davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
ELECTORAL VOTE cANvAssED.
Congress In Joint Session Declares
Wilson and Marshall Reelected.

Washington. - Congress completed
the constitutional formalities carrying
into effect the will of the voters ex-
pressed last November and officially
declared Woodrow Wilson president
and Thomas r. Marshall vice-presi-
dent, reelected.
At joint session of the Senate and
House the sealed vote was canvassed
by States with the usual quadrennial
ceremony and the result of the ballot
ing of the electoral college, once the
deciding factor in presidential con-
tests, but in recent years only a per-
functory means of ratifying the popu-
lar voice, was entered formally on the
official records. The count showed 277
votes for Wilson and Marshall and 254
for Hughes and Fairbanks.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
RAILROADS PLAN FOR WAR.

New York. The railroads of the
United States informed President Will
son that the resources of their organ
ization were at the disposal of the
Government in the event of war.
Presidents or other officials of 18 of
the roads were appointed as special
committee on national defense, which
will work in conjunction with the
commanders of the four departments
Qf the United States Army. W. w.
Atterbury, vice-president of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, sent a telegram to
the White House saying this was the
plan of the railroads.
The committee, organized here at a
meeting of the American Railway As
sociation's executive committee, will
act under the guidance of President
Wilson's National Council for Defense,
Daniel Willard, president of the Balti-
more and Ohio, is A-citizen member of
the council, in charge of the transpor-
tation and communication, and will
act in an advisory capacity both for
the new committee and for the coun-
Gil in the railroads preparedness
measure.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
SMALL BOBBIE WAS DISCREET
Little Brother Refused to Follow Pre-
cedent Long Established by the
dummy" Papers.

A Cleveland young woman has ten
year-old brother who is wise beyond1
his years and is likely to crop out In
new places at the most unexpected
times. The other night the anxious,
suitor called on his inamorata, arriv-I
ing at her domicile little before hel
was expected. She was not ready toi
make her appearance, and duty of en-|
tertaining the caller devolved upon the
little brother.
swell, Bobby" began the young man,
in an effort to make conversation anc
at the same time put his Involuntary
host at his ease, "does your sister think
that am calling at this house oftenerI
than am welcome?"
The child looked keenly at thel
caller.
Nothing doing" he said. 'Do you
think I'm one of these fresh kids you(
read about In the funny papers? There|
amt going to be no embarrassing an
swer this time"
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
WILSON WORKING
ONEMERGENCYPLAN
President Expected to Go Before
Congress Next Week.
SHIP TIE-uP INTOLERABLE
Administration Officials Assert Pres
ent Conditions Cannot Be Per-
mitted To Continue-Mak-
ing Country Ready.

Washington.-The American Gov
ernment continues its waiting policy
toward Germany's ruthless submarine
warfare, and although it is taken for
granted in all quarters that President
Wilson will go before Congress on the
situation before adjournment on
March 4, the statement was authorized
that SO far he had made no definite
plans to that end.
The visit of the President to the
Capitol to discuss with Senators the
advisability of appearing before joint
session to ask authority for protecting
American sailors and ships from sub
marines has given rise to much specu-
lation as to when the step will be
taken. No one processes to know, how
ever, and the official answer to all
queries is, "the President will decide. y
The confident belief everywhere that
there will be action not later than
next week, if nothing happens to
precipitate it before, is based upon the
knowledge that the President wishes
to avoid calling an extra session OF
Congress if possible, and upon the
reiterated declarations of members of
the Administration that the present
conditions under which most of the
American ships in overseas trade have
been frightened into canceling sailing
dates cannot be permitted to continue.
The small number of vessels sunk
by submarines within the past few
days is attracting no little attention.
Officials always point out, however,
that this does not alter the fact that,
through fear of the consequences,
American ships and many of those of
other nationalities are remaining in
port The opening of Halifax as a
port of examination, allowing some
vessels to avoid the danger zone area
by not going to Kirkwall, is expected
to somewhat lessen the effects of the
virtual blockade of Eastern American
ports.
Every means at the disposal of the
Government continues to be used to
prepare for any eventuality, and the
Administration believes no time has
been wasted. If a decision to arm
American merchantmen should be
reached, it is understood that it could
be done very quickly.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23

