davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
A Tax in the Wrong Place

It is greatly to be. hoped that the Senate
Finance Committee VIII give favorable
consideration to Senator Myers's amend
ment to the war revenue bill intended to
relieve charitable, educational, religious
and art societies from payment of an IN
heritance tax on gifts or requests to them.
Under the bill as it passed the House
beouests to these organizations are to be
taxed in equal measure with expenditures
for industry and for luxury. Since the
rate of tax would be determined not on
the individual gifts but on the total of
the estate divided, the tax imposed would
be far higher than any ordinary inheri-
lance tax. No precedent exists for such
a tax. During the SpanishAmerican War
law proposing one was adopted, but al
most Immediately it was amended to ex-
empt requests made to charitable, philan-
thropic and religious organizations.
In land where the higher educational
institutions, art museums and societies
and religious and philanthropic works are
supported so largely by endowment and
bequest, the levying Of such tax as the
revenue bill proposes would be little short
of disastrous to them. 1t is unthinkable
that the Congress would set about it de-
liberately 10 tax university, an art mu-
scum, charitable organization out of ex-
istence; yet that result is within the pos
sibilties Of this legislation unless the
Myers amendment be adopted. Already
the war has affected the finances of such
institutions adversely. Much money which
ordinarily would go to them is going TO
meet the pressing demand for war relief
funds. As the United States becomes
more and moro active in the war this
diversion of funds is likely TO increase.
Colleges and other institutions OF higher
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
FIGHT Boche Nth Boche Weapons
Blu Arthur S. Draper

London, June 15.-In the second battle Of
Ypres in the fall Of 1914. husky young
Canadians staggered back strangling and
beating wildly for breath; they coughed and
foamed at the mouth; their faces turned
black, and most of them died terrible
death That was the first time the Boche
turned his gas nozzle on the British; that
was before the Allies knew anything about
gas masks.
Throughout the world hue and cry went
I'D The barbarity of the Boche put him
outside the pale. To-day there is not a SOL
der on either side of the battle line who
does not carry a gas mask constantly. Months
ago the British, French and Russians shot
waves of gas across No Mans Land IN the
hope of killing the Boche
In the winter of 1915-r6 sheets Of fire
were directed against the French soldiers
desperately defending Nerdun. Il burned
the flesh from the bones, and If 1t did not
kill instantly it brought suffering that made
death mercifu. Again there was hue and
cry. The Boche had violated all the ethics
Of warfare. When the British took Messines,
fame waves were directed at the German de-
tenders.
In the summer Of 1915 fleet of Zeppelins
sailed over London one dark night, dropping
tons of high explosives, gas and incendlary
bombs upon the heads and homes Of the peo-
ple sleeping. believed secure in the worlds
greatest city Almost the moment the last
bomb fell editorial writers had begun their
campaign for reprisals on Boche cities and
towns. The French had many similar ex-
periences. with similar results. British aero
planes and French aeroplanes have dropped
bombs on German cities several times since
then.
When the original British expeditionary
force landed in France in August, 1914, It
was armed with rifles, bayonets, swords, light
artillery and machine guns-the number
of the latter so small it seems unbelievable
to-day. The Boche had more weapons. He
had provided himself with hand and rifle
grenades and got trench mortars and how
tiers into action in an amazingly short
time after it became a war of position.
venture to say that to-day there are ten
hand grenades thrown by the British to
every one tossed over by the German; thaS
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29

