davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
AFTER THE WAR IS OVERT

Watchful waiting may keep US out
of war for the time being and un-
preparedness may fill the souls of
Kitchin, Mann, and Moore with holy
peace. But, if things keep on as
they are or if they grow worse, what
is to become of the United States
when the entente powers make up
with Germany? Are we to rely
upon England, France. Russia, and
Italy 10 save US from the Teuton
wrath? And will they do it?
Will the allies care a button about
what happens to US if we let them do
all the fighting while we accumulate
gold? Will they not be rather glad
to see US get "ours" in our turn?
Will it not be rather a help to them
in making terms to abandon us 10
the Germans with leave to extract
indemnity from our hoard of war
profits? And will the Germans do
it?
Let US face the situation seriously
just as it is; it can be summed up in
few words: We have delivered,
virtually, an ultimatum to Germany;
by rejecting its terms she may force
US into war. If she evade that is
sue for the moment for reasons of
her own, she will nurse an undying
resentment against us, which she will
seek to crafty as soon as the pres
ent war is over.
All the other powers of the world
approve our course toward Germany,
but expect US to make II good by
positive action, to force the reality
of our position upon the Kaiser's
government, not allow it to re-
main a mere cheap expenditure of
words. Should we fail TO enforce
our demands, or should we Content
ourselves, in case of the worst. with
paltry demonstrations unworthy of
our strength and means; should we
fail to make common cause and take
an adequate share with the entente
powers in the battle for human free
dom, then. these latter will regard
themselves as free from all obliga-
ton toward this country of support
or friendship. They will let US take
care of our own interests, and in end
ing the war they will act without re-
gard to us and without consideration
for our fate at the hands of Ger
many.
This is the truth that confronts US.
Really we have gone too far to re-
treat. We are in the turmoil. We
are mad. crazed with pacifism, if we
do not take every possible step TO-
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
THE SLIDING SCALE SYSTEM

The Consolidated Gas and Electric
Light and Power Company of our
neighboring city of Baltimore has
just raised its dividend rate from z
to per cent, and has reduced the
rates for electric lights 25 per cent
for its minimum charge, and half
cent per kilowatt hour generally.
This is putting into effect by volun-
tary action the London sliding scale
for public utilities which Justice
Brandeis adopted long ago for Mas
sachusetts gas companies.
AS long as public utilities are pri-
vately owned and managed, this sys-
tenn is one founded on essential JUS
tice, the advantages arising from eff
ficiency and economy and the de-
creasing cost from the wider use of
an increasing population being
divided between the cor
poration and the consumer.
The Potomac Electric Power Com
pany might profit by the Baltimore
example.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
TIME TO SPEAK OUT

President Wilson has neither said
nor done anything to bear out the
New York Worlds recent publication
of the news that both he and Secre-
tary Baker favor universal military
training. Mr.. Wilson asserted some
months ago his belief in universal
voluntary service" whatever that
may mean. Since then he has de-
clared that universal military train
ing would not cure the evils of our
military system, as revealed by the
mobilization on the border.
With this opinion the military and
naval authorities of the United
States, as well as many level headed
business men, disagree. If the
President has been impressed by
their views he can render easier the
approximation of his ideal of "uni-
versal voluntary service" by stating
plainly to the people of the United
States why they should train. The
Chamberlain bill, which would pro-
vide a rational, democratic system
of defensive instruction, awaits the
Executive Endorsement. Without this
Endorsement it has little chance of
passing Congress.
In the meantime it is worth while
refecting that if military service is
TO be entirely voluntary, Jaxpaying
should be entirely voluntary also.
The principle is the same. If some
body else should pay your personal
preparedness tax why shouldn't he
pay your money tax?
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

ward coming out of it safe and
whole. To do SO, we must develop
our own military power without de-
lay to the efficient striking point;
this in the first place and above all.
Secondly, we must win the respect
and confidence of the peoples and
governments who should naturally
be on our side by showing the same
courage, enterprise, resolution, and
spirit of sacrifice, that they have
in such degree as the
march of events and the future con-
duct of Germany may call forth.
This is the road not only of honor
but of safety. No other is open to US
except that which ends in destruc-
ton,
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

