davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
The Labor. Convention.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the current
convention of the American Federation of Labor is
the apparent unity that exists in that body In recent
years the convention meant the playing of politics with
the Socialist element fighting to oust the veteran Pres
dent Samuel Gompers. ..- ..
Fhis convention, however, has been happily devoid
of such chickering's The organization whole seems
heartily behind the patriotic policy that declared
BY President Gompers at the outbreak Of the war.
Previous to the calling of the convention there
many whispered rumors to the effect that President
compers would find tough Shedding and violent oppos
ton to this platform.
In speaking of.ths threatened opposition the Chi
cago Herald says:
"If such opposition existed it has remained pleas
antly silent 1t has had apparent influence in the
convention On the contrary the veteran president Of
the federation to have less opposition this year
than before. At recent conventions the Socialist
wing of the unions strong that all the forensic
genius Of President Gompers was frequently required
to prevent an adverse majority questions eonsid-
cred essential This customary opposition appears to
have been dissipated by the war.
Even on the matter of strikes the federation as
such has considered the national necessity of i'm
portance than its own aspirations. The building trades
department voted to end strikes government work
That action does not Of end the strike problem
but il tends to minimize the danger of interrupted
work. The higher officials of the unions at least have
adopted the right attitude.
Sporadic outbreaks will undoubtedly occur in the
future The history of every of the belligerent
countries shows that. Not Prussan regimenta-
ton has been able prevent strikes France has had
them Despite the advice of the national labor leaders
of Great Britain and an act of Parliament vital work
has occasionally been stopped But it is immensely
valuable to deprive industrial of instgaton from
above"
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Iapanese Evolution.

II did not require the recent visit of Baron Ishn to
the United States to show Americans that Japan was
attaining commercial predominance in the Pacific
that was in the words of one observer, the economic
phenomenon of the age.
The Japanese are the master prohteers Of the war.
There is no offense contained in the phrase their
progress has been logical and natural has the wealth
they have accumuated they have simply taken adyan-
tage of opportunities that have come their way
Before the war, japanese shipping in the Pacific
was tons British, 10000, and American 10000
Since the war broke out the Japanese shipping has in
creased to Is5ooo TONS the British has decreased to
s4ooo and the American to 5000 The abnormal de-
cline in American shipping in the Pacific is due to
number of causes chiefly the passage of the seamens
act and the diversion of ships to the transatlantic
trade.
Shipping is only an index to the true Japanese de-
veopment in all economic lines In banking, in manu-
featuring in the peaceful penetration of neighboring
nations of the Orient especially China the Japanese
have broken all speed records
For the future progress of Japan, it is imperative
that she keep the friendship of the United States
That was the real meaning of the Ishii mission to
America We have raw materials and other supplies
she requires. We the coming money center of the
world When we entered the war il apparent to
the elder statesmen of Japan that power and
prestige would be immensely enhanced by it; that we
would probably emerge from it actually well as
potentially the richest and strongest nation in the world
For this reason Japan decided to make
friend instead of allowing US, through proGerman in
trigue and from other causes to drift into position
of enmity The Lansing-Ishi agreement gives her
actly what she wants and permits her to continue her
magnificent economic development unhampered and
deferred by the prospect of American hostility.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Scare-head d Reformers.

A great many reformers in effort to stir up
interest in their activities oversteppng bounds in
their statements about the moral conditions prevalent
in the neighborhood of our training camps and can
tonments.
Every patriotic American wants the lives and
health of soldiers guarded most carefully and
every one wants to know just what environments
surround their camps. But exaggeration of eondi-
tons not only unjust to the soldiers but mis-
leading to the public thereby giving very bad i'm
preston of the caliber of in
Gen. Bell of Camp Upton, has just exploded one
bubble which was blown up by reformer. Through
an investigation of report which attributed to
Mrs. Grace Hun1iston that seven young girls about
to become mothers, had died at Camp Upton he de-
clared that there absolutely evidence for such
statement
The generals statement follows in part
1T is not possible that even one girl could have
died at Camp Upton much less seven, and I not have
heard Of it. l have heard of no deaths whatsoever,
and since references in the morning papers to Mrs.
Humistons address called to my attention early
this morning have been diligently investigating every
possible source of accurate knowledge information
These efforts were begun nearly ten hours ago and
mus far have been unable to find any who has
heard of anything furnishing the slightest foundation
for Mrs. Humston's allegations"
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
1t Is Some Horror.

