davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Still a Winning Fight
(Public Ledger, Philadelphia


1t canot be said that the defeat of
the local option bill in the House was
unexpected. Every one knows what in
fiuences have been brought to bear
upon the legislators at Harrisburg.
The fight for this measure has been
the one bright spot in Governor Brum-
baugh's administration, but the party
bosses have proved too strong for
him. Doubtless conscientious convic-
ton was represented in some of the af-
firmative votes. There are persons
who, though they may believe in the
proper regulation of the liquor traffic,
do not see that the most just and the
most effective way to keep it within
bounds is to confer upon the voters
the right to sanction or to restrain it.
There are differences of opinion as to
the unit of option, whether it be the
country or the town, or even the city
ward; but these are questions of minor
Importance in comparison with the
main question. A familiar objection
to prohibition is that it may be inn
posed upon communities without their
consent, as when the centers of pop
ulation in State vote against it, and
it is carried by the country districts.
In such cases the enforcement of the
law becomes a difficult matter and
conditions become more deplorable
than ever, since the moral effect of a
law that is not enforced is always bad.
That objection does not attach to local
option, which gives every community
exactly what the majority of the
voters want.
Defeated though it be for the mo-
ment, this reform is one which is
bound to come in Pennsylvania. The
people will not forever permit the
saloon evil to exist against their will.
1t is not necessary to take extreme
views, to argue that the use of liquor
is always and everywhere a crime. in
order to concede the right of fhe State
to restrict it in the interest of the pub
lie welfare, or even to eliminate it if
that is the only way to check its bad
effects. Nothing is more certain than
that the second alternative will finally
be adopted if the first is refused. In
deed, one reason, perhaps the chief
reason for the growth of prohibition
sentiment has been the stupid obstin-
acy of the liquor dealers in opposing
salutary reforms in the conduct OF
their business. Thus many who have
no scruples against the moderate use
of alcohol, who would willingly license
| responsible hotels and restaurants
| have come to see that the saloon as
such, carried on too often by men
| with no sense of obligation to their
| fellows, is a menace which demands
| vigorous action. They are not fanatics
they have no wish to interfere unduly
with the habits of others; but they will
not much longer permit great Com
monwealth to remain helpless in the
grasp of an element that chooses to
ally itself with the forces of social and
political corruption. No temporary
defeat will turn them from this de-
| term N fion
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Abolishing Death Penalty
70 the Editor of the Telegraph:

10 the Editor of the Telegraph:
AS on Saturday you published an
anonymous but lengthy article advo-
eating the death penalty, may L ask
that i'll fairness which think you al
ways try to maintain, that you will
publish another, but much shorter.
| Last Tuesday the House of Represen-
tatiVes had more speakers than could
be heard in three hours time to speak
in favor of the abolition of capital
punishment, and no one could be
found to say a word in opposition to
them. Only one speaker advocated
giving the jury the right to decide for
capital punishment or for imprison-
ment for life, stating that juries would
almost invariably give the verdict,
Life Imprisonment" as they had
done even with the law as it now is, in
a hundred cases or moro which he had
conducted as District Attorney in Lu-
zerne county. The Biblical argument
made out by your anonymous eorre-
spondent would have been gladly
heard then, but no judge, clergymen,
priSon-Warden or college, professor
could be found who would stand up
last Tuesday and say anything in favor
of the death penalty. Your correspon-
dent tries to make out an argument
from the Old Testament, just as the
defenders of slavery tried to do so
sixty years ago. 1t is wrong to say
that we take our love from the harsh
er history of the Old Testament. Both
Bishop Darlington and Rabbi Kraus-
koff answered this by saying that love
was the great teaching of the Old
Testament even as it is of the New
Testament" The Rabbi went further
and explained why many offenses were
punished with death while the He
brews were nomads, journeying from
place to place in tents and having no
prisons in which to incarcerate GRIM
inals. The stoning of st. Stephen was
done by rabble, just as it might have
been done in one of the lynchings
down South to-day When Jehovah in
the Ten Commandments said Thou
shalt not kilP' He made no exceptions
for one man Cor twelve men and q
thirteenth man as their spokesman)
to kill anyone. The State of Missouri
abolished the death penalty last week.
Fifteen or sixteen other States have
done so, and others are considering it
in the Legislatures this year. Let
I Pennsylvania take the lead in this re-
, form which was commended the other
; day in the hearing by prison wardens
from New York and this Common
wealth, by judges, university profess
sors, district attorneys, bishops, cler-
gymen and rabbls, and after year or
two we will find, as in Switzerland and
other countries where capital punish
ment, has been abolished. that murder
will be greatly lessened. 1t is the sure
ness of the punishment, not it's Sc
verify, which deters from crime. Now
nine out of ten men escape, as juries,
fearing to hang an innocent man on
circumstantial evidence or forced con-
fessions, will not convict and sentence
to death, as such mistakes can never
be corrected. Under the new law every
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
, y,HE RUSH TO ENLIST

