davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
MAYOR STIRRED
FIREMEN'S WRATH
Holding Up of Two-Platoon Sys-
tem-Comment on Cur
rent Topics
THE FIREMEN'S PROTEST

To the Editor OF the ETeniHJ Ledger:
Sir-As the secretary Of the Citizens
Committee and as an honorary member of
Hosemen, Laddermen, Stokers and Drivers
Association of the Philadelphia Firemen, 1t
has been my duty to keep in touch with the
political situation from the Governor down.
The Wares prevented the two-platoon sys-
TEN from going into effect in May as stipu-
lated. The reason given was lack of funds,
although in August, 1916, 100000 was
added to the taxes Of the property owners
for that purpose. But as the Man Who
Knows" said To me. where did the money
go? Two weeks later the Wares used that
money to give the Philadelphia iiremen
500 a year more in wages, which shows
that the Wares, Director Wilson and the
Mayor were the only men that stood in
the way of the betterment Of the Philadel-
phia fremen.
The Governor did not listen to me until
I had taken to Harrisburg letter from
Director Wilson and the Mayor stating that
the city had not enough money TO give the
men the advance in wages nor to put into
effect the two-platoon system, although in
two weeks the Wares found the money TO
give the men the 500 raise in salary. At
the same time, while there were but four
men on duty at each station, there was
more than $4,000 900 on hand to look after
the two-platoOn system.
Then came the request of the Wares TO
assess each man twenty-nne dollars for
political purposes. And I wish to state
that I was present when the Deutsch men
called on the Mayor He promised them
all the police protection that was possible
He further stated that, if the police could
not peacefully preserve order, they should
use their own judgment and their clubs
!, against men who might abuse an order
So you can see that the Mayor should
not have issued that order or have made
that statement. The men who participated
in the recent troubles felt within themselves
that the Mayor was with them and that
If they did not have a club they could use
a jack or anything that was handy. We
can readily see that the Mayor does not use
good judgment
In my opinion the Wares have been
using the Mayor" and he is like putty
in their hands. He is in no way fit to be the
Mayor of Philadelphia. w. r.. REED.
Forty-fourth Ward.
Philadelphia. September o1
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
THE GERMANTOWN ROAD

LOCALITIES take their peculiar color and
IL characteristic from out.of.the-way facts
sometimes. Looking at the Germantown
road of the present day enc might bio hard
put to it to explain its formationA The
curious explanation has been offered that
its sinuOus shape is due 10 the habit or
the Indians of choosing the easiest way
They did so even If the way in question
happened to be a crooked one.
IL was In 1853 that the first immigrants
tried to reach what is now Germantown
their scheduled new home. They followefa
clearly marked path with much the same
route as the present Germantown ROAD
Land secured for them by PastoriuS was
settled upon by the travellers, and some
lived In Pastoriuss cave house, The com
munal Instinct was strong within fhem
they did not want to be widely separated
Thelr first strange dwellings were erected y
TWO rows, one on either side Of the pdt-
way. At last the track from Philadelpna
grew into a road. The Germantown fesf
dents, living In close propinquity at naghI
scattered in the daytime to their laoorA
They beat down with their feet what was
later to become famous thoroughfarel
Eventually the decision was reached INA.
better means of approach TO the city, mus.
be had. A petition was presented tP tns
Assembly and granted by that body. VpAils
poems Of the period attest to the induftVes
vi NillSn dCtoutL liit IOdu Iedlly
The dirt road while passable during NJ
weather, was not the acme of eomfo1t "
wet days. The population was increIeip,as. ~.
This was another reason for better Fnn
ing facilities, The attempts 10 get tuIn,
pike road were long drawn out ana ~
very productive. The first decisive bpp
toward the plans fruition was taken y
March, 1902, when '"rhe President, MhhA,
gers and Company of the Germantown anu
Reading Turnpike Road" were ipcoHpo'
ated. Their object was to build
through Germantown to the top OF Chehu ~
Hill and thence through Hickorytown'l '"'
Trappe and Pottstown TO Reading A
Famous names cling about the thoropsp
fare and lts environs. For example GEDet'
Stuart the portrait painter, whose easn, a,a
ington" is as wen known as any painsslnn,,s
by an American artist. lived at bltQ MA, MAJ
street The Wister house. 526l Main kteo-
was the home OF Sahy 'Wister, the sprisnr,
dlarisL Louise May Alcott, immortal W ~
ator Of Little Women" was born atAS'ey
Main street
At 60I9 Main street one hpds the ui&|
Tree Tavern built IN 174s by Sareh
Daniel pastoriua Food that gave tnt ~
felry much-envled name Va4 1slt>N
% tleleh|nf and Drives pHrl,r
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
THWARTED BY A WOMAN

