davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
Interned Kaiser Ships

Since August 2, 1914, the proud mer-
chant fleet of Germany has been stranded
here and there all over the world, but prin-
cipally in America. No fewer than 553
trading vessels-representing a tonnage Of
2,100,0 0,000-hav been forced to stay where
they found themselves at the beginning Of
the war; and as one state after another
has Joined the Allies in the struggle the
losses Of Germanys commercial navy have
continued to increase. The vessels which
slumbered in Italian ports in 1915, those in
Portuguese estuaries in 1916, those until
lately in the bays and waterways of the
United States, Cuba and Brazil-all have
gone. and soon there will remain under
the German flag only those vessels which
by chance were in home ports when hostil-
tiles began. 1t was plainly not of such
pass that William ii dreamed, but it would
seem TO be that which Tirpitz feared when
he demanded the delaying of the war until
1920. Thus the battle for the German
mastery Of the seas has been practically
lost before being fought-a phenomenon
perhaps unique in the worlds history, and
certainly the essential characteristic Of
this war.-Dundee Advertiser.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
How Will the Women Use Their Votes?

20,115 men. 1916, 32,979 men and women.
In Illinois, where the women form about
IS per cent of the population, the figures
for the 1916 election show 1,316,007 men
and 876,700 women voting. Utah and
Wyoming women have voted throughout
statehood, so that it is impossible TO COM
pare the vote before and after equal suf-
frage. But something can be said in re-
gard to figures for voters over ten-year
period, though the proportion of men TO
women voters cannot be given.
In Utah, between 1900 and 1870 the
population increased one-third, and the
vote increased very small fraction under
a third; so the two have kept pace. In
Wyoming, between 1900 and 1910 the pop
ulation increased So per cent while the
vote increased nearly 70 per cent-that
IS, outran population by almost 20 per
cent
Comparison Of the last two Presidential
elections in these two states also show no
waning in the electors interest. In 1912,
l21 ,917 voters went 10 the polls. In 1915
the number was 143,o35, II per cent in
crease in the vote, while population in
creased about l3 per cent.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

view Of the fact that there are 1863 men to
100 women in Arizona, the proportion OF
the women Of this state voting is thus
shown to be very much larger than that
Of the men.
Oregon, in 1912, voted 137,040 men,
1916, PSI $50 men and women. Montana
1912, 1886 men voted. 1916, 1853
men and women. Washington, 1910, 1885,
SO men. 1912, 177679 men and women.
California, 1910, 325,652 men. 1912, 673,-
527 men and women.
In Colorado, at the 1892 Presidential
election, 93,843 men voted; at that of 1896,
9,141 men and women. In Idaho, in
1892, 16,409 men voted. At the next
Presidential election the population had
increased 72 per cent, so that about 29,-
900 men could be expected to vote. AS a
matter of fact, 81 800 voters turned out,
so that almost so per cent of the vote in
that year can be credited to women in a
state which had in 1910 % per cent more
men than women, and in 1896 had an
even greater proportion of men.
Kansas, in 1912, 365,444 men. In 1916,
629,s13 men and women. Nevada, 1912,
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
First Cape Cod Canal En-.
gineer Drafted by
George Washington

Thomas Machin, the engineer charged
BY committee appointed in 1875 by the
Colony Of Massachusetts, with the task OF
making the first survey for the Cape Cod
Canal, was drafted" as an army engI-
neer by George Washington before ne
could make a fair start on the survey
George washington's letter TO the chair
man of the committee which appointed MI
Machin read:
1.-The great demand We, have for eng
neers in this department has obliged me
to order Mr.. Machin hither to assist In
that branch Of. the business
This bit of American engineering his
tory is recounted by William Barclay Par
sons, in paper published in the August
1917, issue of the Proceedings OF inc
American Society Of Civil Engineers on
the Cape Cod Canal, which was first pro-
posed more than three hundred years ago
and finally opened to commercial trafhc 10
l9l4.-From The Engineering NeH"
Record.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
"Pitiless Publicity" Shows Up
War Charity Graft

