davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
The Men Behind the Securities
iladeIphia. Penn. MAY .. 1911.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Recently there has been much dis
cussion of spurious financing, and you are
carrying on a constant campaign against dis
honesty and chcanery in business, so the
necessity for protecting the public against
spurious securities seems to be quite live
subject II has been considered so pressing
in many states that several legislatures have
seen fit to set up Blue SKY Commission
whose duty it is TO scrutiniZe all securities
be fore they shall be offered to the public
IN my judgment the Blue Sky Commission,
instead of solving the problem, adds to its
difficulties and is an unwarranted check on
legitimate enterprise. II opens wide held
for graft. permits personal animosity to in
terfere with business, and causes expense
and delays which hamper initiative.
After giving the matter considerable
thought believe real solution Of this prob
lem has been offered by one Of the leading
bankers of this country, and | am surprised
that the public press has not taken it up and
nut it before our legislators, even in these
exciting times. This remedy Is offered by
Mr.. Otto II. Kahn. and is given to the world
through pamphlet published by the New
York Stock Exchange entitled, "The New
York Stock Exchange and Public Opinion
Mr.. Kahn's suggestion is: Against UNI
scrupulous promotion and fnanciering a rem
edv might be found in law which should
forbid any public dealing in any industrial
security unless its introduction is accom-
panied by a prospectus setting forth every
material detail about the company concerned
and the security offered such prospectus 10
be signed by persons who are to be held re-
sponsibe at law for any wiIful omission or
misstatement therein"
Here is a very intelligent suggestion Of
practical value. coming from a man of I'M
questioned integrity and Of long and success
full experience Il should receive immediate
attention by our lawmakers, with the idea
Of having it enacted into law as speedily as
possible.
would like TO suggest that the law should
also include mining well as industrial Sc
curties. and that the persons signing the
prospectus should do so under oath. This
law would in no wise hamper business lnitia-
tive. would not subject business to delay or
graft and would not endanger the public by
the lack of judgment or lack Of honesty OF
Blue SKY Commission, but would afford
complete remedy unless our courts are cor
rupted, for false statements made under oath
would give rise to both civil and criminal
prosecution. We now receive measure of
protection from the postal authorities, and
the above law would help them materially
as well as provide added protection.
IL. c. CUTTING.
New York. May !. 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
Urgent Red Cross Work for Franc.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your Sunday edition Part u "a
published an extract from a lecture by Dr.
Maurice Bigclow, director of the School Of
Practical Arts of Teachers College, Colun.
bia University | quote from same the FOL.
lowing sentence: At the present
time there is no demand for women to make
Red Cross bandages as the supply at pres
ont Is ample"
Personally know of a rush order for four
thousand bandages and congresses received
from France last week. The women M The
chapter 20 which this request was seat
worked late into Saturday night and all dT
Sunday to complete this shipment. The D.
mand for this branch of Red Cross WON
from the other side is daily received, ne
need is urgent and the supply must be con.
stantly replenished to meet this need. The
six hospital units ready for the front (whieA
hope 10 leave SOON will, when the supply
they are TO take is exhausted. require thou.
sands of such hospital necessities again
The need for Red Cross workers 10 keep
these and other orders filed is great II IS
most unfortunate that we should be misin-
formed in d matter Of such Importance 81
this time. MARY A. JOHlSTONE.
New York County Red Cross Chapter, I'll
Fifth Avenue, May 2, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
New York, May !. 1917.
The Battle Hymn" Negro Music

