davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Life the Plagiarist
1t Simply Cannot Help Initiating the
Ingenious Film

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Perhaps your readers, certainly Mr..
II. F. Sherwood, assistant secretary Of the
National Board of Review of Motion Pict-
ures, will be interested in little incident
lately brought to my attention in which the
claim that motion pictures incite to crime
receives a most laughable reductio ad abb
surdum.
According to the Newark newspapers OF two
or three weeks ago, certain Mrs. Lewis
kidnapped neighbours baby TO palm of on
her husband as her own when he returned
from a long trip to California. The police
found the father" proudly engaged in dan
ding "his" child when they came TO make
the arrest.
Now, Mrs. Lewis had no more unusual de-
fence for her action than the observation
that "the mother OF the child had two more,
anyway" But if the arrest had taken place
just two weeks later when a certain screen
farce called Baby Mine" had received its
first presentation in motion picture houses
what would have been Mrs. Lewis's alibi?
Obviously, she took her crime from the
film, which she never saw. The story would
have covered the country with one more
frantic evidence of the terrible effect Of the
movies on life.
OF course. if Mrs Lewis had been close
student of the drama. she needn't have waited
for the screen production of BABY Mine;
she might have recalled the narration of the
same plot Of kidnapped children and happy
husbands in the stage play of six or seven
years ago And then, perhaps, the drama
would have been accused of instilling crime
by its stories.
1t just happens that, to go still further
back, Margaret Mayo, the playwright, kid
mapped the plot of BABY Mine" from a news
paper item printed in Chicago, about women
who practised in real life the deception which
was afterward narrated on screen and stage.
After all, perhaps there are very few au-
thors who have been vouchsafed the unusual
distinction of seeing their plots plsgiarized
by life. CLYDE KIRBY.
New York, Sept 25 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Do Women Want to Vote?
Mr.. Wheeler Challenges the Suffrage
Count and Its Significance
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The fairness of The Tribune will. !
am sure. allow me space for a reply to the
article, "Women Want the Vote" This nrti-
Gle is based upon a statement from suffraga
headquarters that 993.152 women have signed
papers stating that they want tho vote. It
appears, however, from the New York census
for 1910 that there were then in the State OF
New York 2.757,b2l females of twenty-one
years and over. This number is now Ger
tainly ms much 100000, so it appears that
even on the sufragsts showing there are
over two women who could not be persuaded
to sign their petition for one that signed.
But what evidence have we that the num-
Der given out from suffrage headquarters
consists Of women OF voting age? NO evil
dence is furnished on that subject. II the
wishes of the women under voting age are
10 be considered, the proportion OF those who
have signed is still less.
Some Of the signers have assured Us that
they were for anti-suffrage, but signed to
avoid Importantly. Every one who has had
anything TO do with circulating petitions
knows that this is often the case is less
trouble to sign than to refuse
On our part we propose to quote to the
sufragists the words of Edmund X. Terry in
his admirable book, "Votes for Women.
WHY?"
"The offer had been frequently made by the
Legislature to the sufragists that special
election would be arranged surrounded by
all known safeguards, at which all the women
citizens of the state could vote. and if ma
iority Of them voted for it the necessary
steps would have been taken to constitution
ally give it to them. These offers were alb
ruptly declined for the reason rs given by
the suffragists that they stood no chance of
carrying such an election"
The bill for the purpose indicated by Mr..
Terry was actually introduced in the Legs
lature, but il got no support from the suffra-
gists and consequently was not pressed. For
these reasons we are still convinced that the
great majority of women in New York do not
want the responsibility or burden of the bal
lot. EVERETT +. WhEhLER,
Chairman, Man Suffrage Association Opposed
TO Political Suffrage for Women.
New York, Oct 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
The Voice in the Fog

A new marvel now greets those who
navigate Block Island Sound. In thick
weather Point Judith Light is to cry a
warning of its shoals by radio-telephone.