That the Swedish people are far from
sympathetic to their German neighbors and
are deeply incensed over certain pro-Ger-
man learnings in Swedish Government cir
cles is shown by an incident told today by
an American who has just returned to this
country after a residence of many months
in Sweden.
According TO the American, the Swedes
drew up a protest against German methods
in Belgium to be signed by prominent
scholars, writer's and artists OF Sweden In
asmuch as Selma Lagerlof only woman
winner of the Nobel Prize and only woman
member of the Swedish Academy Is the
dean Of Swedish letters she was 10 be chair
man Of the committee and to head the pro-
test with her signature first Later, owing
to pro-German influences in governmental
quarters I'm Sweden the protest was emas-
culated through the suppression of it's most
outspoken paragraph. and was made, instead
OF a protest, a whitewash for Germany.
Miss Lagerlof. being intensely anti-German
Indignantly withdrew from the whole mat
ter. declaring that Il was the province of
the manifesto TO protest and not 20 soothe
the German conscience az there is such a
thing) The whole affair created stir in
sweden. and through Miss Lageriof's action
The German intrigue, which would have
turned protest n1p paie compliment,
Was exposed. ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
THE VOLTS INSOLENCE

TT Is hard to keep cool while reading
l. that Berlin, through the Papal Nuncio
at Munich, has agreed to evacuate Bel
gium provided that little country gives
a guarantee that any such menace as that
which threatened Germany in 1914 would
in future be excluded The wolf appears
in the fold and then asks the sheep to
give guarantees of good conduct.
Even more disgusting, in it's sugges.
ton Of utter inability to feel sense Of
guilt, is the calm request that Germany
should have "the right to develop her
economic enterprises freely in Belgium.
especially in Antwerp" The German
drummers are to peddle their goods
among the Belgians, If you please, just
as if nothing had happened
Meanwhile the world is to condone what
the filthy little helmeted rascals did to
the maidens and old men in those beau
tiful villages. The violation of girls and
the murder Of old folk are to be forgotten,
while Belgium is asked "to maintain
administrative separation of the Flanders
and Waloon districts introduced by Ger
many, because Germany desires such
separation on account of racial sym.
pathy." Sympathy! This nauseating in.
science is enough to make one condone
any unjust purpose that any enemy OF
the German Government may ever have
entertained.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