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The contribution from j. J. /. entitled
Take Our War Song from the Negro is full
Of interest. For that is exactly what we are
doing in choosing the Battle Hymn Of the
Republic" The music goes back to the days
Of the oldest and frcest people Of the world
the Africans 1t was ceremonial and rclig
icus music.
In connection with this, let me tell you OF
the experience of young American in Cuba
He was there in connection with plantation
engines. and, having some time on his hands
one afternoon, sat at the piano picking out
the tune of the chorus, "Glory, Glory, Halle
lujah!" One Of the servants thrust his head
in the room with a startled expression. lie
was Immediately followed by others, all
nodding and bowling and begging him TO go
on. Others came crowding from outside
land for hours" he said, 81 sat there, pick
ing out that tune over and over and over
again After that the island was mine. Wher-
ever | went they'd do anything for me- and
bowed and saluted me on all sides. | never
could understand it,"
That music has a hidden meaning and
comes from ancient days with long lost
message. Revive it. Make it a marching
tune, a war song tune, and it will carry our
people with a strong impulse out of pettiness
into greatness. c. J. r.
Guyencourt, Del, April IS, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
A Good Song to Learn

Those readers Of The Tribune who have
been writing lately of the difficulties in
volved in an attempt to sing "The Star
Spangled Banner might do worse than
strain their sensitive threats this week in
learning that hest of all national battle
songs. the "Marsellaise.' The little demon
stration at Madison Square Garden last
night was good beginning, but it was only
beginning. No visitors in the world could
be more welcome than the French sailors
now with US. The freedom of the city is
theirs not only in the formal sense which
presents a key or a wreath, but in the in
formal sense which cheers and huns and
sings. Our voices may be poor and our
French may be worse. But we can at
least do our best to express the down
right affection and admiration that are in
our hearts
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
PAY at the Training Camps

The conferrees on the army appropra-
ton bill have decided to allow all candi-
dates for commissions who go to the train
ing camps salaries of 500 a month. This,
so far as it goes, is good policy as well as
a measure of justice. According to the
original plans, only subsistence and trans
portation were TO be furnished. Those
who have already passed examinations will
receive commissions, and such commits
stoned reserve officers as attend the camps
will receive the regular army salaries for
their grades.
4 great deal Of discomfort would have
been avoided if the War Department had
from the beginning realized the desirable
ity of a more generous attitude toward
candidates for commissions. We need Off
GERS and need them badly The depart
ment itself has expressed a desire to at
tract to the first camps applicants of ripper
years and larger experience. Yet those
were just the applicants who could least
afford to serve without pay or on relative
ly small pay. The nearer to thirty or
thirty-five a candidate is the greater is
the sacrifice he will make even now, in
accepting 500 a month for the train
ing period.
In our opinion, better results-even from
the departments own point of view
would have been obtained by promising
each candidate the pay equivalent to the
salary of the grade which he should at
( tain as a result of his camp work. and
giving those who failed 500 a month.
/ Then older men would have felt more
willing to take chances. If successful,
| they would receive substantial back pay
! and having a preference over younger
asprants would enter the army as cap
tains, probably rising soon thereafter to
the grade Of major. With fiat allowance
/ Of 500 a month the incentive to the older
men is much less than that to the very
/ young men, and the disproportionate num-
/ Der of very young applicants in this de-
{ partment has been freely commented on
/ by the officers in charge Of camp registra-
/ tion as a discouraging feature of the sit
uation. Another regrettable feature has
/ been the inability Of National Guardsmen
/ to get the necessary leave from their regi-
ments to go to the training camps and
/ qualify for commissions.
! This is to be young mems war. No
opportunity has ever before been offered
TO young men as tempting as that Of entry
in the officers corps of the new United
States army. The demand for officers is
| so great that the government cannot af-
ford TO be hnicky about qualifications. A
youth of twenty~one can now get a lieu
tenants commission in from three to six
months. Within a year, perhaps, he will
have made as rapid progress as a regular
army officer in peace time makes in six or
eight years. Within two years he may be
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
MANY West Points Needed