Every five seconds the call will go out
across eight miles of water, Point Judith
Light" To every third call will be APP
pended this warning, with a two-mile
radius: "You are getting closer; keep off !"
Any vessel with an ordinary radio receiver
can pick up the hail.
Primarily the fog warning probably is
intended for naval craft about Newport.
The Sound boats generally keep well out
from Point Judith, but its tricky fogs and
shoals already have piled up two subma
rines on the rocks. There is a touch of
the picturesque in this voice picked out of
the fog reek, however, which leads to the
hope that the device will prove successful
and be generally adopted
Even with the present handicaps, which
are due, perhaps, to ignorance, the wire
less voice in the fog has certain obvious
advantages. Fog plays strange tricks
with sound waves, muffiing or distorting
them in whimsical fashion. A single flash
Of timed light that loses itself in a
writhing column Of mist may lead mari
ner more perilously astray than ever did
misplaced signboard an inland wayfarer.
And if atmospheric difficulties are over
come every danger spot along the coast
could call through the night, the fog or
the murk of snowy gale tidings that would
spprise unwilling or unwary shippers
precisely of their peril. Lights might be
obscured or disguised; the dismal bell or
whistle might be ice-choked or struck
dumb by an adverse wind, but the voice
would speak with honest tongue-"You
are getting closer; keep off,"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
For Poland
70 the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: You were kind enough TO publish
when the Prussians Leave Poland" which
told little about our committee, "The Polish
Reconstruction" May ask you now to give
the address of our headquarters-24 East
Forty-sixth Street? The officers of the COM
mittce are: Honorary president, Prince
Poniatowski; president-general, Nine. Laura
de Gozdawa Turczynowcz; treasurer, W.
Kirkpatrick Brice, so Wall Street; chair
man of the executive committee, Mrs. ". b.
Beekman; acting secretary. Miss Elizabeth
VI. Packard.
While | have no hope of reaching those
lived and suffered with. still there are others,
millions of them, to help when peace shall
come. as il must some day. We must be able
and ready to stretch out the hand, to send
peaceful army into that country which the
Hun has ravished. to help them TO look life
in the eyes once more, 10 stand on their own
feet, and just be human.
To this end we are gathering a fund land
artcles) for the purchase of portable houses,
agricultural implements (there is not spade
TO bury the dead in Poland), clothes, blankets,
etc, and seeds. These are the essential
things necessary to begin life where there is
nothing but holes in the ground and graves
where stood Polish homes and farms, the
forests gone One dare not think of the
conditions there unless with the feeling one
could in some way help. We shall be so
glad of help to realize this dream of ours
sending quick and efficient help to Poland
the first instant il is possible.
LAURA DE GOZDAWA-TURCZYNO
New York, Oct 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
The High Cost of Yarns
Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Hoover burrowed into the high
cost of living, with drop in foodstuff prices
resulting from his excellent work.
Throughout our country thousands of
women are devoting every spare moment to
knitting woollen garments for their boys
already "over there" or facing the issue.
Other thousands are procuring their wool
from that wonderful organization, the Red
Cross, at cost price gratis, but only on
condition that finished garments be returned
there. SO every mother isn't sure that her
boy will be QUILTED
Then there are other thousands longing to
buy the worsted to make it up for their
boys comfort, but too poor to pay the de-
partment and other stores exorbitant prices
for it, Consequently there are many bleed
ing hearts
Why not have Mr.. Hoover look into this
rituaton? Let those women and young girls
who only find time to knit gay colors for
themselves nowadays pay double the price
for wool if there is no other way out of it;
but for the boys sakes, who are giving up
everything for home, country and President,
come down with the prices on the gray and
brown yarns, or enjoy your gained profits
with your blood money.
l. W. KETCHAM.
