davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
A Plea for St. John s

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The American Scenic and Historic
Preservation Society wants old st. Johns
Chapel saved This chapel can be sayed at
less cost than that at which Old South Meet
ing House in Boston saved. and can be
made the centre of even a greater work.
The Old South is situated on one Of Bos-
tons busiest streets-W Washington Street,
corner of Milk. The building having been
damaged somewhat by fire in 1872, and other
circumstances having arisen, the congrega-
ton decided to worship elsewhere in new
meeting house. The old building was leased
to the United States for postofice uses from
December. 1872, to December. 1874. In the
spring of 1876 it was advertised for sale.
Indeed, it was actually sold at auction. to be
removed by wrecker "The spire is COW
cred with copper, and there is lot of lead
on roof and befry, and the roof is covered
with old Welsh slate" was the tempting
language of an advertisement. Then began
an extraordinary campaign. There were
popular protests like those We have had
about old st. Johns, and there were IN
spring meetings The upshot Of II all was
that on October 70, 1876, the property was
purchased by private generosity for 100000.
Mr. Z. VI. Pulsifer paid $4,000 cash. Mrs.
IIemenway advanced 100000 on second mort
gage and the New England Mutual Life In
surance Company loaned S225,000 on first
mortgage. The mortgage was paid principal
~ out of rents. sale of land adjacent to the
building. subscriptions and proceeds of fairs,
and the state contributed the last 10000
New York City has as much cause for civic
and historic pride and a. much generosity
as Boston. Would that they might be stirred
b. the appeal for saving St. Johns.
ST. Johns could be put to immediate use
for Hospital. recruiting or other work con-
nccted with the war After which. II given
to this society, II could be effectively used as
centre, not only for its farreaching activi-
ties. but also as a local civic centre for many
useful purposes. Our society administers
several large state properties and can readily
handle St. Johns in the public interest.
VINO will save it?
EDWARD HAGAMAN HALL,
Secretary.
New York, April 3. 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
An Actual Resident Chosen

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: ! was greatly surprised to read IN
your account of the Republican convention
in the 18th Congressional District the state
ment that | sent word to the leaders that
was ready and willing to run for Congress
IN that district The statement is erroneous
II has always been my belief that proper
practice for the Republican party is to nom
mate candidates who live in the district ID
which the race is to be run. The members
Of the Republican County Committee IN the
18th District, in my judgment, did the oes'
thing for the party in nominating an aoie'
progressive and well known young lawyer
who is an actual resident of the district
Cur great commercial and industrial city
needs adequate representation OF men VINO
will be listened 10, and the nomination OF
MI Boyle gives the voters Of the l''h Dls.
trict, irrespective of party, the opportunity
to elect n man who can be of greater oeneh'
to the city than il would be possible Tor Mr.
Smith, the secretary of Tammany HAIL. 10
be. honest and able though he Is.
WILLIAM S. BENNkT
New York, March 80, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
ADirector S Liability
The Cost of a Bank Failure to One
Business Man
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | have had costly experience as
director of a banking institution, which |
believe will be of considerable interest and
value to your readers.
In the year 1913 | was approached by the
president Of the bank and was requested to
accept a place on the board of directors. SO
far as | knew the bank was a reputable one
and its affairs were in good condition.
| accepted against ny better judgment the
place on the board and for six months con-
scientously attended to my duties as direc-
tor.
As a result Of conditions with which |
was not made acquainted. the bank became
insovent and failed six months after | be-
came director.
l. in company with other directors, was
called upon to make good the banks deficit,
which entaied very great financial loss to
me and the other directors.
Very few persons who accept a place on
the board of directors of banking institu-
ton fully understand the responsibilities,
liabilities and the duties attached to their
position. ! might 90 so far as to say that
considerable percentage of the directors OF
banking institutions would resign from their
respective boards if they understood their
responsibilities.
In the interest of justice law should be
put INTO effect to compel all banks to give to
their directors a simplfed copy of the laws
governing the duties and responsibilities of
bank director. believe such law would
rectors and the depositors.
]. S. COWARD.
New York, March is, 1911
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04

