davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
Protect the Railroads

Questions of vital Importance to
the general public will be discussed
at the convention Of railroad stock
and bond holders, which is in session
at Baltimore. Nearly half the popu-
lation of the country are interested
either directly or indirectly in the
welfare Of the railroads, for in addi-
ton to the 1000, 900 stock and bond
holders, most Of whom have depend
ents, the funds Of insurance compa-
nies and savings banks are invested
largely in railroad securities.
At the present time the railroads
are lsboring under a great strain.
Rates are much too low and the
fevered rush Of war time industry
means an unprecedented volume Of
traffic The railroads must be safe
guarded if only to enable them to
put forth their maximum effort
throughout the duration of economic
and financial stress. The Interstate
Commerce Commission will be doing
little enough to help by granting
the Is per cent increase in rates
which the railroads urge. The extra
cost to the railroads this year over
last year through increased prices
alone is computed at $525, ,O00, 900.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
Demands Truth In Advertising
Retail Merchants Association Seeks Prosecution
of Fraudulent Concerns Now Operat-
ing in District.

ernment went the very limit in ar
effort to protect business men and th'
public. by placing in the hands oi
that tribunal a power which hac
never before been exercised in THU
country: that Is. the power to declare
unfair competition. with machinery
to enforce its orders against Of
tenders.
'In addition to the instrumental
ties furnished by the Government de
partments at Washington for stop
ping frauds through the mails anc
the unfair business practices referred
to. there are State and national laws
bearing upon the same general sub
Jects which are enforceable in thS
courts andsmay be availed of by your
vigilance committee In certain cases
During the years the Government
was relying entirely upon criminal
prosecutions to suppress fraudulent
operations through the mails that
system proved Ineffective, and at the
beginning OF this Administration
high tide had been reached in such
operations. While criminal prosecu-
tions are necessary and of great val
ne, / will say that as the official
charged with the administration OF
the fraud order statute, my expert
ence OF the last three or four years
convinces me that more has been done
TO eradicate such frauds by the Post
office Department than BY the Grim
inal prosecutions in the courts. The
delays incident to trials do not, make
criminal prosecutions effective in
stopping such business.
The extent of these mail order
frauds may be Of interest to you The
public has q very incorrect idea of
the scope OF such operations. Under
the postal regulations in force since
1907 postoffice inspectors are re-
quired to examine the books of all
persons arrested on charge of fraudu-
lent use Of the mails, and from this
examination. and such other sources
Of information as may be available.
make a careful and conservative esti-
ME OF the scope OF the fraudulent
operations to the Postoffice Depart
ment-that is, show the amount OF
money flched from the public. The
published reports show that these
fraudulent operations IN 1911 amount
ed TO SIT, 900 900; in 1912 they amount
ed to $50. .0O0, 900; in 1913 they amount
ed to $4,000. 900: in 1914 they amount
ed $6s 100000: in 1915 they amounted
TO S35,5O0 900: and in 1915, after a Wig
orous enforcement OF the fraud order
statute. they dropped to SIS. 100000.
~In conclusion. let me say for the
Postmaster General. and I speak with
his authority, that the Postofiice De
partment win welcome any informa-
tion that this committee may furnish
in rega-d to the use OF the mail for
fraudulent purposes, and any case
will be handled as we have handled
the complaints from other clubs.
Such cases will receive prompt con-
sideration. and II the facts warrant
fraud orders will be issued"
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
Shall We MuddIe?