when directly before me I noticed a
group of high-school girls bidding each
other good-by on the street corner.
The tallest and prettiest of the num-
Der, roguish merry sprite caught my
eye as she was turning around. On
the impulse of the moment l smiled
and touched my hat. In spirit of
mischief, the girl smiled back. A few
days later I saw the same pretty
maiden walking along with a girl 1
knew. I stopped and, of course, we
were introduced. After that, scarcely
a day passed that did not meet her
coming from school. This sort of
thing kept on until vacation time. I
asked her to marry me, for she had
life would be nothing to me without
her"
"'Marry you? How could II she an
swered with a pretty laugh. My par
ents do not know you!
"That evening I made bold to call
at her home, asking to see her father
and mother together. To them I un-
folded our romance, asking for their
daughter in marriage. Never was there
such a storm of indignant anger and
reproaches.
"tA man who meets secretly and
courts daughter without her parents
knowledge is a scoundrel,' they de-
clared, ending by demanding that I
never see her again. They made good
that part of it, rushing the girl off to
relatives in another state. I had made
such foes of her parents that l knew
I was fighting against heavy odds to
keep my hold on her heart. She was
young, thoughtless, and care-free. The
arrow of love had only glanced at her
heart, not entering it as it had entered
mine. She met another who wooed and
won her. My fault lay in my procedure
of courtship. Had 1 gained the good
will of her parents at the outset, 1
would have had smoother sailing. Sc
cret courtships are dangerous to happi-
ness"
There's many young man in the
same boat as this one. For one rea-
son or another, they dread meeting the
parents, lest they lose the girl whom
they learned to care for. Seldom or
never does a girl feel contented If she
braves her parents disapproval by not
letting them know of a lover who has
come into her life. Don't make enemies
of your Sweetheart'S parents.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23

ing them about. Someone has
where said, and with more Il
grain Of truth, that "There is no
thing as 'platonic friendship" a
who is constantly attracted to
cular woman's side is infatuated
her. 1t depends entirely upon
disposition whether he is midi
fatuated or deeply infatuated.
man or woman who first notices
state of situation or feeling shoul
mediately put him or herself be
the pale of undue interestedness.
1t is the mutual friend, edginy
between husband and wife, that br'
much of discomfort between man
wife. Such a wife has two pairs
strong arms to lean on instead of
Usually the platonic friend wins :
Few mutual friends would turn Ou
be the wife's admirers, but wise is
husband who takes no chances of
stroying his home and happiness
bringing a handsome, tickle friend
his bachelor days into his home,
ing him to make himself one of
family. Husbands should shield tt
innocent, thoughtless wives from ey
danger.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
PLAToNIc FRIENDSHIP.

Almost every young married couple
boasts of a single friend, a former
chum of the husbands, whose privi-
lege it is to drop in at any time, max
ing himself entirely at home. Indeed
he seems to be almost an independent
adjunct to the family. If the husband
is too busy to take his wife out to the
ater or ball, the friend always stands
ready to take her. 1t is not long be-
fore the bride looks to her husband
to make the money to support the
household and looks to the friend for
pleasure and companionship. To him
she confides her little grievances. He
feels in duty bound to console her with
his sympathy. Theirs is platonic
friendship.
But such friendships are far better
in the avoidance than in the observ-
ance. A man may with propriety take
the wife of q friend to some social
function, if the husband makes the ur-
gent request. He is detained by buSi-
ness. Two tickets to the theater have
been purchased. Wife is at home max
ing ready. Her disappointment would
be keen to miss that particular play.
It is courtesy for good-natured friend
to throw himself into the breach and
place his service at the husbands dis
posal. But for the single man delib-
erately to beau his friends young wife
about and from choice pass his eve7
nings in her society has 10 reasonable
excuse to uphold it. Interest may flut-
ter beyond the bounds of calm, cold,
secure friendship, though neither may
be aware of the exact state of affairs.
The single man is safe only in
spending his leisure evenings with
marriageable young ladies and escort
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
Arranged In Brussels.
German Plans Upset.

