davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
For an Anarchist Eden

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: There is only a way, and single one
TO stop the repetition Of such disorders as
last nights in The Bronx. It is to deport
agitators, and this en- masse The Congress
should vote at once a law ad hoe If not we
are bound to have in a near future big dis
orders, if not such state of anarchy as in
unfortunate Russia. In the meantime why
permit those meetings?
We cannot understand them and they can
not understand US, all those agitators, the l.
". W. whose full name should be the "Incredi-
BILE Workngmen Wanderers We must. sir
realize before too late that anarchy is the
most dangerous disease of our planet the
phylloxera of mankind. We have to be rid
of it at all costs, just as barbarsm has to
disappear from earth for the welfare of
coming generations.
What better use of the discovery Of the
poles II not TO ship thther those whose
ideas and actions arc so far apart from our
own? Many indeed will breathe with relief
ito mention only one nance at the news OF
Emma Goldman breeding penguns some
where in the Antarctic At default. w
should have agitators packed off to some re-
mote island where Prussian money could not
reach them, but as we are humans, with food
enough for one year and seeds TO help them
selves for the others, let us anyhow give
them chance to build an Eden of their own
Capital punishment has never brought re
suits; it is an heirloom of barbarism Neither
will Imprisonment deal with the present peril
To become martyr is the dream of many a
man or woman whose brains are out of order
II is also fact that a term in jail is what
alas. too many are welcoming for what the
French call LA R6clame" of any sort. and
this at any price.
HENRI DE LAFlTOLE.
. New York June >, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Quiet, Unselhsh Devotion
tor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: A man Of my acquaintance gave W
a good position to enlist in the regiment o.
engineers which was recruited io New for'
lie then turned over all his funds 20 NJ
brother, with instructions TO procure Tor h'",
a letter of credit for $3.50, and put all o.
the rest in Liberty Bonds.
His body. his lfe and all his worldly goou''
save pal,ry $3.50, have been quietly snu
voluntarily given to his country and 70 Wv
world, with no publicity attached there'V.
Certain strong lunged weak-hearted person
who like to call themselves radicals
vanced thinkers" "internationalists a.. So
what not are al the same time buslly '"S's
in encouraging seldshness, eo"aralco o. -.
treason. and to their great satisfaction "
ceiving much publicity and advertisements
The newspapers should see to II 'hA1 ~.
public hears every day Of the many cNa"y :,
Of quiet. unsclGsh patriotism, such Ss al
mentioned above. and that the hypocr 80.
rotoriety seekers and the hah-baAed
vanced thinkers" get no publicity or s,rc
tisement whatsoever FELIX A. JENh'N''
New York, June 81 1917. -----
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
A Local Conscript

At the Columbia commencement, thlnned
by war and colored throughout by the
thought thereof, the prospective soldier
who held the centre of the stage was a
relatively young A. B. of the university
the Hon. John Purroy Mitchell, of the
class of '99. Bringing to this vast and
many-sided metropolitan community all
the resources of a high intelligence and
fine character, knowing no end but the
public good, the highest type of devoted
and courageous public servants Presl-
dent Butler characterized the Mayor IN
comforting upon him the degree Of Doctor
of Laws.
1t is no dark secret, we believe that if
Mr.. Mitchell consulted his personal pref
erence solely he would volunteer to fight
for his country. But he has put himself
in the way of public obligation by earning
the words attached to him by DR.. Butler,
and he is no longer free agent. That
may not be Just, but it is the truth. His
city happens to need him and need him
urgently, and she has every right to de-
mand him. His is the one case we can
think of in which the prior right to con-
script belongs with the locality and not
with the nation. The fact that Mr..
Mitchel's hard hitting patriotism has done
and will do untold good working right
where it is explains the exception suf-
ficiently.
If Mr.. Mitchell feels like walking up and
registering against the November draft,
we'll and good. He will be conscripted,
ANYWAY.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Cuba s Sugar Crop

From The Providence Journal
Cuba's contribution to the war promises to
be bumper sugar crop, Notwithstanding
the recent depredations upon some OF the
plantations by the lawless element stirred TO
revolt by few disgruntled politicians. The
governments official estimate of this seasons
production Of sugar is now placed at two
million eight hundred thousand tons, an
amount second only to last years crop, which
was the largest in the history Of the island.
The statement is made by Eusebio S. Azpiazu,
private secretary to President Menocal 1t
sets at rest the pessimistic reports that the
crop would fall far below the normal and
encourages the refners TO believe that they
will have raw sugar enough TO keep their re-
nncres going and supply our market de-
mands.
We need the sugar, and il Cuba can supply
us she is entitled to praise for doing her bit.
Her men can be as effectively employed in
growing and harvesting sugar cane as in
military service.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07

