davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Sharp Practice.

Senator Bryan, of Florida, has
fought consistently and with marked
ability to bring about an increase in
second-class postal rates, but accom-
plishing an end by the method at
tempted yesterday in the Senate
leaves proponents of such legislation
clearly open to criticism for sharp
practices
In his zeal to bring about these in
creascs, the Senator from Florida has
been unremitting, but he would hard
ly care to have the enacted legislation
clouded through a general belief that
it was accomplished by a vigilant
minority OF Senators over a dormant
majority. 1t would have been suscep-
'tiblc TO such criticism had not recon-
sideration prevailed.
If the majority of both branches
OF Congress agree that the existing
rates for second-class mail are inequi-
table, then they will be advanced. But
the majority have been recorded, di-
rcctly and indirectly, as against any
increase at this time. To bring about
the increases by taking advantage OF
a parliamentary situation or the alb
sence of Senators in opposition is
not in accord with the dignity or fair
ness of the Senate of the United
States.
There are no authoritative figures
to show that the newspapers of the
United States are being handled by
the Postoffice Department at a loss.
The proposed increase is unscientific
and not founded upon facts and
figures. The length of the haul and
the amount of handling necessarily
enter into the cost to the government
of moving this class of mail. They
are not considered in the proposed
advance.
The 100 per cent increase proposed
within two years might work out JUS
tice to the government in some cases
and work out rank injustice to pub
fishers in other cases, since it has yet
to be shown that Uncle Sam does not
in many instances receive much more
than fair compensation for the SER
vice rendered.
In voting reconsideration of the
vote of yesterday the Senate has
only acted to let the will of the ma
jority rule, and not one member of
the United States Senate will urge
that such course is unfair.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
II Not War, What Is 1t:
New YORK World J


The Atlantic seaports OF the United
States are blockaded by German subma-
rines.
operating 5000 miles away does not
change the character Of the blockade or
minimize its effectiveness.
American ships dare not leave port
lest they be sunk and their passengers
and crews murdered. The mercantile
marine of the United States is paralyzed.
Piers are Congeste6 with freight. The
railroads are declaring embargoes. Ship
ments of food are blocked. The indus
trial activities of the country are check
ed, and the German government is doing
more actual damage to American COM
merce by intimidation than it could &C
complish by its U-boats.
This may not be wars but II II is not
war, what is it?
''' The President has been reluctant
to take any steps that might make the
American government the aggressOr oi
that might throw the responsibility for
actual war upon this country. In that
policy his instincts and his judgment
have been sound. But no human being
would pretend today that the United
States government, whatever action II
took in self-defense. could be branded as
the aggressor, or that it would be re-
sponsible for a war that is already being
made against it.
Germany's policy toward the United
States is a continuous covert act" and
might as we'll be recognized as such 1t
is war, and no other name will make il
anything else.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Good-by, Johan. Good Luck to You

BY T. SWAMI HARDING
Cood-by. Johan, good luck to you.
We hate to see you go:
That may sound false, but yet it's true,
Our sentiments just So
Wed hate to see you sUbmarined
With true Teutonic skill:
But ore there is who should be oeaned.
And that one-Kaiser Bill!
You've done your duty WELL old boy.
You've had a ticklish Job;
And while We wish you every joy.
We wish you'd smash that mob.
That Hindenburg, Won Tirpitz bunch.
Who know no law or right:
from whom the Kaiser took his hunch
70 play the game Of might.
We know ard love the German race.
We know they're not all bad;
We know their warlords brought dis
grace,
We know the trials they've had;
We know the day OF sanity
Will come-may 1t be sooni
But now for all humanity
We scorn Bill as loon.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

The Minnesota senate has just
passed bill giving the people of that
State referendum on prohibition
The bill passed the lower house oi
the State several weeks ago. This is
the same course of procedure that has
been adopted throughout the United
States wherever the liquor question
Is being debated, and it is the most
logical method OF handling it. Yet
right here in the Nations Capita,
every effort is being made to force
prohibition on the people of the Dis.
trict without giving them a chance to
voice their opinion.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
A Wasted Fortnight.
(Boston Transcrirt.) }


