davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
An Experiment and a Failure

The belated English and French papers
now coming in with lively descriptions Of
the short-lived victory at Cambria are de
pressing to read to-day. The war CORE
spondents. or most of them, were so ex-
cited by the surprising incident that they
gave their fancy free play and indulged
in extravagant hopes which have been
completely disposed Of since.
IL is interesting TO remark that they
We're never encouraged in these wild ex-
pectations by those who were in q posi-
uon soberly to consider conditions on the
Western front as a whole. General
Maurice. the British director Of military
operations, IN a talk with the Allied cor
respondents Immediately after the ad-
vance, warned them against considering
IL as new and brilliant stroke indepen-
dent Of conditions elsewhere, remarking
that II was rather direct result Of the
fighting at Npres and that "the two bat
ties are absolutely linked up together and
the men who have been fighting for the
last three months at Ypres deserve lust
as much credit for this success as the men
really on the spot"
\ few days later il was made clear on
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Treasury Department Chaos

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: confirmation Of the frequent COM
ment that neither tho Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue nor any one in his Office
knows how TO interpret the law is found in
the decision Of the Treasury Department to
answer no inquiries regarding Invested cap
ital" pending the careful analysis OF the
war revenue act Of October g. i9l1.
The engagement of three additional law
yers 20 further advise the Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue only thickens the soup, as
the present chaos is the result Of too many
attorneys and no competent consulting ac-
couutants. The need OF the latter is eyi-
denced from the discovery by an accountant
Of this city of errors in Form No. 7O7, since
corrected and in the text of the first com
putation for excess profits, Section POI Of the
war revenue act.
That the affairs of the Treasury Depart
mcnt are not administered in accordance
with economic business principles is appar-
ent from the fact that in the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1916, S7,O00,0O0 was expended in
collecting S500,000,000, ratio Of IA per
cent. and that it IS estimated over S50,O0OOOO
will be expended in collecting the $1,000
OOO, 900 of anticipated revenue, a ratio Of
over Ia per cent.
The Treasury Department is in a more
economic position for collecting its revenue
or outstanding accounts than is a business
concern. and no business could exist at a
cost Of IA per cent for such collections. The
cost to ordinary business is less than one
quarter of ] per cent.
+. W. RICHARDSON, c. p. A.
New York, Dec. II, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Unused Powers for Food Control

Could anything be more ridiculous than
the present state of food regulation" IN
this city as disclosed by the events Of one
dav? Or more disheartening for the poor
consumers? Judge Hylan, the incoming
Tammanv Mayor. suddenly discovers the
necessity for q law giving municipalities
power to sell foodstutfs, just at the time
his fellow Democrats in the Board Of Al
dermen refuse to permit Markets Commits
sioner Moskowitz to buy foodstuffs and
fuel with city funds to resell to the public.
Judge Hylan also urges law permitting
price fixing for retailers. and just then
Mr.. Mitchell, head of the State Food Com
mission and also of the Fedora! Food
Board comes to the conclusion that both
Federal and state laws give him jurisdic-
tion over the small dealers which amounts
TO right to fix prices.
il seems impossible to overcome habit
and official inertia. The Tribune has re-
peatedly criticised the state food law as
not being drastic and specific enough in
its terms. but The Tribune has no doubt
that the officials commissioned to repre-
sent the people have powers under that
act which have not yet been used and
which. If used. would be Of advantage 10
consumers. Judge Hylan is barking up
the wrong tree. The City Of New York
under existing law has power to buy and
sell foods, granted by the State Food
Board after the stipulated hearing. Only
the action of Judge Hylan's political col
leagues has prevented this relief to con-
sumers. Why they should have taken this
course, which without doubt would have
had some wholesome effect, even though
small, in reducing by competition the prices
of profteering retailers, nobody but the
men who voted against it can explain.
Why price fixing should not be extended
to retailers, if that power exists under
Federal or state law, or both, also remains
to be explained. The list Of "suggested'
prices is good enough as guide to con-
sumers, but. after all, it will not bring
down the charges. The food labelling
rules are all right enough, as a means Of
assuring purchasers that they get what
they pay for, but they will not reduce the
payments. These eXpedients do not get 70
the point of the matter which is that the
retailer is going to get all he can for his
goods, both by inclination and necessity
unless some power steps in to tell him he
shall not charge more than a certain
amount for given commodity.
Food regulation has been undertaken
with wholesalers and jobbers of a certain
size. Patriotism and humanity ought to
operate to compel other dealers in more
direct contact with the public to make fair
and reasonable prices, but in many cases
the facts are not in accord with theory.
Sooner or later price fixing for retailers
will have to be tried. If it can be done
under existing powers Of law, the sooner
the experiment is made the better
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Russian Peace
tor Of The Tribune.