out of a thousand who upon release
from prison will return to a cotton
mill for job.
The inmates of Federal prisons
from the peculiar nature of their Of
fenses against the Government are,
with the exception of those sentenced
from the District of Columbia, not
the ordinary run of prisoners. In
Atlanta many of the prisoners are
moonshine distillers, accustomed to
work in the open air, who could be
employed most advantageously upon
farm work. Most of the others are
men whose intelligence would enable
them to earn a better living than
they could possibly hope for in low
wage industry, such as the cotton
textile industry is. One of the chief
objects of prison work ought to be
the training of the prisoners to make
an honorable living when released.
The same amount of money ex-
pended in enlarging the farm at At
lanta prison or in erecting small
shops of various industries in which
skilled labor may be employed,
manufacturing goods for Govern
ment Use, would be a far better pro-
vision of the law, if the welfare of
the prisoners and of society upon
their release from prison are the
chief ends in view.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
SOME PERILS OF SOBRIETY

Drunkenness made its first bow
into polite psychological society
when the late Hugo Muensterberg
announced that an occasional "jag,
for certain men, under stress of mod
ern conditions. was a beneficial sort
of relaxation. Since then the shorter
and uglier word has been abandoned
and psychologists spend much time
and space in discussing what they
term alcoholism"
DR.. Menas P. Gregory, alienist,
who figured in one of the Thaw trials
land it is an obscure alienist who
has not), is quoted as saying: "Men
drink to escape the realities of life.
And the only way to cure the drink
habit is to divert the drinking i'm
pulse to another channel" He con-
tinues: "Men will get drunk on re-
ligion, altruism, and mysticism, just
as much as on whisky if you can
turn their impulses in that direc-
Iion."
We suspected as much. Especially
has this suspicion come over US in
viewing a futurist exhibit of pic
lures. What mighty Gag" must have
been averted by the now famous
"Lady and the Mustard Pot?" What
three days escape from the realities
of things must have been achieved
in dashing off that luminous cubist
delineation, "a Diurnar Being Float
ing Through Space"
Then there is some impressionisJic
music we have heard. Oboes whim-
per in that strain of fearful con-
fidence that "hangovers" affect;
flutes paint weird wind pictures of a
foled delirium tremens escapade;
snare drums clatter their represen-
tations of dishes flying at the head
of a belated and besotted homecomer,
and the artist, if not the audience, is
just as happy, la Gregory, though
sober.
Why has no one thought to re-
verse the process? Is it an accepted
psychological fact that nothing can
be worse than inebriety? If the re-
suits of post impressionism. grape
juice drinking, misguided altruism,
extreme paciicism, minor discords,
are merely to drive countless others
to drink to preserve the sobriety of
the perpetrator, where is the great
gain to temperance? Isn't this
working in what the psychologists
call "vicious circle?"
Isn't it worth considering whether
it would not be better to encourage
some men to drink, in order to avoid
the dire consequences of the things
they do and say when they are
sober? AS an experiment, won't
somebody buy Hampy Moore a cock
tail?
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
AN UNFORTUNATE APEROPRIA.
TON

The sundry civil bill carries an
appropriation of S2S5,OOO for the
erection of shop buildings and fac
tories and the installmeL.s of wood
work and machinery for the manu-
facture of furniture and wooden
ware, at the Leavenworth peni-
tentiary. This will give the prison
ers an opportunity to learn a trade
where wages are excellent and the
conditions Of labor are such as would
appeal TO the men upon their release
from prison. On the other hand
S445,OO0 is appropriated for the
erection of factories and the INSTALL
ment Of cotton textile machinery at
the Federal prison at Atlanta, Ga.
While it is necessary for prisoners
TO be employed for humane as well
as for economic reasons, a cotton fac
tory is about the last place that
should have been thought of for the
employment of grown men already
confined within, the walls of a prison.
Numerous reports collected by the
Federal Government show that it is
a low wage industry in which the
number Of women and minors far ex-
ceeds the number of adult men.
Other statistics show that the
death rate from tuberculosis among
cotton mill employees is large on ac-
count of the irritation of lungs and
throat caused by the flying lint. The
experience Of South Carolina with a
textile factory inside the peniUentiary
walls was that the factory bred
tuberculosis patients to be cured in
the beautiful tuberculosis hospital
hard by. But even if the best and
most modern sanitary conditions are
observed. there is not one prisoner
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
A Real Dream.