with larger scheme Of conscrption for
the new armies.
As these new armies arc raised they VIII
probably absorb both the regular estao-
lishmcnt and the National Guard. with
100000 men under arms we shall need
10000 officers. and practically every COM
pctcnt soldier in either the regulars or the
Guard will have a chance to win com
mission. That is the great benefit of shut
ting off volunteering. Volunteer organiza
tions recruit themselves and come into the
service with officers Of their own. thereby
preventing promotions from within the
existing army. Once the new CONSUMPTION
system gets into operation every bit OF
military experience at the governments
command can be inteIgently utilized We
shall have many regiments of UNEQUAL
quality. but the inequality will be due to
differences in the length Of training and
only in exceptional cases to marked d't-
ferences in competency of command.
The details of the new CONSUMPTION sy5-
tenn are yet to be determined by Congress.
But it is of immense consequence that the
President has come out uncqulvocaly
for the only rational principle on which
modern armies can be recruited and kept
~ tho fold
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
New York, March Is, 1917.
To Fill Vacant Places
]. S. COWARD.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: May I rectify certain recent news
paper misunderstanding concerning our
newly established war Substitute Depart
ment"?
The new department has been organized
merely TO advise and assist various down
town corporations which expect to be under
the necessity, owing to lack of suitable male
assistance, of employing women to handle
temporarily the work of their Offices during
the war.
The new department proposes to advise
corporations which expect TO fill the places
of male Office employees during the period of
their enlistment so that these positions may
be properly conducted until the men return.
The National Surety Company has not dis
missed any of its male Office employees in
connection with its war preparations, nor
does il intend to, nor to suggest that other
corporations do 80. JOEL RATHBONE,
Second Vice President and General Mana
ger the National Surety Company.
New York, April 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Why Not Be Proud?
Somewhat Belated Praise of Now
Obsolete Phrase
. tho Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In this crisis we have so far been
acting true to our national character, and
If that is worth anything We ought to be
proud of our course. Why do we not take
that bit of comfort: A little complacency
would be vastly more impressive and more
conducive TO efficient action than divisive
carpinG.
We have been demonstrating rational &C
ton. The United States is not like autocratlc
or aristocratic governments that rule by
mob psychology royal pageantry and pres
tige. panics and riots Thrones and mobs go
together. The debating lyceum and argu-
ments of the country store are truer symbols
Of our democracy, indiyidualistic, hard
headed and self-controlled. Every minute
of deliberation. every minute of self-control
under provocation, is a glory to our char
acter. proving the rule of reason over blind
instinct The world never before saw ma
ton of fighters that could do it. When we
fight it should always be because we have
calculated that lighting will attain our ends
and not because we are enraged.
The clamor for action" is simply an APP
peal to the primitive bodily instinct for hit
ting out: indignant people feel it would
soothe them to read Of battles and big guns
ir action. But what relation has that salts
faction to the decisions of modern war
Those depend on spies. loans, potato crops
inventions and political revolutions, or the
fear OF them. Governments will always act
for their own prestige, and as long as they
can maintain that, they are Indifferent to the
number of men who descend into the PIT oil
"action" and are ground W there. Action
does not seem to have obtained for any Of the
nations of Europe much that they proposed to
secure Then why rely upon 1t?
We would rather know first whether we
shall Get results When we yield TO print
tive impulses and prestige we become moo,
and mobs arc slaves. a free man welcomes
ARGUMENT that helps TO outline plans for sue
cess. but he yearns to shoot any one VINO
tries to hypnotic or bully him into panic or
cracks the lash of vituperation and sneers
over MIN. If this nation succeeds in acting
nationally TO secure results by the surest
means-no matter what they are then we
may be proud Of it as still composed OF
thinking men. but if it acts as a result OF
startling headlines, professions. yells and
applause and riots, America is fallen.
President Wilson shows his greatness IN
his ability to resist suggestion, to secure
sober second thoughts, to sift the probabili-
ties of successful results from the cravings
of blind instinct. We plain Americans thank
God for him every day. II mob goadlng
politicians will only keep still the nation
may. under his guidance, reach methods and
settlements more rational and more effective
than old-fashioned slaughter.
THOROUGHBRED AMERICAN OF 1910,
New York, April ., 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
More Self-Disclosure