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Referring to your editorial in your
issue Of May entitled West Points Future
/ beg to express my appreciation Of its intelli-
gence and foresight While it is certainly
true that instruction in the academy will have
in the future TO be supplemented perhaps
modified. and certainly intensified in tie field,
/ see no reason why the West Point idea
should not continue to prevail and all OF our
officers TO be instructed primarily in the pres
ont standards 1t is clear that the academy
itself is not large enough for that end 10 BE-
achieved but it seems 10 me possible and
feasible 70 multiply the number Of academies;
and this would be necessary if we are to
continue 20 give the future officers IN Ogr
greatly increased army the same primary
qualifications which we have in the past giyes
and give to the present army. ! would r.
spcctfully suggest. if it has not already teen
suggested, that the country be divided ina
sections and that an academy of the char.
acter and nature Of West Point be established
in each section. the location and the number
of those sections to be established by the
prope: authorities.
trust that you will give this idea YOU
thought. As an excuse for my presenting ny
views on this subject ! beg to say that I
have served in the National Guard as a pr.
yate, as an officer in the war with Spain, and
at present am reserve officer in the Nauouil
Guard. J. II. CLAIBORNE
New York, May .. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
Enlistments and Suffrage

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Like another of your correspondents
have been deeply interested in the gov
eminent report on the recruiting for the reg
ular army in the various states during me
month of April. The Far West. the home o.
equal suffrage raised 295 per cent OF us
quota. The Middle West. where five states
have granted the Presidential. county and mo'
ncpal suffrage 10 women, follows, with l's
per cent. The East recruited los per eeh'
of its quota.
The earnest anti-surrage lady who wro"
TO The Tribune recently that it would DC
dangerous to enfranchse women in the pes
ent crisis should take comfort from mess
figures. They seem 10 indicate that the No''
ing woman does not feminine" the state 70
any dangerous degree, and they seem 10 poih'
out also that the men who respond first "
their country's call to arms are the sort WHO
give their women the vote
MINNIE J. REYNOLDS.
West Portal. y. j., April 30. 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
CONSUMPTION Age Limits

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: | thoroughly approve Of your editorial
of yesterday in regard to the age limit in the
CONSUMPTION bill. It would be better far to
provide for higher limit now than make
new law later. The option of calling those
of certain ages could easily be left TO the
proper authorities The limit should at
least be raised to thirty-fve, If not forty.
There is one thing the newspapers could
do that they are not doing. at least sufi-
ciently-inform the public generally of the
requirements. physical and mental for mill
tary duty. Also the various kinds and classes
Of military and naval duty. Let US know what
positions we may strive for, what positions
are open TO US. what we must do 70 be eligi-
BILE; what qualifications we must possess TO
make us eligible for training as officers.
either in the army or the navy; all about
the positions open in the mosquito fleet, in
the aviation corps; what openings there are
for men with special training, such as tail
ors, shoemakers. cooks, stenographers.
clerks, telegraphers, etc. Also to what ex-
tent slight physical drawbacks make us in
eligible. For instance. ! am nearsighted.
There must be- at least there should be. some
positions available to me, where that defect
would be immaterial. General information
on these subjects might help recruiting CON
sderably. ED
Orange, y. j., May >, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
The Wars Labor Lessons
Hours Fatigue and Health in British Munhon fdcf0"eS

tories should provide proper sanitary faciii-
ties. safeguard machinery, make arrange
mcnts for adequate medical and nurse
schemes. etc. The value Of first aid is en-
phasized
The report on special industrial diseases
oives the causes. methods OF prevention ana
treatment for the principal industrial d's-
eaeos which have been found 70 affect mu-
,ition workers. Particular attention is d.
roc,od 70 the importance Of adequate light
ing and ventilation, which are aosoiute'y e'
sential for the maintenance Of health anu
comfort. and therefore the eihclency ana I"
nacitv. Of the workers. Special measures w
preyent undue strain upon eyeslght anu ~
reduce the liability Of accidents to MINI
mum are recommended.
In addition to presentation OF 'ne'
memoranda the bulletin includes the br''lS"
Treasury agreement as 20 trade union ruIeS
affecting restriction OF output, the munitions
Of war act Of 1915 and the amendment
thereto Of 1916, the rules for constituting
and regulating munitions tribunals IN Eng
land and Wales and brief account OF com
pulsory arbitration in the munitions lhouS-
try in France. ~,
The committee calls attention 20 me adoeu
danger Of industrial accidents: Moreover
al the present time the introduction OF ne"
labor and of employees unaccustomed 70 the
PROCESSES concerned particularly IN con-
junction with the need for speed and press
ure, overtime and night work, with the CON
seduent fatigue, must inevitably Iead %
greater risk Of accident"
This corresponds exactly with American
experience as stated in safety bulletin Oh
the Effect of the War on Industrial Acci-
dents" issued by the Utica Mutual Compeh-
sation Insurance Corporation.
"Tbe war has caused indirectly an enor-
nous increase in the number severity ana
cost Of industrial accidents, especially dur
ing the year 1915.
"The principal reasons for this large IN
crease Of industrial accidents are as follows;
81. Employment of incompetent, unsHliied
and inefficient labor
"2. Increased pressure for larger output.
"3. Disregard and non-enforcement OF
safety rules and regulations.
During the last few months the accident
rate has been somewhat reduced, because
emploves have become more accustomed 10
their work However, many OF our INDUS
trial workers will now enlist to fight for our
country and the services of many skilled
workmer will be placed at the disposal OF
the War Department. To fill their places
now employes will have to be hired who are
unfamiliar with their Jobs. In fact, women
will probably fiji the places of many OF the
men who are called for service. with these
changed conditions there will be even greater
necessity for safety measures to prevent ac-
cidents"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
"Chemin- des-Dames