the French have more "75's' tnan 'he u.
mans as 9's"; that the British nave Caught
up with the Roche in making machine guns.
Mines as offensive and defensive weapons
were used long before this war. In the. ls.i
NJ 1914 the British lost many ships through
German mines German submarine mine
LAYERS came right into the British haroors
and anchored their deadly missiles: lousy
il requires 1000 British small craft 10 pro
tect British ships. But long before ,nis
ofro,sivo-defensive feet was organized. Brit
ish submarines had slipped into German
harbors and deposited precious load OF eN
plosiye balls in places least expected os
Roche SINNERS. Seldom does anything APP
pear in the press about British submarine
activity. but Britain has an undersea hotllla
large enough TO win the war II Germany
could add it TO her fleet.
The Allies laughed and gloated over the
appontm.nt of the first Boche Food Con-
troller. but there is one now IN Russia
France. England, and America has wisely
amounted one at the outset. The Food Con-
troller is an economic weapon as valuable
rs a corps of machine guns. Conslderln
that Germany has been forced 10 be practl-
calv self-sustaining for the last eighteen
months she has managed her economic prop
lem infinitely better than have the aires
The whole of Germany mas peeh my
for national service for many months; tne
same scheme is being put into effect slowly
in all of the Entente countries.
OF all the weapons the Boche has USED IN
this war the only one the Allies nave NOT
edopted is the German newspaper offensive
There have been mild efforts here to es'ao-
lish a press dictatorship. but they never
reached the lengths to which they have neen
carried in Germany. There has been risio
censorship and desperate attempts nave
been made to control the press, but II mas
been found impossible to keep the who!e
rress in line. The German censorship Is
onlv a small part Of the scheme to use the
press as a war weapon. II is comparatively
easv thing for government to say wha'
cannot be printed; it is colossal TASK 90
make the press of country PRINT what its
government wants. Germany has succeeded
in doing this Only one allied nation hau
a corresponding success. That was Russia
under bureaucratic rule.
If this was a war of autocracy versus
autocracy the nation facing the Booze would
undoubtedly follow his example in handing
the press. but the Allies pledged &c break
down this very thing.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
The John Brown" Mystery
the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: During the interesting discussion in
your columns regarding John Browns
Body" the authorship of both words and
music was claimed for one T. Brigham
Bishop. 1t was asserted that confirmation of
this statement might readily be had from
Ditson e. Co. and the John Church Com
pany.
have sought information from these two
firms and beg TO report as follows:
The John Church Company replies: I'VE
do not find that we are acquainted, nor have
we had any dealings with 7. Brigham Bishop.
The music, as fa- as We know, is an old
melody the origin of which is unknown. Not
knowing any more than this, our opinion is
that Mr.. Bishops contention is incorrect"
Dtson & Co. reply: Eve saw the article
in question meaning letter in The Trib-
une from a son of 7. Brigham Bishop and
couldn't credit it, and wrote TO Mr.. Bishop in
Philadelphia and asked him to make a
demonstration TO convince that he was
correct and enable us to right a wrong, if
wrong there had been, but the letter was
returned, claiming that he could not be
found in Philadelphia"
1t would seem, therefore, that the friends
and family of T. Brigham Bishop have been
misinformcd. The most satisfactory discus
sions of the real origin of the words and
music of John Browns Body" may be found
by those interested in an article by George
Kimball in "The New England Magazine"
for December, 1889, and in Louis c. FL
sons "The National Music Of America"
G. S. BRYAN.
New York, June %, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Community Chorus Resumes Work

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Just reminder that the New York
Community Chorus begins its summer
Sings at Central Park, on the Mall. on Sun
day afternoon, July l, at o'clock. Park
Commissioner Ward has arranged to have the
chorus sing in the park right through the
summer, and is making every effort to make
it possible for to repeat the magnificent
Song and Light" festival first given on Sep
TENDER 13 and IA, 1916.
The value Of community singing is being
felt in ever greater measure by the people.
and plans are being considered to establish
three or more choruses in the city, aggre-
eating 5000 to 5000 people. In this time of
national crisis the community chorus has a
distinct place in the social and civic life of
the people.
The Community Chorus is participating
with the Mayors independence Day Commit
tee on the evening of July 4, 1917. at the
Stadium of the City College, l36th Street and
Amsterdam Avenue, in programme designe a
TO awaken people to the significance Of the
times. BARNETT BRASLOw, Secretary.
New York, juno 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
The Laggard Volunteer

With those hasty critics of American
patriotism who see Stacking and worse IN
the slow recruiting we have very little
sympathy. The blame rests chiefly with
those authorities at Washington who have
reduced the war to thing of cold, calm
science. Now, the conduct of modern war
fare is preponderantly matter of science;
but the human factor is still mighty, and
human beings of to-day are not one bit
more scientific in their motives and actions
and resolves than they were century ago.
Men enlist now, as always, not as matter
of cold logic, but as the result of a gen
erous and stirring enthusiasm.
There is no question of disappearing
war, of making it Out to be anything but
the hard, dangerous task it is. The de-
mand is only that it shall be presented
fairly, as also a great dramatic adventure,
into which our young men are marching
with heads erect and banners flying.
There is no possible reason for making our
part in the war as invisible as 1t has been.
New York might just as we'll have had a
chance to say goodby to Pershing's men
when they left; other cities could have had
their parades and farewells. The example
of such marching columns would have done
all America good.
1t is late in the day to expect official
Washington to change its habits Of thought
and approach the fighting problem as pri-
marily a human one. But such it is, and
until it is so treated it is hopeless to ex-
pect swift recruiting. No amount of facts
and pleas and arguments can ever replace
the thrill of marching men and the boom
Of the drum as a call to arms.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Draft the Declarants
But Give American Rights to
American Citizens First
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Do you not consider that Colonel
Roosevelt's letter concerning Red Cross dis
elimination and your own editorial, Draft
the Declarants," look rather ridiculous ap-
nearing together? If American citizens, born
Of naturalized German or Austrian parents.
are not good enough TO help the English and
French wounded, they surely are not
good enough to fill English and French
trenches with their mutilated, rotting bodies.
Vice-versa, if mere declarants are fit to
fight, mere citizens should suffice to save.
personally know of several cases of Red
Cross discrimination against man who
is the third generation in this country, both
his grandfathers having been naturalized, and
I protest against such editorials as Draft
.he Declarants" until such time as the State
Department sees fit to accord to American
citizens, regardless of parentage, their citi-
zens' rights to be enrolled in whatever branch
of the service they can qualify for without
submitting to the dictates of England. Either
an American citizen is entitled to his full
privileges or he is not; if not, he, citizen,
should not be drafted. If the state does not
do its share, why should he? And until the
nations against its own subjects, why bother
with the decarants? But | cannot believe
that we have sunk so low under English rule
as to submit TO any such nonsense For out
rageous impudence old Russias attitude
toward American passports issued to Jews
was courtesy itself compared with this atti-
tude of our Allies in demanding that We our
selves discriminate arbitrarily against not
enemy aliens" but our own citizens-even
unto the second and third generation.
Let the government inform the Allies that
if one kind of American citizen is good
enough TO help them, all are, or else none are,
and they can choose. It is obvious what the
answer would be.
Then let US Draft the Declarants"
America-and American rights for Amer
lean citzens-frst!
HENRY S. CHURCHILL.
New York, June 81, 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
The Expert in Art