TIME recent rush to enlist in both
the army and the navy illus
trates a curious effect that war
or the threat of war has always had
on American youth. So long as the
country is peaceful and the military
and naval branches are performing
merely routine duties it is next to
impossible to get men to keep their
numbers up even to the full peace
quota. But the moment the eagle
screams and war clouds begin to
gather, the recruiting offices are over
crowded.
The men who go into the navy to-
day do so with their eyes open. They
fully understand that theirs will be a
perilous service. Hunting the subma-
rine is exciting, but it is also danger
Gus. Yet that is the work to which
q large majority of the recruits desire
to be assigned.
Whatever the cause, the fact refutes
the oft-repeated libel that American
men are soft and that they lack the
courage and the desire for adventure
that made the heroes of '76 and '61.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
AN IMPRESSIVE GATHERING

IF anybody had any doubt Of the
inherent patriotism of the citizenry
of Pennsylvania, that doubt has
been dissolved by the splendid response
of large number of prominent citi-
zens to the call of Governor Brum-
baugh to serve as u Committee of
Public Safety.
Throughout the conference at the
Executive Department yesterday there
was displayed the highest type of
patriotic devotion to the interests of
the State and the nation. It would be
difficult to conceive of anything more
impressive than this gathering of in
fiuential and busy men from every cor
ner of the Commonwealth to consider
the mobilization of the resources of
the State for the proper support of the
government in this great national
crisis.
Governor Brumbaugh himself made
most impressive address setting forth
his view of the situation and empha-
sizing the importance of co-ordinating
all the departments of the States in
dustrial and individual activities for
and in the interest of the national
defense.
1t was a thoughtful and patriotic
and impressive statement of the con-
ditions which demand the most intelli-
gent consideration of the people of the
State. That the Governor realizes the
importance of the service which these
influential citizens have been sum-
moned to perform has been best
demonstrated in the high character oil
those men who have been invited to
undertake the work which was out
lined to the conference held here
yesterday.
The Governor also has been widely
commended for the choice of the
chairman of this committee. George
Wharton Pepper demonstrated in his
remarks of yesterday and in the man.
ner in which he assumed the dis
charge of the grave responsibilities
which will rest upon him in directing
the affairs of the committee that he is
alive to the Importance of what must
be done to mobilize the resources OF
the State for the proper support of the
national government. 1t was a COM
mon remark that the committee repre-
sented the best type of the citizenship
of great Commonwealth and the dis
cussions all indicated the serious ap.
probation of everyone present of the
work which must be done.
This general committee will give
force and inspiration to local com.
mittees everywhere throughout Penn.
sylvania and 1t is the hope of the
Governor and those who are uphold
ing his hands in this crisis that there
will be no waste effort. no lost motion
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
MUST BE AMERICANS
lNc EdIlor ~ the TcIegrabh:

10 HG EdHOF OF me cIegfdPH:
I was somewhat interested and not
a little amused in reading recently an
article in the TELEGRAPH by Mr..
the privilege of reading the opinions
of one who has devoted his life to a
pursuit about as far away from the
subject with which he is dealing as the
earth is from the moon. We do not
wish to assert that the brain of a
pianist is necessarily incapable OF
political logic. We do not know of any
pianists whose opinions in this field
are quotable, and without intending
any disrespect we think the article in
question bears out our contention.
Perhaps it might be enlightening to
show that peace can be maintained
oftentimes only by war, paradoxical AS
this may seem. We think history will
prove this. If man has you by the
throat you cannot shake him off by the
offer of a bunch of lilies The lion
and the lamo story is very pretty, but
it doesn't work out in the wilds OF
Africa. Force can only be overcom.
by superior force. An enemy will be
more apt to respect you if he knows
you are fully capable of meeting him
on his own ground and with similar
weapons. There are very few men OIL
nations bent on having a fight and
Sechlli5 IL CtuSe LOT IL, VINO Will feSpeCI
the cry of the frightened weakling
begging for mercy. No man ever yet
escaped a sound thrashing at the
hands of a blood-thirsty ruffian by
merely appealing to his tender mercy
or by some such phrase as 30, don't
hurt me, am such peaceable fellow
and sister is so far away" Such an at
titude as this would soon put the en-
tire world at the mercy of mere brute
force, indeed the most elementary
principles of justice would be regard
ed as of no more worth than "a mere
scrap of paper" Might has never yet
conquered right. Did Caesar sue
ceed? Did Napoleon? Did Charles the
First? Had it not been for Wellington
and Bluecher, Germany would have
been Napoleon's footstool, and Eng
land merely a summer resort for the
conqueror's favorites. Peace is un-
questionably a great desideratum and
devoutly to be wished and we think
Mr.. Wilson has made every possible
effort to maintain it, notwithstanding
the opposition of the pacifists who In
this disguise are nothing less than
traitors, who deserve what John
Brown did not. Certain it is that our
government will make every effort ia
protect American life and honor. This
is not time for us to be Germans OF
Frenchmen or Englishmen or Rus
slams. 1t is however high time to be
nothing less than Americans.
Harrisburg, Pa. Yours truly,
PATRIOT"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
PATRIOTISM