Washington. - News of Germany's
retraction of her order forcing the
American members of the Belgium Re-
lief Committee to leave Belgium and
Northern France was received by State
Department officials and by Herbert
C. Hoover, chairman of the commits
sion, with both surprise and pleasure.
Apart from a brief telegram from
Brand Whitlock saying negotiations of
some sort were under way, neither the
department nor Mr.. Hoover had any
official advices on the subject.
The impression here is that Ger
many did not expect the commissions
prompt and final response to the sug-
gestion that "a few Americans, among
them Brand Whitlock, might reside in
Brussels and exercise general super
vision of the work" The commission
refused fatty to accept this COM
promise and at once ordered all it's
men to withdraw from the field.
Half American control probably
never would have been recognized by
the Allied governments. If handful
of Americans had continued on in re-
stricted supervision, unable to leave
Brussels, there had been official intima-
tions from the British that supplies
would no longer be passed through the
blockade. The question, therefore, was
placed directly before Germany by the
complete withdrawal as to whether she
would or would not evict American re-
lief from Belgium and Northern
France.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
DYNAMITE MIXED WITH COAL.
Some Of 1t Reported To Have Been
Found On American Warship.

Norfolk, Va.-Dynamite was report
ed to have been found mixed with coal
on an American naval vessel here and
shipments intended for merchant YES
sells due to sail for Europe. Confirma-
ton of this report was not available
from officials of Lamberts Point piers,
where most of the Allied merchantmen
are lying.
Inspectors who have been watching
cargoes destined for Europe are ex-
amining all coal before it goes aboard
a ship. Pier guards have been trebled
and given stringent orders regarding
persons who visit the piers.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
BREAKING HIS PROMISE.

IN polite society such a thing d
mans breaking an engagement t0l
on a particular evening is sci
heard of. If some unforeseen,
preventable circumstance arises
deters him from keeping his enst
ment, he telephones, telegraphs
sends a note of explanation by
cial messenger. This is exactly
he should do. Yet there are men,
well-to-do men at that, who snap tt
fingers at etiquette's requirem
making an appointment with a yo'
girl to call upon her, having no intl
ton of keeping the appointment, VIII
uttering the words.
What a young girl confided to me
Gently on this subject caused me mi
serious deliberatiop, She is pre-
girl, in q department store. She 81
"a few weeks ago, was introdl
to a young man of fine family
position. He paid me marked at
ton the entire evening, escorting
home from a friends house. He /
gered at the door, even after l u
thanked him for seeing me home sa
said goodnight. May have the pie
ure of seeing you soon againT
asked. My home was not fitted to
ceive callers. I answered that I wO
be glad to let him call, if he could
me know in advance, which woX
mean making sure that I would
home. Suppose we make it Sund|
afternoon, around five O'clock he su
gested. I much preferred that t
time should be set for evening.
course, 1 could not say so. You W
have to invite him for dinner SO
mother. There was a great upheaN
in our fiat during the week that Fl
lowed. Much was done to make o
home appear at least comfortable al
cozy in the eyes of this rich yOuj
man. We were obliged to take fr1
our rent money we had saved to pl
chase food for our dinner. Moth
declared there was nothing like givil
a man fine dinner to put him in gO'
humor. The afternoon arrived. FL
o'clock came, six, seven and eight, ST
he did not put in an appearance. Th'
1 burst into tears at the great expen
1 had put my folks to, and the fami
sat down to the belated feast. new
heard from him from that day to thj
There's more of that sort Of thing 6
ing on than you would believe. If "
can draw the attention Of certal
class of young men to it, you wou
help many girl, Miss Libbey."
The class Of young men who bres
such promises do not do so deliberat
ly, am glad to say. They are simp
thoughtless. The promises are mat
on the spur of the moment. It do
not occur to such men that the your
women will be put to any expense
their account. Afternoon calls shou
be from two to four, or 4:30 at Il
latest. Evening calls suit the majo
ity of girls better. There is no worl
or expense attached to them.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
Cannot Be Permitted to Continue Much
Longer is View Taken
By Officials.
AMERICANS in YARROWDALE CREW FREED
Administration Officials, Watching Acts OF Submarines, See
Little Hope OF Avoiding Clash With Germany.