Not 20 "The Shreveport tLa.) Times"
which declares that the whole two hun.
dred or more war relief organizations in
New York should be investigated. 1T is
to be hoped" says this paper, "that the
District Attorney will find sufficient eH-
dence to send some Of these jackals and
pirates to prison. Here in Shreveport
when we are asked 20 give, we know 10
whom we are giving and who will dis
tribute the proceeds. In New York such
definite knowledge is impossible and the
grafters who make that city their head
quarters profit by the fact"
New York has real war scandal on It's
hands, according 10 "The Oklahoma City
Oklahoman" which wakes rather sarcas.
tic Of the metropolis. Thus:
Apparently the voracious appetite. sup
posed 20 be typical OF New York. is still sx.
tant and decidedly on the job. But IL would
be absurd and unfair 10 condemn New York
because a few grafters took advantage Of
patriotic sentiment 20 ply their trade How.
ever New York, in justice TO Itself, has is
work 90 do This bazaar was sponsored by
illustrious names The owners OF the names,
Of course. simply lent their prestige 10 III.
effort They were what were known in the
undertaking era as dummy directors II
was a dangerous role TO play in industry, as
broken regulations and stately tombs so
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

"There are few vacancies In the follow
ing grades: -.
IN ipdre genuine Oriental rugs and tapes
tries for the mems barracks, and must nave
n priyate income of one dillon anna per an
mum. TO buy supplies for the Persian army
"Noss sergeant-poes not buy food and
bs, nothing to do with the kitchen, simply
acts as faster, 10 see that officers and men
are not affected b. poison food. This Is
nice safe job. -,
"Gunner's mate-Applcant must be famil-
iar with both cap and water pistols.
"Lineman-wsRted for wireless telegraph
unit of our Signal Corps.
Applicants will please apply in persona
non erata' to Top Sergeant Bridge, or to his
sdiutart. Sergeant Kinter, any week, at :
o'clock, at the top Of the capital dome
But all is not fun in "The Camou-
Aeur's" columns. There is bit Of serious
verse, which is unsigned. 1t is entitled
"The Third" and is rather gripping:
Phantoms three in the early gray
OF No Mans Land arose,
And each as he sped told how he bled
Winning his fight from the foes.
The first one said: "We charged ahead
And hurled them clean to hell;
After getting my Hun in the bayonet run
At the second trench fell"
The second spoke: "By a careful stroke
We drifted over the line,
And got the plans for the big advance,
When we were attacked from behind.
"We dropped the first, he was the worst;
The others shots ran wide.
But in making port the last shot caught
Me well in the head and ] died."
The third stood white in the morning light
And turned to the other two:
"At night we worked tween the shots Of
the search
And blotted your lines from the foe.
"And the roads held up by the deadly
Krupp
We quickly screened from view;
So the shells that went were badly spent,
And you slipped safely through.
with magic stroke your planes bespoke
Things vague and blind to view,
And the hangers brown on the mottled
ground
Changed chameleon-like in hue.
"But before you died, so filled with pride,
With heroic victory won,
Unseen dropped at sniper's shot
While camouhaging a gum"
The others heard, but spoke no word
(For dead men understand),
But round they turned and their deep
eyes burned
As they gripped the nouveau's hand.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

"The poor devil who bought leather leg
rims TO wear when he went gsllivanung
home. only to learn four days later that
cruel army order ordained that such was not
to be; the little fellow five feet two square,
who was in the sixteenth squad. II there were
sixteen squads, and in the twenty.hfth, II there
were twenty-five, who finally became major
solely because Of his ambition to be right
guide in order that he might dictate the
company pace and not lose his substance;
the rookie newly on guard who. with trem-
bling gun. murmurs, who goes there 7 only
TO recoil in horror a. the acrid words, Com
manding general Of the camp. What are you
going TO do about it!-sll these and many
more will The Camoufeur' tell about"
The wailings Of Charlie, the camp COOK,
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
British American Liberty
Adventures
"WOrId'S Work"