(From The London Morning PosD
America is now the dumping ground for Old
Masters, but the transatlantic collector is be-
coming "cute," if not yet connoisseur. He
must have a written guarantee with the pict-
ures he may buy The vendors word is not suf-
ficient, the quality alone of a work is not &C
cepted it must be accompanied Of Rem,
brandt or an example of early Italian art) by
a letter of cachet from Dr. Won Bode or Mr..
Bernard Berenson, so that it is really their
opinion, not a picture, which is purchased.
But in recent years Americas faith in the
expert" has been rudely shaken-notably in
1914, when ffty-fve pictures in the Leon
Hirst collection realized only 1864, moth
wthstandine the fact that most of them
were guaranteed as genuine works of Old
Masters by men of the standing Of Bode,
Friedlander and Hofstede de Groot. The
Leonardo bust damaged the reputation Of
Bode. and certain English experts" also lost
some of the top feathers from their caps
as the result of their belief in the Flora"
The assumption by the expert" of pontifcal
authority is his own and the publc's great
est danger. Both become overconhdent-he
in himself, they in him-with disastrous con-
sequences. The expert" was brought in to
protect the innocent buyer from the possible
mistakes of the dealer; but it has been
proved repeatedly that the expert is not
less fallible than the dealer. And the Hunt
ington case is bound greatly to increase the
growing distrust in both, a development
which many people may think would be to
the advantage of art until the advent of the
infallible expert"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
German Insured

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: have read with much interest the ar.
ticle On the first page of your pHer to-day
concerning the operations of German insur.
ance companies in this market. IL is not to b.
wondered at that they should continue to do
business here, as long as they are permitted
by the authorities to do so. but what is to
be said and thought Of American firms which
continue to place business with them, as
many merchants and brokers are still doing7
WALTER D. DESPARD.
New York, June 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Black Slavery and White

To the Edto. The Tribune.
Sir: ERE IN ]. W. Johnson that the
newspap" should print facts of the under
world IL zen fashion that the horror Of a
Ruth CrIgrr tragedy should always be kept
fresh in ne minds of the New York people,
SO many Of the Northern people have had so
much TO say recently on the subject of
Treatment o. Negroes in the South" The
worst mat could be formulated was: Small
wages, lack Of social equality, lack of whis-
key. Let them turn their eyes inward to
their own hideous canker sore-white slav-
ery-far, far worse than any negro slavery
that ever existed in this country Perhaps,
for very shame, they will begin upon a solu-
tion of their own problem. c. RYLAND.
Richmond, Va, June 2S, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Footnote to Boris Bakhmeteff' Speech