To '.c EDITOR Oi The Tribune.
Sin. Yoar editorial entitled RUSSIAN
Peace" in this mornings issue must be
fecn disappointment 70 those who expect
me Trbuu, 10 advocate higher standard
Of conduct and international morality. Your
writer insists on the "unquestiored" righ,
Of the Russian people to shape their own
policy. and asserts that Russia for reasons
comprehensive and by no means culpaoie
rceks peace. This coming from The Tro-
aac. which has so consistently upheld ma
.ional obligation. is no less than astounding.
In private life it is recognized that the
successor Of a business or the heir OF a be
quest assumes the obligations contracted by
hi, predecessor. however onerous the per
formance may be 10 him. That the legatee
is nation does not In any degree alter the
rrinciple. No more solemn undertaking can
be entered into By peoples. a. well as indi-
yIduals. than the pledge OF mutual support
UNI, the purpose on which they are en-
barked has been consummated. and through
out history. even among unciviiized folk, sucn
a breach Of faith has been counted the basest
trcachery. More especially is such stigma
attached 20 Russia who next to Serbia was
most directly concerned in the causes OF the
war. and in response to whose frantic appeal
France without question and without hesi-
tation rose TO her obligation.
To psliate the Russian offence, which per-
1a,s is the most craven of all time, can only
tend TO weaken our moral fibre and sense OF
the sacredness of the pledged word, and for
that reason we have a right 70 expect from
tao great organs of public opinion cessa-
tion Of sentimentality on the subject OF Rus
sian affairs and a return TO that stern old
morality which insists upon the fuIilment
of contracts. however difficult the Observance
may be. II. II. hNOA'
New York. Dec 49, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Severity and Leniency
Let There Be Equal Justice for Negro
Citizens and White Enemy Aliens

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The military executions at Fort Sam
Houston have shown that our government can
strike swiftly and reent!essly AT those of our
own citizens who transgress the law. Hanged
within two days after sentence, apparently
given no opportunity TO communicate with
friends or relatives, or to seek the consola-
tions Of religion, these thirteen soldiers OF
the United States army paid the penalty Of
not being TOO proud to fight in wrong
cause. Even before the findings Of the court
martial were forwarded to Washington for
approval, their bodies had been hurried into
unmourned and unmarked graves. And thus
punishment has been visited upon more than
the condemned.
But who shall say this severity was not
warranted? 1t is much easier to justify these
summary executions Of our own citizens than
il is to excuse the mistaken lenency shown
by our government to foreign spies and plot
ters whose outrages upon lives and property
multiply day by day. II appears that the
most severe penalty imposed upon these Grim
inals and traitors, even when taken red-hand-
ed. is life Of ease and plenty in sn intern
ment camp. | have in mind several instances
reported in the press of the last ten days.
For the sake Of consistency, il for no other
reason, should not equal justice he meted out
TO the enemies of society, whether they be
negro citizens Of the United States or white
citizens of hostile power?
trust you will have the goodness TO print
this letter in your columns, as | know that
the views here expressed are shared by many.
PHILIP B. LA ROCHE. Jr.
New York, Dec. II, 1917
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20

old sailor who knows something of the
North Sea put the case well not long since.
"Laymen," he said, before venturing
criticism should remember that the Ger
man dachshund can choose his time and
objective before worrying foe and neutral
while the British bulldog cannot even
bark until he has discovered the identity
Of the ship which glides swiftly and dImly
into sight out of the surrounding dark
ness" 1t will he fortunate, indeed. II we
hear no more Of such attacks, for the dan
ger is one to which conveys in all ages
have been exposed
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
Franklin's $ Thrift Lecture