The departure of Count Bernstorff
and his encourage ends the fatefuI
| fortnight that was ushered in by the
delivery of his passports and the re-
sultant rupture of diplomatic relations
between the United States and Ger
many. Throughout that time Wash
ington has been waiting while Berlin
was preparing. Both governments te-
lieve war to be almost II not absolute
ly inevitable. Both governments are
standing pat" in their opposing atti-
tudes toward the submarine blockade
proclaimed by Germany on the last
day of last month. Each government
is endeavoring to place upon the other,
in the eyes of their respective people,
the onus of aggression. But Berlin
refuses to regard preparation for war
as an evidence of aggression, while
Washington persists in holding up at
every point even those puny prepara-
tions for war which are alone possible
under the existing defenselessness of
the United States on land and sea. In
this respect csndor compels the con-
fession that the course of Germany
can be defended as correct and eau
tious and dictated by the canons of
common sense. In this respect the
course of the United States can only
be condemned as blind and reckless
and in violation of every consideration
of caution and fun of peril for the
nation.
The next fortnight ought to
be devoted to preparation to protect
the nation on land and sea with all
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Approaching the End.


The end of the present intolerable
situation is near. The developments
of yesterday were conclusive in this
respect. The Rubicon must be cross
cd soon.
1t is amazing that Germany should
be holding a lighted torch over the
powder magazine. But that is exact
ly the course she is pursuing. She is
forcing the hand of the Washington
government. She is cynically decree
ing state OF war without any of the
formalities that usually accompany
its declaration.
There is no need plumbing Ger
many's motives. She is above or be-
low normal psychology; quite beyond
the alienist's test. Some officials be-
lieve she is deliberately and wantonly
forcing war upon the United States.
Others do not adopt this view, think
ing it unbelievable that any nation
not morally insane" should decree
a policy of suicide. 1t is reasonable
to believe that Germany is suffering
from a severe case of nerves" in her
present extremity, that she has con-
ided her fate and her existence to
the Hindenburg "frightfulness" CAM
paign, that she is simply finding vent
for the bitter anti-American cam
paign which is now being conducted
among her people.
The crisis now pivots upon Ger
many's affronts and insults to Amer
ica, opening with the forced deten-
tion OF Gerard and eliminating yes
terday with acts which, if the Pres
idcnt were in the slightest degree in
fiammable, would be a sufficient casus
belli in themselves. A few of them
may be outlined-the imprisonment
Of the Yarrowdale sailors, the indig-
nifty to Whitlock and the American
flag in Brussels, the treatment given
American consuls who are vainly
trying to depart from German soil,
and who are now incommunicado, the
outrageous anti-Americanism which
the Berlin autocracy has decreed to
innamc the minds of the German pco-
pie, the suggestion of more sinister
things which at the present time, not
being confirmed, need not be men
toned in print.
1t is quite apparent that the Pres
ident is grimly preparing to meet the
German challenge We hold that his
dallying with the unscrupulous caste
that now controls the destinies OF
Germany has been mistake; that
war from the time of the break has
been inevitable; that German machi-
nations would be encouraged by de-
lay In confirmation of this, dis
patch came from Paris yesterday say
ing, "the suggestion of peace negotia
tions from Germany is regarded sole
ly as having been an expedient to
gain time while the German-fnanced
peace movement in America could
get into action. While this time is
gained, Germany counts on trying her
submarine warfare for a few weeks
If it is unsuccessful she will be able
to say to the President, we will stop
if you will make peace"
There is evidence now that the
administration knows the German
game and is ready to foil it.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
ANUsEMENTs
TO TELL OF HOSPITAL NEEDS

Ernest P Bicknen. director general OF
the Department OF Civilian Relief OF the
American Red Cross, Col Jefferson r.
Keen, L. S. A, director general OF mill
tary relief. and DR.. John Van Schsicl,
jr-, OF the Church Of Our Father, will
speak at a special meeting OF the Twenti-
eth Century Club next Tuesday At All
Souls Church, Fourteenth and l. streets.
They will tell OF the need OF preparation
for hospital work
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

According TO a naval recruiting Of
fccr in Washington, no men will be
taken into the navy who arc not
good looking. Just what good pur-
pose can be served by picking a
bunch of Adonis' to defend the coun-
try Is something even Mr.. Daniels
may have hard time explaining I'm
less they arc intended to grace grape
juice parties at the various naval
stations.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
speed the Parting Guest-But Don
Forget the One Left Behind!
tNew York Beral..,

