLAREY.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
A Patriot Convict's Plea
Why Deprive Him Of the Right 10
Serve His Country?
Tho Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Nav | hope the following extracts
from q prisoners letter will be given space IN
vour columns? have received many letters
from, this nrisoner, all breathing regret Tor
breaking man-made laws and determination
TO think and live straight when his freedom
comes, which will be soon.
az think never wanted to be free so badly
az 7 did on the 5th of June. If | could only
have registered with a spotless caro- 10
think when one asks, why don't you JON the
army? You are big, husky and strong theIe
ia nothing to do but jerk out my caro- WIN
prisoner' written on it. To many prisoner 5
heart registration day brought anguish ana
many an ex-convict lives in dread Oh the gay
when he must lay bare before an exemption
hoard the past he is earnestly and nopelulIy
irving to live down, and then, because OF ssu
mistakes be refused chance 10 rehder Ms
heartfelt services 10 his country. Ieop'e
thirt tho convict would join the army to es-
cape prison. Here and there one might out
tnow there is Just as much true, ardent
notriotism in prisons as in general society.
Il sincere. intelligent people really think and
believe that it would be detrimental to the
country to give prisoners chance to make
oood with other men in the army and navy,
whv should not units be formed OF conVlcts
and ex-convicts? If placed in charge OF lead
orc who are both fair and experienced IN
military affairs, ! am ready to prophesy that
such units would compare favorably IN 10y
atty and efficiency with any others IN the
service"
This Young man realizes the justice OF pun
ishment for wrongdong; has accepted and
horne his punishment like a man; has seen
service in the navy and longs to prove that
he is neither vicious nor bad, can WIN re-
spect and hold it, and is determined to do so:
only know him by the letters he has written.
He is in a prison on the honor system, and
will soon be free Give him the chance he
homes for. Let him fight for the honor and
life of his country. His patriotism and long
irgs for true service lie deeper than any
desire for wrongdoing, and are the basic prin-
cples of moral law
Immortal infamy is abroad in the world.
True service is needed from every man, be
he convict, ex-conyict or free man, and know
ing how many there are who deserve prison
and escape it, why turn down those who
have taken their medicine and whose great
desire is now to make good? In our present
terrible danger and grave responsibility let
us help them to help themselves.
New York, July 80, 1917. c. B. PIER.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Patriotism in Whitestone
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Just little peep to let you know that
Whitestone is still on the map and oelieVe
tho most patriotic town in these United states
We have 1872 men in the United States service
now. We had eignty-seven men IN the spanish
war when we were the banner town OF the
country. Then whitestone had a popuia-
ton of 5000; now we have slightly less than
5000. We have three election districts, so
We average sixty-four men to the district.
Still. we have to send more men by the dra1t
in order to help out Stacker districts. am
not kicking for myself, as | am dead one
at forty years of age, nor am kicking Tor
any man in Whitestone, but it doesn't seem
fair that Whitestone should be bled white to
holm ont our German friends in College
Point or the would-be aristocrats of Flushlng'
College Point, with population OF more
than II 900, has given only seventy-one men
IN date and there are not many more from
Flushing. Whitestone stands ready to SEND
every man TO the front to fight for our coun-
try. but not for bunch of -German-Amer-
lean slackers Please let the rest Of the city
know what this part of the late Mayor Gay
nor's "cornield rapid transit route has done
already. WILLIAM G. ARMSTRONG,
W. S. overton Camp, U. S. W. Veterans.
Whitestone, n. Y, July 29, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Impudent Pretences
lFrom IA. C!eveland Leader


