davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

stated that little can be done with
the securities of industrial and man.
ufacturing concerns, except to with
hold dividends. Withholding divi-
dends, again, is not so easy In the
United States as in Great Britain.
Most of our stocks and bonds are
bearer certificates. We have no
means Of preventing the collection OF
dividends through Holland or Den
mark. II the securities are German
stamped, as is usually the case, then
there will be reason to withhold; but
if there should be proof Of trans
fer we cannot question the validity
of it. Cases have occurred in which
German security holders Of British
companies, which have issued bearer
certificates, have been collecting div
idends through Holland. Even sup
posing that we are able to stop com
pletely the payment of dividends to
German security holders, it is not
likely to lead to a radical change in
the present situation. Even at date
dividends due to Germans are uncol-
lected, because Of the practical i'm
possibility Of sending the coupons to
collect with. Confscation Of such
property has not been attempted
even in this war. Consequently, it
may safely be stated that the United
States will leave these alone.
The second class Of property, or
ownership in building and sgricul-
tural land and houses, comes under
the direct cognizance Of the govern
ment. In the case of private prop
erty each case must be dealt with
individually, and there must be some
reason to adopt such a drastic
method as confscation Of individual
property. If the enemy subjects in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
THF WAR PRIZE IRRESISTIBLE-ENEMY PROPER

citizens. The main reason WIN,
has not been drastic with c.
property and commerce |, ,h..
many cases German and Italian !.
terests were SO closely Intervene, !,
to battle all efforts to ,e0.,..'
them.
The last class of property |, !.
ships. 1t goes without saying th,,
the interned ships would BE- taL..
over Immediately by the governn.n,
and the merchant vessels which -.
staying in our harbors for safs,s
would also be utilized for our o,,.
purposes. The utilization of tb.,.
crafts does not signify confiscatO0
Under international law the goyen
ment would undertake to retu,
them after the cessation Of hostl
ties, or pay for such vessels as A..
lost during the campaign. Her,
again, the question is complicated n
the submarine issue. If Gernsa
submarine should sink one Of tbes
informed vessels when it is put :,
active service by the United Sty
government a claim for compers.
ton would, TO say the least, be oU,,
to future decision by a court Of ns.
trails. 1t is hardly probable that 4,
United States would follow the A.
lies in confscating outright Germ
property and ships. War vesselsa
course, are prizes Of war and wo.a
become the property Of the UniE
States the moment war is declarsd
The questions connected with ener,
property would not be ultimatelyd,
cided until after the war. The steps
which may be taken at present n,
temporary and are bound to be cs.
siderably modified By the terms Il
the peace protocol.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

the United States are interned, the
government can only take over such
property and hold it, as it were, in
trust. Where any individual acts
against the interests of the state, the
state will have the fullest right to
confscate his property. Local con-
ditions, the number of the enemy
population, the number of sympa-
thizers with the cause of Germany,
the activities of enemy subjects and
the results likely to follow any step
with respect to them, would all be
considerations governing the course
of the government. In England and
the British colonies it was an easy
matter, because there were no Ger
man sympathizers and the number
of Germans was comparatively small.
Their property holdings, again, were
mostly in connection with interna-
tional business.
In this country, on the other hand,
they form part and parcel of the
population. In many cases it is hard
to distinguish between German and
a German-American. The govern
ment would have its hands full If it
adopted a drastic method, even un-
der extreme proyocation. To a GER
tain extent, also, conformity with
democratic ideals would necessitate
the protection of individual rights
even those of enemy subjects. The
likelihood is that the government will
leave these properties alone. Even
in the European countries personal
property has not been interfered
with, except in the rarest of in
stances in France and Italy. In
England and Russia much damage
has been done to property and indi-
viduals by Infatuated mobs, but the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

From which things IL would seem Ar,
some economic laws and theories sua
well under some conditions and IN
under others, that they are not Of nj.
verssl application, and that, psradsn.
cally, there seem TO be both room u.
need for the most dismetrically y
posed systems in the economic sehsr,
of things.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Anew Foreign
Trade Outpost
Fine Harbor Adds to Com
mercial Importance OF
West Indian Islands Pur-
chased from Denmark