Sir: You told us one OF your dreams
and invited us all to come in, as the
snoring was good. Here's the dog
gondest dream l ever had. / dreamed
I was Il bandit pursued by a posse
from my home village. What crime
had committed was not clear, but the
citizens we're pursuing me. ! knclt
down, Ieveled my rifle at the road
ahead OF me and waited for my pur-
suers to come in sight. just then a
brother said TO me: why stop and
make a stand now? Run and hide. You
may get away. Plenty OF time to
start shooting after You have been
cornered." I took his advice and ran
to my farm. Into the stable ! dashed
looking for a place to hide. Hy one
mule stood in the stall. | took the
halter off him and turned him into the
pasture. "They do not know that
have but one mule" ! said. / then
put the mules halter on myself and
stood in the stall chewing straws
from the manger. The men looking
for me streamed through the stable
and out the side door into the pasture
without finding me. When | woke up
/ realized that this dream not only
was absurd, but, further. that it had
a satirical touch Of whimsy such as
no other dream have known. ! actual
Iy dreamed this: it is no waking
fancy. Bring on your real dreams to
match 1t.
c. L. Edison
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
UntimeIy Death OF Frank L. Joanninl
Called n National Loss

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
The American people owe a heavy
debt OF gratitude to Frank l. Joannini.
who met tragic death in an .automo-
bile accident in Washington on Febru-
airy 16 His death. in the opinion. Of
those who were acquainted with his
work. Is virtually a national loss.
The legacy which Joannini left to pos
terity is TO be found in his law code
translations. They comprise all the
laws Of Cuba. Porto Rico. the Philippine
Islands. the Civic Code of Panama, and
Of Argentina These were rendered for
the Comparative Law Bureau Of the
American Bar Association, and they are
splendid evidences OF his encyclopedia
knowledge Of Spanish legal technique.
At the time Of his death he was under
contract with the Comparative Law Bu-
reau for the translation Of the entire
series of Latin American codes. and
was at work on an exhaustive Spanish
law dictionary.
In view OF our increasing interest in
South American affairs. It Is a matter
Of lasting regret that the painstaking
and finished language-craft of this
American-Roman was brought to so
sudden an end. Had he lived to COM
plete his undertakings, We would have
had the perfect expression Of Spanish
legal phraSeology forever preserved in
fawless English. His untimely demise
will be lamented by all students Of
Spanish and English law and literature.
For fourteen years he was official
translator Of the Bureau Of Insular AZ
fairs. He was Judge Caihoun's secre-
tary when that gentleman investigated
the asphalt concessions in Venezuela
was translator and interpreter of the
American delegation to the third Pan
American conference held in Rio de
Janeiro; was chief clerk Of Judge Ad-
vocate General Enoch Crowder. U. s.
Army. during the second Cuban inter-
vention: was selected as the chief
mouthpiece OF the A. B. c. Conference
at Buffalo; took an active part in the
recent Pan-American Financial Con-
gress: was frequently called upon by
the Department OF Justice for work re-
quiring research in Spanish. Philippine,
Cuban. and Porto Rican law: and dur
ing the last four years OF his life was
the Spanish-English medium Of the Ar
gentine embassy. HOMBRE.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

Is the Reed bone-dry amendment a
antis? Will the fourteen States af-
fected be induced to repeal their pro-
hlbition laws? The House used to
pass regularly a bill wiping out the
Capitol bar. expecting the Senate to
kill it. One day the Senate passed the
House bill, and the Capitol has been
dry ever since.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
A WAR MEASURE WHICH WE
REFER TO w. W.