From domestic cantonments, from the train
ing and prison camps of Europe, from even the bonn
barded trenches at the front the declaration that
one of the mightiest horrors of war the vermin
and such cry for germicdes goes up that we wonder
il it isn't good policy to sarve old Germany out
of bug-killer.
It's genuine twenty four hour -per-dem horror
too and it is strange that the big yell hasn't
come earlier
There was that time, long ago, when mother
fondled our curls and started us to school for the
first time. She glad that we we're to share
desk with that nice boy, Willie Smith; Willie who
never used naughty words, who wore soiled
shirts who never shoveled food into him with knife
Willie who was so clean and correct and lovely that
Angelo missed in not getting him into his galaxy of
cherubs in his immortal art works; aud so FORTH until
We hated Willie, but couldn't punch the purity out of
him, being personally understood
Two days of sharing the desk with dear nice
little Willie, and mother Cook one fonde at our
curis and made mad dash for the fne-toothed comb
Talk about horror. What we had and mother tried
to get would pass as overallowance even in
Flanders trench. And as fast as mother combed out
the horror one day little Willie Smith put in a new
supply the next For rect, ceanly antiknife using
child, Willie sure had at his command corkine lot
of horrors
And ae morning dad caught mother in teazb,
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Don't Kill the Goose.

The cooperation of all classes in war service
activity is beautiful tribute to the unity Of purpose
and the unselfshness of the American people at this
time, but certain phases OF the enthusiasm that is
being shown open to serious criticism
A good many of the doing our-bit" people are
workiI on the wrong tack and their activity goes
more toward furnishing them entertainment than
toward producing results
A dispatch from New York says: "Out of
SI47593 which was recently taken in at army
and navy bazaar the result of the generosity Of
the public only $754o6 will go to benefit Uncle Sans
soldiers and sailors"
The report further states that the majority of the
money was used up in expenses including so per
cent rake-off to the managing director
This affair should be Investigated at and
those who responsible for such a condition,
shown up in their true light. The public has been
very generous toward all war service but the public
is generous because it is service. The people are
not going to stand for any such condition the
one quoted. When they give up their money for
soldiers and sailors they the soldiers and sailors
to get it.
II the various patriotic organizations not
full they will kill the goose that lays the golden egg
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Uncle win.

Lord Northcliffe tells Lloyd George that, if the
allies don't get on, Uncle Sam is likely to take
entire management of large part of the
Evidently Northclife studied US thoroughly dur
ing his recent soiourn of months in midst His
tory shows that in all his Uncle Sam has been
slow to start but that agoing, he's much like
one of those British tanks
This Characteristic is of the natural character
istics of democracy. To mobilize public opinion is
job requiring time and persistency. When such
opinion is modified there comes the tremendous job
of mobilizing resources. But, with opinion and re-
concentrated, look for tank" effects
Lord Northclife is entirely right in believing that
being pobilized and holding the worlds pocketbook
Uncle Sam is going to reach for the reins and do
considerable of the driving before the is ditched
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Asain-How Long the wars