INor,h Of the Aisne the enemy continued 20 With
draw IN the direction Of the Chcmin-des Danes
French Oncial Keportl
Did they pass in that long forgotten
Oldcn time which the trouveres sing
Ambling jennct and tinkling palfrey,
Lutte and pipe for the journeying
Silks and satin and musky velvet,
Matron jolly and laughing LASS:
over the road Of joyful venture
Ladies Of romance did they pass?
Is it from ladies'. such as these.
That the name comes down through the cen
turtles?
Did they pass in that long forgotten
Olden time which no trouveres sing?
Clumsy sabot and heavy burden.
Pain and tears for the journeying.
Rags and patches and wolfsh faces,
Matron weary and toiling LASS:
over the road Of hunger driven
Daughters Of labor did they pass.
Is it from women, such as these.
That the name comes down through the CEN
turtles?
What matters that long forgotten
Olden time which the poets sing?
War flung men from the seven oceans
Here now pass in their journeying.
Serf and pageant have both departed,
Matron vanished with laughing lass:
Over the road of long dead ladies
Soldiers Of glory onward pass.
1t is from heroes. such as these.
That the name will go through the centuries {?
DYSART MMULLEN.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04

"Hours. Fatigue and Health in British NUM-
ton Factories" is the title Of Bulletin 22l JUST
issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OF
the United States Department Of Labor as the
first Of series Of bulletins prepared AT 'ne
instance of the Council Of National Defence
for the purpose of giving wide circulation 10
the experiences of Great Britain. France 'an-
ada and other countries IN dealing WIN 'a0oI
in the production Of the largest quantity OF
munitions i'm the shortest space Of time. me
bulletin contains the reprint OF eight menu
randa published by the British Health OF NUM-
tion Workers Committee, which was appoint
ed in Scptember. 1915. "to consider and advise
in questions Of industrial fatigue, hours OF
labor and other matters affecting the personal
health and physical efficiency Of workers IN
muuition factories and workshops. lhese
memoranda deal with Sunday labor, fours OF
work. output in relation to hours OF WORK, m
dustrial fatigue and its causes, sickness and
injury. special industrial diseases, ventilation
and lighting in munition factories and work
shops and the effects Of industrial conditions
upon eyesight.
From a perusal of these memoranda 1t
appears that Sunday labor, in the opinion oil
the committee is not profitable, and that
continuous work els a profound mistake
and does not lead to increased output; that
a system of shifts. although impracticable
in some cases is to be preferred TO overtime
since the latter taxes the strength OF work
ers too severely, results in loss Of time be
cause Of exhaustion and sickness and cur
tails unduly the period Of rest; that night
work should be discouraged; that output
cannot be maintained at the highest level
for any considerable period if the conditions
are such as to lead to excessive fatigue and
10 deterioration in the health of the worker,
with a recommendation that hours should
not exceed ffty-six week for men engaged
in very heavy labor or sixty for men en-
gagged in moderately heavy labor, while sixty
four should be maximum.
The committees study of industrial ia
.igue and it's causes sums up its own studies
Of hours Of labor, emphasizing the impor-
tance of regularity of hours and Of daily and
weekly rests. made with due consideration
Of the character of the work performed In
its report on sickness and injury the COM
mittee points out certain injurious condl-
tions which should be guarded against as
likely TO diminish seriously the efficiency Of
the labor force ITO conserve energy and
efficiency is other things being equal, the
way to improve output" The medical exam
nation of all workers before employment IS
recommended, and it is suggested that fac
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
No Class Camps