was pronounced correct on the highest
legal authority.
The spritists as a rule do not commit
themselves in this way. We have seen how
easily the archdeacon avoided test on one
critical occasion. He avoided another by
the simple assertion that, though he was
quite confident of the power Of his spirit
friends, yet it might well be that, accord
ing to the habits of spirits, they had passed
to a sphere too far removed 70 enable them
to repeat their feats on earth; hence II
would be unreasonable to trouble them and
expect them to obey his bidding.
1t was perhaps his exposure OF the
Davenport Brothers in the SOS that frst
won worldwide fame for Maskelyne lie
did succeed to perfection in repeating their
tricks; but did he convince any thorough
going spiritist? 1t is doubtful point. The
will to believe is not lightly overcome, and
very possibly Sir William Crookes, that dis
tinguished if credulous man of science, con-
tinues to this cay to uphold his dogmatIc
statement that the Davenport phenomena
could not conceivably be produced by nor
NAL means. This is a state of mind the
coniurer cannot contend with; fortunate
for him if he can himself avoid the imputa-
tiOn of sOrcerV
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Conjuring and Spiritism

1t is related of the late ingenious John
Nevil Maskelyne, that matchless conjurer,
whose death was lately reported from Lon
don, that in his prentice days a stranger
called at the clockmaker's where he served
and desired him to mend an odd-looking
piece of mechanism, the precise purpose of
which he did not think it proper to explain.
In due time the boy returned it to the own
err with this BILL "To repairing one table
rapping apparatus, Is. 3D.
If conjuring was his profession, it may
be said that his hobby was the exposure of
pretended spiritists and trafickers in the
occult. 1t was not profitable enterprise,
except indeed in an indirect way, for it is
true that some of his most surprising illu-
sions were suggested by the performances
Of the medumistic fraternity. 1t was his
boast that he had sat with every noted me-
dunn in the country and was never once
baffled by any of their mysterious phe-
nomena. 1t is pity he was not privileged
to meet the unrivaled Eusapia, but long
before her trickery was exposed he had
tired little of these Investigations for
reason which it is easy to understand.
ats no use" he said on one occasion;
"you can't convince a spiritist, even when
you bowl out his medium for him. He had
bowed out many a medium. Some years
ago the late Archdeacon Colley, one of the
most infatuated spirtists of his time, dis
covered one whose powers were so marvel
lous that he generously offered a reward
Of 81 900 to any one who could successfully
duplicate them. Maskelyne attended one of
the stances and undertook without hesita-
ton to provide a perfect reproduction of
all the phenomena; at the eleventh hour,
however, the archdeacon very prudently
withdrew his offer. Nevertheless, Maske-
lyme was so well pleased with his work on
this little problem that he resolved TO put
it on the stage and made great hit, one
of his assistants in clerical garb serving
as a quite presentable substitute for the
cautious archdeacon.
In competition with the spiritists he la
bored under "A manifest disadvantage. He
himself offered a prize of $500 to any one
who could make correct imitation" Of
one Of his illusions He lost, after carry
ing the case 20 the House Of Lords. 1t was
admitted indeed that his secret had not
been discovered and that with his appa-
ratus the imitators could do nothing; as
an Limitation" however, the counterfeit
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07

or mine with very little danger from tor
pedo) while the larger part of the losses are
caused by gunfire. If all the vessels of the
inferior classes which are ahoat to-day should
be destroyed England would not be in danger
Of starvation She will not be in such dan
ger until destruction among the superior
classes is very much greater than it ever has
been. Up to the present time this danger Is
dwndling
If the submarlnes could destroy many YES
sells of the Celtic, Cedric and Adriatic classes
there would be something to worry about,
but not until then.
| have been told by number of captains
Of the best cargo boats that the danger 70 a
16-knot vessel is 50 trifing that it is hardly
worth considering, providing, of course,
proper precaution is taken.
The one or two cases early in the war of
destruction of fast vessels were owing to
causes which are not likely to occur again.
Of course one or two of the faster vessels
may be destroyed during the next year, but
one or two will be of little Importance
One big carrier of the White Star. Cunard
or Atlantic Transport lines is practically as
valuable as all of the eighteen vessels of
900 tons or over which were reported sunk
last week. A. f. CORTIS
New York, June 4, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Minimizing U-Boat Threat
Some Reasons for Regarding the
Campaign with Equanimity