Sir: As a measure OF severe re
taliation upon Germany I would sug-
gest that President Wilson put a ma
tional ban upon public and private
performance or possession of German
music. This would show Germany
that we no longer love her. AS an
army of spies would be needed to
enforce the law and confiscate all
German music, a porkine Congress
could hire for the purpose all their
deserving constituents" All sheet
music confiscated by the spies could
be weighted down with German phon-
agraph records and dropped into the
sea This latter work could be in
trusted to the navy, giving 1t an oc-
cupation at once warlike and per-
fectly safe. Again, the fines collect
ed from persons caught playing or
whistling German music could be de-
voted to the building of central Of
fices for the music sleuths.-D. l.. L.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
GREETERS ORGANIZING
Local Hotel Men Are canvassed by
Promoters.

Representative hotel clerks of
Washington met at the Ebbitt last
night to draft plans for the formation
here of a branch of the National
Greeters' Association, an organization
of hotel clerks with headquarters in
Detroit.
Gus Gumpert, of the Ebbitt, was Sc
lected as the temporary head OF
committee appointed to canvass the
sentiment among local hotel men. Z.
Z. Pitts; president OF the National As
sociation of Hotel Clerks, explained
the possible benefits of such an or
ganization.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

We fear for the legislatures pro-
posed shoe Standardization that l.
would turn out just a paper law
against paper soles, unless it should
actually increase the high cost of liv-
ing by creating a new army of in
spectors.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
LETTERS FROM READERS
Comment on Current Topics In
Communications to the Editor,

heHiSdhiOHo u tHG EoIIOFss
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
Dear Sir: I see you are at 1t again
wanting, relief from censorship
wherever 1t may be imposed) for
newspapers of the class to which you
belong. Publicity is a good thing;
the people need to know the truth
about things; they ought to know
what II Is they have to support, ana
so forth At the same time Ton the
very same page a short time ago)
you were wanting to suppress free
speech and free press on the part of
those whom you do not like-the
pacifists.
And why? Merely because this is
a serious crisis-as though that were
not just the time when we need to
have light from everybody's minds.
The pacifists know well that 1t is q
serious crisis; and that Is the very
reason they do not want to be guided
by the advice of jingoes.
In saying this I am not speaking
as one of them, for I am on the
fence about this German business
and about preparedness; but I think
just as much of the brains and pa
triotism OF the pacifists as 1 do of
yours That means i think a good
deal of them. However, The Times
ought to be censored, or else the
other party ought to have free utter
ance. WILLIAM c. LEE.
Washington, February 20.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

When Senator Fall is willing 10
stand by the President In the present
crisis. even Senator Cummins should
be able TO forego criticism.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

A pacifist was asked the other day
IL he would carry his pacifism so far
as to stand by idly and see American
women outraged without striking a
blow in their defense.
He refused to answer. on the ground
that 1t was a hypothetical question.
But 1t is no such thing. American
women have been outraged in Mexico
again and again during the past three
or four years. And the Administration
at Washington. evidently under the in
fiuence OF the pacifists. has consist
emily refused to deal firmly with the
Mexican situation Such steps as 1t has
taken have confirmed in the Mexicans
the idea that they can kill, insult. rob.
and outrage Americans with impunity.
Americans will continue to be NAL
treated in all parts OF the world so
lcng as the present Administration is in
power. or until the present Administra-
ton is forced to a change of policy and
to the exercise of some semblance of
manhood by public opinion.
We believe that the American peo-
pie are fundamentally sound. But for
nearly four years they have been
cursed with a weak. timfd, vaciIlating,
uncandid leadership. They find them
selves today barred from the seas by the
mandate OF a foreign despot, and ap-
parently helpless in the face of daily
assaults from the German-pacifst CO.
terie on their national Independence.
This Is the price they pay for having
Mr.. Wilson as their Chef Executive.
The measure of the present attitude
of the Administration is furnished by
the Barthelme dispatch. Secretary
Daniels permitted a story to be sent
to Germany which in effect notified
the German government. and people
that President Wilson did not mean all
that his words naturally implied with
regard to the U-boat crisis. Secretary
Daniels is still in the Cabinet If
the President meant what he said
originally, Secretary Daniels should
go, for his action was a betrayal of
his superior and of his country. But
Secretary Daniels is still one of the
Presidents advisers, and Is the world
at large to be blamed for drawing the
inference that his course met with the
approval OF the President? What are
we to think of this incident, anyhow?
Did the President wish the American
public to understand one thing and
the German government to under
stand another thing? That is, in
effect, what has happened.
The present Administration has dis
played neither strength nor candor.
And IL we are forced to go to war
under its leadership IL will strive to
conduct the war in a timid, hesitant,
halfway sort OF fashion until II gets
notice from the patriotic portion of
the public too strong for even it to
disregard.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
Don Marquis
Column
SubsaillnE.
Tuna. .SaflipC