flict Is the result of the officers training
camps. In the eastern Pennsylvania Sec
tion the difficulty the average observer has
in analyziug tine result grows with every
developments
Before the declaration Of war. i'm fact
ever since the election Of President Wilson
in 1912 there has been most active junta
engaged in the propagation of most violent
opposition to the President and his Cabinet
and the policy Of the Administration These
men were bitter and persistent In their
attacks. Newspapers and politicians were
employed to actively and continually pur-
sue the President and his Cabinet, and hit
every head that appeared to defend them
against attacks. This policy was in force
up to the very day war was declared. Some
considerable modification set in, so far as
public utterances were concerned but In
office and home they continued as violent
as before, and are SO today.
Now, what seems queer to the observer
IS this: The President knew these persons
ne knew their feelings toward him, he
knew OF their methods and attacks he
knew many of them socially and their fam.
llleS, and when the officers training camps
were organized the sons Of these families
were urged to go into the training When
the appointments We're announced these on
pohents of the President and his policy got
all the rich commissions distributed No
one instance records a failure 1t is surely
not because the young men are able above
all others. It is not because they have done
any better in the camp than many others
Is II because they are rich and socially
prominent? Ia 1t because the President
hopes to placate the families? He may find
but little comfort i'm the fact that the criti-
cism OF him goes on just as vituperatively
as ever, only not so much out of doors as
berore. II he listens right well he can hear
the young majors and captains scoff and
swear at the policy he has set for the coun.
try.
Can 1t what you will, these youths, totally
unht by education, habit or character to
lead men, have no fear of interference, and
they are, in-their opinion, intrenched be-
hind some mysterious influence which they
know brought them their commissions and
II that could have been done I'm the face
OF the records OF their fathers and mothers
bitter opposition to the Administration,
what could possibly disturb them in the en-
Joyment Of their present commissions,
coupled with absolute freedom of speecb2
This is what mystifes many quiet on
lockers, and it disturbs them also to the
degree OF asking, Are these men and their
sons loyal? Are they fit to command not
only the men selected, but those who,volun-
teered TO serve as priVateS? knowing the
record OF their prospective officers, as most
or them do, will these selected and volun-
teer men serve their country effectively:
ana how will their lives be conserved when
battle lines come under the command of
those scions Of disloyal training?
DRAFT.
Lansdale, Pa September Of
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
Warfurisms

In every war argument two men are
completely convinced from the start.
There's a lot of money in stocks these
days. privately: We lost ours there)
With our dye industry picking up as f.
is, the American blonde will not disap-
pear, after all.
Why object to food dictator" in the
person Of Mr.. Hoover or whoever eise?
Haven't We all employed cooks?
Rumor reaches us that the Berlin
school lSiddies are taught that our ma
tional anthem (one of themD begins:
MY country leases thee"
With California exporting $4,000, 900
pounds of prunes during this latest fiscal
year, we are inclined to qualify General
Sherman's dictum as to war.
Who says the West isn't thriving?
During a recent cyclone the sun was OBJ.
scured three hours and seven minutes by
cloud of limousines and grand pianos
Why go to all this expense to defend
our country? Put duty of $500 on every
rifle and sword brought in at our ports.
and an invading army of SAY quarter oe
a million would have to put up 1925, ,OOO,-
600 before they could even land
Mr.. Gerard tells us the German grocers
are not allowed to sell soap unless the in
tending purchaser proves, by showing
what's left of his old cake, that he really
needs 1t. If nothing at all is left, he may.
presumably. display-his neck!
WARWICK JAMES PRICE.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
LAMENTATIONS
L L-A

IA true StOfU)
They say he Is noisy and bdrks at the
Kids,
And SdSSes the netcSpdper boy;
only remember he 9reets me at night
WIN currets and prdnccs Of jou
They claim that he brings aged bones to
the porch
And builds on the sofa his lair:
knoW that he bredthes great sigh of
content
As he curls up at night by my chair.
They SAP they must rescue him ten times
ddy>
For he dares all the AtreddIes TO fight;
think hotO he tcdtcheS as, even IN sleep,
A lortn0 protection all night.
And so they are sending my comrdde
dCGy,
with "comfortdbIe homo as his goal
But my 1corId Is dSkelu and the skies are
all gray
wan he erer tor0iUe me, dear Soulp
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
BEATING THE GERMAN CENSOR