New York Beral..,
iwehty-one months and fourteen
uays too late Count Johann Won Bern
storm departs from these too hospita-
pie shores. He should have gone an
unwilling passenger on the Lusitania
on May 1, 1915.
Long after everything else about
MIN IS forgotten it will be remembered
by Americans that Count Won Bern
stof1 had foreknowledge of ths intent
Oh MS fellow barbarians to murder the
women, the children and the men who
embarked on the Lusitania for that
iateful last voyage and, therefore, that
ne was party to their killing.
NOW that he has gone the American
people are not nearly so much inter-
ested in Count Won Bernstorff as they
are in the man selected to be his sue
cessor as head of organized Prussian-
ism in this country. That man is Count
Tarnowski. Austro- Hungarian Ambas-
sador designate
For the American government to ac-
cept Count Tarnowski as Ambassador
would mean continuance of diplomatic
relations with Austria Hungary in
face of the obvious fact that Ger
many's ally has given the German sub
marine piracy its full approval In
view of that fact maintenance of diplo-
matte relations with Austria Hungary
comes perilousIy near 70 being sur
render. open and abject. to the Prus-
sianism that controls that country as
well as its own
If Count Tarnowski is accepted, II
relations with Austria Hungary are
not severed without additional delay,
it Will be apparent to the world that
the American government has learned
nothing from Europe's experiences
since July, 1914.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Count Won Bernstorfr's Success.
New York Trihune.l


The rancor Americans must feel toward
Count Won Bernstorff by reason of his
devious Vaccinations on behalf of his
government need not blind us to his bril-
liant abilities in what was undoubtedly
the most difficult diplomatic post of the
war. The problem which he faced daily,
almost hourly was less one of diplomacy
than of modern pu5liCity-the art of the
front page. How to reach that front page
a. the moment of moments has been the
despair of countless American statesmen,
born and bred to its sturdy. 1t was Count
Won Bernstorff's feat that he intuitively
mastered our journalistic processes
which is to say, that he mastered the one
direct route to the public's eye and mind.
:" The one great victory Americans
can congratulate themselves on is the
consistent courtesy and good humor with
which they have taken Count Won Bern
storff's success. His departure without a
suggestion of discourtesy is a credit to
our national poise and self-controL
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

The Paterson, N. J., girl who had
her father sent to Jail for a year be-
cause he persisted in getting drunk
sets a good example for any "hy-
phenates' who may be worried about
what the Kaiser thinks of their lean
ings in the present crisis.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Boston journal.

We took a stand when we broke
diplomatic relations with Germany; we
maintained that stand when President
Wilson refused to enter into informal de-
bate with Germany over the question
which brought about the diplomatic rup-
ture
The United States cxacted a pledge
from Germany, and Germany broke the
pledge. The pledge provided nothing more
than the safety Of American lives. We
hold Germany to that pledge. Violation
OF 1t will be the signal for war.
Germany understands, now. Germany
knows that the United States is bigger
and deeper than the little band Of Bryan
ists who' led by German agents, have
been oeceiving the people of both Ger
many and America. The issues are clear,
America is committed to her traditional
ideals Of freedom
Doesn't the American citizen feel bet
ter, today. then he did in those doubtful
yesterdays when the world believed he
was too frightened to defend his rights.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
The independent.

The United States must fight, il
fight il must. for no thought of revenge,
no isolated right, no circumscribed pur-
pose. One great result should spring out
of the great war; ii should be the part
OF the United States to make certain
that that result is really achieved. The
war must end, not merely in the cessation
of conflict, but in a durable and guaran-
teed peace. The world, as it puts the
greatest war OF all time behind 1t, must
face the future with the assurance that
the like cannot happen again.
The allies have signed a treaty among
4 themselves by the terms Of which each
agrees not TO make peace until all are
ready. II the United States finds itself
fighting shoulder to shoulder with them
on the high seas and on the soil OF Eu-
rope, 1t will be of vital importance for
Us TO discover whether they and we are
spending blood and treasure for the same
end. We should Immediately discuss with
Great Britain, France and their associ-
ates the purpose which must be accom-
plished before the war can be permitted
TO end. If they shall agree with us that
only a guarantee of perpetual and uni
Vcrsal peace can satisfy the enemies OF
the German autOcracy, we should add our
signature to their compact not to sheathe
the sword until the central powers are
compelled TO make peace upon these
terms.
As a great English philosopher
once said The first duty of mankind
Is peace, the second duty Is to fight to
get it The United States must not
enter this war except in execution Of this
lofty duty. We must fight only to get
peace universal, durable, guaranteed.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

No German can be so dense as to
wonder at the bitter feeling against
the Kaiser and his war ministers
throughout the world after reading
the boastful report from Berlin, given
out by the semi-offcial Overseas
News Agency, to the effect that
Teuton raiders shelled a chiIdren's
skating party at Bruges, killing six
teen.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Kansas City journal.