East Orange, n. j., Oct. 2. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05

apparently cooled, for the records OF the
commission show that in the next twenty
two days he was in Albany on commission
business Just three times. There was an
allegation, never quite proved, that he also
sat one day with that body when it held
session in Rochester. But his visits to Al
bany were of sufficient duration to permit
him TO advocate scheme whereby he
would be stationed officially in Buffalo, and
thus would not have to leave home to visit
the main office Of the commission even so
frequently as had been his practice. THIS
plan the commission did not regard with
favor.
In Justice to Mr.. Hodson it must be re-
called that after the publication of the
facts concerning his brief visits to the
Capitol his attendance at sessions OF the
body of which he was member became
more regular. The fact remains that until
he was publicly criticised for absenteelsm
his record of attendance was slightly less
than 20 per cent These circumstances are
commended to the attention of voters who
believe the states legal representative
should be on the job all the time not 20 per
cent of the time.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Exemption for Dentists
or of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: No action has as yet been taken by
the government regarding the temporary
exemption of dental students. Medical stu
dents. however, have been exempted subject
TO service, if called, after they have been
graduated and served their internships.
II is an established fact that dentistry is
specially of medicine, and because Of this
dental students should come under the same
ruling as medical students. Don't you think
that temporary exemption OF dental students
would be a wise, efficient and practical move,
subject, of course, to the same ruling as
medical students?
The following facts are worthy OF consld-
Grafton by every patriot;
Firstly-The growing dependence or the
medical profession upon the dental profess
sion for cure of certain diseases, the foci Of
infection of which are supposed to be present
at the root ends
Secondly-The indspensability of the dem
tai surgeon in the army and navy.
Thirdly-A decrease in the number OF dem
lists TO be graduated within the next i've
years by at least so per cent, caused BY an
increase in academic and professional re-
ouirements, by normal loss, failures, sick
ness. etc, and also by the draft. This Is
based upon data collected by committee Oh
dentists.
Fourthly-A decrease in the number OF
dentists means an impediment 10 the prog
ress of preventive medicine, which is tho
acme of the healing art.
Fifthly-The mistakes committed by Eng
land and Canada by drafting dental students,
with the result that they had 70 be recalled
from the trenches and encouraged to COM
plete their professional education, should be
a sufficient argument for temporary exemp-
ton of dental students.
EDWARD WHYNMAN,
New York College of Dentistry.
Elizabeth n. j., Sept. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
The Ballot Confusing
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your comment in your column Talk
Of City Hail." in to-dsy's issue, is illuminat-
ing in regard TO the working of the present
law controlling primary elections
Whether Intentionally or not the present
system of voting at the primaries is most
confusing. | believe my vote was valid in
all respects, but the ballot required such
close inspection and careful marking that |
am not at all surprised to note that many
voters found it difficult proposition to vote
as they desired to do These modern i'm
provements may be up TO date. but am so
old fashioned and so conservative II do not
object to the word as to doubt whether the
average voter is not more misguided and
confused than advantaged by the new sys-
TEN of voting. Let US get TO genuine cleo
ton in November and these cobwebs will be
swept aside. EDWARD s. FIELD.
New York, Sept. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Organized for Self-Defence

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In Mrs Wadsworth's letter in to-day's
Tribune she seems TO lose sight of the fact
that the organizations-and there are many
with different names but the same funda-
mental idea-which are working for the en-
franchisement of women are "organized for
the purpose Of self-defence" also.
So we are literally one in our aims.
But are we putting the same meaning into
the word "self-defence"? The anti-women
feel that voting will be burden, and do not
wish to undertake it. Suffrage women feel
the need of the ballot to Tighten the burdens
of all women-the workers in shop and Office
and factory; the workers for social better
ment. in settlements and other organizations
solving sociological problems One meaning,
the frst-is lazy and selfish one; the sec
ond-is a broad, humanitarian, sympathetic
one.
Furthermore, if the women do not wish to
assume this burden, they need not do so, any
more than did the men of Maine on Septem-
Der 10, when only $4,000 voted, against $780,
coo at the last gubernatorial elect on.
