davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Corpus Christi caller and daily herald. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1911-1917, 1917-03-18

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Corpus Christi caller and daily herald. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1911-1917, 1917-03-18

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XXX.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
A BLOW FOR HIS NATIVE LAND

Then one night in a cabaret he was
transformed into a militant spirit,
virtual reincarnaton of the Spirit of
rs. He and several friends had gathered
in the place, and to Justify their pres
ence in haunt of JOY during such grave
hours in the life of the nation they had
drunk series of alcoholic toasts to
Uncle Sam, Bunker Hill, France, CO.
lumbia the Statue of Liberty, President
Wilson. the Flag, Colonel Roosevelt and
Heaven knows who and what else Pa
triotism, to quote him again. was RAM
pant.
There was a stirring climax to the
rampancy of it all when half-clothed
girl danced the hula to THE Star
Spangled Banner" revamped for the
occasion. With a glow of pride he
watched every one rise to the national
anthem. But his glow quickly changed
to a flame of anger when he saw that
one man was sitting. He didn't know
that the man hadn't recognized the air
in its weirdy distorted tempo; he only
saw an u,i-American note in the all
American symphony. And warmed and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

more than a little bolstered up by the
patriotic libations he had drunk, ne
struck blow for his native land.
SiphOn bottle was the weapon.
He was frightened when the man tel
out of his chair, for not yet was re q
red-blooded, two-fsted fighting man.
But that mood quickly passed when MS
friends slapped him on the back ana
when his ears caught the praising com.
ments of other patrons. Nor did It enc
there. The proprietor slipped out 10
the telephone, and in consequence lhe
morning papers printed accounts OF ln'
incident. In short, he became popular
hero, one of the old breed that was 70
win fresh honors for the land OF WASH
ington and Grant.
His war spirit has developed lre'
mendously since that night. lie hS'
severed relations with the dellcatesse'
store and is seriously considering w,
cotting restaurants where German wai'
ers are employed. He doesn't inteno "
enlist-not now at any rate-oecau''
he is opposed to the volunteer system
1t sacrifices the best and noblest 10 Wv
slackers, he says. But, of course ~
will do his bit. Even now ne wears
flag in his buttonhole, and he is tnlnA'a'
seriously of joining the Home Defen'"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
"WafChfuI Waifing," the UnweI
come Role of Bill Jones

Afterward came the notice that all examlns-
tons were off, and that candidates must attend
the three months training camps without par
if they wished to even have chance to get a
commission. This no-pay clause applied alike
to those who had passed their examinations
and received certificates, those whose applcs.
tons had been filed but who had not been
examined, including the National Guard ex.
officers, and any other reputable and educated
citizens who might be authorized to attend the
camps.
A storm of protest came, and after much
deliberation the War Department Announced
that Reserve Corps officers and those who he'd
certificates, some $500 men in ALL would be
paid, but nothing was said about the THOUSANDS
whose applications were filed prior to the
camps order on April 20, but who had no,
taken the examinations.
The result is that at least twO-thirds Of h
men who had studied hard from 1915 to 1911
resigned themselves with deep regret to TIE
role of watchful waiting, While thousands Of
enthusiastic and patriotic but irresponsible ur-
dergraduates joyfully jumped at the chance 70
train during their summer vacation.
Then, ten or twelve days late, the War De-
partment reconsders its former stand and de-
clares through unofficial sources that all me
who attend will be paid, but by that time The
watchful walters had become thoroughly in
pregnated with suspicion and regarded all
announcements of the department with great
dubety.
That War Department is like flea, is b.
way one candidate expressed it, IT'S all q
Undetermined man can do to keep up with
its jumping about in regard to the Reser',
Corps. feel that | can't depend on thing i
says or does, and can't afford to give up ny
Job and let my wife suffer on a gamble"
And that is the feeling of thousands. Until
the War Department announces definite, ccn'
slant and guaranteed plan which will deal
fairly with those it formerly encouraged and
has so signally discouraged, just so long will
the thousands of unprosperous but studious
earnest and patriotic young men who have
been preparing for this emergency for two
years hold back. Even now they have beer
done an almost irreparable wrong through the
many difficulties and discouragements which
have been thrown in their path.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

never touched reality if he could help
it. The Civil War was chiefly asso-
ciated in his mind with school history
and Memorial Day parades. The Span
ish-American affair was too insignlti
cant to stir him to a recognition of war
as something that actually happened
and had serious consequences. AS for
the present, it has already been recorded
that there were days when he entirely
forgot that all Europe was battlefield.
And yet, incredible as it sounds, he
changed. When the die was cast-a pet
phrase of his-he experienced an emo
tional upheaval as virulent in its effects
as his long ago but impermanent con-
version at Methodist revival. Not in
Stantly, but none the less strongly, he
came out for war. 1t was odd to hear
him declaring that it was time his coun-
try took her part in the struggle be-
tween Prussia and civilization; that
there was room in America only for
Americans, and for humanity and de-
mocracy in the world
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

