davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
transcription
The One Fair Way and the One
Democratic Way

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Let me congratulate you on your sup
port Of President Wilson's demand Tor con-
scrption for the army and navy.
As an ex-regular army soldier and veteran
of the Scandinavian War and also n one
time member OF the Pennsylvania National
Guard, feel that ! in small way kno"
something about the situation.
Consumption, compelling everybody 70 serve
rich or poor, with no other right or reason
for advancement from high private IN inc
rear rank TO officer than his bravery and
ability, is the only fair and Logical soiuuoh
of adequate national defence. have TWO
sons who. while at present too young to be
considered. would ultimately be in line for
service if CONSUMPTION became the rule
and assure you that 1t is my heartiest De
sire that they spend some portion OF their
time in the army, not alone for the good their
service will render the country, but for the
good the service will do them physically
mentally and morally.
Root with all your mighty power for COM
pulsory military service by the high ana low.
See that the bill is so drafted as to permit
no one to escape except crippled dementcd OF
permanent invalids. See that it becomes i'm
possible for dollars to make soft berths ana
lack of dollars the real fighters. Make them
all do their little bit, and time Will bring us
nearer the ideals socialists claim to be ann
ing at-a real democracy. Close, intimate con-
tact such as is forced on soldiers IN the ranks
between the sons of the well-to-do and the
sons of the poor will bring among them n
better understanding Of each other, will go
a long way toward killing the snobblshncss
on the part of the well-to-do and class hatred
on the part of the poor. .
ROBERT T. RASMUSSEN.
Brooklyn, April 10, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Belated Consumption

Most Americans knew in advance that
the beautiful picture of a million freemen
springing to arms in a day in defence of
their country was just one more pacifist
fairy tale Few of us realized, however
that the whole ideal of volunteering was a
long way beyond the facts; that, human
nature being what it was, all sorts Of
motives entered into the decision TO volun-
teer or not to volunteer, and that after the
first rush Of enlstments the volunteer sys-
tenn involved an element Of moral compul-
sion, of informal, extra-legal conscription,
ugly, humilating and unfair to everybody
concerned.
We are already witnessing the begin
ming of camp-meeting methods of persuad-
ing men into the army and navy against
their judgment. These methods will become
more and more Objectionable as time goes
on. The ladies of England who went
about pinning white feathers on supposed
slackers will find their counterpart in
America. The whole laundering absurdity
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Fiddline


- rom The Army and NdrU Register
There are indications at the Capitol that
politics-that is to say, the votes at home
may control unduly and disastrously the SEN
tment among certain Representatives and
Senators with regard to the pending measure
for creating a large armed force for the de-
fence of this country in its war with Ger
many. The opposition to anything approach
ing conscripton or the draft may be difficult
to overcome and may require compromise as
an aid to the achievement OF definite and
effective result.
The proposal advanced in some legislative
quarters to sidetrack CONSUMPTION and per-
nit resort to it only on the failure to obtain
a fighting personnel under the volunteer sys-
TEN invites calamity. Such a slipshod method
of alternatives would produce two classes of
soldiers-one composed of the enthusiastic
and willing fighters who will bear the burden
and suffer the sacrifice of battle, the other
made up Of men who are compelled to serve
and who are deservedly hated for their SER
vice under compulsion. Those who favor this
mixture of two conflicting and irreconclable
elements overlook the effect upon military
personnel so constituted 1t will certainly
reproduce the damaging situation that existed
during our Civil War, and there should be
enough students of our military history to
recall and apply to the present problem the
dire consequences of that dual system Of
raising armies for national defence.
The main hope of preventing the disaster
Of relying initially upon volunteers in raising
~ -, ~
ties of the future rests with the President
and the Secretary Of War. If Mr.. Wilson
and Mr. Baker stand unfalteringly behind
their recommendations and vigorously urge
their adoption by Congress, it will be posi-
Bile to have CONSUMPTION applied without the
humiliating spectacle and evil consequences
of belatedy coming TO CONSUMPTION on the
failure of the volunteer system. If the Ad-
ministration is firm, to the degree of obsti-
macy if need be, Congress is hardly likely to
assume the responsibility of refusing, on
grounds merely political, 70 provide that
which is regarded as essential in the method
of raising as we'll as in the volume of an
armed force that must now be created in
addition 70 whatever may be derived from
the regular army and the National Guard.
This is no time to be guided by public
prejudice founded on ignorance and super
stition. II we are to do something more than
play at, as we'll as with, war, We must adopt
conscription without any miserable subter-
fuge or costly substitute. Members of Con-
gress may with safety to their individual
political welfare take the position that Rome
is really on fire and that this is no time for
performances on the violin.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
One Kind of Stacker
Experiences Of Britons Who Tried to
Serve Their Country