And there was tumult in the air.
The flies shrill note, the drums
loud beat,
And through the wide land every
The answering tread of hurried
While the first oath of freedoms
Came on the blast from Lexing-
And Concord reused, no longer
Forgot her old baptismal name,
Made bare her patriot arm of
And swelled the discord of the
hour.
So sang Buchanan Reed in his poem,
''The Wagner of the Alleghenies," in
spired by the rising of '76. 1t is a
stirring bit of verse. In imagination
one sees the "embattled farmers" of
New England, the backwoodsmen from
beyond the Allegheny mountains in
Pennsylvania, and the plantation own
ers of the South gathering to the long,
gruelling contest for the freedom of
America. Poorly equipped, without
uniforms, with no transportation sys-
TENS, lacking funds and supported
only by their own unconquerable
courage, they rushed to meet a foe
ten times as powerful by comparison
as is Germany of to-day.
Their example must be before us in
these days when the honor of the
nation they founded is assailed. We
enjoy the blessings of liberty and all
the good things that make America
the Mecca for oppressed and down
trodden of all the world because these
Revolutionary heroes willed to sac
rifice that the miracle of a republican
form of government might be wrought
on these shores. Are we going to hesi-
tate when the future of our own chill
dren and grandchildren for innumer-
able generations may be at stake? 1t
is for each one of us to decide, and
Americans never have hung back
when the call for patriotic service has
been sounded. Always there has been
"the answering call of hurried feet"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
If We Are in Earnest
(From the Boston Advisory

(F'rOm the BOSton AuVISerJ -
Ever since the Gulfiight Arabic and
Lusitania were sunk the Entente have
been fighting our battles. If. as seems
certain, we are to be at war with Ger
many, will it be as mere sham or In
earnest? If the former, surely we
should "go it alone"-a mere pretense
at keeping the Presidents word, and
with that pretense forfeiting the
worlds respect and consideration. II
in earnest, there can be but one way.
for present effective results, and for
q part in fixing the peace terms later;
and that must be to aid the Entente
in whatever way their council OF war
finds necessary.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
HELP THE BOYSi

VXTHo will help the boys of Har-
w risburg do their bit?'
A few days ago the TELEGRAPH
suggested that the greatest patriotic
service the boys of the city could per-
form would be to go extensively into
the work of backyard and vacant lot
gardening. Yesterday there appeared
on the editorial page of this news
paper a letter of endorsement from a
correspondent, who expresses the be-
lief that much good could be accom-
plished if the boys are properly or
ganized and their work super
vised by a trained gardener. He ex-
presses the hope that some wealthy
resident of Harrisburg will make the
necessary contribution of about $50 a
month during the gardening season
for this purpose.
This is good idea. There should
be in Harrisburg some man rich
enough and generous enough and
patriotic enough to perform this ser
vice to the community, for there can
be no doubt that it would be a SER
vice of most substantial kind.
Gardening, to be successful, must
be done properly from the very be-
This is no time for expert
ment. The yield from the vacant
ground of the city can be wonderfully
increased by proper attention and di-
rection. City boys know little about
gardening. but they can easily learn.
No great skill is required. All that is
needed is intelligent instruction. And
the crops the boys would raise would
do much to keep down living costs in
the city and add to the local food
supply.
Who will come forward with suffl-
cient money to make gardeners of
hundreds of Harrisburg boys who are
ready to volunteer? Why will help
them do their bit" for their coun-
try?
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
WELL KNOWN PEOPLE

Senator w. e. Grow, of Fayette,
has a fad for Holstein cattle and owns
q fine stock farm.
George Wharton Pepper, chair
man of the Safety Committee, is a
Pittsburgh graduate.
Judge Gunnison, of Erie, who was
here yesterday, was much interested In
Harrisburg's treatment of its river
front.
Col. C. C. Allen, who commands
the First Infantry just mobilized' Is
regular army officer.
proclaimed a flag day. for next Mon
day in his city.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
To the First Gun