He was only partially in accord with
the prophets of preparedness. 1t was
true that his country should be "ade-
quately prepared" but it was not true
that universal military training was the
solution. He had only to look back
three years to see that militarism was
at the root Of all Europe's woes. Sc
cretly he agreed with Mr.. Bryan that a
million men would leap to arms if his
country needed them. Gle didn't pro-
claim the belief publicly because as
Republican he had an inherent convic-
ton that nothing good ever came from
persons of opposite political faith.) He
was dimly conscious that the million
would need some sort of preparation
before they could leap at an enemy, but,
as in the case of the U-boats, he didn't
pursue the thought to its painful and
disturbing conclusion.
Naturally. the declaration of war
dazed him. He had always treated war
as he treated the devil---as an abstract
evil, a bugaboo to brighten children
with. War was. in fact, one of the least
real things in the life of man who
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
Bv PARKHURST WHITNEY

Curiously enough, his conversion came
about in cabaret, though possibly his
previous experiences in motion picture
theatres paved the way for the apothe-
osis. He was not man to take motion
pictures seriously, he often explained,
but he often dropped in to take his
mind off business cares. Now, what
ever else one may say of them, motion
picture theatres have always fostered
enthusiasm for the flag, and as fire.
quent patron he fell under that inhu-
ence, immeasurably heightened by the
war.
The habit of rising when the national
anthem was played didn't come easily,
for he usually visited the theatres when
he was torpid with lunch. But when
he caught the spirit-with the help Of
black looks from greater patriots-he
became a great stickler for observance
Of the custom. He began to talk about
it reverently. 1t showed National Pride,
he said, Something Greater Than-The-
Individual.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
RIL JONES. PUZZLED PATRIOT

already done our bit and still want to do II over
again will be restored to citizenship and given
some sort of chance"
Progressive army officers also believe inc
War Department will later repent Its failure
to collect the names and records OF previous
service men too old to take active commis-
sions. or otherwise barred, who are perfectly
fitted for training purposes They are being
ignored and even rebufed under the present
system.
Others whose records are being ignored are
the scores of National Guard officers VINO, dis
satisfied with the policies and the inefficient
higher leadership of the Guard resigned upon
their return from their duty on the border, in
the expectation Of getting commissions in the
Officers Reserve Corps. These officers had
from four to nine months training in actual
command of troops in the field during the
Mexican trouble which is next to the final test
Of an officers ability. The War Department
apparently counts this OF little or no value
Their applications for examinations were duly
filed after their designations, and most of them
were ordered to report before the examining
boards between April q and June /. On April
20 came the order doing away with the ex-
aminations for commissions and requiring all
applicants to attend the training camps for
three months before even having chance to
be commissioned These former officers, despite
their experience and their service, must now
make an even greater sacrifice than they did
when they gave up their businesses to serve
on the border, in order to compete with hun
dreds of civilians for commissions which may
be from one to three grades below those which
they formerly held.
For from some mysterious source has come
an unwritten order-an age rulng-which Sc
verely penalties the young ex-oficers. Whether
this rule will apply at the training camps
mains to be seen, but before the training camps
order was issued there was dissatisfaction and
criticism because the younger applicants,
gardless of previous service and experience,
were commissioned according to age.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
Instances of How an Unprepared
Democracy May BIunder

Among such>cases quoted in letters of COM
plant to Congressman was one in which
prominent business man, forty-two years old,
who had been to two summer training camps
came up for examination at the same time as
National Guard major, thirty-two years DID,
who had been promoted for his excellent work
on the border, and had resigned from the
Guard after returning home The inexperi-
enced but comparatively aged business man
the former major was made captain.
The business man may make fine major
but the former major somehow has feeling
that perhaps he was entitled to little more
consideration.
A similar instance was quoted of two former
West Pointers going up for examination. One,
thirty-three years old, had attended West
Point for two years, and the other, twenty-five
wears DID, had attended the Military Academy
for three years. The older man was made
captain and the younger a first lieutenant.
Fairness to the examining board makes it nee
essary to say that personality as well as age
may have been a determining factor in this
case.
Personality, however, had nothing to do with
the case Of a newspaper man of thirty-two
who had had no experience save the drill in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

way from the training camp to the trenches
Il got my discharge when President Wilson
broke off relations with Germany" he said be
cause thought might be of some service IN
training our army. | arrived in the United
States on April II, and went Immediately to
Governors Island to apply for examination IN
the Reserve Corps.
"'We can't take you; you're an alien they
told me, though was born and educated IN the
United States, and love this country as well as
President Wilson does. You'll have to be nat
uralized before you can apply they said.
Then | asked if couldn't volunteer just to
help train the new troops, and they said the
War Department had made no such provision
"'Then just take my name and call on me if
you need me-" said; but they told me they
couldn't be bothered with that because they
were already heels over head in work, and it
wouldn't do any good, anyway. guess they
were telling the truth, too.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
There Are 10000 Bill JOneSeS in
the Metropolitan District