Our allies count on US. They count
on our spontaneous energy and tre-
mendous resources, but above all
they count on our genius for rapidity
in action that has often amazed
them. Shall we disappoint them?
If we are not to do so Congress must
delegate to the executive branch,
in response to the Presidents re-
quest, powers similar to those found
by other governments to be essential
to the successful prosecution of the
war. If we are to strike rapid and
powerful blows we must transform
the cumbrous methods Of representa-
tive government that crafty US in
the leisurely hours of peace and
acquiesce in some curtailment of in
dividual privilege.
The President does not 20 to the
length of handing Congress the hara-
kiri knife. On the contrary, he has
accepted at their face value the as
severations Of the Senate that never
in its history has Congress given
greater or more sincerely honest at
tention to the functions Of legisla-
ton. In recognition of this whole
hearted devotion" the President has
adopted the radical expedient Of
forming a council Of Congress
leaders.
1t is undeniably an alternative
solution to the vexing question Of
getting results from the balky
legislature. The President requests
the assistance Of the aggrieved Con-
gress, hoping to obtain by concilia-
ton the direct, swift. and effective
cooperation which is imperative in
the crisis.
The statement that never in its
history has Congress given greater
or more sincerely honest attention
to the functions of legislation is
somewhat ironic in effect. 1t is pre-
cisely the history of Congress in war
time. a record both Of mischievous
action and inaction, that makes
people quick to seize upon the legis-
lative branch as a scapegoat. Up to
the present perhaps no harm has
resulted from over dehberation.
whereas many mistakes might have
arisen from haste.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
FRENCH ABBE ARRIVES
FROM WESTERN FRONT
Chaplain on Vacation After Two
Years LabOrs.

NEW YORK. May 23-The Rev. P.
Flynn. abbe OF Surennes, near Paris.
has arrived from France. to remain
three months in the United States for
a rest, after serving two years at the
front as chaplain. Six months OF that
time were spent at Verdun, seven
months at Arras. and the remainder
IN Champagne. He was born in Paris,
but speaks English very clearly.
In speaking OF a chaplain's duty in
modern battle, the Rev. Mr.. Flynn
said:
"Verdun was very dangerous for
all. Two chaplains were appointed
to each division of four regiments,
and they had to do their duties In the
first line trenches as well as at the
base hospitals. I have seen a num-
Der OF my fellow-priests killed near
me. but I was fortunate In escaping
without a wound.
This war has brought out the love
for humanity that has lain dormant
in mems hearts. 1 have seen Prot
estant chaplains, Jewish rabbis, and
Catholic priests working together on
the battlefield in peace and harmony.
which was delightful to witness.
at Is a mistake to think that the
Frenchmen are not religious. Thev
have always had religion in their
hearts. but before the war there was
too much frivollty. But the war la ;
made all men view things in a seri-
Gus light. officers and soldiers in
the last moments never turned away
from the priests, but on the contrary
expressed a wish for them to be near
to administer the last rites and sent
for them to come to the hospitals"
Il have always wanted to see Amer
ica," the able said, "and when tire
doctor said that must rest the arch
bishop of Paris gave me permission
to come here and said that I could
observe and learn many things dur
ing my stay"
The Rev. Mr.. Flynn has the rank
of captain in the French army, and
was awarded the War Cross for min
isterinE to the wounded and dying un-
der fire. He will visit Washington
and other cities in the East before re-
turning to France
The Washington times., 1917-05-23

Vigorous prosecutions OF fraudu-
lent medical concerns under the Dis
trict false advertising law" so-called
one OF the most drastic measures
of the kind .in the United States
were emphatically indorsed by the
advertising vigilance committee Of
the Retail Merchants Association last
night at a special meeting called to
consider. medical advertising in the
District OF Columbia
A committee consisting Of DR.. l.
F. kebler. chief of the drug division
of the Department OF Agriculture: J.
Bond Smith. the law clerk for the
Postoffice Department, and Charles
J. Columbus, secretary OF the Retail
Merchants Association, was named
by Joseph Berberich. president OF the
association, to confer with United
States Attorney John z. Laskey with
a view to the institution OF criminal
prosecutions under the act.
The appointment OF the committee
followed an address by william H
flee Department, in which Judge La
mar discussed the work OF the de-
partment in denying the use OF the
mails to fraudulent medical concerns
which attempt to use the mails in
furtherance OF their business.
Sees BettermeRt Of Business.
Truth IN advertising. II put into
active operation in every city in the
land, will do more for the betterment
OF business and the interest Of the
public than any other civic movement
Of modern times" said Judge Lamar.
THE District OF Columbia false
advertising law is sufficiently broad
to reach all OF those concerns which
are obviously doing q fraudulent
business. and yet which. as they are
not using the mails. are not within
the Jurisdiction OF the Postoffice De-
partment," continued Judge Lamar,
land ] cannot too strongly impress
upon you members OF the advertising
vigilance committee that the Postof-
fee Department Is in entire sympathy
with your Efforts"
Typical Advertisements OF different
nostrums claimed to be fraudulent
were read to the committee by DR..
Kebler and Mr.. Smith.
Judge Lamar gave an interesting
description OF the work OF the Post
office Department in suppressing
fraudulent medical concerns. and
tTdCeu the history OF EeQeTal leklb-
lation TO protect the public.
He said in part:
AS early as 1872 a statute was
enacted giving the Postmaster Cen
eral the power to withdraw the use
OF the malls upon evidence satisfac-
tory TO him showing that they were
being used for fraudulent purposes.
Later on the abuse and fraud through
mlsbranding OF drugs and foods be-
came SO great, and the evil so mani
fest. that the Agricultural Depart
ment was empowered by law to en-
force the correct branding Of food
and drug products.
PunIshed Unfair Competitions.
"Still later. when the Federal Trade
Commission was established the Gov
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
TEN OF NATIONAL ARMY
CAMP SITES DESIGNATED
Thiry-tWO Reservations to Be
Chosen for Training COnscripts.