Count Won Bernstorrf has merit
ed and has received the respect of Ameri-
cans during the long years of his official
lncumoency of his important post. There
have been times when he has appeared tn
be linked too intimately with elements
which espoused with undue zeal question
able movements in this country in behalf
Of the German cause. but It will hardly
be denied that most Americans honestly
believe that II his counsels had always
been followed by his superiors, there
would have been fewer causes for resent
ment by Americans and fewer issues
which jeopardized the friendly relations
between the two governments.
That his wisdom and understand
Ing have been overruled and rendered
ultimately ineffective is a source of as
unqualified regret to Americans as il
must be to himself. The personal touch
Is very pronounced in this phase of the
situation. He is quoted as saying that
he looked for the rupture to occur and
that the President could have done no
less in honor. This may be an apochry-
phal quotation. Certainly it is a surpris-
ing assertion for a diplomat to make. even
after he ceases to be officially a diplo-
mat. Count Won Bernstorn leaves
America personally regretted. Had he
been kaiser or field marshal or grand ad-
miral there would undoubtedly have been
different story to tell today.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

THE JINUEINN DUfLNN'
The jngling dollar makes a pleasant
sound,
And one always like to have around.
And yet I hope twill never rise so high
cannot hear my stricken brothers cry.
The glitter of pure COLDS a pleasant
sight.
And one love to dream about at night.
me
Mine eve grows blind to lures Of sym
pathy.
Copyright. IsI7O
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

There is nothing surprising in the
fact that the promoters OF charitable
affair in New York have met with diff,
fculty in locating male angels" Most
of the angels" in Manhattan come
from distant parts and are bridled
and haltered within few hours after
setting foot in the Metropolis.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

From Harrisburg, Pa, comes the
report that the lower branch of the
Pennsylvania legislature has passed a
bill appropriating $4,000 to investi-
gate the business affairs of Gov.
Brumbaugh. The dispatch naively
adds: Gov. Brumbaugh is expected
to veto it." Well?
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

A notorious Santo Domingo bandit
is said to have rushed to the Amer
lean consulate and surrendered upon
hearing that Col. Roosevelt was
about to visit the island. Now if the
Colonel would just announce visit
to Berlin
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

That Red Cross hospital ship
named the "Ncutralia" doubtless will
be rechristcned if the United States
goes to war with Germany.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

1t seems reasonably certain now
that Woodrow will ride up Pennsyl-
vania avenue on Marchl5, as the Pres
idcnt of these United States.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16

the power at its command. Such a
step is not aggression, IL Is simply
that reasonable self-defense that a
government owes its people end that
the course of Germany in the last fort
night makes an imperative duty.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
New York Times.

All the officers of the Ger
man government. all Germans in the
least degree acquainted with the pro-
visions of International law, know that
the methods used by their submarines
are a monstrous violation of the law.
Their own Bluntschli, a much quoted
writer on international law, says that
the destruction of a captive ship is
justifiable only in the case of absolute
necessity, and any attack on this rrin-
ciple would constitute a violation Of
international law" The German sub
marine commanders and those from
whom they get their commands are
not merely lawless, they effect their
purposes through means common to
murderers and barbarians. The British
blockade restraints goods, 1t takes no
human lives. The German submarines
send goods and human beings to tho
bottom without discrimination of ma
tionality.. That is the difference be-
tween the methods employed, that is
the criterion for the judgment of Ger
man and English acts.
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Philadelphia Evening Ledger,

1t turns out that the move which
threatened to bring us out of this twi-
light zone into open war-the move more
dangerous than any other in ten days
was a peace move. The German govern
ment is in a ticklish state of mind. To
suggest to 1t, as Mr.. Bryan did, that Mr
Wilson might parley. was to invite it to
humiliation and wrath through an inevi-
table refusal to parley. The wonder is
that the spark Mr.. Bryan threw into the
rubbish did not start the blaze. The gov
ernment has ordered Bryanism away
from the wireless transmitter.
The Nebtaskan is incorrigibly political.
Xhat he wants is very innocent-simply
10 have the word Bryan associated with
the word peace" just as he has been far
seeing enough to want 1t associated with
national prohibition" If there is dry
wave coming, Bryan feels he might as
well get full credit for it, If not, he has
nothing to lose. In the same way he has
nothing TO lose Dy being 'for peace" For
whether we have the war or not we are
sure to have peace again some day-and
Bryan. 1t is as II he bet that what went
up must come down
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
Today's Events.