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: If it is desirable that the people OF
the country should be kept in state OF great
o,viotv on account of the submarine danger
il would probably not be wise to publish the
followinq statements. but if it is more desir-
able that they should be informed regarding
the silver lining to the cloud think the
statements should be published.
A great many things have been SAID on TINS
subject by officials of the United States gov
eminent. as we'll as others. All of these ut
terances have been very pessimlstlc, but as
far as | know, no facts have been given IN
support of my theory, which is, that up to
the present time no condition has arisen
which makes &c at all probable that ureat
Britain can be beaten into submission
through starvation
The most pcssimistic of, these statements
that ! have seen is one in this morning
Tribune by Mr. c. W. Gilbert and dated
Washington. Mr.. Gilbert is very pesslmistc
and apparently sees very little light ahead
Possibly il is because he IS not very wei
posted on the real situation.
He states that vessels are being destroyed
the rate OF fsNU''Vbp A'No " SNS'f
only about 100000 tons year are being
constructed, but he says nothing about the
quality of the vessels being destroyed as
compared with the quality of the vessels
which are not being destroyed, nor of the
vessels being built
The fact is that Of the tonnage being de-
stroyed over 90 per cent Of it is of such quail
itv that il would be very near the scrap heap
if there had been no war; while Of the YES
sells which are at all up to date or modern
(particularly as to speed very few have been
destroyed. This being the case, the 100000
tons being constructed are practically as
valuable as the 100000 being destroyed.
The reason for the destruction taking place
ie almost entirely lack Of speed. The average
speed of the destroyed vessels is probably 10
knots; while most of the great and important
cargo carriers have a speed OF from 10 to II
knots, this making them comparatively safe.
Take the case Of vessels belonging to the
Mercantile Marine, sailing under the flags of
the White star American, Leyland. Red Star
and Atlantic Transport These lines are
sending on an average Of about seyenty-fve
vessels a month from United States ports to
AlIlcQ countries, ana the ftcOIu iot lUc last
three months is either two or three vessels
lost. and these two or three are among the
more inferior and slower classes.
The White Star and American lines are
employing about fifteen vessels These YES,
sells are plying backward and forward as
quickly as they can be loaded and unloaded;
not one has been sunk in the last three
months, although many attempts have been
made.
The reason slow ship is in serious dan
ger. while one Of - knots or more is not. is
because the faster ships are not subject to
destruction by gunirc, but only by torpedo
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07

ton law; and there are 100000 more
cligibes in sight when the present draft
ing lists are exhausted.
The public has been a little over-fearful
about the draft experiment. The latter
has proved a phenomenal success. And
it has been so successful because it meets
exactly the needs and temper of the hour.
The country is unreservedly for it as the
only practicable means by which it can APP
ply its vast power in the struggle ahead of
US for peace and democracy.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
A CHEEKY View of the Submarine

Mr.. Cortis's letter, which will be found
in another column, is an antidote to exces-
sive pessimism. and it may we'll afford sea-
sonable comfort to those who have almost
been persuaded by the plausible reason
ings Of such disinterested observers as Mr.
Ridder that there is nothing left for us
but to surrender with as good a grace as
we can to the all-conquering U-boat.
It was a homely observation of the First
Lord of the British Admiralty that in deal
ing with this present menace we must by
all means endeavor to avoid two prevailing
aiIments-swelled heads and cold feet. Mr.
Cortis has provided sufficiently against the
latter. and if his argument helps to con-
vince the timid that this is no time to give
up. so much the better. The inimitabe
Mr. Ridder himself has despaired of starv-
ing England before next year and is now
pinning his hope on the prevalence OF tu-
herculosis in France. There is reason,
then. to trust that we can hold out few
months longer in spite of the submarines.
On the other side, it is imprudent to
make light of a danger which is very real,
and. unfortunately, Mr.. COrtis does make
light of it. for in effect he tells us that
there is at present no just cause for un-
easiness. If many of the great merchant
vessels were destroyed there would be
something to worry about" he admits;
but he insists, mot until them In
other words, the loss even Of half a mill
ion tons a month should not be seriously
disconcerting; nay, even "if all the vessels
of the inferior classes which are afloat to-
Cay.should be destroyed, England would
not be in danger of starvation
Now. even admitting this statement Of
the case to be correct, It may be pointed
out that actual starvation is not the only
evil to be apprehended. The food problem
is. indeed, the most vital of all in the long
run, but in the prosecution Of this war
there are many other problems TO be met,
and it is no secret that the strain on the
available tonnage is already acute. 1t IS
very true that the great liners are worth
much more than the slow tramp steamers
that fall ready victims to the submarines,
but what margin have we in these, when
allowance has been made for the consid-
cradle number taken over for military
purposes?
1t is very we'll to say that "most of the
great and important cargo carriers have
speed of from fifteen to seventeen knots
and are therefore comparatively safe.
But at this rate safety even comparative
safety-is the possession Of but few, while
many merchant ships cannot make even
ten knots, a speed at which the modern
submarine can cope with them submerged.
We have no way of telling precisely
what the losses announced by the British
Admiralty last week amounted to in sum,
but supposing that Mr.. Cortis is correctly
informed, and justified in the assurance
he offers in his last paragraph, it is never
theless impossible to admit that the losses
recorded in the last three months are OF
little consequence. Surely, the very fact
that vessels ready to be scrapped have
been pressed into service is sufficient IN
dication of the gravity of the menace.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
In Our Alley