IIOIn IN' hVNI"F VVHI""'I
1t is good to know that the War Depart
ment is soon to ask Congress for an appro-
priaton decently covering the needs Of the
reserve officers camps which open May 8.
At present no provision is made for pay
and there is danger that the camps will at
tract only men Of means. The government
needs 10000 men, 10000 Of whom will receive
commissions after three months of intensive
training.
All must be equal in camp, and the oppor-
tunity must be equal for all applicants. We
want no hint Of class military camps in this
country. nor do we want to lose any good
material. If we can afford TO lend billions to
our allies, we can afford TO meet our own
legitimate expenses.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04
Ice Should Be Cheap
No Excuse for Boosting Its Price
This Year

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The advance Of the price Of ice this
voar is unreasonable illogical and inconsist-
emit. It is not warranted by the facts or
figures. The advance of the price OF almost
all foodstuffs has been reasonably justified by
the shortage in the supply and the enormous
demand from abroad Neither of these con-
tingencies exists as to ice. In the first place.
the ice crop has been the largest gathered IN
many wears and is the best possible crop tnat
could be gathered from the Hudson River.
The average thickness has been l3 inches
and in some places it ran as high as % inches;
but nowhere was any put in that averaged
ovor II inches. as it was shaved down to that
before sending up the slide into the house.
This is the commercial size, and it is not only
easier to handle in packing in the ice houses
but is more convenient for retail delivery.
Most of the work is done by machinery
from "in the water" until packed. The teams
we're paid s. a day and the men from 81 to
So. so day, which is nearly identical with the
1916 wage. Again, this season there were
ideal weather conditions for harvesting the
crop. Last year uncertain weather, thaws
ard rains interfered with the work poor
crop was secured. and the unlawful practice
Of "cultivating" had 70 be depended on to
obtain small tonnage of dirty ice Every
farmer and resident put in his own little
supply, and what was true Of the Hudson
River district held good in other parts of
the state on account Of the extremely cold
weather this winter This should have an
important bearing on the price.
The statement that $50 Of the ice con-
sumed in New York is manufactured is not
particularly clear. 1t can hardly be expected
that the ice companies filled up their ice
houses along the Hudson River to their full
capacity for the purpose of letting the ice
melt this summer
Some authorities on ice manufacture state
that it takes ton of coal to make seven
tons of ice. e., to boil water sufficiently to
sterilize it before placing it in the, ice
machine. Other methods are to use the eX-
haust steam for the distilled water, but this
the engine.
The large supply, the uniform commercial
size of the cakes and good quality of the nat
ural ice should more than counterbalance any
slight increase in the cost of feed for the
horses and any advance in wages to drivers
and helpers.
Probably ice is one Of the few necessary
commodities the price OF which should not be
boosted, and it is unjust and unfair TO the
community that already has so many troubles
and more to come
EDWARD HATCH, Jr.
New York, May 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-04

a captain or even major, grades ordi-
narily reached in from ten to twenty years.
Youth is going TO have its swing in the
new army. There was all the more rea-
son. therefore, for a policy which would
at the outset have favored older applicants
for commissions and introduced into the
rapidly recruited officers corps an clement
Of greater personal solidity and wider eX-
perience. Now is the time for that Gle
ment to get into the army on the most adj
yantageous terms After a few months
the impetuous tide Of youth will sweep
everything before il.