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: As reader of The Tribune, | noted
with pleasure the dispatch from your Wash
ington bureau concerning "Britons Being
Called Home for War Duty for the names of
many thousands of Englishmen in this coun-
try were sent in to the British consulates
long ago for the purpose of registry in case
Of need. To one of those whose name was
submitted, it is interesting to read that many
of us, while not properly classed as 'slackers,'
have not availed ourselves of the opportunity
to enlist Perhaps your Washington CORE
spondent will kindly tell US more of these
Opportunities
Some of us went back at our own expense,
and the following experience of one of US is
typical of what one may expect. Scene a
recruiting Office in L.: whats your
name?" Answer-"M." Glow old are you q"
Answer hirty-fve" "What nationality"
Answer English" Are you registered ?"
Answer-"No." "Attested?" Answer-"No."
British subject, military age, not registered,
not attested-rather serious" But how
could be registered when | only landed from
the States ten days ago." THAT has nothing
to do with me- You're a British subject of
military age. / can give you permit to go
into the army, and, what's more, | will. III
have your papers and your warrants filled
out. You will go to n. You will proceed
to the armory there. You will report TO the
officer in charge of recruiting. You will pre-
sent to him this envelope, unopened
The recruit reached N and presented his
papers. The colonel read them, frowned.
turned them over, glared. why are you
here?" he Numbered at last "Sent by Cap
tain s, sir" well, you oughtn't to have
come. He oughtn't to have sent you You
oughtn't 10 be here. | wish you weren't
here. | wish you wouldn't bother me. You
come and break in on me and interrupt me
when you oughtn't to be here at all Do you
understand that? You oughtn't to be here
at all You oughtn't to be in the army. Cap
tain s had no right to put you in the army.
In fact, you can't be in the army. You see,
you're not registered. You'll have to go
back. You'll have to return to Captain s.
Wait, I'll ask headquarters. This is Colonel
Dash. Captain S sends me a recruit who
isn't registered. What am to do with him d?
Send him back Right you are"
Out of the armo,y went the recruit and
back to the recrutiT e Office at L. Captain
5 started 81 tolc you to go to n. Did
you go?" Yes, sill" The recruit held out
the sealed envelope The captain tore it
open. He frowned as he read it, Most
extraordinary" he drawled. 81 put you in
the army, and now they say you can't be put
in the army. I've put you in the army.
That's my job. Nov they send you back to
me. What am | TO do with you? You ought
to be in the army. The military act says
so. Wen see what the act does say The act
doesn't apply to you. Now you hop along and
please don't annoy me any more. Do you
know don't care if never see you again 30
And the man who went home to fight was
honorably discharged. F.HV.
New York, April r. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14