Speak, silent, patient gun!
And let thy mighty voice
Proclaim the deed is done
Made is the nobler choice;
To every waiting people run
And bid the world rejoice.
Tell them our heaving heart
Has found its shifting hand,
That Graves to be a part
OF the divine command.
Speak, prove us more than ease or
mart,
And vindicate the land
Thine shall the glory be
To mark the sacred hour
That testifies the free
Will neither cringe nor COVER
God give thy voice divinity,
That Right be armed with Power.
Thou art not lifeless steel
With but q number given.
But messenger of veal
Hot with the wrath of Heaven,
Go earn the right to Honor's seal
To have for Honor striven.
Lead us in holy ire -
The path our fathers trod;
The music of thy fire
Shall thrill them through the sod.
The smoke of all thy righteous choir
Is incense unto God.
And when long Peace is found
And thou hast earned thy rest,
And in thy cave of sound
The sparrow builds her nest.
BY Liberty shalt thou be crowned
OF all thy comrades best.
Robert Underwood Johnson, in the
New York Times
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
An Inconceivable Humiliation
(From the Providence Journal)

(From the Providence JournaD
This is a world struggle, and If the
United States is to win back any
measure of the confidence and ad-
miration we have lost in the eyes of
the world by our failure to maintain
our national rights since the sinking
of the Lusitania we must perforce en-
ter this struggle with every atom of
energy we possess. To enter into the
war, to declare to the world that we
are in arms against Germany and
then sit back and make faces would
be a humiliation that it is incon-
ceivable to contemplate. I,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Decidedly Cool

(From the Tuttle, N. D., Starr
At the burning of a barn in Steele
recently our superintendent displayed
some nerve and pluck. Miss Sherman
did not wait for the men to get there,
but haBtened to the barn without
stopping to dress, and in bare feet un-
tied the horses before they had be-
come unmanageable, thus saving them
with little trouble. There is not a
man, we venture to say, in all Steele
but would have stopped to put on his
pants before venturing out into the
crisp air, but she did not, her whole
thought being of the dumb. animals
imperfled. and it was. indeed, a nervy
and cool-headed performance.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

but on the contrary cooperation of
the most effective and efficient char
acter. Psnnsylvania always has main
tanned her position as great patriotic
Commonwealth and there is every
promise now that 1t will be found
ready to meet every call upon its
people or its wonderful resources.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
THE PEOPLES FORUM
BY BRIGGS

guilty man will be punished and SEN
fenced to lifelong imprisonment, if
he deserves it. Authorities were quoted
without contradiction the other day
stating that more than one-tenth of
those hung are innocent of the crime.
Yours very truly,
TWENTIETH CENTURY,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Probably

(From the Providence JournaD
If the Maine Legislature passes the
bill to prevent the sale of cigarettes,
will the new act be enforced along the
lines of the Pine Tree anti-liquor
laws?
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 30

No man is born into the 1Oorld tChoSe
aoork is not born 1oith him; there is
dltOayS cork, and tools to toork aoithal,
for those tCho tOilI-LowELL.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Belated Energy

(From the Rocky Mountain News)
Daniels Orders Submarine Chasers
Built for Delivery in Sixty Days.
Why didn't he order them sixty days
ago?
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

Rome IN. " Plumbers and Sheet
Metal Workers Unions have secured
agreements with wage increases of
so cents a day in each case.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

There were 100000 tons of coal
mined in 1916 for each life lost, the
greatest tonnage per fatality in the
history of the United States.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
Labor Notes

Mrs. c. II. Moen, of Grand Forks
N. D., is considered one of the mos
successful female farmers in the
United States.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
DO YOU KNOW

THAT Harrisburg does a tre-
mendous business in the printing
of labels for food products? 4
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29
uISTORnC HARRISRURG

Statewide gatherings of men Inter-
ested in politics were held here as
early as 1918.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

ment of the scheme outlined in the
reports of the landscape architects
some time ago.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

Nashville (Tenn.) Stereotypers and
Electrotypers' Union has established a
minimum wage scale of $25 a week
for foremen and secured a one-year
contract
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO.,
Telegraph Building. Federal Square.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

e. ]. J.STACKPOLE. Pres't and Editor-it-C Chief
+. r. OYSTER, Business Manager.
GUS NJ. STEINMETZ. Managing Editor.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

The Arkansas Senate has passed the
bill to establish printing and bind
ing plant to be operated by the State
Department of Education.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

TXTHO will help the boys of Har-
w risburg do their bit?'
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

Harry S. McDevitt. the solicitor of
the. State Economy and Efficiency
Commission who drew up the report
which is being so much discussed,
used to be a Philadelphia newspaper
man, having been a member of the
staff of The Press for years. 1t was
while he was in newspaper work that
he became interested in research work,
which he has turned to good advant-
age of the State.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-10-15
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

The Associated exclusively entitled to the
republication all dispatches credited to it or
otherwise credited in this and also the local
news published herein All rights Of republication OF spe
cial dispatches herein also reserved