CTITORLD'S WORK" which in a re-
w cent number paid a striking
tribute to France, does the same by Great
Britain in its November issue. Quite as
timely and interesting as any of the artl-
cIes dealing with British-American rela-
tons is that Of Ralph w. Page on "The
British-American Adventures Toward
Liberty" Some interesting information
on American history which the schoolboy
is not usually taught will be found in this
article, such as Queen Victoria's remark
during the Civil War, when there were
many causes Of friction, from tariffs to
privateers like the Alabama: "My Lord
addressing her Prime Minister, you must
know that will sign no paper that means
war with the United States" The authors
comments on the Monroe Doctrine are
also characteristic:
TJntn within one year the mass Of the
people Of our country have not only taken
no interest in foreign affairs, but as PLAIN
matter Of fact have been fostered by noble
representatives Of the people campaigning
for Congress in the belief that they were
superior and apart from such concerns. II
this was not true it would be matter OF
common information and not an object Of
incredulous surprise that for hundred
years the American Continent has been pro-
tected from aggression by the joint action
and understanding of Great Britain and the
United States.
"What is called the Monroe Doctrine is
not a doctrine at all of Monroe or Of any
one else. II is a self-evident fact. To w.t.
that we do not wish any territory on this
Continent made into a European colony, and
that we do not wish an autocratic monarch
cal system Of government introduced here
by any feudal despot. Everybody knows
this. But the question was, how TO prevent
IL. In 1923 practically the whole world, eX-
cent Great Britain and the United States,
was under the dominion Of absolute mon
archs. What we are learning now was a
plain axiom to eur ancestors-that the only
argument known to these gentlemen is can
non and muskcts."
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

furnish The Camoufeur" with one Of the
brightest paragraphs in its columns.
''Listen, boy" says Charlie. "The army
is the terrible. For two year | cook IN
the damn Turkey, and Mr.. Grant say,
Charlie. you coming to Washington to
cook come. It's the awfully. I'm not
coming in the army when l know soldier
so lazy. Always, always late for kitchen.
| shake and shake and they don't wake
up. So sleepy. Do you? When | go to
sergeant's bunk say soft, Sergeant And
quick like this he is up. Cooks not like
sergeants. / give always best have. II
the boys don't like l jump in the river.
So long as there is, you can have, my
friend. It's simply terribly. Do you?'
Under a gaudily illustrated title, "Men
Wanted for the Persian Army the fol-
lowing delicious bit is to be found:
"No previous experience Of any sort re-
quircd in this army.
Absolutely no work connected with this
army.
ar you don't like the army you're in now,
try an enlistment with as If you don't like
our outfit. you are at liberty to leave at the
end Of the first enlistment period, which is
only twenty years.
ave positively guarantee that men who en-
list in the Persian army will not be annoyed
by having TO fight battles on Sundays, legal
holidays, circus days and church picnic dates.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
weaving.
THE Outcome Is Undecided,
L But Protection Is Assured

The outcome is still in doubt, but in
dictments continue to grow, and the
present attitude of District Attorney
Swami indicates that he will not relax
his determination to put an end to what
he considers obvious graft, and to safe
guard for the future every affair con-
Quoted for the benefit of war charities.
According to "The New York World"
the finding of indictments in this charity
scandal is welcome as proof Of official
vigilance, but should in no way relax the
effort to lock the stable door before other
horses are stolen. Of course
"Crimes may not often be committed in
connection with such efforts, but there can be
shocking waste without criminality, and the
community owes it to warm-hearted men
whose pockets open easily to philanthropic
pleas to protect them from the ffty-ffty
harpes.
"Bszaars and benefits can never efficiently
be conducted without administrative expense,
bat Secretary Smith Of the Bureau Of Advice
puts his finger on the difficulty when he says
that soliciting contributions or advertising
on n commission basis is an expensive method
and nuts a premium on dishonesty Even
when the temptation of dishonesty is resisted
the appalling waste robs the public, tends to
dry up the. springs of helpfulness and makes
cynics in the community
The proposal of President Dowling OF
the Board Of Aldermen that all entertain
ments whose proceeds shall go to charity
be supervised by the Bureau Of Licenses
is hailed by other portions of the press as
a vital step in the right direction.
"The New York Sun" declared:
"This would reach some of the thieves who
arc now operating practically without him
drance. II might work hardships on a few
worthy enterprises, but this would be out
weighed by the good it would accomplish;
certainly it would check some Of the more
open frauds.
"By all means, use every agency OF the
state to stop charity graft; but the most
alert public official can never safeguard the
man who is unwilling to help himself. The
charity CRATER is not a feature OF the war.
The soft-hearted have always been the vic
Tins Of knaves. No police and no private
agency for the elimination Of impostors have
been able 10 clear the streets Of solicitors
who represented nothing more worthy than
their own lazincss and greed. The evil is as
old as generosity, as difficult TO eradicate as
selfshness"
That Overhead charges" have been the
death of many businesses and charity has
often had a fatal overhead, is the opinion
voiced by "The New York Evening Post"
in the investigation. "The Post" feels
that the complaint is an old one and is
merely receiving fresh emphasis at this
time of special effort in behalf Of various
causes. A strict auditing Of accounts,
however, this paper feels is necessary.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