In Berne, Switzerland there Is a society
or German democrats whose members are
all working like beavers to stimulate and
support democratic ideas among the German
people and discourage confidence In mii-
tarism, autocracy and the Hohenzollern or
any other dynasty. Naturally, they work
at disadvantage, since they can use only
long-distance efforts. For each one of them
would pay for II with his life if he stepped
across the border into Germany. Even to
possess the books Of one Of them, Hermann
Fernau the leader of the band, is a crime
punishable In Germany by death They
publish newspaper called the Freie
Zeitung, of which Fernau is the editor.
In order to get their ideas before more or
their fellow -countrymen than they have
been able to reach, they recently got up
fake issue Of the FranlIfurter Zeitung, ini-
tating that paper, which is ardently pro-
Government. in form, makeup and every
appearance, but filling its columns with
good democratic propaganda for the over
throw of thes German dynasty mlitarism
and the autocratic ruling class. Among the
articles was a signed leading editorial by
Fernau taken from the Freie Zeltung. This
fake Frankfurter zeitung attained a con.
siderable circulation in Germany before the
authorities found out what II really was
and acted promptly conhscating all copies
that could be found. The event caused a
great stir In Switzerland, and Germany
and the Swiss Government suppressed, tenn
porarily. the Freie zeitung although its
editors denied editorially that their paper
had had anything to do with getting out
the fake. expressing satisfaction. however
AZ tho trick and "a success President WI.
..on has nrdIested IA lht Swiss ioNarlnatnt
1aaIhsI DC uplt 4@|an 81 tn} paper
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
GUYNENIER

TF FRANCE had had dozen Guyne-
mers the war might be over. He was
credited with having shot down fifty.three
German planes by official count but he
destroyed at least twenty-five others. He
had often been urged to take a rest and
help the inventors in Paris, but he in
variably refused preferring the danger
Gus air service, which was only brought
to an end when forty hostile planes un-
eXpectedly swooped down upon him.
Guynemer's spirit was that of France,
which cultivates individuality. Each man
IN the French army is taught TO think
for himself, while the Boches go in
masses like cattle.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
REAL CAUSE FOR REJOICING

ruthlessness the C-boat efficiency has
sunk to its lowest level in the week just
ended. Only fifteen vessels were sunk.
OF all the many hundreds plying between
this country and England and France, the
U-boats were able to sink only about two
a day. There is real cause for rejoicing
in this news The U.boat peril was the
greatest nightmare of the whole war.
Germany did not dare to adopt ruthless
ness until her own statesmen said openly
that without it she was beaten. And It
has failed.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

Don't believe the people who say there
is no good in the novels of Harold Bell
Wright" says NJ. c., who describes him
self as the champion long distance com.
muter." 81 have found Harold Bells
books invaluable" he adds, "and hope
my testimony may be helpful to fellow
sufferers. BY keeping one of the books
constantly in the kitchen we have been
enabled to hold our servant girl. But we
have exhausted the list now and she Is
becoming restless If--as is likely--a
new book is under way, could not
secure advance sheets in some way?"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
Answers to Yesterdays ouiz

!. II Is not lawful to sell IuuOr 10 men in The
United states service.
?. The campaign for the second Liberty Loan
starts In this city on October I.
3. The purpose OF the Irish Convention Is 70
draft home rule constitution for ireland
!. \ convoy is u vessel or a number Of vessels
protecting merchant ships from attack.
D. John Franklin Fort former Governor q
Mew Jersey, Is member Of the Federal
Trade Commission.
o. a racOnteur is a skilled teller OF anecdotes.
L. Ouynemer, whose death is reported, was ne
most noted of French avlatOrs. He had
brought down about fifty German planes.
.. round robin Is q letter. of protest to which
the signatures are written In q circle, -
that IL may not appear who signed nrst
o. Fusion" In politics. means the Formation
OF party out OF independent elements -
two or more parties. For example, ~
New York fusion usually means thle com
btnation Of Republicans with andi-Tam-
many Democrats to defeat the Dem,oerate
Organization.
TO- The Islands Of Cuba, Haiti and Porto hleq
extend in u sOuthea sterly direction In that
order, Porto Rico being the furthelst east
OF the three,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
Inside Stuff

A certain Jewish reporter on a certain
Philadelphia newspaper sent on an out
of-town assignment, submitted in his ex-
pense account an item Of s1.O5 for three
meals on last Wednesday, which was
Yom Klppur. 1t is alleged that the city
editor is considering the matter seriously.
C. l., n
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
No ROOM FOR THE SLOUGH

TAHE Crouch is decidedly a popular fig
pre nowadays. He Is the man who
Wins 3 commission. Disagreeable as he
msy be 10 the once. in the training camp
fls stern demeanor attracts the attention
% ihe powFrs that be. The namhy.
t1mtI plsaaniHoieed person does not
.'.|. Isasn q np oat hls orders with
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