Opening o, beAdquay1ers ot KaIIipolis Grotto arm
CORPS IS0s Ne9 York srenus nofth~est. ~ ?. N
Nesting Petwurth Home and School Association.
Paworh School. Eighth and shepherd streess
Addresses Commissioner Of Immigration Gam
rziBetu and Nh. Rose GourerDesu Hoe. at ms-t-
ing q Hoassksepers' Alliance and GentleSonens
League. sIAson HOUSE. 1905 Twentieth street north
Dance Esnsuou Social s1ub q BrookizBd Ma
snuic Han. Brookisnd. D. m
Awarding Of prizes in prohibition post card con-
iest, W. G T. L., McKeodree Methodist EElsropal
Church. D. m.
Freshman prom. GeorEet0vn University Law
School, Raleigh Hotel. D. m.
Entertainment. Mr.. BOD and "A Bon Of
Monkeys." Trinity Parish HsIl. Tird and q
Lecture, "PythsgorAs Law of Nibzbcn In Rels-
LibsU." Dr. Geoass r. BOwernsn- before board
Of social service diocese Of NashinEtoo, st. Johns
Parish Han, 1910 a.
Lecture, '.Pythnsoras Law q vib1tioa in Reli
ton 70 Love, Marriage and Business" Mis- Jouiss
Cutts- Powell. Hotel Portland. p m
Illustrated lecture. Picturesque Hawaii" Rer
John W. WsdHsan. Lincoln Road Methodist Epis
Meeting. Political Study Club. with special dis
cussiOns On why I Workins for sufBss"
National American Association for Woman suhras,
1855 Rhode Island avenue northwest, p.
Meeting washington brsnch q tbs sbakssp-Sr.
Society q Amtdcs, Colonial School, Eighteenth
and Q streets northwest, D.
sf'ecial melting q I1ats Printers Union. PythiEH
Temple. D. m.
Masquerade 6y Ladits' Auxiliary of OsledoniEn
Club Eagles Hall. p. m.
Concert by United States SOLDIER Hcms Band
Orchestra, Stsn,ey Hall. go D m
Meeting Of Birth C0utJol Leag1e PerpetuEi Build-
ing Hail, Eleventh and streets northwest. 9 .. m.
Meeting o. FedCnsl NEtchmen's Unios Aoass
Hall. Seventh and G SSrests northwest, s5o a n
AMUSEMENTs.
BslNsco-"Seren ChSnces" sls D. m
NstionaI-s'Eseren P. NJ" s1s p m.
Poli's-''Ss Hopkins" SIS D. M.
Keiths-Ysudeville, 2l5 and SIS D n
Gsyety-Bmiesque. 2l5 ard tlB D. m
Cosmos-Vsudeville l2=o 10 - p m
ColumbiA-Photoplzys. loI a. N. 70 Il D. N
strsnd-ThotoplHys II a. N. 10 II .. m.
GzTden-Photoplays II a m. 10 II .. N
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
New York Globe.

What sort of testimony in regard to
the character and the spirit of the
United States will be borne by Count
Won Bernstorff, late German ambassa-
dor, on his arrival in Germany? Will
ne "strafe" us, or will he bear witness
to truths of which he is aware even
though some of his countrymen may
be blind to them?
Count Won Bernstorff has had some
experience in the world. AS such he
must know that he has been treated
with extraordinary courtesy in this
country-that in his case conduct has
been tolerated probably never before
tolerated in any foreign diplomatist
since we began to receive them
queer thoughts must be in the late
Queer thoughts must be in the late
ambassadors mind as he reflects that
ne has obtained for himself and his
The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
LINE o. CHEER
EACH DAY O. THE YEAP.

:rst printing ri an original poem wit. tsly
fer The Washington Herald.