"When the United States declared war, and
every mans thoughts were turning TO the
part he would be called on TO play, large
numbers Of artists who had heard the frehch
word 'carouhago' used in connection with
all sorts Of picturesque and adventurous
tricks TO deceive the enemy believed them
selves TO be especially fitted for just such a
part They offered their services night ana
left, some giving suggestions as to now thlhgS
should be organized, others merely Volun-
teerng to do any work of that sort TO whlch
they might be assigned
"These offers met with no success and con-
seqdenty nothing happened. The leaders OF
the movement among the New York artists
Blashfield, Faulkner, Fry, PelXotto and
Adame--bcgan TO feel that their work IN agl-
tatng the idea had been in vain. In the
meantime, however, there were artists IN the
officers training camp at Plattsburg VINO
still clung to the hope OF seeing a camou-
Aage corps in the new United States army.
"These artists were Willard ). Conrow ana
Homer ST. Gaudens, of New York, son OF the
famous sculptor They were ably seconded
and backed by Evarts Tracy the noted archl-
tect. who had been made a major IN the re-
serve army. They succeeded in deeply inter-
csting their company commanders, with the
result that shortly the American camouhage
idea had risen from the dead. The scheme
appcaled to the powers that be and by the
middle of last August the lst Camoufage
Company was trying to see the light of day.
Major Evarts Tracy was in command, as
sisted by Lieutenants ST. Gaudens, Conrow,
Smith and Hit. Lieutenant Conrow made
a trip to Camp Upton at Yaphank in oc-
tober. where he carefully selected from
list of 5000 names the men best suited for
the work. Under Lieutenant 81. Gaudens the
most awkward recruits became able to dis
tineuish their left from their right foot-no
mean achievement, be it known. Such was
the creation
The function Of "The Camoufleur,' ac-
cording TO its able "camouf in chief" B. L..
Burman, is to portray the brighter side
Of the life Of a camouflager. This fact is
ably set forth in the following editorial:
"Camouhage in its serious aspect must,
from the beginning be sealed book to all
but initiates and those whose position makes
accurate knowledge of it necessary; but the
brighter side. with all those Queer things
that insist on happening in the most solemn
undertakings. it will be the function OF The
Camouneur' TO portray.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
A Plea in Behalf of More
~ Direct Methods

"The indianapolis News" opposes such
implements as bazaars, and finds the Incl
dent an eloquent argument for more
economical method of raising funds for
charity. The indirect method, it declares,
is the most costly and wasteful OF all.
Since
"People buy tickets for entertainments
which they do not want to see and bore
themselves attending when they would rather
have contributed the amount directly. To
make money out Of amusing or entertaining
people requires experience which the ordi-
nary organizations that DO such things for
charity do not have. Sometimes, because
they work in the name Of charity, they arc
successful But probably always the same
amount Of money could have been raised with
less effort and waste by the direct solieita-
ton Of contributions"
The New York Tribune, however, took
the stand that human nature heing what
il is, frequently il Is easier to coax money
out Of pockets for some entertainment or
social affair than to obtain straight con-
tributions for the purpose involved The
Tribune deplored the possibility Of this
scandals reacting to discredt the great
"Hero Land" fair, now being conducted
by the League of the Allies. Precautions,
it is promised, have been taken which will
insure the public's money going, in this
case, where it is supposed. to 90. Indeed,
there would seem no legitimate reason
why it should not be quite possible TO con-
tinue with the war charities bazaars.
Fairs are, in the opinion Of The Tribune,
bound to recur, and this is the moral
pointed:
"The public's concern Is that they should
really do the work they undertake to do.
with their managers and organizers sub
jected &c the scrutiny Of the Commissioner OF
Licenses. and financial statements audited BY
public officials, as the new ordinance eontem-
plates. there seems slight chance for repe-
t'tion Of the 'get-rch-quick methods which
the District Attorney investigation exposed
ir the one regrettable instance, and which
doubtless occurred in others. IL is unfortu'
nate that the ordinance was not passed when
il wa proposed last year"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
A New Ban on the Alien