For months and months past Con-
SressioTlal mail has been surfeited
with letters asking how long the war
would last.
The discreet Representatives and
Senators Rave said they didn't know.
Naturally all of them wanted 1t over
within the year, but few of them pre-
dicted that it would end within that
time.
Lately. the frank admission has
gone forth-and Is 1t we'll for America
to understand it here and now-that
the war. in the light Of present facts,
cannot end within two years. and
probably three years.
The Russian debacle. the decline Of
Italy, the delay in our own shipbuild-
ing programme delay that is as ap-
parent as 1t Is distresslng-added to
the fact that Germany does not seem
to be crumbling internally have con-
vinced the thoughtful members of
Congress that we are in the war until
we can have at least two full sum-
mers' aggressiveness thrown against
the Kaiser's hosts.
Not many members have allowed
themselves to become Nas pessimistic
over inc OuIlOOh as sOIne VI Itl0 Nls-
itors in Europe have become from
their contact with conditions there.
But the fact that a three-year con-
tinuance is expected now. in the light
of what facts are presented to men,
bers here, should weigh upon every
Americans mind and should make
him realize that the situation is ex-
tremely serious.
Even among the people of the coun-
try who are most conserva tive-many
members returning from their homes,
tell US there has been a confident be-
lief that our actual entrance in the
war would begin to spell the imme-
date doom of Germany. That is not
at all the case. America is due for a
gruelling time. The powers Of despot-
ism are not going to succumb as
easily as that. We must fight long
and fight hard-and three years will
be none too short, according to the
present outlook. in which to achieve
the victory which all Americans hope
will come to the allied cause.
THE OBSERVER.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Smaller Than Usual.

The conversation in the lobby of Washington
hotel turned to the fishing subject when Representative
William r. Green of Iowa. said he reminded of
little incident along that line.
One afternoon three men of party that was spend
ing time at the shore went fishing, and the big
gest thing they caught dimnutive specimen about
four inches long. This, however, damper on
their happiness and to everybody in the hotel they
proudly exhibited their catch.
"By the way" remarked a charming young woman
to whom the string was shown, fishes go in schools
do they not?"
THAT is the usual belief" answered the happy fish
erman. "But why do you ask?"
Merely fancy of mine" smiled the young woman
81 thinking that you must have broken up the in
FAINT cass"-Phladelphia Telegraph.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
WHAT Is GOING ON
NsGERMAM
As Told by the Newspapers We
Get from the Teutonic Empires
and Neutral Nations.

How BurEomaster's
Food Was discovered.
A fire which broke out in the
Official residence of the Burgo-
master OF Kassel, a model Official.
who was never tired Of preaching 20
the people about the virtues OF self
sacrifice for the holy German
cause" has left him a chastened
and at the same time a discredited
and miserable man. The Munich
Post says:
The fire brigade hastened TO the
premises, but on arriving at a room
which seemed to be inimminent dan
ger OF destruction. they found the
burgomaster and his people stand
ing on guard at the door and trying
to stem the onrush OF the rremen
by the magic words. Official apart
ment'
The fremen forcIbly pushed the
guards aside and penetrated into
the room, when they found, instead
Of the official deeds. books. and seals
which one might expect TO discover
in such an apartment a great hoard
OF provisions. Hams and sausages
were hanging in festoons from the
already burning gallery; cheese.
butter, and pots Of jam hsmpered
the iremen's steps over the smok-
ing floor.
I'm the meantime the inhabitants
Of Kassel, who cannot all be burgo-
masters possessed Of Official apart
ments, are glad IL they can secure
a few potatoes or a turnip for their
bacon for Sundays.
what One German
Thought of Women.
A choice character is Or. Julius
Gerei. a model burgomaster, OF
whom the Munich Nachrichten tells
the following characteristic story
1T has just transpired that thu
eminent BuTEomaster DR.. Julius
Gerei has been secretly married 70
Johanna Kiminik. a FORTRESS en-
ployed in his own mayOral Office.
According to the statement Of
the frau burRermeister. she enter
ed the service of the municipality
as a girl of 16 four years ago. Or.
.Gerei at that time chief municipai
advocate. fell in love with her,
promised her marriage. and per
suaded her to live with him az his
wife.
As he failed TO carry out his
promise. the girls brother threat
.ened DR.. Gerei with a prosecution,
and in terror Of this exposure. he
consented, and the marriage took
place secretly. He had then become
burgomaster. and as Il was beneath
his dignity to associate with the
girl he had betrayed. he declared
that he would have nothing to do
with his wife. between whom and
himself all was at an end"
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column in the City