Your caption, "Let the Women Decide ?" has
been answered. And Mrs. Wadsworth is evil
uently not lHlorueu, though IL WAS puDIIsHeu
in the press that over 100000 women in New
York City and over 100000 more throughout
New York State have registered their desire
to vote One million names cannot be over
locked in a count on any subject, but this par
ticular count banishes forever the claim that
women do not want the vote.
Mrs Wadsworth says that the people" re-
ferred to by Mr.. Mclean are those meant by
President Lincoln.
Again we agree. President Lincoln said
all the people" People are the populace
men and women and children-an all the
people means all the men and all the wom-
en-. too.
II is just on this fact that we are basing
our pleas for justice and the vote.
GRATIA COLLIER.
New York, Oct 2, 1sl7.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
A Supplementary Opera
Adequate Performances at Cheaper
Rates Would Educate Public

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | have been greatly interested IN the
series of letters which have been appearing
in The Tribune on the subject OF grand opera
and the prices TO be charged therefor. Many
Of your correspondents object to the so-called
star system and the high prices which are
inseparable from it. This objection seems to
me to fail to take into account the perfectly
natural and, in fact, inevitable desire on the
part of the people to hear the very best ex-
ponents of the art Of opera who are avail
able. That in a word, is what the so-cailed
stars are In order to hear these they are
evidently willing and able to pay the prices
asked
For those who must hear these great artists
and who are unable to pay the prices de-
manded for orchestra seats, the cheaper seats
are always possible. | can testify from per-
sonal experience, having sat in all parts OF
the opera house, that a very large number
of the seats in the top gallery are practically
as satisfactory for the purposes OF seeing
and hearing as are any other seats IN Tn"
house. No; cannot get along without the
Metropolitan, and, taking everything into
consideration, the price of the tickets is not
unreasonable. But there is large demand
for wel-presented opera without the stars
at lower prices. Your correspondent, "A. D.,
in to-day's issue writes as follows
"On the other hand. the cheapening OF
opera to bring it actually below current thea
tire prices is not desired by the rank and file
Of opera lovers, as is proved by the failure
of popular priced opera, which is unable to
give satisfactory performances for dollar
or two"
Evidently "A. j." did not attend any Of the
performances of the San Carlo company,
which. in the opinion of many of the best
informed musical observers. gave thoroughly
satisfactory performances at these prices. |
heard Aida" from a rs cent seat, and the
performance, while not faultless, OF course
and even Metropolitan performances are by
no means always that-was entirely ade-
auate. | believe that there is room for
permanent organization Of this kind. which
would provide opera of this general level OF
excellence at prices of the same scale as
those asked by the San Carlo company. The
financial success of the San Carlo engage
ment is a clear indication that such an en-
terprise would be self-supporting at least,
and il would fill a long felt want in the mu-
steal and educational life OF the city. 1t
would not compete with, but would supple
ment, the Metropolitan and educate the fut-
ure patrons of that institution. r. A. {.
New York, Oct. l, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Two American Marches
ditor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: M. f. H." in this mornings issue,
asks readers of your admirable paper for
suggestions concerning American marches to
be played in Europe. WHY not THE Stars
and Stripes Forever" by Sousa? The open
ing bars o. this majestic composition are
known to every one calling himself an Amer
lean; the piece is clever bit of orchestra
ton, and its composer man who has won
the admiration and esteem Of every one.
Another march l suggest to be used Is
James X. Hackett's march, "The U. S. A."
| was one of the privileged few. who heard
this march played by band which Mr..
Hackett so kindly agreed TO conduct for the
occasion. This march is also a fine piece
Of work, and. like 1.-The Stars and Stripes
Forever" written by an American. Like M.
f. H." I, too, would like to see some sug-
gestions sent in by other readers concerning
marches. DAVE.