An interesting reaction to the DR..
Muck episode occurred recently in the
town Of Frederick, Nd. A special dis
patch to "The Baltimore. American" con-
tanned the news that representative meI
and women Of Frederick County" pledg-
ing themselves to "put forth every rea-
sonable effort TO stamp out pro-German-
ISM" adopted, at a great patriotic mass
meeting, resolution "in which they call
upon the government Of the United
States to forbid the public singing or
playing OF the national anthem except
by American citizens and those who are
loyal TO our government"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
Smashing the Traditional
Picture of Italy
"ScribReF'S"

II HE Italian disaster besides helping
Il the Allies achieve unity, is also
creating interest in Italy, the real Italy
rather. il we are to believe William Kay
Wallace in the December issue Of Serb
ners." For in his estimation Italy has
too long been thought Of only as "the land
Of orange blossoms and blue skies, Of
museums and old masters, of hill towns
and tenors, Of beggars and bandits-the
land Of the far nientc, where golden days
are passed in a focd of eternal spring
tide. where work is left until tomorrow,
and nothing is done to-day" Mr.. Wallace
smashes this pretty picture. Among other
things he says:
"Italy was the first great state to assert
boldly this principle Of nationality as the
basis Of the modern state. Nsticnallsm 6s
interpreted by the Italians was soon to be-
come one OF the most important single factors
Of political development Of eur times.
"As France a century before had lit the
torch Of individual liberty so Italy first
championcd successfully the belief that ma
tional liberty. which is merely the extension
Of the idea OF individual liberty to include all
individuals Of kindred race is the mos,
valuable asset OF mankind.
"The European war is struggle for the
preservation Of this principle. The Allies
arc maintaining the right Of national indie
pendencc Of smaller states against the Ger
manic idea Of a state composed Of 4 motley
OF races. marshallod under the hegemony Of
the strongest
when Victor Emanuel the Liherstor. as
he came 10 be called. died in 1873. the first
king Of united Italy, he was not buried in the
Supcrga. tho small chapel which crowns the
soft green Hill above Turin, the burial place
OF his house. but in the Pantheon at Rome,
built in the days of the CGsars, an imperial
resting place"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
Germany's Autocratic
School System
"Centufy'

q RADUALLY the world is exploring
~ the Teuton horror. This time
Winthrop Talbot, in the December issue
of "The Century Magazine" discloses
"The Imperial Plan in German Schooling
The German school system, he says, "is
essentially directive in type E. . au-
thoritative and rigid, systematic and re-
pressive, disciplinary and exacting
divided into two kinds, Volksschulen, or
elementary public schools for the people,
and middle and higher schools for that
small per cent of the population who are
of noble birth or who will become officials,
military officers or professional and tech
nical men," The following extracts indi-
cate the fruits of this system:
an 1911 Germany spent 66o,s36,57s marks
on the Volksschulen, an average Of 65 marks
per pupil; on the middle schools, 80,56659l
marks, or 112 marks per pupil; on the higher
schools, 17715S,6 ,679 marks, or 24S marks per
pupil. Thus nearly one-quarter of the total
school expenditure was devoted to training
less than 10 per cent of all German children.
These children were the favored ones who
had succeeded in getting into the middle and
upper schools.
"Thc supreme test Of German schooling
lies not in material wealth and commercial
supremacy. but in ways greater than these.
Ancient Rome dominated the world through
unity and frightfulness, but in those days it
was slave world and world of illiterates.
Tcuton unity and frightfulness is dealing to-
day with world Of fTeemen and of readers.
"In democratic age German schooling of
The few at the expense OF the many has re-
suited in foreign suspicion and aloofness
toward everything Teutonc. In Germany
il is rousing class against mass, capital
against labor, ruled against rulers, illiterste
against literate, exploited against promoters"