Mr.. Mann justified by his leadership on
the floor of the House last Monday all that
had been said against him as candidate
for the Speakership. He kept the House
in session six hours battling for petty
patronage, when both courtesy and pa
triotic instinct should have led him to clear
the way for the delivery of the Presidents
message. That message was known 10
he of transcendcnt importance-one that
would mark the beginning of new cpocn
in American history. The country was i'm
patient to hear it. Every member Of Con
gress should have put aside petty thoughts
of ofice-grabbing or oflice-peddling at 4
moment like that.
It was characteristic of Mr.. Mann that
he could not rise to the spirit of the coca
sion. He lacks imagination and that
larger sense of the fitness Of things which
even small politicians sometimes achieve
in times of emergency. He struck false
and painful note in Mondays proceedings.
He lost every picayune emolument for
which he fought But that was not the
worst of it for him or for the Republicans
who followed him. He did them gross
injustice in the eyes Of the country, max
ing them appear undeservedly churlish
and petty-spirited. He discredited their
Judgment in nominating him for the
Speakership and he made unanimous the
satisfaction derivable from the thought
that Champ Clark, not he, had been
elected Speaker.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Getting Started Right

In recommending the raising of 3OO,OOO
additional men, chosen on the principle
of universal liability to service the Presi-
dent has at last started on the right road
toward military reorganization. Any ap-
plication of the principle of universal liza
bility for the purpose of putting armies in
the field involves CONSUMPTION. That meth
cd is indispensable in war, if the burden
of service is to be fairly distributed. 1t IS
also the most sensible and economic meth
cd of maintaining an army in time of
peace. Once we get accustomed to it, we
shall wonder that we tolerated so long the
costly, inefficient and undemocratic vOlun-
teer system.
The Presidents declaration in favor of
sonscription greatly clarifies the military
situation. There will be available under
existing law, when war is declared a reg
ular army, with a maximum strength of
about 100000, and National Guard, with
a maximum strength of about 100000.
The regular army is still 10000 below It's
authorized peace strength. If the mere
ments spread over five years by the Hay
law are made Immediately available, the
regular army will be doubled in size at
least on paper. Yet it is doubtful whether
il can be recruited to 100000 men under
the conditions prescribed in the Hay law.
There would. in fact, be little advantage in
trying to keep the regular army intact as
a fighting force. That was one of the mus
takes of the Civil War The officers and
men oc the regular establishment could be
Of much greater service if they were dis
persed through The organizations raised on
q CONSUMPTION basis.
The War College Department of the
General STAFF has recommended the detach-
nlcnt of twelve regular officers and fifty
enlisted regulars TO each regiment Of the
new army. There will therefore be a
steady drain on the regular establishment
for instructors, ond an expansion of the
regular army to It's authorized maximum
strength. even il :hat were practicable
through volunteering, would only hamper
the development Of the national army
which we shall be compelled TO create.
The National Guard can easily be in
creased TO war strength, because under the
Hay law conscriptioE for it is already au-
,horizcd. When the Guard is called into
Federal service reserve battalions must at
once be formed 20 feed the formations in
the field, one for each regiment of infantry
and cavalry, each nine batteries of field
artillery and each twelve companies OF
coast artillery. If there are not enough
voluntary enlistments to keep the reserve
battalions full, the deficiency is TO be made
up by drafting.
The machinery to carry into effect these
provisions Of the Hay law is probably al
ready plotted out by the General Staff OF
the army. Its operation need not interfere
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Aid to the Enemy