Ten Of the thirty-two divisional
camps at which an army OF nearly a
million men will be trained this sum
mer have been selected by the War
Department.
The department has announced
the location OF camps at Fort Sam
Houston, Tex, and Manorville, l. I.
In previous announcements camps were
located in Ell Paso. Columbia. s. c.;
Greenville. s. C: Augusta, Ga: two
at Atlanta, Ga: Chickamauga, Tenn,
and Aver, Mass.
Eight of the ten camps selected are
in the Southern and Southeastern de-
partments. and most OF them will be
divisional training camps for the ma
tional guard. For the eighteen camps
still to be located. including the camp
for the District of Columbia. Virginia.
Maryland. Delaware. and New Jersey.
no locations have been recommended.
The camps remaining to be selected
will be training places for the ma
tional army OF 100000. These camps
are to be located within the confines
Of the sixteen divisional areas desig-
mated by the War Department
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
DefectiNe Brass

1t would be a grave error to at
tach any measure Of responsibility
to the manufacturers Of the shell
that caused the tragic death Of two
nurses on the steamship Mongolia.
The situation in regard to brass
manufacture is a peculiar one, ac-
cording to experts in engineering.
Breaks in brass have been occupy
ing the attention of engineers and
manufacturers for some time past.
Notable failures in this metal mark
ed the progress of the Panama canal,
and similar ones have been reported
in local construction. The brass had
shown no flaw under the usual tests.
And parts of the broken sections
were subjected to tests with salts
factory results. So perplexing was
the situation that the United States
Bureau of Standards was called in to
aid in finding the trouble.
This bureau is not only one of the
most admirable departments of our
own Government but it is also ac-
cepted throughout the world as an
institution of the highest rank. Its
reports on the manufacture of brass
have been made only within the past
few months and the trade is just be-
ginning to reap the benefit of the
new knowledge.
According to the Bureau Of Stand
ards, a piece of drawn brass which
will stand a test as a whole if a
section of it be studied will show
areas that differ in tension. There
is an outer shell Of one degree Of
tension, an inner section that bal
ances it. and a narrow neutral zone.
1t is possible by a further process Of
annealing to give all parts of the
metal substantially equal strength.
But the necessity for this final
process has never before been real
lied.
The instance referred to is only
one more proof Of the need for con-
tinual investigation of the laboratory
type. Often the practical man" is
impatient over what appears to him
a waste of time and effort. But
upon the results of such intensive
study depends the advance Of civili-
Zation.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
BENEFIT RECITAL TO
OFFER MUSIC TREAT
Miss Garrison and Percy Granger
on Fridays Program.