Washington.-The ruthless German
submarine campaign and its effects
upon the United States were discussed
by President Wilson and the Cabinet.
The meeting lasted only an hour and
afterward it was said no new steps
had been decided on.
Arming of American merchantmen
and the economic effects of the partial
tie-up of shipping out of American
ports were the subjects on which the
Cabinet centered attention. Secretary
McAdoo is compiling list of vessels
held in port and Secretary Redfeld is
making a comprehensive analysis OF
the inroads submarines are making on
shipping generally.
Consideration is given by the Gov
ernment to all the different phases OF
the situation that have developed
since the break is relations with Ger
many, including the detention of the
Yarrowdale prisoners, the crisis with
Austria, the plight of Americans in
Turkey and Belgian relief. High
officials took pains, however, to
emphasize that the great fundamental
problem before the nation is the IL
legal submarine campaign itself.
Against this campaign the United
States has made the most vigorous
protest possible short of war, but the
Administration realizes that SO long
as it permits American ships to be
held in port for fear of attack by sub
marines it in effect is acquiescing in
the German policy. This state of af-
fairs, it is admitted, cannot be per-
mitted to continue indefinitely.
What the United States must do to
end it, and when, are the only Ques-
tions The President is understood to
have very definite opinion as to what
should be done, but he has not yet
decided that the time to do it has
come. ..
Press dispatches from Berlin an
nouncing that the 72 American sea-
men brought by the Yarrowdale had
been released caused the demand that
the men be freed to be withheld pend
ing official advices on the subject. A
cablegram was sent the Spanish Am
bassador at Berlin asking whether
the report was true. 1t is not doubted,
as it has been assumed from the first
that Germany would not hold the men
after rumors reaching there of the i'm
prisonment of German sailors in the
United States had been cleared up.
Another inquiry was sent the Span
fish Ambassador to ascertain the cause
of delay in the departure of the Ameri-
can train from Munich, which Mr.. Ger
ard previously had reported would
''leave some day this week." with Sc
consuls and their families and an un-
known number of other persons.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
100000 FOR EACH U-BoAT.
Resolution In French Chamber Of
Deputies Offers Prize.

Paris.-A prize of 100000 francs
($1OO,OOO) for the crew of any French,
Allied or neutral vessel which sue
ceeds in destroying and attacking sub
marine is provided for in resolution
introduced in the Chamber of Deputies
by Andre LIE Fevre. The resolution
says that the Germans are attacking
without distinction ships of all nation
alities, armed or unarmed, and that
this creates a new situation which
must by no means be neglected.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
GERMANS IN LAW CASE.

Affidavits From Crew Give This Be-
lief OF Nationality.
Washington.-Amb Page, at
Rome, has obtained affidavits from the
officers and crew of the American
schooner Lyman M. Law, recently
sunk by a submarine in the Mediter-
ranean.
A brief summary of the af1davits,
submitted to the State Department,
said the survivors were Of the opinion
that the submarine was of German
nationality. Previous dispatches had
said it was an Austrian vessel without
flag.
Before the Law was sunk, the dis
patch said, about, $1,400 worth of
stores were taken off the Law by the
submarines crew.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
CUBA WARNED
AGAINST WAR
U. S. Will Not Tolerate a
Revolution.
COULD GET READY QUICKLY
Lansing Is Scanning Reports OF
Spreading OF Revolt Against Men
ocaI-CalI For Volunteers BY
the Cuban Government.

Washington.-Repo telling of the
spread of the Liberal revolt in Cuba
aroused such apprehension that Sec
retary Lansing cabled a second warn
ing to the people of the republic that
the United States would not regard
as legal any government set up by vlo-
lence. The message went to Minister
Gonzales, at Havana, and to every
American consul, to be circulated all
over the island
Mr. Lansing pointed out the re-
sponsibility of the United States in
connection with Cuba and intimated
very clearly that revolution was not
to be tolerated.
Could Get Ready Quickly.
Minister Gonzales reports of the
growth of the revolt were submitted
by the State Department to the Sec
retaries of War and Navy as prompt
ly as they were received. In neither
of the military departments was there
indication that any warlike move was
being prepared in connection with the
situation, but because of the expert
ence gained in two previous interven-
tions, military operations could be in
augurated in brief time without much
renewed study of plans.
Secretary Baker announced that,
with the approval of the President, a
deal had been closed yesterday for the
sale of 10000 army rifles and 100000
rounds of ammunition to the Cuban
Government. Negotiations for the
purchase had been in progress for sew
eral months. The President is author
lied by statute to approve the sale OF
arms and ammunition to Cuba, whose
soldiers are the only ones in the
world other than American who carry
the United States Army Springfield
rifle Shipments of the guns and am
munition will be fastened, as they
will be needed by President Menocal
to arm his volunteers.
Revolt Spreading.
Official news from Cuba convinced
the Administration that the rebellion
already has assumed greater proper
tions than has been anticipated. De-
velopments of the movement were re-
ported from widely separated points,
and the Cuban Governments call for
volunteers served to support the sue
cesses claimed by the rebels.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
MILLIONS FOR DEFENSE.
Weeks Introduces Bond Issue Bill For
100000 900.