SO perhaps Bill decides to join Home De
fence company or potato club, or perhaps he
decides to let his business and his family suffer
while he CANDLES on being the one out of each
three attending the camps to be picked as one
of these FIRST 10000" In either event Bills
patriotism has received JOLT and he has an
active dstrust of the War Department planted
in his mind.
There are 10000 Bill Joneses in the metro.
potan district. Hundreds of letters denounc-
ing the War Departments shortsghtedness
have been received by General Wood, but
neither he nor Major Dorey, head of the train
ing camps in this district, had anything to do
with the order nor were they in position to
remedy the shortsightedness in any way One
letter sent to the War Department is typical
of many.
Il served as a corporal and sergeant in the
Spanish American War" it said. "Then had
ten wears in the National Guard as sergeant
and lieutenant.
Two years ago began dH aOCiNe SIuuy VI
the modern principles of warfare and tactics.
During that time | drilled from two to four
evenings a week and have studied every even
ing, sacrificing my business interests to the
cause of my country.
when war was declared l pondered long
over what action I should take, for have
family which would suffer were to be lost but
at last decided that my experience and train
ing made me worth so much to my country that
my family must perforce risk the sacrifice. So
| applied for commission in the Reserve
Corps.
Then came this letter about the three-month
camps Of course, it shelves me and my study
and my experience, for | simply cannot af-
ford to go.
In business have been in charge of from
10 to $50 men; have been recommended for
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

his college battalion twelve years ago and the
National Guard captain Of twenty-eight who
took their examinations together The cap.
tain had commanded company for six months
on the border and had been recommended
for promotion by his regular army commander
He was made a first lieutenant in the Reserve
Corps. and the newspaper man, to his own
amazement, was made captain.
All these are Incidents, Of course, and re,
to the men who were urged so enthusiastically
during two years of peace to prepare for any
call their country might make upon them they
seem strangely significant instances Of how an
unprepared democracy may blunder, even in
its supposedly practical and prepared War
Department.
Other things, too. have irritated or Dis
Outraged the thousands who have been study.
ing military art and practical warfare. Only
a few weeks ago, after the declaration Of vu
hundreds of candidates for commissions IN the
Officers Reserve corps leaTheu ehurey y
chance that the signing of commissions had
been held up, and that instead the cand.
dates who successfully passed the difficult e1.
aminations were receiving certificates which
merely set forth that they had passed such
examinations-that, and nothing more. No as
sursnce vas given that the commissions would
be forthcoming later, nor were any reasons
given for the unexpected change. The cand.
dates naturally had the uncomfortable feeling
that they were being triled with and that the
War Department had no settled method Of
procedure in regard to the Reserve Corps, de-
spite the regulations governing it. Such meth
DDS must shake confidence.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
"My Country Has Rejected Ne
Without a Hearing"

rs this wisdom? Is this that policy of true
preparedness of which the War Department
has been prating? Should the department be
allowed to shelve me and 10000 others like me?
Ny heart is sore, for my country has rejected
me without hearing"
No bigger obstacle could have been imposed
than this no-pay plan, for it made the camp
training impossible for patriotic men of small
means and many responsibilities. Even though
it be repealed, those men cannot be among the
first 10000" Had the War Department in
tentionally gone about killing the ambition ana
spirit and patriotism of many thousands of
men it could not have done more.
In such cases as that Of Corporal Lester
Curran, however, it has done as much Curran,
late of the Seaforth Rifles, has seen two years
service in the trenches Of France. He was
born in the United States of American parent
age, was educated here, and joined the Cana
dian army only after the Lustania was sunk.
He was transferred to the SeafOrth Rifles at
his own request because he wanted to hasten his
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
The Story of Another Man With
out a Country

It's pretty hard lines to lose your citizenship
for trying to avenge the deaths of your fellow
citizens. It's still harder to travel 5000 miles
to be of service to your country and then have
its representatives refuse even to take your
name, much less consider your offer of service.
But guess the War Department will wake up
some day, and then maybe we fellows who have
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