The "New-Yorker Staats-zeitung," the prin-
cipal daily newspaper printed in the German
language in this country, is engaged IN pub
fishing from day to day what it claims are the
only complete lists of the vessels sunk by the
U-boats. These lists are much longer than
those given out by the governments OF the
Allied countries, and their correctness has
been challenged.
The editor of the "Staats-Zeitung" seeks to
Justify the publication in this country OF
these and many other statements, the object
of which is to make it appear that the Ger
mans are winning greater successes in the
war than the Allies are willing to admit or
the newspapers printed in English are making
known to the public, on the ground that the
American people should be informed of the
truth, whether it is palatable to them or not
Viereck, the editor of the notorious Father
land" renamed the american Weekly i'm
mcdiately the United States entered the war
is following the same course and making the
same defence of it. So are the editors OF
practically all the German printed news
papers in the country
There is no use in mincinC words about this
matter The claim of these German, or pro-
German, editors is false. "Ihe Leader" is
safe in saying for the American press that II
has facilities for obtaining war news i'm
measurably superior to those of the German
publications in this country, and that it is not
following the suicidal policy of trying to de-
ceivc the public The American people know
the American newspapers and should need no
reinsurance on this score. On the other hand
by the confession of some of their own num-
Der the German-American editors rewrite
what little real news they print and doctor"
it to suit their own notions and purposes.
The object Of the "Staats-zetung," the erst-
while "Fatherland," the Kaisers organ here;
the "Waechter," and similar publications, is
to discourage the American people as much as
possible IN their prosecution OF the war and
to give Germany all the help to win it that
they can. The question is, How much longer
will this be permitted TO 90 on?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Militancy in Women
Produced by Denial of Fair Means
Of Gaining Vote
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: What makes women militant? 1t is
not so much that the revolutionary women do
not possess the vote as that they have been
denied fair means of getting it; some block
has been put in the way of legislative action.
That was true in England, where until this
very year means have always been employed
TO stop the passage of the suffrage bill-no
matter what majority it had before its third
and final reading in the House Of Commons.
What corresponds to our Federal amend
ment was the only way the English women
had of getting suffrage. Here We have a
safety valve-state legislatures can grant suf-
frage facilities. The increase of suffrage by
legislative action has been phenomenal of
late. During the first four months of 1917
more women were granted the right to vote
for President than in all the years of agita-
ton preceding This sootnes the great ma
jority of women, who see a rapid breaking
of the dawn in Eastern states.
All sufragsts are agreed however upon
the necessity of passing the Federal amend
ment, peaceful and militant alike. Both
groups feel that the passage of the bill might
be accelerated by Federal officials. The Ma
tional Woman Suffrage Association and its
two million members believe the way to rapid
action lies along the path of reason and per-
suasion. A smaller group of women sympa-
thize with Mrs. Pethick Lawrence, of English
fame. She once said in substances: "If you
had twin babies to feed in the night, and one
howled while the other waited patiently,
which would get the bottle irst?"
Whether the "pickets" are wrong political
ly, in their line Of conduct. time will tell
The people on whom the burden CT criticism
rests, however, are not this small group of
over-zealous women, if you will, but the
officials in high places who talk much of de.
mocracy and hold the bill in check whose
passage is essential if half the people of this
nation are coming to their own.
ELEANOR GARRISON.
Delhi, n. Y, July 30, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
The Tobacco and Chocolate Evi

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l admire the conscienceless way in
which you stand up for that noxious weed,
tobacco. in to-day's editorial on an Justice
to Humanity" 1t matters little 10 me what
becomes Of those tobacco users who will not
listen to reason. Let all such die out for
the good of humanity. But my interest is in
the few choice spirits Of each generation
who are misled by false teachings, for even
choice spirits are not omnscient, and this is a
big world They have heard that tobacco IS
bad, but The Tribune says it is good; and
so human life is shortened. This is only
part of larger question, the evil of ner-
vines. Our people are using from 500
to 900 nervines, so that even If each one
is used in moderation :he effect is to cut
down human life from 200 years to the ord-
nary threescore and ten. What we need Is
people that live long enough to learn some
thing, but The Tribune advises killing them
early with tobacco and chocolate.
EDGAR ID. BRINKERHOFF.
Fall River, Mass, Aug. /, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
The Constituencies Director
Blu Hudson Maxim

20 societv and the government whenever ne
profits by any of the benefits OF ms iriehuS
or society or the government
If he Is shielded against enemies and
thieves and thugs by his neighbors and his
government, which is only neighborly insti-
tuition. he is just as much in duty bound TO
render return service when called upon as
no is to repay borrowed money. Conse-
ouentlv. there can be no possible just con-
scientious objection to military service
No Exemption for Slackers
The excuse that young men who hate wal
should not be obliged to so to war is falia'
cious. Because a man may hate his DEBTS
it is no reason for his not paying them
Because a Stacker may have wrong ldes
of what constitutes responsibility for killing
in war, it is no sign that he should be eN'
empted from killing in war. To Kill IN wal
is not murder. 1t is saving life. For al
practical reckoning, every enemy OF MS couIl
try whom one kills in battle saves the NE
of fellow countryman. 1t is killing IN sell
defence, and self-preservation is the first la"
of nature and of God.
The Stacker who will not defend his wife,
sister, mother against the assaults OF rui-
fan has no conscience. Likewise the Stacker
who objects to that same kind OF defence on
a larger SCALE which is the defence OF the
nation in war against the horrors OF invasion,
has no conscience, and cannot, by any possl-
bility, be a conscientious obJector.
The Stacker who mistakes his cowardice
for the pricks of conscience has no more right
10 exemption from service to support his gov
eminent than a citizen has to be exempted
from paying his taxes to support his gov
eminent, for military service is only the pay
ment of just tax.
Killing for Defence
ANY creature in the guise of man who is so
conscienceless, cowardly and contemplate as
IN have any religious scruples against tight
ing, and killing if need be, to defend ms VIE
or sister or mother against the assault OF
ravsher and murderer has no right 10 i've
among real men and no rights to be pro-
tected by the government under when ne
lives. and if the law of the country enables
him 70 escape military service because of any
religious scruples certainly the lives OF
others should not be sacrificed or endangered
in his defence.
If he is to be exempted from service TO
others. then others should likewise be eX-
empted from service to him, and the gov
eminent under which he lives should be eX-
empted from protecting him. If he be held
up and robbed by a highwayman, it is merely
an affair between him and the highwayman,
and matter in which neither the govern
ment under which he lives nor the society IN
which he lives is concerned as Ear as relates
to his protection. Any such conscientious
directors should be outlawed-more, they
should be put upon an island by themselves,
as the leprous, vicious dogs were banished
from Constantinople.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Sane Findings