,iayor Mitchels reply in the Scnat'
contempt proceedings was clean-cut. loei-
,a and comprehensive He made 1t clear
that he wa not questioning Senator "aG
ner's motives when h said it would appear
certain members OF The Legislature were
working more in 'hc interests o. Germany
,har of the United States; he was referring
directly and specifically 10 the consequences
e the holding up Of legislation which
would permit the transfer of land or Rock
away Point by a private corporation and
the CITY, Of New York TO the Federal gov
eminent. These consequences are that to-
day this city is defenceless against the AT
tacks of capital ships Of an enemy fleet
living of the Rockaway shore. Temporary
Notifications have been built. but these
are entirely Inadequate. The desired toru-
fcations. mounting guns Of large callbrc'
have rot been begun and cannot be begun
until enabling legislation has been enacted
at Albany. Proof Of this was submitted
in communications from army engineers,
along with proof that at the time Senator
Wagner was opposing the proposed legls-
lation he was IN possession of a statement
of the entire situation by General Black,
chief Of engineers.
The Mayor did more than make his point
that delay was in the interest Of Germany
not of this country His statement should
leave no doubt in the mind Of any man not
politically BIASED that the charge Of
grab" made against the enabling legisla-
ton was ridiculous. The agreement as a
result of which it was sent to Albany did
rot originate with the city administration
ii was made by the Federal governments
agents and the representatives OF the cor
poration owning some of the land to be
taken. The withdrawal Of that legisla-
ton and the substitution Of a state con-
demnation plan promises to give the cor
poration vastly more money than 1t could
possibly have received under the original
arrangement and to cost the city Of New
York a goodly sum in state taxes, whereas
il would actually have received money Tor
its transfer of submerged lands, under the
original plan, and in addition taxes on
the lands so sold. Even after Senator
Wagner had succeeded and the con-
demnation plan was being approved, a
state commission, made up of the Adjutant
General. the State Engineer and the Su-
perintendent of Public Works, made an in
vestigation and reported in favor Of the
enactment of legislation approximatlng
the bill to which Senator Wagner had
objected.
Senator Wagner is entitled to whatever
salve there is in the Mayors declaration
of ignorance of his motives. That is the
best he gets out of the action, for the
Mayor justified his statement. There has
been delay in fertilization building, and
that delay is advantageous to any enemy
of this country.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Daniels Must Go

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | notice in to-day's paper the co.,
torial taken from THE Boston Herald en-
titled Daniels Must Go" This editoriai se''
before the public the condition of the navy.
Even the sailors themselves, If you can get
them talking, will tell you the navy Is not as
well equip. as it used 10 be. Ii was shown
some time ago that the navy's gunnery reeord
had been "doctored' by him so that the peo'
pie would think the navy was far superior 10
gunnery TO any other nation IN the world
The man to I'm Mr.. Daniels's place is the AS
sistant Secretary. Mr.. Roosevelt.
JOHN J. MARTIN.
Brooklyn, March 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: That the Rev. John Haynes Holmes
who seems to have adopted every ism except
patriotism, should quote Patrick Henry
borders trihe on the ridiculous
Patrick Henry did say, "If this be treason
make the most of it," but he was pleading
for action against tyranny, which is the posi-
ton of every true American to-day. The
same patriot cried, Give me liberty or give
me death" but ! am afraid that that senti-
ment would scarcely appeal to the reverend
gentleman. p.
New York, April ., 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04

because they trusted in that international
law which they believed 10 he the guar
antee Of humanity, and because they
trusted in the protection Of their own
country, assured them by its President
They Will not have died in vain if the end
OF the tragedy sees vindicated and re
established that doctrine which was chal-
lcr,-cd whom they were murdered.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
The Flag Is Up
The flag is up!
The symbol again Of liberty,