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Thriftlessness is so common ts' - !,
comes out even on the government tn'n.,
cards, where we throw away the WISDOM v
Benjamin Franklin for a useless hslf-uuu
a penny saved is penny gained m's..
nothing, but "a penny saved is tw0psA..
clear is thrift lecture in itself Tor '"'
body who stops to think.
You have to pay for your living whiis ~,
are earning and saving. and so every dol,,
saved is fairly representative Of ell the w.
which must be done to earn at least two s'
lsrs-often much more than two dollars
J. HOWARD C0WPERTHWA'.
Englewood. n. j., Dec. II. ls1I
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
American Cheek

Reports out Of France have given every
variety Of color 10 our national manners
as they appear in the light OF French
civiity. Our first arriving officers were
represented as cheerfully assuming tnat
theirs was % be the first real hghtIhg OF
the war. "Now, France need not worry
was the idea-which has its grim ana
tragic humor in the light of late news
from Washington. The same kind OF
American cheekiness. freshness. was de-
scribed as exhibiting itself in the frencn
villages where our troops were quartered.
Some Americans who had always lived III
France. and were therefore more frencn
than the French. wrote home despairlngly
of the hopeless impression We were max
INC. Needless to say French comments
were uniformly courteous and apprecIa-
tive, never critical.
On the other side are a plenty OF re-
ports assigning a proper modesty to our
Of late. \ safe guess
is tina: the carly freshness was real
enough. but came from a very few AmeH-
cans. who have since learned just how ial
behind we are in the war for civilization
and lust how long it Will be before we can
BEGIN TO talk Of our share in the Great
War. That knowledge is by this time the
common possession Of all our men on the
fighting line. We see an extract from
"The Westminster Gazette altogether
canning the malicious eossips' who as
serted that Americans were spreading
themselves" aad declaring that the
bouncing American Of caricature does
not exist at the fighting front. We are
glad to believe the statements are essen
italy true.
Who knows but that a fair shaving OF
the whole broad American cheek VIII be
one of the general results of our entrance
into world affairs, National concelt OF
disagreeable kind is the essential product
of provincialism. The arrogant British
bounder and the fresh American are twin
eouls. Both think their own countries ana
their own ways Of doing things IN
connarablv the best, for the simple reason
that.they have never seen any other coun-
try or any other way Of doing things
Such mental outlook is slow to break
down, to be sure. 1t always seemed as II
some Of the freshest Of Americans were
those who had drifted around Europe for
a goodly while. And the British bounder
goes on bounding till the end Of time. lie
has a certain class arrogance, a social
chip ON the shoulder, which Is more in
tensely characteristic than any equipment
Of the most bouncing American, to accept
"Tbe Westminster Gazette's' word. But
time will tell on both.
II will be a slow job Our Americans
will have to 20 to France and come home
again before any great change can be ac-
in the nation at large. But
slowly the leaven is certain TO work. As
our Just pride as a nation rises our
bumptiousness is bound to so down More
mower to the war.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20