Washington.-Senator Weeks, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts, introduced
as a substitute for the Administration
Revenue bill measure to provide for
issuance of Government 315 per cent.
interest-bearing bonds up to $760,000,-
600, of which $4OO,OOO,OOO would be
utilized for expenditures of national
defense.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
WOULD DIVIDE WEST VIRGINIA.
Move Made To Form New State From
Northern Panhandle.

Charleston, w. Va.-A resolution
was introduced in the West Virginia
House of Delegates to create a new
State from the counties of Ohio,
Brooke, Hancock and Marshall with a
view of thereby providing sufficient
revenue to pay the Virginia debt judg-
ment. The four counties have an area
of $50 square miles. The resolution
provides that the four counties, known
as the Panhandle counties, pay the
$12,000,000 debt judgment by a bond
issue in consideration for separate
stateship,
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
Undiscoverable Place.
Little Johnny-Father!

Little Johnny-Fatherl
Father-Yes, my son?
Little JOHNNY heard today that
q complete washing equipment for
tourists, which can be folded to occupy
little space in a motor car, has been
invented.
Father-That is very nice, my boy.
Little Johnny-Very nice? Isn't
there any place in the world a fellow
can go where he doesn't have to wash:
The midland journal., 1917-02-23

wiSeSt thing ne
can do is to make
friends with her
parents. Upon
their good or bad
opinion lies his
chance of success
with her. One
young man I know
of has only HIM
self to blame for
losing a girl whom
he had set his
heart on winning.
This is the story
which he poured
into my sympa-
thetic ears:
81 was saunter-
ing ng the
street one day
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
SWISS FEEL NEW BLOCKADE.
MeatIess Days and Restricted Menus
Employed To Economize.

Berne, Switzerland.-Mea days,
sugar cards, rice cards and restricted
hotel menus are being resorted to by
the Swiss Government. Foodstuffs
are becoming more scarce as result
of the new naval blockade. Measures
are being taken to reduce everywhere
the use of Illuminating gas to save
coal.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
GERMANS LIFT BAN IN BELGIUM

London. - Representatives of the
American Commission for Relief in
Belgium will not withdraw from the
occupied portions of Belgium and
Northern France as previously had
been arranged, but will remain for the
present, it now is stated.
Arranged In Brussels.
The commission received dispatch
from it's Office in Rotterdam stating
that at meeting held in Brussels the
German authorities announced that all
representatives of the commission
might remain in Belgium and North
ern France on the same footing as
heretofore. Present at this meeting
were Baron Won der Lancken, Civil
Governor of Brussels; the American
and Spanish Ministers, representatives
of the Belgium Relief Commission and
of the Belgium National Committee.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23

Mr.. Gerard had long talk with MT
Sharp at the Embassy. He probably
will be received by distinguished rep
resentatives of the French Govern
ment, and will meet some of the most
important personages at a dinner
which Mr.. and Mrs. Sharp are arrang-
ing.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23
PEACE LEAGUE WITH WILSON.
Committee Declines To Join Conven-
tion In Washington.

tion In Washington.
New York.-Support of the Govern
ment in 1.-The adoption of vigorous and
adequate measures to protect our
citizens and defend their rights on
land and sea and to provide for the
defense of the country" was pledged
to President Wilson by the national
executive committee of the League to
Enforce Peace.
The executive committee by unani-
nous vote declined an invitation to
send representatives to the forthcom-
ing convention of peace societies at
Washington.
The midland journal., 1917-02-23

Fancy dreams Disprove it, if you can,
Ye reasoners broad and awake, whose
busy search
OF argument, employed too oft amiss,
Sits half the pleasures of short life
away.