New York, Oct 8, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05

The parade of Red Cross nurses and
workers was in many respects the most
striking spectacle Fifth Avenue has seem
4 splendid and noble enlistment in the
country's war forces there stepped forth.
No one could stand and watch without ie-
slizing how calmly and steadily the women
of America have faced the war and how
utterly the nation can count upon their
help. their labor their lives.
The contingents in blue and service gray
fitly represented our vanguard already
within reach of German bombs on the bat
t!efield. They stand toward the other
women of America as our fighting men
toward the men whose lot is here. Fer
them goes up our first prayer, our deepest
admiration. Already American nurses have
lost their lives in the service of their coun-
try. 1t is long line of many thousands
who must march in the future and risk
their bodies and lives with equal heart
and will.
What it is still hard for US to realize IN
America. in these first small beginnings CT
war, is that such parade as yesterdays
IS only the first sign of what our women
must and will do as the war comes
home to us. Every day is adding to the
list of women who volunteer in one field
or another. But it is only in a country
ike France or England or Canada, that
has borne the burden through three long
years. that there has grown Just realiZa-
ton of what vast labor of every descrip-
ton women can do for their country.
1t is in such countries, naturally that
the last opponents of political equality for
women have been silenced for all time.
Some parts of America may yet hold out
against the worldwide forces making for
suffrage Judging by the experience of
the other nations, the question is solely
how fast and far the lessons of the great
war are brought home to our people.
Among those lessons such a spectacle as
Yesterdays marching women ranks high.
In the face Of so much clear-eyed valor
and calm, wise sacrifice the voice of the
anti-suffragist sounds forced and strange.
The old, worn pleas meet the situation
about as effectively as fintlock rifles could
compete with artillery drum-fre on a mod
ern battlefield.
The point that the magnificent march of
our nurses brings home is the coloSsal
waste of judgment and ability and expert
ence which the state produces by refusing
to consult its women on public problems.
Women are not men, never can become as
men. In peace and in war their expert
ence, their faculties, their views are differ
ent But their responsibilities are equal,
their courage is equal, their service is
equal and their conclusions are equally
essential to that joint wisdom born Of
human experience by which a just state
should be governed
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Our Japanese Visitors
New York College of Dentist
Elizabeth, y. j., Sept. 81, 1917.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor Oh Inc lroune
Sir: Sidney L. Gulick in his comment
on your editorial, "Our Japanese Visitors"
falls into grievous error in his classical
ton of the different peoples he mentions
in his letter as to their origin or stock
which | believe should be corrected.
He classes the Armenians with the He
brews and the Syrians, all OF whom he
dubs as Semites Now, the Armenians. one
of the most highly cultured peoples of the
white race Of whom, unfortunately, We
have too few in this country, are just
about as far from being Semites a.
Irishmen would be. They belong TO that
most progressive subdivision Of the white
race from which spring the great peoples
of Europe. They are members of the grea.
Aryan stock, or what is sometimes called
the Indo- European family. Incidentally. il
may be remarked that, while our ancestors
we're roaming around the wilderness %
Europe, the Armenian people were enjoying
high degree of civilization, and are to.
day the peers Of any race in cultural and
intellectual achievements. IL is precisely
for this reason that the dirty German is
combining with the unspeakable Turk 20
exterminate this great people. Highly civ
lized peoples cannot be so easily absorbed,
you know, by the colonizing schemes OF
any nation. particularly that OF Germany.
Where is the sense OF propriety that even
mentions the Armenian people in the same
breath the Japanese?
Even the Syrians are not Semites, bat
spring from the Aramaic branch Of the
white race Mr.. Gulick apparently has got
them mixed with the Assyrans. who are.
or rather were. of the Semitic family. The
Hebrews and the Arabs are really the only
distinctly Semitic peoples left to-day. thu
Assyrians, the Ph9nicians and the Baby.
lonians having practically disappeared.
RICHARD MARLoWE-
Elmira, n. Y. Oct. 2. 1917.