In Washington

There are two wholly different condi-
tions which have combined to produce the
situation which now exists in Washington.
In the first place, confusion and chaos
were bound 20 attend a transformation
which might he compared TO suddenly
changing Q corner peanut stand into ter
minal station for trunk line railway.
To transform democracy of our sort.
not only unorgauized, but in its history
and tradition shrinking from organization
and centralization, into war state was
task which could not have been accom-
plished in any event in weeks or in months.
In a word, however great the genius OF
those who had to perform the tremendous
work, there was bound to be initial con-
fusion and chaos, and much Of the situa-
ton in Washington to-day is the result OF
inevitable difficulties Napoleon himself
could not have organized America for this
war in the time that has elapsed since we
entered It. and German efficiency could
hardly have produced great results since
April last. We shall DO we'll to avoid too
great pessimsm now when we face condi-
tions that are in themselves alarming, but
IN certain respects were inevitable and rep
resent a stage on the road we have to 60
But there remains the larger question,
which is the question of the President. On
the intellectual side Mr. Wilson has proved
his right to the world influence which he
now exercises. Right or wrong he always
has possessed a power Of phrase and a
method Of thought which make him force
IN the world Of ideas, and no American
can fail TO feel that in recent months Mr.
Wilson has not only been right in his
IDEAS. but has contributed powerfully to
the victory Of sound ideas and ideals in
the whole world.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wilson's position de-
mands not only intellectual and moral
leadership. but also a capacity for the di-
rection of material and tangible things,
for the supervision and the control Of in
dustry, transportation systems, machinery
Of every sort, at least to the extent
that it requires Of him the ability to
choose the right men to whom to delegate
these gigantic tasks.
For this task Mr.. Wilson's past life and
his whole habit Of mind unfit him. His
weakness in this respect is entirely analo-
gous to that of Mr.. Asquith, who remains
in many respects one of the most useful
and eloquent expositors Of Allied purposes
and ideals, as he was and would be again
one of the most hopeless and dismal fail
ures as an executive, as a compeller Of
men and of things.
Mr.. Wilson has spoken nobly in recent
months. The moral leadership Of the
Allied world is as nearly his as it is the
possession Of any one man; but Mr.. vii
son has been unable at any time to choose
the men or direct the machines by which
the moral ideas and principles which he
ohampioned could be made efficient, and
here lies the real root Of the difficulty in
Washington, and here is the one disturb
ing circumstance looking to the future
New-York tribune., 1917-12-20
An Insult

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: IL is matter Of astonishment 10 me
that there is not word Of comment in your
paper in regard 10 the letter signed "A Girl"
referring 70 the granting Of a leave OF absence
OF three weeks to this vile conspirator. Hun
borgemeister. II is an insult TO our sol
diers. There can be no trusting Germans.
and he can and no doubt will do more dam
rge during his freedom Of three weeks than
We can mend in a year. IDA
New York, Dec. Ii, 1917.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-29

Are we centering public vision.
On what we call a leak
Are we looking at the whole
Not the doughnut so to speak
Wall street actors are in question
Every day. yea every hour.
None need enter there in blindness
In their search for wealth and power
We ara putting in the spotlight
Those who choose the villains part
We arc losing sight Of Wilson
Playing we'll the heavy part
There's a hero in the white House.
Just as sure as God is God
Can't we form a cast about him
That Will make his part less hard9
Have We lost the wondrous purport,
or the message that he sent
Is our soul wrapped up in garbage.
When on peace we might be bent?
Have q heart for noble effort.
Play your part just half so well
And before you're one year older
Peace on earth his act may spell
L. f TILI.FR
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-29

Prohibition = Crime Preventive.
In 1910 there were eight prohibi.
ton States in the Union--North Caro-
lima. North Dakota. Mississippi. Kan
sas. Oklahoma. Tennessee. Georgia
.-..I Maine.
A study OF the relationship which
exists between crime and the saloon,
using figures as given In the United
States Bureau OF the Census report
for 1910. Is enlightenins.
This report gives tho number of
commitments to penal institutions per
1000 for each State In the Union
and tho District of Columbia. The
list runs from 1913 per 100000 to o.
1872. The first four States in the list
are prohibition States. named above,
North Carolina. IL per 100000: North
Dakota. 1854; Mississippi. 2o3; Kan
sas, 231. OF the four other States
under prohibition laws at the time OF
this report Oklahoma Is number "a
In the list, with 372 per 100000. Ten
nessee is number 30. with $50; Geor-
gia number 2s. with 4ss. and Maine
number 80. with 709,
Tennessee. Georgia and Maine 40
not make az good showing as the
other prohibition States In the group.
especially the first four: but compared
with the wettest States, the contrast
is marked.
Their records prove the contention
that the more liquor sold the greater
amount of crime, for II Is we'll
known fact that in Tennessee during
the period covered by the report the
dry law was laxly enforced: In the
larger cities saloons existed. and that
in Georgia the ear-beer law permit
ted the operation OF beer saloons. and
that In Maine the law was winked At
1t ought to be said in passing. how
ever. that these conditions no longer
prevail In any Of these States. Even
Maine Is experiencing . campaign of
law enforcement under Governor Mil
liken.
The figures as set forth In this CEN
sns report speak eloquentiy for pro-
hibition az q crime preventive-Amer-
lean Issue.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-29