To the Editor of The Tribune.
! Sir: Let US hope that the address delivered
Saturday last before the House of Repre-
sentatives by the Ambassador OF the New
Russia will have at least to some extent al.
layed the fear of the American people that
the Russian revolution might, after all, tun
out to be nothing but disastrous frre.
VIII these timid people be kind enough 4,
accompany me for a few minutes to tt.
France of 1883?
1t was on the 18th Of July. Of that glorious
first year OF modern Europe, that the Bastile,
in the Paris suburb of st. Antoine, fell before
the onrush of handful Of Paris workmen
bourgeois and street urchins. But the anon..
cd head of King Louis XVI was not separated
from the rest of his anatomy before January
81, 1898. Then for fully three years and
half the French Revolution and the French
monarchy lived side by side.
Russian autocracy, in tho persons Of ths
Car and his august family and dynasty, was
under lock and key in less than three and
half days.
Let US continue the parallel just 70 soo,hs
our overexcited nerves: OF the 600 in
habitants Of the France of 1883 az least 25,-
900 were Catholic Frenchmen 3 O.. rs.
tonal and religious unit The lS000000O in.
habitants of Russia can be divided, 10 speak
in round figures. into twoscorc OF different
nationalities, races or tribes who adore the
Creator in a dozen different fashions
The area of France OF 1889 compared viz
that Of the Russia of 1917 is about ths. OF
the park area of the City of New York con-
pared with Yellowstone Park. Not ore foI'
cign soldier stood on French soil in lIss'
while the poor moujks in Petrogrsd VIC
in short fortnight, threw down erra
tyranny which had been intrenched for nesrl
millennium accomplished their gigan'e
work OF liberation while nearly 100000 o.
armed enemy troops occupied three OF 's'
, richest provinces OF their fathorland.
The French people of 1883, heir to ore
thousand year old civilization. compared
whole with the illiterate mass Of the hus
sian people, was what an academy Of science
is TO q literary club of country town
In brief, let US take our hats OF oefoe
the triumphal. fashlke victory obtained .!
the revolutionary people OF Russia and 10
leaders. IL took the Directory and Napoleon
nearly ten years TO bring some order INV
the French revolutionary chaos. We can re-.
assured that Kerensky and General brusAo"
will hardly need Ten months 90 whip NV
shape the first Russian Constitution ana
wipe out the defeat OF the Mazuran LaAef
the putrid source of Hindcnburg's pseuo0'
military reputation.
! New York, June "a, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
Mr.. Brit!ing'' Speaks

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: can forbear no longer. The NC
Adoo- Tribune controversy is stencil IN
the nostrils of forbearsnce.
What do we care what The Tribunes op'A
ion of Mr.. McAdoo's financial policy IS
Is The Tribune antagonstic to every mem
Der Of the Cabinet? A..
IL mentions Mr.. Lansing. Mr. Daniels "'
Gregory and Mr.. McAdoo. II,
do not like the tone Of the editions
headed "The Terrorist"
Now go ahead and ask it: "who the
are YOU" |. FOSTER Moohh,'"
ar. Britling" of America
st. Petersburg, Fla, June Is, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29

associates. What role she Is to play after
the war depends on what role she is going
to play now, under Venizelos. tits the great
task Of the man who led her triumphantly
through the Balkan wars to lift her IN the
months to come out of the slough into
which she was dragged by a refractory,
malicious and utterly selfish monarch.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-29
rr,rrrd Al tn, P.stonc. Al Neu Yors As second cia
Mall Mater.

You can purrhAss merchandbs advertised IN Ihh
TRIBUNE with absolute saieyios disssfsctioa results
n any case TIE TRIBUNE guarantees TO pay your money
hsck upcz request No rcd tsGe. No euesiAs We maze
GOD rrcz-rcly tho advertiser docs net
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-07-12
FARMER is PATRIOT
Gives Harvest Hands Time to Be Ex-
amined and Sworn In

Dodge City, Kan, July 10.-A
Pratt man by the name Of Thomas,
near Isabel, can say with clear con-
science that he has made personal
sacrifice for the sake Of the govern
ment. Three young men from down
the Elkhart branch went to work in
the harvest fields for Mr.. Thomas.
Last week came the call for those
who had enlisted in the ammunition
train service to arrange to be exam
ined and all were members of that
organization. The boys went to Mr..
Thomas and explained the situation.
The latter said, "You boys go to
Dodge City and take the examina-
ton. l guess l can get along all
right for a day or so. Then you fell
lows come back" And the kind
hearted employer brought them up
here, and made sure that they were
examined and passed with flying col
0rS. ..,
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-07-12
SOME 80 BUsHEL WHEAT
Frank Selix Gets Good Yield
Near Hunter, Oklahoma

Dame fortune smiles continually
on the people of the Red Rock valley
south and east of Hunter, and more
especially at this time on Frank Sc
lix who threshed 1852 bushels of
wheat from 81 acres on Will Trekell's
farm, better known as the Connely
place. This is within a fraction of
thirty bushels per acre, and the
threshing was done by Mr.. Horner,
which insures that it will overweight
more than enough to make the thirty
bushels. This wheat is of the Turk
ish variety, has been grown here for
many years and will test about So.
Mr.. Selix plowed the ground to a
good depth during July and August
and farmed only this 81 acres to
wheat, so this is the average of his
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-07-12
A NEW ARRIVAL

Cards are out announcing the ar
rival of Miss Margaret Louise, at the
home of the editor. The young lady
has come to stay and seems to be
entirely satisfied with her home and
the attention she is receiving. Moth
er and daughter are both doing fine
and the editor is under the care Of a
registered nurse, but is expected to
recover with proper treatment
Bucklin Banner.