The flag is up!
The symbol again Of liberty,
Again of justice,
Again Of power;
o flag of mine
his is once more your hour!
What have you been TO me
Within these bitter years?
Flouted on land and sea,
An outworn sign, mockery,
thing of shame and tears
The dreamers have sung TO you,
Flaunted you as of old,
Hailed you as tale oft told
Whose meaning Is gone;
Suddenly now in a new dawn
The hearts Of millions Of men
Have awakened and sprung to you;
o flag of mine,
They know you again.
Under your very folds
Little children have died,
Whom YOU should have sheltered;
Men and women have sighed
In helpless despair,
And you you have Knocked them there!
We took your glory away
The sword of righteousness.
Your old and dear companion,
That only could shield and bless;
We left you the sport and prey
OF the winds at play
The dupo and the kissing scorn
or men without truth or pity;
And the blood that left a stain
Was the blood Of the innocent, slain
In many Belgian city,
Where every broken stone is a tomb OF the
brave,
The helpless, that even your shadow
O sword. o flag Of mine!
Would once have been strong to save
But now you are lifted up
The symbol again of mercy
Again Of justice,
Again Of power.
You shall lead a host
Against ruthless and bitter wrong,
host the ranks Of God
Millions on millions strong;
And you shall defend a fortress,
fortress Of right,
Where a sword shall be lifted high
In Gods own light,
Against dark besieging mass;
And where you fly
Flag flag of mine
They shall not pass
MARION COUTHoUY SMITH,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04

You can purchase merchandise advertised
In THE TRIBUNE with absolute safety'-t"r
il dissatisfaction results in any case The
TRIBUNE guarantees TO pay your money back
upon request. No red tape No clubbing we
make good promptly if the advertiser does n9s-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
Patrick Henry and the Pacihst

New York. April 3. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04

s... - >,- 7,,. r.'7soa,. r,,,,a,n 5000
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29

this demand. it is likely to be a serious
stumbling block to future negotiations.
PETRoGRAD, December 2S.-The ad-
vance guard OF the German peace dele
cation arrived in Petrograd THURSDAY
evening. 1t consisted of Baron Al
miral keyserlingk, who was formerly
naval attache to the German embassy ;st
in Petograd; Capt. Herman ana Lieut..
vierle. also naval officers. They were
civilian clothes and were received by
representatives of the Russian aonii-
rally and entertained in the admirai.y
barracks. Thirty additional represent
atives of the central powers are com
ing to Petrograd shortly from Brest-
Litovsk, among them Count Mirodcn'
former counselor of the German eii-
basy in Petrograd:
Admiral keyserlingk said the naVai
delegation had come to Petrograo par
ticularly to discuss the cessation OF
naval warfare He said that prices
We're higher in Petrograd than IN ser
lin, and that the food situation IN Ger
many was quite good
There is certain tlreoness Win Mdi
in Germany" said the admiral: we
want peace. but we have wanted peace
since the beginning. We will not agree
to an unfavorable peace. we are pre-
pared to fight for long time. ana nave
The means TO do So If we make sep
arate peace with Russia war Win rus
sia.s allies cannot brighten US. IN par
ticular, war with America .
"The only power dangerous 70 US ts
America but we are not afralo Oh EeI.
IF we had feared the American meet
we never would have begun our SUI
marine warfare.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
Company Up Against Wall.

In explaining that it was desired to
put the new rates into effect without a
moments delay. and that the notice,
with it's qualified effective date. merely
removed the incidental delay which
would follow any. change made. Mr.
Sylvan said:
I'VE want everybody to have his say
and everybody to have his kick. if he
has any The point is we are up against
the wall: not asking other people how
TO do this thing, but with firm plan
and determination to make this thing
go. We are not cutters.
we are going to continue running this
telephone property here as long as we
can and no matter who are the owners.
There is not a white streak or yellow
streak in the lot. The point is that
we have this knowledge. and we feel
that we would be towards il we did
not come out frankly and meet the
situation"
Despite the announcement that the
notice was sent out with the commits
sions approval and that it Will have
no effect unless the increases proposed
are approved by the commission, COM
plants are still reaching that body
to the effect that the notice was un-
warranted and conveyed the impress
sion that the company takes for grant
ed its application will be approved.