Then there arc a few live ones In
the House Of Representatives who are
I>clv 10 put the House in line with
,Gc Senate ON the dry bill for the Dis
trict. and thus dissolve the govern
men; partnership with hootleggers and
saioonists
There are also some lives ones
among the state governors, men who
are Worth looking At not to mention
tho decided majority Of members Of
the state legislatures who are much
alive on this question.
Another writer IN the same issue
is distressed because Billy sunday and
Henry Ford work hand in hand with
the Anu-Saloon League.
verify the troubles Of the per
eonal liberty crowd seem to have no
ond In running away from few
political dead ones, they find them
selves surrounded by whole armies of
live ones"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-29
THE RAG DOLL METHOD
OF TESTING SEED CORN

Blacksburg. Va, Jan. ss.-w. E,
Bowers OF the Agronomy Department
Virginia Polytechnic Institute. has
this to san about what is known as
the rag doll" methods OF testing seed
corn:
Experience has proved beyond
doubt the value OF an individual ear
test for seed corn. There are various
methods for making this test, but one
of the cheapest. as we'll as the most
convenient and accurate. Is the rag
doll method.
In making preparations for the
test, secure sheeting of good quality
and tear into strips from eight to ten
inches wide and from three to Eve
feet long. II Is best to hem the edges
OF these strips IL they are to be used
very much, as this will prevent dis
Arrangement OF the kernels by the
r.vellings in unrolling. Mark each
strip lengthwise down the middle with
a heavy pencil; then make lines cross
wise about three inches apart. form
ing squares three inches wide. Two
or three inches should be left at the
upper end. where the nun, bering is
begun. for tapping after the roll is
made.
Number the squares either length
wise or crosswise as the operator pre-
fers, beginning With one and contin-
uing until all the squares are num-
bered. Moisten the cloth and lay out
in front of the ears to be tested, which
are numbered to correspond to the
numbering of the squares Remove
six Kernels from different positions
near the middle of ear number one
and place in square number one, six
two, and so on until the cloth is filled.
Then begin at the lower end where
numbers twenty mine and thirty are
located. and roll the cloth very loosely
so that the air may reach the kerr
nels after they sprout. The moisten-
ed cloth will also hold kernels in place
while the strip is being rolled.
1T Is well TO use small, irregular
shaped piece Of wood or other solid
material as a core for the roll, so as
to secure more uniform termination.
After the roll Is made tie a string
loosely around the middle. or better
still. use a. rubber band, and number
this roll number one. Proceed with
another strip OF cloth in the same way.
AS many rolls may be made as nee
essary to test all the seed corn. From
twenty to nifty ears can be tested in
thirty ears is more convenient to ham
die
After the desired number of rolls
have been made, place them in n re-
ceptacle containing a sufficient amount
Of water to cover them. Allow them
| to remain here for about ten hours;
then pour the water off. wrap the rolls
in moist, coarse gunny sack dur
lap) and place on end in bucket or
convenient size box. Turn the box or
bucket upside down over the rolls and
lift about an inch for ventilation The
bucket may be left upright. provided
Il Is sufficiently covered over with a
moist gunny sack to prevent excessive
drying. At the end Of 1--WE days the
test Is ready to be read.
'Unroll each roll In front Of the ears
which 1t represents and examine the
| kernels carefully. In cases where all
six kernels fail to terminate strong,