I'm the beginning and until very re-
Gently he defined the war III Europe
n as a suuabble among kings, an al
fair in which he and his country had
no vital concern. During those days ne
didn't so much try to be neutral as
struggle to remember that the conflict
was daily fact.
He was always incredulous when ne
heard of threats against the peace OF
his own land. Seriously, he said, how
could one expect trouble with Germany
when her feet was bottled up on the
other side of wide sea and her armies
surrounded by the armies of a dozen
nations. What she might do to the
United States after the war was
purely hypothetical question; as a prac-
teal thinking man he refused to waste
time on it.
Reports of plots against his country
were swallowed with the proverbial
grain of salt, for although he was a
great reader of newspapers he was not
one of those gullible individuals who
believed they frequently Appropriated
the truth. The U-boat atrocities occa-
sionally torpedoed his self-built zone OF
indifference, but the effect was not last
ing. There were so many other things
10 think of-and business was good.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

Before being designated by the camp com
mander you must agree to serve for three
months without pay, but the government will
furnish transportation to and from the camps,
and subsistence. and will reimburse you for
uniforms, as provided by law. You must fur
Their agree to accept the commission rendered
YOU by the Secretary Of War if you are re-
ported as qualified at the completion of the
training course"
Now, Bill is just one of hundred thousand
Young college men who are beginning to make
their way in the business world. He has no
savings to amount to anything perhaps he is
married or perhaps he has other dependents.
lie read that letter with a sinking heart,
thought deeply for week or so, and then de
cided about as follows:
1--WE been studying hard for two years to fit
myself to serve, and now the War Department
has scrapped me. The department says that it
expects to pick 10000 officers for the first big
army from the fellows who attend this camp, yet
it puts up a mile-high barrier against me and
all the chaps like me and makes direct bid
for the wealthy men, who perhaps have had no
training and have done no studying at all.
ut openly announces that these first 10000
probably will be promoted rapidly and makes
no provision at all for those of us who simply
cannot afford to attend the camps. What's
the use of it all, anyway? Here I've been en-
couraged to study for two years, and now they
tell me that they don't give boot whether I've
studied at all"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
William Jones Was a Practical
Patriot from the Start

Bill Jones sat up and took notice at the
generals announcement He bought military
textbooks and began laboriously to teach
himself even the simplest movements as pre-
scribed in the Infantry Drill Regulations. Then
the PlattsburG camp plan was announced and
Bill, after celebrating for time, got his boss
TO give him two weeks leave of absence with
out pay in addition to his two weeks vacation,
and he went to Plattsburg. lie had to buy his
own uniform and pay for his board there, as
well as paying his railroad fare both ways, but
Bill felt that his country might need him. and
this was the way the War Department wanted
him TO prepare Many men gave up two and
three months that summer for the work
The next winter Bill drilled two or three
nights a week and studied most of the other
nights. for the war threat grew more menacing.
He gave his time and he spent his money, and
then last summer he either went back to Platts-
burg or he went to the Mexican border as
volunteer with the National Guard. The War
Department cheered him on.
All through the last winter Bill studied hard.
Some $500 of his fellows took advantage Of the
Officers Reserve Corps law to take eXamina-
lions and acquire commissions, but about 3oOoo
others, the fellows who had been boning for
two wears like college students examining for
an exam, put off taking the examinations until
they were sure they could pass with flying
colors.
Then came the breaking off Of diplomatic
relations with Germany and the subsequent
declaration of war. and all the Bill Joneses in
the country Immediately filed their applics-
lions for the Officers Reserve Corps. They
we're ready now, as the War Department had
expected them to be- Most of them were told
to report some time between May l and June
10 because the examining boards were over
whelmed by the rush. This particular Bill
Jones was told to report before the examining
board on April %.
Just three days before he was to take his
examination he received letter which came
as near putting a damper on his patriotism as
ANYTHING he had ever known. 1t said:
"The War Department has suspended fur
Their examinations for officers of the Reserve
Corps. Applicants for reserve officers commits
sions who have not been examined will be ad-
mtted to the reserve officers training camps, If
they can satisfy board of officers as to their
educational, military and physical fitness and
are designated by the camp commander OF their
district
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06

IT'LL JONES, patriotic American citizen
ID who had always believed that his coun-
try could lick any other country in the
world, suddenly, in 1915, walked to the fact that
the United States was not prepared TO fight
even a small nation like Mexico, and still less
one as powerful as Germany. Probably it was
the sinking Of the Lustania that awakened
him, but, at any rate, Bill Jones and hundred
thousand Of his brothers began to look about to
sec what they could do to help their country
prepare.
Over on Governors Island Major General
Leonard Wood and the progressive young off
GERS about him felt this sudden surge Of in
terest and crystallized it by announcing
"The greatest need Of the United States in
the event Of a sudden war emergency will be
trained officers
Then General Wpd, Hastead Dorey and
Gordon Johnston, his two aids, conceived the
Plattsburg training camp idea, which swept
across the country like widfre from its inccp-
ton in the summer of 1915