SubsailinE.
Tune: Sailing"
Y'heave no, my lads. since Germany
Permits US still to sail the sea
And now across the ocean clear
One ship a week may shyly steer
One ship that's striped with measured
red and white
May steer for England's fenced-in shore
tonight:
Then. here's to the Kaiser. and here's to
the U-boats true,
Who will teach US how to sail the ocean
blue!.
Chorus
Sailing, sailing, under tho bounding
main
Thus U-bodts t1iH see the mains not
free to Uncle Sam again;
Sailing, sailing, under the bounding
mdiH-
Thus U-boGtS tUiH see the mains not
free to Uncle Sam d0aiHl
-Clement Wood
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

Talking Moore he talks alway,
Talking more than one should say:
Talking Moore talked yesterday,
Talking moreI
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

Now that Charlie Chaplin has
given $1JO,OOO to the British War
Loan, we may expect to hear of more
numerous film explosions.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

Germany still insists she meant her
U-bodt earning. Polite disbelief seems,
hotUeper, TO be the attitude in certain
political circIeSs,tH Washington.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

4 man tcho doesn't hare teto mis-
takes IN his record doesn't hare aHv-
thing eIss.
DON MARQUIS.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

George Drumm Is leader of an or
chestra in one of Paterson's moving
picture houses, says A. B. c.
The Washington times., 1917-02-22

or all the creatures God designed
My favOrite is the oyster.
He's always affable and kind
And never cares to royster.
He lies upon his bed at rest
Neglecting every task-O,
think ! like the oyster best
(With lemon and tabasco.)
-Guy Holt
The Washington times., 1917-02-22
Acts Less Shocking Then.

However, the United States went to
war with England in 1872 for covert
acts" far less shocking, deliberate,
and atrocious than have been com
mitted by Germany during the. past
year, according to authorities Oh his
tory and international law.
Searching and firing on an Ameri-
can vessel which left Washington for
New York precipitated the war of
1872. Incidentally the striking Of the
colors by the commander of the YES
sci and his submission to the search
resulted in his being court-martiaIed
and suspended for five years.
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-02
LIBRARIANS OF THE
STATE IN SESSION

Caldwell, Jan. 1.-The second annual
session of the Idaho State Library as
ISOLATION convened in this city yes
terday. The meeting Of yesterday
was highly interesting and in the
evening a reception was given the Wis
iting members by Mesdames F. F, Beale,
Paul Case and p. A. Boulton. The
meeting of the association was presid-
ed over by Miss Gretchen L. Smith.
of Pocatello. Superintendent H. II.
Clifford Of the schools Of this city was
one Of the speakers on the program
yesterday and ably discussed the rela-
ton existing between school and IL
brary and Mrs. Ward Stone, regent OF
the Pocahontas Chapter. D. A. r. Of
this city. read a paper about work &C
complished in this city In the formu-
lation of genealogical department in
the city library. Mrs. w. B. Bicknel,
also of this city. presented an exhibit
of book labelling and binding.
The program Of today's session In
cludes a lecture on bulletin work by
Mrs. Henry Blatchley of the College of
Idaho. discussion on collecting maya
zines for libraries by Mrs. b. l..
Breigleb, of Mountain Home, and a
lecture on children's reading by Mrs.
Ewings. of this city.
The annual election Of officers for