The name adopted by the War De-
partment for the new ordnance prov
ing ground in Hartford County. Nd.
is the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Construction work is proceeding with
ceIerity at this new testing plant.
which is to be one OF the most i'm
portant proving grounds in the coun-
try, taking over the work for which
the facilities at Sandy Hook are no
longer adequate.
The War and Treasury departments
have combined to hunt down the man
or men who, having secured possess
sion OF some stolen pay vouchers,
are forging signatures and cashing
these checks. Thirty-seven Of the
vouchers wc7e stolen from Camp Lee,
Va, some time ago. but only recently
they began to filter through banking
channels to " Nashington. The Treas
ury Department is making an investi-
cation through its own Secret serv-
ice
The prejudice existing against see
ing men Of mffitary age acting as
members of the chorus OF a musical
comedy has already had the effect OF
causing theatrical managers to elim-
mate the chorus man in many Of
their new pieces. But in an operetta
produced in New York City recently
it was absolutely necessary to have
some chorus men since the plot of
the piece was concerned with life in
a regiment in France before the war.
The chorus was forthcoming, but the
management carefully nOts< in the
program the exact military status Of
each man after his name. nine being
over age; four being exempt; one
belonging to q base hospital unit and
subject to call. and two others having
serial numbers under the selective
service act that have not been drawn
as yet.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Sam Blythe, War Director.

In successive articles appearing re-
Gently Sam Blythe has raped both
Congress- and the war administration
for their alleged 'laxity in numerous
directions.
So far as Congress is concerned. the
members have a splendid defense.
They have done Just about what the
people have wanted them to do-disre-
garding individualistic actions here
and there. and forgetting some of the
momentary lapses over details.
So far as the war administrationists
are concerned, they also have de-
fense. They never conducted a wal
before, consequently they never knew
what a stupendous task 1t was until
they found themselves entangled In II.
Viewed from a large angle the con
census Of opinion Is. among those who
know many things concerning the
war. and the vast differences of opin-
ion which existed in this country
when we entered the war. America
has done exceedingly well.
II Sam Blythe knows where we
could do better, so some members OF
Congress suggest. It might be well for
q e come here and sradieats ne
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
More German Propaganda.

Congress has been mildly aware, Tor
some time, of the efforts of certain
Austrian interests to encourage Lithu-
anians and others OF their subjects
to resent this country's entrance into
the war, and ito resist its efforts TO
carry it on. But in large measure the
mother propaganda comes from Ger
many, and it is not far from the doors
of the Austrians, Of somewhat doubt
full loyalty to their own country's best
interest, to the doors of the German
morale destructionists. The admin
istration is taking this into account
quite naturally, and so will members
OF Congress. However, if war
declaration with Austria is wanted py
President Wilson it will be forthcom-
ing without difficulty. The President
has been the only one that stood In
the way of its passage so far, incl-
dentally, and he has had good reasons
for not doing so, the country may De
assured. The demand for war
declaration has been voiced in various
quarters for sometime past and has
increased of late. The President has
been able from the first to distinguish
between the ill-advised demands for it.
and the necessity for doing so, so that
all that has been said and all that
may yet be said on the subject Will
not disconcert him, or cause him to
act inadvisedly in the matter.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
EACH DAY o. THE YEAR.
By John Kendrick Bangs.
A TAwDRY CHOICE.
lies abed and takes his ease

Who lies abed and takes his ease
In days of portent like to these
Is like the man hard by some mine
Where gems OF lustrous beauty shine.
And will not stretch his hand to seize
The treasure rare
That lieth there.
He would not lift his hand mayhap
To gather treasure in his lap.
And barters all the best of life
The glow Of battling care and strife.
The joy of matching his own mind
Against the trials of mankind:
The bliss OF overcoming pain,
And fighting back to peace again
For tawdry things he thinks he sees
There in the empty arms of ease.
(Copyright l9l7l
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
II McAdo0 Ii Right