In finding an indictment against Captain
Cooper and filing a presentment against
certain methods of the Police Department
the grand jury which has been consider
ing the Cruger case has acted IN ac'
cordance with the sense of the community
It's action jibes, moreover, with the desire
of Mayor Mitchell and Police Commissioner
Woods to have an investigation MADE
which would disclose responsibility for the
stupidity and bungling which marked the
Police DEPARTMENTS handling of this case,
and assure adequate punishment for those
guilty.
The failure of the police to find the
murdered girls body and to prevent the
escape of her slayer is, and must remain,
q black mark on the excellent record of
the department under Commissioner
Woods. IT seems to have been due to in
dividual incompetence and breakdown OF
the departments system in investigating
reports of missing persons. The grand
Jury, at least, has not found reason to
take the extreme view frequently expressed
not so long ago that failure in this in
stance indicated widespread conditions of
"white slavery" winked at by policemen.
1t has indicted no "men higher up" in the
department, probably because the evidence
before it did not indicate the existence of
a police System" with graft ramifications
into high police officialdom. 1t has consid-
cred and acted on the facts, which are bad
enough.
If further indictments are warranted by
evidence regarding the incompetence which
the grand jury mentions in its present
ment the extraordinary grand jury which
will continue this investigation may be
trusted to return them. The police de-
partment is too good now not to be made
letter. Weakness and incompetence such
as the Cruger case disclosed must be
wiped out completely, and the level-headed
handling of the situation by this grand
Jury indicates that this result will be at
tanned without undue disturbance.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
A German in Fiction
he Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: About forty years ago an American
novelist E. P. Roe, published book entitled
Barriers Burned Away" 1t is, story Of
the Chicago fire of II. One Of the strong
characters is German baron drawn so true
to life that he might have been a German
Junker Of 1917.
Could any of your readers tell US how he
the author came to get this, to me, mar
vellous conception of the German at time
when almost all American and British au-
thors, teachers preachers and professors
were, like the ant, deaf dumb and blind to
everything of the real Germany? Hoping
some one may be able or care TO satisfy my
curiosity. JOHN KERR.
Franklin, ~ Y, July q, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Meinselbst Alleinl
To the Editor Of the Tribune.

To the Editor Of the Tribune.
Sir: The b!asphemous illusions to Ne und
Colt have completely disappeared from Will
Jams last proclamation to his troops.
Things have not been satisfactory Of late
so William has taken the business on hand
"alone."
Can you tell me what has become of that
beautiful, soulful song so popular in 1914
and 1915, when Germany was fighting in
"sef-defence,' but now forgotten, at least
never heard any more, Deutschland dber
Alles"? OBSERVER.
Glens Falls, ~ Y, Aug. 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

where it may not be working up to antici-
pations, but it has a potentiality which
even the most sanguine Of its administra-
tors do not now realize. We are unduly
concerned to-day about its capacity to
raise two armies of 100000 men. We
shall probably be much less concerned later
on when it comes to raising six or eight
such armies.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Roosevelt for Russia

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Every peasant, workman, sailor "
der, every citizen from the lowliest TO v
highest, knows and reyeres the name K0'''
welt.
Cannot there come call for Theods'
Roosevelt to go 70 Russia, rcorganiIe ~
lead their armies? Can the American p,
pie offer 4 larger service at this ume'
would seem destiny has held in reserve ,J
supermGn for some such world service sns =,
the call comes TO Theodore Roosevelt =,
soldier and patriot, the American pe0aa,,
know it would be answered Has net v
hour struck for action? ,,,
DAVID +. KENH
Elmhurst, l.. l., July 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
No Nicknames for Soldiers

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Will you try to discourage the nick
names "Sammies" and "Teddies" for the
United States soldiers? The men in the regu-
lar army do not like it.
II may do for the militia, but not for the
regulars
Such nicknames sound foolish and silly. As
for the regulars, just call us plain United
States soldiers and cut out the silly nick
names. OLDTIMER.
Fort Hamilton, Aug /, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Another Anniversary
,r of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your leader Of the first, Another
Anniversary" for straightforward shoulder
truth crowns your many powerful editorials
Alas! we can hardly expect such fine Bit
Of work to touch our sluggish Congressman
guess nothing short of liquid fire would in
duce a squirt in that quarter. VOTER
Norwalk. Conn. Aug. ., 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Recruiting for the Navy