Ofhand we should pick fiesta as about
the last thing TO fit our present-day mood.
There may be some Freudian explanations,
familiar to Greenwich Villagers, to explain
Macdougal Alleys sudden determination
to be gay. But such secrets are not for
the populace Jeering Philistines will be
glad that for once our Alley is not taking
herself too seriously, and let the case go
undiagnosed at that.
Thus accepted, and with che admirable
object of helping the Red Cross as its occa-
sion for existence, our first and only fiesta
is an assured success. There is good
psychology in the idea of fancy dress for
humans, and there should be equal fruit
borne in the case of a street. Rigid and
monotonous developments may be best day
by day. For the occasional spree, on the
edge of the world, there is nothing like
strange colors and an alien style to set
ones soul jigging. The most massive and
redoubtable matron will become practically
a sub-deb if arrayed as a bacchante with
a few grapes in her hair.
This is distinctly a rigid and monotonous
town of ours. It's hiarity blazes away on
Broadway at fixed candle-power; its
slums are just so full of pushcarts and
smells; its Greenwich Village is just so
full of bobbed hair; all its little spots Of
local color have their fixed tints that no
body dares to modify. And now comes
Macdougal Alley on the loose. May she
cheer us vastly and shake little freedom
into our conservative bones
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
The Monitor Comes Back

iffolh me hhUhto faF'fN''
British monitors arc playing an important
part in the Italian advance toward Trieste.
The monitors have again proved themselves
in this war. They appear to be the only type
Of craft that can carry big guns into shallow
water and lombard coast Notifications sue
cessfuly Submarines cannot follow them
into these. shadows, and they have so little
frecboard that they present a difficult mark
for the enemy to hit.
Monitors took up the sea work at the Oar
dancllcs after the battleshps had been lost
or had been driven by submarines TO seek
protected ports. Monitors she'll the Belgian
coast when attacks arc made on the German
bases there Now they are sheling the Aus
trian coast ahead Of the Italians. And so far
there has been no report Of single monitor
lost.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Wear Your Buttons!

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: One small point in pushing the Lib
erty Loan with the small investor has been
neglected TO a great extent | believe, and
you could do a service by calling it to gen
eral attention. Urge subscribers TO wear
their buttons and conspicuously. Most Of
US arc disposed to follow the crowd, and the
man who is thinking of subscribing" and
may never get past the thinking stage may
receive just the necessary impetus by seeing
evidence that many others have reached the
acting stage.
That sort Of influence would affect me more
than hours Of argument. and perhaps others
may be "a weak minded. \. B. p.
New York. June 3, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
4 Worlds Hope

We have already recognized a warplcdsed
Russian Provisional Government, made n "a
large loan and dispatched embassies and eX-
perts to its assistance. Our hope worlds
hope lies in sterilization. The "pacI-
fist" element is German we have nothing 70
gain from it in cooperation. At present n Is
nothing it is anarchy! b. urging upon the
President to force a resumption Of the "benef-
iccnt campaign" which is applaudcd as hav-
ing preceded the Submarine crisis the
author Of THE New Republic" paper is adv.S-
ing course which would create now IN the
United States an anarchy, too. is that his
real aim?
Belgium. Serbia, Armenia. racked and tor
tured France, our own netherlands anguish,
the Lusitania and her companions slaughtcfs
furnished cumulative motives which have
entered now into the grim determination of
our people there is no going back 20
benevolent neutrality and there can be no
let nor hndrance to the great work Of de-
stroying that power which is now formulat-
ing a mid-European-Asiatic Empire for the
Hohenzollern dynasty. All efforts 20 win
over supposed disaiIection among its sub
iects or its confederates by Mr.. Wilson. for
us and our allies, will be only treated as
signs of weakness and encourage still further
assumptions and aggressions Of the enemy Of
mankind. Ours is noble warfare. For our
soldiers to kill their foes on calm, scion-
tifc" basis would be murder They are
executing the wrath of man and Of God upon
the incarnations Of a wicked force which has
DONE and threatens further to do, beyond
the reach Of Imagination, such irreparable
harm to mankind.
1t was to be foretold that in the last days
a hundred blind paths would be prepared by
the willy and determined antagonist TO lead
astray the avengers and saviors from the
line Of their righteous duty, and it was like
wise, as it appears, justly predicted that in
feeble readiness to follow these, our worst
foes would be those Of our own household.
ERVING WINSLOW.
Boston, Mass. June >, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-07
Liberty Lads

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Could we not call our men who are
going to fight for liberty the Liberty Lads?
I think IT would be very appropriate at this
time when Liberty Loan" Is the hyword for
financial achievement WM. i. SHANNON.
Jersey City, y. j., June 5, 1917.