II Secretary McAdoo Is right as to
the optimistic prediction he made to
4 Baltimore audience with reference
to appropriations for the fiscal year,
members OF Congress will be too de-
lighted for ordinary expression.
But the majority OF the members are
holding their breath. They prefer to
look at the matter in retrospect rather
than introspeCt. If there is any re-
joicing to do they will do it at the end
OF the session, rather than before 1t
even begins.
The truth Is, many OF them fear
the coming sessions probable demands
for money. They feel there is some
thing they haven't thought about that
will rise up TO confront them at an
idle moment-if they have such things
IN the hill these days-and II there
is anything that hurts in a campaign,
II is the insistence OF their constitu-
ents that they have voted away the
peoples funds too freely.
However, at so unusual time as
war brings, most of the members-it
can be said to their glory-are willing
to do what Is expected OF them in the
matter of appropriations. They do not
want to stint in the least. They real
iZe that money means lives at this
crucial time. and their hope is that
their home folks will see this as plain
ly as they do. At any rate. most or
them are treating the matter philo-
sophically, and IL the men whose
brains are directing the war call for
more money Congress will be ready to
produce 1t from some source or other.
A. this time, when the world happens
to be dashing toward bankruptcy at
an alarming rate America is going to
stand up longer than any other ma
ton with the possible exception OF
>Japan-and she can recover many
times quicker than that nation aver
could. anyway.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
THE SPIRIT OF OUR FATHERS.

The spirit of our fathers
Rebels against the greed
That covets. world-dominion,
And vaunts its vicious creedl
The spirit of Our fathers
We must with arms defend,
Against the foes of freedom
And wars debacle end.
The spirit Of our fathers
Now calls to you and me;
To help to fight the battle
For world-democracy. y
The spirit of our fathers
Our flag has now dnfurled,
TO win for all the future
A liberated world! 3,
We are a peaceful people,
And fain at peace would be,
But we shall only win it
Thro' allied victory;
The way is long and bloody,
That leads to liberty;
The deafness dream of ages,
That men shall yet be freel
STELLA v. KEL,
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

derelictions and supplant them with
definite. pro ressive steps. Or II
would help some. it has also been
pointed out. If he would only write
as effusive an article as the two
that have already appeared, telling
just what should be done TO hurry
us farther along toward our ultimate
victory.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
SHIP SINKS; 29 MISSING.

Seattle. Wash. Nov. 1S.-The fishing
steamboat Manhattan. OF Vancouver,
b. c, has been wrecked OF the
North Pacific coast, according to wire
less messages from the steamship
Mariposa. 1t said a boat containing
six sailors had been picked up and
that several other boats. contaiiing
twenty-nine others, are missing.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

Villa, who is proud to be referred to the "Na-
poeon of Mexico" is appearing in battle wearing a
full beard and mounted on a white mule. But he'll
have to add linen duster, before we recognize
the Napoeonic tone of his present appearance.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

with our sacrificed head in her lap and after view
of the horror seized his trusty razor and gave
hair cut that lasted until We were through grade
at the A grammar That's why we feel competent to
suggest that If you can't send the soldier boys gern
cides with which to combat this horror. for Gods
sake send them razorsl
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
PoLIcEWoMAN LOSES CASE

ossining. n. Y. Nov. 1S-PouAe-
woman Anna O'Shea, Of Ossining. idst
her first case before a jury when
Frank Serrafin, accused OF mash
ing" was found not guilty. in Justics
Irving Valentines court and 6ls-
charged. r..
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19
Panama Restricts Alien Foes.

Panama, Nov. lS.-The national as
senibly passed at the second read
ing the bill suspending constitutional
rights to enemy subjects. The bill also
grants the government all powers
necessary to deal with the war situs-
ton,
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

United we stand; divided crawl around and
earn an indemnity for Germany Save for the next
bond issue!
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

BY the way Russia's leading patriots issue procla-
nations we Judge that there's stn some vodka tap
over there.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

Villa has captured Ojinaga small town across
the border The name taken from the dying
words of Mexican drunk, who over by a
COW in the 9Th day of his souse.
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

The author of CLOSED Is the Barroom Door" will
please call for his, her We're too almighty
busy with Open Is the Furnace Door,"
The Washington herald., 1917-11-19

Chcagoans refuse to buy corn bread. Try rye on
'em It's more German-lke