Germany ia not blufiing when she says shc
can mako her submarine war OH merchant
shipping so destructive that the Allies VIII
dosn,ir of ever being able to dictate terms
OF peace based upon an overwhelming VIC
tory. II is her belief that she can feuucs
the worlds shipping to the point at "hic" ]"
will become impossible to transport oversea'
the huge supplies of food, munitions anu
general military equipment which are III.
dienensablc for the successful prosecution OF
the war.
Bewildering though the psychology OF the
German may be, it must be admitted ,nhe
when the Kaiser and his Grand General stan
come to consider any great military profile"
Of the war; such as this, their deiipera''o,''
include a military calculation OF the proo-
abilities Of success or failure
And before Germany decided to hout inc
whole world and hurl a cynical defiance lnto
the face of every civilized nation or tnc
oar,h we NAV be sure she had counted the
cost and decided that, even though she pc
came an international outcast, 1T was worth
the victory which she believed would be hers
1000 New U-Boats in Year
This confidence was based upon the belie1
thu, II sbe utilized all her shipbuildng
wards in the construction OF submarines she
could turn the boats out in such numperS
and AT such a rate that, in spite OF her heaVy
losses. her submarine feet would show a
vorv rand increase What her maximum
submarine building capacity is can only DC
guessed at ] note that THE Scientihc Amer
lean" estimates that, so far as building ways
arc concerned. Germany could have no less
than b2O submarines of the size OF the U-o3,
under construction at the same time. ms
estimate is based upon the suppositlon thac
the drydocks floating docks and ways for the
construction of large merchant and war SHIPS
would be utilized. The supposlton IS per-
fectlv reasonable; and if the hulls, engines
and ft,inps were built to a standard type,
il would be possible to complete one OF the
sOO-ton boats of the kind which IS pelng
used in the present deep-sea raid, IN SIX
months time. This would mean an addition
Of 500 boats by next fall and OF 1000 by the
following spring.
Now, Germany is supposed to have about
$50 boats in service to-day, and II, with
these she is able to send TO the bottom from
100000 TO 100000 tons of shipping per
month. it is a matter of simple arithmetic
to calculate that. unless we find some more
effective means either of sinking the U-boat
or of neutralizing its attack, than we possess
at present the losses of merchant SHIPS,
when Germany shall have from 500 to 1,OoO
boats in operation, will reach an alarming II
not a fatal, figure.
For there is no reason to presume that the
number of U-boats sunk or captured Is equal
to or even approaches the number that Ger
many is able TO put into commission. Inc
statements of losses which reach US from
time to time from abroad are never Official;
tho most that the British Admiralty mas
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
A Reversion to Autocracy

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Il Is not long since November, 1915,
when the reelection OF our Chief Executive
established beyond doubt the fact that his pa
cifc foreign policy was sanctioned by the
majority of the men In America Yet, IN the
face of that sentiment, America is now com
mitted to war. Has that sentiment changed!
We arc a democracy, a "land of the free
Our government is a government of, by and
for the people II. in the making of that gov
eminent we hearken TO the public voice, so
in the administration of that government
must that voice be heard well.
There is now before the Senate and the
House a bill of conscription, proposed by the
President, which provides for the sending of
American soldiers to France. 1t has been
proposed irrespective of public sentiment and
bublic will II that bill is passed by Con-
gress it will be shameful reversion to the
very principles against which we have de-
clared war on Germany-the autocratic
rover Of the few to control the will of the
many.
Consumption is a reaction to dynastic poll
cies; it is wholly out of accord with the
spirit of American institutions. It's sole JUS
tifcation, as in 1868, is where the destiny OF
the nation that employs it hangs trembling
IL the balance. But the existence of Ameri-
can institutions is not now directly threat
ened, nor is there reason for US TO make the
terrible sacrifices which the landing of an eX-
peditionary force in France would involve.
After the present great conflict, If war
must come TO us, let us meet it like men, on
our feet, for our affairs and fires, and with
out aid or protection from the armies and
ravies of the Entente. The two Americas
are a separate unit in the international
scheme of things and must remain so until
the end. Only now, while there is time,
though it be perilously short, let us prepare
with courage for the right as God gives it
TO US to see the right-lct US prepare to take
care of our own.
DAVID ARNOLD BALCH
Upper Lake, n. Y, April H. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Sphygmography for Spies

TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | remember reading at various times
Of method of measuring concealed emotion
by wave line written by the pulse. / am
not sufficiently learned to know whether this
has basis in scientific fact or is just stuff
for popular consumption But if such a
thing can be done, would it not be we'll to
submit every employee in munition factory
in powder factories and in all government
Offices where spies may gain useful informa-
ton 10 such a test. The person examined
should be compelled TO listen to violent and
bitter denunciations of the United States.
Germany, England, Ireland and other of the
Allies. Would not his revolted pride on
hearing the denunciation of the country TO
which he is at heart loyal betray itself in his
pulse? MARY HELEN FEE.
Yonkers-onH Hudson, y. Y, April II, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Universal Service and an Income Tax