with Mabel Garrison. the American
soprano, whose success at the Metro
politan Opera the past winter and
also in the Sunday night concerts OF
the Opera House in New York has
brought her to the forefront of this
seasons singers, and Percy Granger.
who holds a unique place in the field
OF concert pianists, as soloists. the
Joint benefit recital TO be given at
Polls Theater on Friday afternoon at
4;3O offers unusual attractions for
the music world and for those who
wish to support the project for the
George Washington Memorial build.
ing.
Miss Garrison will sing several
opera arias and also the coloratura
Swedish, when ! Was Seventeen
as sung by Jenny Lind, and the
Strauss waltz song, "Noce dt Prima-
vera" besides a number Of purely re-
cital songs that include Crying Of
Water" OF Campbell-Tlpton, and
Peace" by Siemonn.
Mr.. Granger, as composer-pianist,
will give three Of his typical and init
mately national folk-song compost
tions and works OF the standard com
posers as well. George Siemonn VIII
be the accompanist.
The patronesses are Mrs. Thomas
r. Marshall. Mrs. Champ Clark, Mrs.
Lansing, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Gregory.
Mrs. BurIeson. Mrs. Houston, Mrs.
RedheId, Miss Agnes Hart Wilson.
Mrs. Peter GOelet Gerry. Mrs. Samuel
winslow. Mrs. McChOrd, Mrs. Phillips,
Mrs. Breckenridge Long, Mrs. Dimock,
Mrs. Lawrence Townsend, Mrs. George
Vanderbilt, Mrs. Robert NJ. Thompson,
Mrs. Medill Mccormick, and MrE. Mar
shall Field.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
Interesting Events Of Importance
Scheduled for Today.

Illustrated lecture on the work OF the wal
densian Church on italian battle fronts By
the Rev. @. J. d'Anchise, First ConErega-
tional Church. Tenth and c streets north
Meeting Of D. A. R. knitting class. 7. W.
C. A rooms Io-l7:30 D. m.
Tea IN charge OF Susan B. Anthony League.
National American Woman Suffrage Head
quarters. 1895 Rhode Island avenue north
Meeting Of Kit Carson Post. No. :. c. A. r..
C. A. R. Hall. IA: Pennsylvania avenue
Lectures by G. N. Ripley and D. A. o'Ban-
non, Of General Electric Company. befors
washington Association No. 1. National
Association Stationary Engineers. i.ot
PENNSYLVANIA avenue northwest. D. m
Meeting Of Brightwood Park Citizans' Asso-
clation. Brightwood School, Ninth and In
graham streets; 8 p m;
Citizens Association. Sherwood Presby-
terian Church. p m.
Annual election Of Columbia typographical
Temple.
Masonic-Naval Lodge. No. 4: Harmony. No.
II: Washington Commandery. No. J,
Knights Templar: Naomi Chapter, No ,:
Broolxland No. IL; Cathedral. No. IA. and
Unity No. .. Order Of the Eastern Star.
Odd Fellows-Eastern Lodge. No. =: Har-
mony. No. .. and Federal City. No. 70.
Rebekahs-Mt Pleasant. No. ..
Knights OF Pythias-Mt. Vernon Lodge, No.
S: HermIone. No. l.; Union. No. -. and
Columbia. No. 3: Washington Company.
Daughters Of America-Martha DandridEs
Concert by U. g Soldiers Home Band.
bandstand. p m.
Concert by L. s. Marine Band. Potomac
Drive. .. m.
Mass meeting. combined Catholic parishes OF
city TO make plans for decoration day. Con
Eaga Theater, a. street northwest, D. m
Lecture. How TO Realize Abundance" by
Miss Emma Gray. National New Thought
Center. Washington Loan and Trust Build
ing. p m.
Fete by Dixie Chapter. United Daughters Of
Confederacy. home OF Congressman J. VII
lard Ragsdale. evening.
Exhibition Of forty eight war paintings By
Ossip Perelma. New National Museum.
Address, sea Power" by Andrew Furuseth,
before District Single Tax Association,
Public Library .. m.
Lecture hrst-aid work. DR.. Charles W.
Allen Room IN District Building n m
The Washington times., 1917-05-23

pended on their staying in the retir-
ing column. Furthermore, the very
devastation and detailed ruin infiict-
ed on the whole district was made
use of to keep the German soldiers
in line: "If you don't stay with US
the French will make your own home
villages look like this"
A queer psychology! A mad nation
in a world driven to madness by the
sudden development of a paranoia so
savage, so grotesque, so difficult to
count upon or reckon with that it is
not strange that the German officers
themselves should have utterly lost
their poise and their nerve. Not
strange. for they must know that the
responsible movers Of this crowning
outrage are bound to perish like the
criminals they are, if not at the
hands of the allies. then at the hands
of the wretched, frantic, much
abused German people themselves.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
Queer PsyehoIogX. Again