To the Editor of The Tribune. .,s
Sir: am sending you a copy OF the go
mir book on the U. S. $. Recruit, whleh !,
lust been published. beg 20 take tn'' =.
casion to thank you for your great ala nv
ing publicity 20 this recruiting station ~
The results TO date have been mos.
factory and the space that you have sI'.,
in your paper has aided our work veiy
terially. BLAINE EWiN"'
Few York. Aug. 1. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

It is hard TO believe that in this time OF
war, when the best young men Of the coun-
try are going to France to fight for freedom
in a truer and in larger sense than free
dom was ever before fought for, there should
be individuals and organizations trying 10
get laws passed for the exemption Oh sueh
constituencies slackers as are ready to re-
sort to the ruse Of the conscientious ooleetor
to escape military service. Yet there are
such persons and such organizations ana one
very active and well financed organization
Every man is not only obligated and bound
by duty to his home, to society ana 10 hu
man nature, but also is bound and ophgateu
nv the terms and conditions of the govern
ment under which he lives TO defend that So
ciety and that government. All nauonai
Governments are necessarily based upon the
mutual duty and obligation of their cltlzens
to stand together and fight together II need
be in defence of their lives and possessions,
II citizen be held up and robbed on the
highway, officers of the law are oound 10
hunt down and capture the hlghwayman IL
possible, and to risk their lives II need De IN
the performance of their duty. II there is
riot, and the lives Of a private citizen ana
his family are in danger and his house IS
in danger of being burned, the police must
fight and face death if need be to defend
that citizen, his family and property. The
police also have the power to call upon and
to compel any private citizen or any NUMBER
of private citizens to aid them, when re-
auired, in the performance Of their duty
Government and the Individual
Consequently, government is pact be-
lafppca and mutual
progress. Government is a pact between an
established institution representing the best
interests of society and the individuals com
posing that society and in that government
the welfare of each individual is the concern
of every other individual. When the life or
property of an individual is in danger, the
government is obligated to defend that lndl'
vidual, at whatever cost in life or treasure;
and in return each individual must pay his
taxes to support the government.
War is only a riot on large scale, and
the officers of the government and OF the
army and navy, who are but police guardians
of the people have the right, just as ponce
in a street riot, to call upon any citizen 10
help quell the riot, and there can be no con-
scientious DIRECTORS, for the man VINO Is SO
mentally constituted as to shirk helping under
such circumstances has no conscience
There cannot be on the part of any citizen
any lust conscientious objection to the per-
formance of an obligation. 1t is every
mans duty to pay his just debts, even to pay
hack money borrowed of his friends, although
MANY persons seem to entertain as conscleh-
tious an objection to doing so as the Stacker
entertains when trying to escape military
service. ~
Every man becomes debtor to his friends
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

You can purchase merchandise advertised M
TRIBUNE with absolute ssfetyior Dissatisfaction r's
in any case THE TRIBUNE guarantees to pay your '
back upon request No red tape. No auioDuhs We i
good promptly II the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

Owned and published daily by The Tribune A''oc'a,ou,
New York Cooperation. ogden Reid ffes'de'''' "
RE-. President Richard H. waldo Secretary; T. a.
So, 7S.,,r,,, Address, Tribune Building lji Nassau
st,.,, New York Telephone. Beekman 5000
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
cLNAn1AN RATES.

Entered a, the Pcs,orce at New York As Second C'''
Mall Matter.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04

SUBSCRIPTION RArEs.-By MAIL ros''s'
side Of Greater New York: "A
D.Dv and sunday mos IS Daily only month - m
paiy ana sunday mos l25 Daily only mon'h'.''' "a
n.1x and sunday l wear 50 Daily only year'.''''' ~
s,nd,, only 6 months IS sunday only year. NV
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Conservation at Customers Expense

such armies.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-09-29
No Peace for Unrepentant
German Rulers Says Miner

to the fact that virtually three quar-
ters of the inhabited world was alienat-
ed from Germany and that scarcely a
week passes without adding to her
enemies" Lord Miner said:
"Germanys profound moral isola-
ton is beginning to tell on her people
Pin YOUR faith as much as you like
TO blood and iron, there are material as
well as moral disadvantages for those
who have fallen outside the pale OF the
civilized community and have forfeit
ed the respect of civilized peoples.
For n nation which has taken so
large part in human intercourses ard
reld so high a place in human all
vancement this is no light matter.
There are signs that this aspect Is
beginning to weigh on the minds and
depress the spirits of the German peo-
pie. That is why a new party has been
called into being in Germany to revive
the waning spirit and preach anew the
doctrine that nigh Is right"