Came to handgrips yesterday with our
old chief, Theodore Wright. for the FIRST
time in year or more He is eighty
eight, which makes him almost ineligible
for admission 70 the Arcadia Theatre,
which 10 advertising a show "for children
between nye and ninety"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
A Bouquet for lis

The afilatus divine, the breath Of the
wine,
That every one welcomes so gayly,
For no other bard does it really blow hard
But Tom as gust in daily.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
What Do You Know?
QUIZ

1. What is Bulgarla's stated position on the
pire:
2. What former United States Amba ssador has
been mentioned In rumOrs as O possible
candidate for the presidency?
3. What is ''midinette"?
1. Who wrote "The Essay on Nam?
.. Who originated the phrase, ''atins on
granite" quoted by the president OF the
German Reichstag In reference 10 Presl-
dent Wilson?
8. Are any Welshmen fighting on the british
front? W.
:. Why Is the nightingale pOeticalIy kndwn 40
PhilOmela:
8. In the vernachlar of sOldlery what Il q
Suicide club?
0. Name two musical composers who wrote
scores for the story of "La BOheneS"
10. What does "gravamen" mean?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
Tom Days Column
THE PASSING OF PUCK

THE PASSING or PUCK
flames Il. Pollocl)
As light as thistle drift,
And stCift
AS iCus the laughter he atUoke
1vith elfH prank and Joke,
HIS passing 1UdS. The breath
Of Death
Scarce Shook his testers bells,
But summoned him
Into the -Shudotcs dim
And spared his heart the sadness Of fare
7gcIIg
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

News that the National Army can.
tonments will have their own theatres is
gratifying and proper. So untheatrical
business as soldering needs the con-
trast and relief Of popular amusement.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
"EIe who at

"He who attempts to drive a wedge
between the Kaiser and his peoples bites
on granite" says the Reichstag's presi.
dent of Mr.. Wilson. And yet, as some
body once said, God did not give VIII
son that square jaw for nothing"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
A REMEDY SUGGESTED

To the Editor Of the EUenin0 Led0er:
Sir--Your editorial, plain Facts Plainly
Stated" appearing in Tuesdays issue, takes
rather a hopeless view of the political sit
uation in Philadelphia, but through "a rift
in the clouds your version seems to per-
ceve a truly metropolitan Philadelphia"
in which the cltzenry have embraced the
essential principles of democracy" and have
stripped the garments of authority from
the leprous elements that wear them"
The way is open. The means are pro-
videS. Now is the accepted time to provide
for It and next election day is the day OF
our political salvation.
The main, Essential principle of democ-
racy Is the "inalienable right OF all men TO
life liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
There is only one political party in PhilA-
delphia which is wholly devoted to the es-
tablishment of this essential democratic
principle and which has the one and only
plan whereby this inalienable right can be
made secure. This party (Single TAXI
boldly procaims that land rent (Which is
altogether a public product) should be col
leeted and used FOR public benefit
Until this Is done and until the bllghting
influences of private land ownership are de-
stroyed, men cannot be free or happy, nor
build a metropolitan, honest-minded city.
for the simple reason that our system OF
taxation Is built on dishonest and updemo-
fatic foundation. OLIVER MCKNIGHT
Philadelphia, September a.
PARTIsANSHIP AND THE ARMY
To fle Editor Of the Evening Ledger;
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

The $4,000 striking shipbuilders on
the Pacific coast will resume work to-
day, not because their demands have
been satisfied but for patriotic reasons.
But those are the reasons which will
speak loudest for the merit Of their
clairns
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
soukbomllnon. Minister of

soukhomlinoh, Minister Of War
under the Car. has gone TO Jail for life,
and richly deserved the most severe pun.
ishment lie uaitorously weakened the
Russian line in behalf Of his pro-German
Emperor The Russian army is said TO
be stiffening, and the best way 10 keen
IL 10 that, condition is 70 crush out the
traitors
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28

If the spirit shown at last nights
massmeeting were a daily experience, we
would not hate government by muir