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: This country should demand that
there be no failure to pass an adequate uni
yersal service law and its proper corollary,
graduated income tax, for the wars expenses
The universal service, once established, will
be permanent benefit and insurance.
Just as peace measure, for the physical
training and characterization OF our young
men, all classes should favor H. But there
are also grave possibilities of some attack on
US after the European ledger is balanced.
The income tax law will smooth the way,
with some for universal service. Let us see
the millionaires ready to do their bit Most
Of them are too fat and old to give their lives
in the ranks. Let them give their money
freely and the boys of America will offer
their lives Ny great-grandfather followed
Washington from Cambridge, Mass, to York
town. and my son--one of four-has just won
lis captains commission. So, trust have
license to speak on the subject.
c. II. CRANDALL.
Standard. Conn. April 10. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
The Battle Hymn National AntneD

To the Editor of The Tribune. ,..
Sir: Some little time ago there spP'sa
in your esteemed paper % suggestion 4
reference to adopting The Battle h!'"N =,
the Republic" as our national hymn -
place of "The STAR pangled Banner Id,
cannot strongly enough indorse '''' -
gestion, and am urging others 10 SNP
their feelings in the matter me N,
the dignity, the idealism expressed IL m 3
battle hymn never fail to arouse a ' 5r, I
any audience. II was written III % err
stress and enthusiasm. and is oeyonu ,,>
pare in the minds Of many OF US u. 100.
best expression of the feelings oil 'nG -
moment. when we are looking Tor tne ,,es
cation of a world democracy '"nI'e "
goes marching on" ..t,,,i
Could you not, in your patriouc -
which believe have played great -. psr :
arousing our~country to a true Co"eep 80
the issues at stake in this wor'u va a.
vote upon the suggestion oil s''''s
place to the battle hymn? .,, rovys
MARGARET 0TEY Tune
Albany, n. Y. April 10, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Build Our Allies Railroads
le Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: There is one way TO help the Allies
almost Immediately on declaration of war
Let the United States enlist a body of men,
from 100000 70 100000, whose sole duty
will be to build railroads for the Allies. Ger
tsinly if there is anything that America can
do it is to build railroads quickly, and we
ought to be able TO get all the men needed,
from shovel handlers up TO the highest engi-
neering talent.
There would not be much glory in taking
over the railroad building of the Allies, but
1t is one of the essentials for winning the
war, and it would seem to be something that
the u. 5. A. could take up from the drop Of
the hat, without waiting year for training.
GEO. Y. PAYZANT
Santa Barbara, Isle of Pines, West Indies,
April g. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
No Black Skinned Traitor

To the Editor of The Tribune. o.,
Sir: Negroes helped the colonlsts 20 "''
the British during the Revolution and y
that struggle fought side by side VIII Wn'N
men in the Continental armies. Then 'nS
were for the most part slaves, and haa "
status. no flag, no country; they were thns'
not men. They fought with equal Valo' "
der Jackson against the British IN Isl-' a.
II was one of Jackson's negro soldiers VIZ
SUGGESTED to him the idea Of throwing "
hreastworks of cotton bales. They i0us'
Under Grant. Butler, Banks Saxton' hs
ginson. Shaw and other well known feo'"
officers in the late misunderstanding pew
the sections. At San Juan Hill Colonel hoO"
Welt said Of them: The 9th and l0'h ="
airy fought one on each side Of mine a. =,
Juan. and wish no better tro 'ps than la''
negro soldiers proved themselves to &C. =,
In all these instances cited save one
enemy was an alien. Negroes VINO -
something of the German attitude 'Tn.
the race in Africa, as voiced by DR.. beIns.
Dernburg in his speech az the Hotel liV's
dero. London. 1901. could hardly be e1pe'''i,
to swallow at one gulp any protestant, -.
friendship for or justice TO the negro - .,g.
~ Herr Hohenzolicrn's perniciousY
agents in this country FOR him. IheN -,
disloyal men in every race and in every CIV w.
try in time, like these. But they are . 'y
unpopular. Garfield, who knew, said ID ~.
you never saw d traitor in black 80. -,
and Garfield was absolutely right, as ca, 80,
Yankee soldier who is honest VIII V''-'
We do not breed them. ,,.cr
Nou, Vork AnrU I'D 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Release Marines for Service