Reports from France tell Of an
other extraordinary bit of what peo-
pie have grown to call German psy-
chology." Without exception, all the
German prisoners taken during this
latest retreat in France have told
their French captors that they real
ize they are going TO be shot and
are quite prepared for it. The
French officers have been able to es-
tablish definitely from their exami-
nation of these German prisoners
that the German policy is to inject
the morale Of desperation into their
men.
Just before. desertions and sur
render upon every opportunity grew
to such proportions that it became
necessary to make the German SOL
diers believe that their own lives de-
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
TO HELP REFUGEES
BUY U. S. FARMS
Missouri Labor Bureau Asks Rich
Men to Give SIS, 100000.

JEFFERSON CITY. Mo-, May 23.-
The Missouri Bureau OF Labor Stats
tics is OF the opinion that millionaires
could readily solve the high cost OF
living by donating toward a fund for
first payments on farms for Ameri.
cans. Belgian and other European
refugees who are willing to take up
agriculture as a pursuit. twenty-five
million dollars could quickly be raised
II phIlanthropists would heed this
patriotic call for settling and improv-
ing the fertile lands of the South
and West, says a bureau bulletin.
This first aid idea Is conveyed in a
letter OF the Bureau OF Labor Stalls
tics to a New York woman, who Of
fered TO do her bit" toward cOloniz-
ing vacant farm lands.
Much Land Available.
The bureau points out that Miss,
ouri has plenty OF fertile. unsettled
land, good for agricultural purposes.
open to Belgian or any other refu-
gees, and in fact, also American-born
farmers. No attempt Is being made
by the State authorities to coloniZe
any nationality or clan In Missouri.
These lands are open to any one with
SuIIlClenL lunuS " Aht III -
payment. They are no Government
owned areas. but are privately own
ed. A small first payment will Sc
cure possession of a fair-sized tract
and standing timber would pay for
all agricultural tools and implements,
furnish enough lumber for the home,
barns, and fences, and the sale OF the
surplus, in the shape of logs and rail-
road ties. will provide funds for llv-
ing expenses until the first crop is
garnered."
Women To Start Appeal.
The women OF the land can start
the movement by appealing to mill
Iionaires. Enough funds for a first
payment supplied an alien or native
born person will cause thousands to
heed the lure of the land and become
prosperous farmers. This little Bit
undertaken by American women, II
the first aid plan succeeds. will Ger,
tainly start a movement which will
greatly benefit posterity.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
MARYLAND TRAINMEN
TORUN FRENCH ROADS
Seventy-6Ve RailrOaders First to
Respond to Call.

BALTIMORE. May 23.-Seventy-hve
trainmen. engineers, and conductors
of the Western Maryland have been
selected for the unit OF railroad men
which is to be sent to France TO as
sist In manning the train service
there.
So far none of the trainmen on the
local divisions OF the Pennsylvania
or the Baltimore and Ohio have been
designated for the unit, although the
younger men are anxious to join the
unit.
Evidently the men will leave within
a short time. as the need for them Is
urgent to relieve the French workers.
No training camps will be necessary
for them. as railroading is about the
same in every part OF the globe.
The Washington times., 1917-05-23
CAN'T CENSOR GOSSIP
Court Holds Woman Has Right to
Talk in Back Yard.

NEW YORK. May 23.-The Appel
late Division. in Brooklyn. yesterday
held that a woman may stand in the
back yard OF her home and say few
things about the neighbors and not be
guilty of disorderly conduct. The
court set aside the conviction and re
versed the ruling Of Police Justice
Flint. at Freeport. L. l., who sentenced
Laura Whitman. OF Raynor avenue, to
thirty days in prison on the complaint
OF neighbors who alleged she had
abused them over the rear fence. The
opinion says:
THE is no proof to show that Ray
nor avenue is a public street nor proof
TO show that the back OF the house
where the defendant stood was visible
10 the street. There was no assem-
olage OF persons and the public had
no right to be there. At the most.
II was mere slander for which the
aggrieved party may have civil rem
edy, but II does not constitute q
crime under the criminal law