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Marine Corps maintains a large
printing plant at III East Twenty fourth
Street. Manhattan, all work being done BY
enlisted men. | suggest that Major Genera.
George Barnett place these enlisted men in
service and hire competent printers to run
the printing shop. In this manner the gov
eminent could fill up the ranks.
H. CARRUTHERS.
Member Typographical Union No. s.
Brooklyn. April 5, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Those Who Never Will Be Slaves
1t is no new grievance that is set forth
in the following plea:

1t is no new grievance that is set forth
in the following plea:
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In The Tribune of April s. 1917, you
printed an article entitled "Englands Problem
Now Ours"
Throughout this composition, which is
unquestionably excellent in many ways, a
lamentable error is made of giving England
entire credit for work being accomplished by
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, as we'll as the entire British Empire.
] must confess my surprise that publca-
ton of the size of The New York Tribune
should wish to be intentionally or unnten-
tionaly so unfair.
Please be so kind as to give the Scots. the
Welsh, as well as the Irish, credit for the
part that they are performing, and you will
do so by using the proper names Great
Britain, Britain or British.
j. NJ. JOHNSTON.
Rochester, New York, April II, 1917.
Respecting the particular occasion Of
this criticism, it is captious, for the writer
Of the article in question was dealing with
the treatment of enemy aliens in England
and not elsewhere But, however, British
subjects outside of England are great
stcklers on this point and are quite prop
erly concerned to have it understood that
the Empire is something more than a
mere overflow of England.
In the early days of the war a group
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14

You can purchase merchandise advertise"
In THE TRIBUNE with absolute sate'y-toV
il dissatisfaction results in any case Ihh
TRIBUNE guarantees to pay your money PACK
upon request. No red tape. No Quibbing. we
make good promptly II the advertiser does not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
CANADIAN RATES

rn,.-~a q, n. ros,o-ce New York {" s''Nrna GINS
Mall Mater.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14

oup.s and published daily by The Tribune Assoc'ncn
New York Corporation. Ogden Reid. fTeSon'' "
80 VT. President. Richard H. waldo. Secretary. f. A.
- T(,..urcr Address Tribune building. lSt Nassau
Stree, New York Telephone. Beekmsn 5000
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14

SUBSCRIPTION RArrs-By Mail ro'''s' r'd' out
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-22
STATE NEWS.

Yankton-The Yankton Masonic
Temple association has subscribed
$4,000 for Liberty bonds to be alb
sorbed by the various branches of
the fraternity.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-22
The LAST WEEK
OF loan DRIVE
HERCULEAN WORK MUST BE
DONE THIS WEEK.
MUCH LIBERALITY SHOWN
TOWN OF CLAREMONT SUBSCRIP-
TIONS SHOW 500 BOND
FOR EACH FAMILY.

Mitchell, Oct. 22.-Special: En-
%couraging reports continue to come
in from rural South Dakota counties
to the state Liberty loan committee,
although some counties are still be-
hind in their allotment, and the de-
termined campaign of the week will
have to- be relentlessly continued if
the state subscriptions are to equal
the quota. Claremont village sub
scriptions equal one 500 bond for
each family. Charles Mix county,
$4,000 population, takes $3.50, 900
worth of the bonds. Brule county
reports subscriptions to date as
$4,000. Douglas has received $685.
600 voluntary subscriptions. Gregory
county raised 100000 in a one day
campaign and C~odington county has
subscribed 100000 to date. II. A.
Oldham, chairman, is confident, but
urges that workers intensity their eff
forts during the coming week that
the patriotic spirit of the state may
be known and the subscriptions rails
ed to the high figure justified by our
wealth.