A FINE harbor at Charlotte
- Amalie, on the island Of St
Thomas, Danish West Indies, af-
fo-ds a convenient distributing CEN
ire for all of the Lesser Antilles. 1t
lies on the direct line Of communica-
ton between European ports and the
entrance of the Panama Canal, as
well as in direct line for vessels ply
ing between the Atlantic ports OF the
two Americas, or between the At
lantic and Pacific ports OF these con-
tinents. It is 1,400 miles from New
York, 1920 miles from the Atlantic
entrance Of the Panama Canal and
$50 miles from La Guayra, the chief
port Of Venezuela. It's location COM
mands the Virgin Passage to the
Caribbean Sea, the easternmost gate
way to that body of water. This
harbor, in fact, according to a COM
mercial survey of the islands just
completed by agents of the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
of the Department of Commerce, is
commercially the most important
feature of our recently acquired
Danish possessions.
st. Croix is the largest, wealthiest
and most thickly populated OF the
three islands. It is about forty
miles southeast of st. Thomas, and
has large areas Of very fertile soil.
The town of Christiansted, OH this
island, was the seat Of the Danish
colonial government, but Frederik-
sted, with a much better harbor, is
more important commercially, doing
approximately 80 per cent of the inn
port and export business Of the
island. Sugar is the principal prod
uct of st. Croix, although some ex-
Sellent Sea Island cotton is grown.
The scenery is unrivalled in the An
TILES, though not so typically tropi-
cal as some of the other islands. On
The island of st. John is grown the
bay tree, from which is obtained the
oil used in the manufacture of bay
rum. The bureaus report states
that the major part of the bay rum
OF commerce comes from the Danish
West Indies.
The foreign trade of the islands
has not been of great Importance.
Imports at st. Thomas for the fiscal
year ended March 81, 1916, were
valued at S734,6S0, and this repre-
sents about 70 per cent of the i'm
ports of the three islands. OF this
total the United States furnished
$780, 1856 worth, the West Indies s91,-
74S worth, Great Britain s88,411
worth, Denmark s50,778 worth,
France s13,2S8 worth, Holland s12,-
COL worth and Germany s1,195
worth. The United States pur-
chased s273,625 worth of goods from
TIE islands in 1915.
The report issued by the Bureau
Of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
is the work Of three special agents
who stopped over on their way to
South America. One Is studying the
Latin American markets for boots
ard shoes, another the markets for
electrical goods and the third the
markets for textiles. Each has
chapter on markets as he found them
in the Danish West Indies. Boots
and shoes, apparently, arc seldom
used by the average native, although
each has a pair for special occa-
sions. Natives OF all ages are usu-
ally seen barefooted. The market
for electrical goods is also limited,
although it is urged that electric
fans can be sold IL properly pushed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

governments have tacitly acknowl-
edged the sanctity of personal pos
sessions; the principle followed in
this case is that individuals should
not be held responsible for national
misconduct.
German Traders Doing
Business in Japan
The third class of property is
moneys owed by the governments
and citizens TO the enemy country
for goods land services rendered in
connection with international COM
merce. 1t is recognized that when
two countries are at war the ma
tionals Of the enemy country do not
have the usual rights Of domicile and
trade intercourse. If they do have,
as has happened in some cases, it is
under the supervision Of the To-
cal governmental authorities. The
course adopted in England with re-
gard to this kind of property and
rights has already been detailed; but
the different Allied countries have
followed different courses. In Rus
STA the outbreak Of the war led to
the complete stoppage Of all German
business and destruction of German
property. In Italy there was an
anomalous position for consider
able while; but in the end the Ger
mans had to go out of business. In
France the same course was adopted
as in Russia. In Japan, German
traders are doing business even to-
day, although with time their privi-
leges have been considerably cur
tailed. Even in countries where the
Germans are allowed to trade they
can only transact business with neu-
trail countries. 1t is more likely that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

Textiles, however, are in good de-
mand, and it is in this line that pros
poets appear brightest for the Amer
lean manufacturer. Heretofore Eng
land and other European countries
have had the cream of the trade.
Lack Of interest on the part of the
American manufacturer is blamed
for this condition.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Germany's Problem
Was More Simple

The details of German manage
ment Of British property are not
clear. The problem with Germany
was much more simple. There was
little British property in German
colonies. In any case, most Of the
colonies were seized by Great Brit
ain or her allies soon after the war
Japan taking Kiachow. Practically
all British investments in the Ger
man Empire were concentrated in
Germany itself. These investments
were mostly in certain classes Of
securities and factories for the man
ufacture Of goods. Real estate, inn
proved and unimproved, owned by
British investors was comparatively
negligible. The German government
stopped payment Of dividends, just
as other governments did, on stocks
owned by enemy subjects, but it
postponed the confscation Of prop
erty in ACCOMPLISHMENTS in any
case It was deriving benefit from
them.
Another consideration that coun-
selled cautious course for Germany
was that British investments in Ger
many were only fraction Of the
total Of German investments, not
only in Great Britain, but also In all
parts Of the British Empire. The
estimate Of the value Of British
physical property in Germany is
$4,000, 900, while that Of German
property IN Great Britain alone was
1926, O00,0 900. The value Of German
property in oil the British colonies
and dependencies Is estimated 10
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
2.t5o.ooo.oot
$4,000. 100000

at will thus be seen, leaving out OF
account the invisibles. which are est
mated 10 balance. how the exchanges
bayA beer naintained-r
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Dividends Not
Easily Withheld

Taking in detail the probable
treatment Of the -four classes Of
property holdings in case Of war
with Germany, it can safely be
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

ing business, extensive plans for con-
troll became necessary. In the case
of dividends, all that was done was
TO hold them in institutions author
lied by the government, under the
enemy account. The companies were
paying out the dividends, just as
they did before the war; only when
such dividends were payable to
enemy subjects they we're sent under
government orders to a bank or
banks to be deposited in new ac-
count, entitled Enemy Account"
The several changes that were
made were mostly in connection with
the running businesses. At first, as
was customary on all such occasions,
the several enemy institutions were
given licenses to carry on their re-
spective businesses; but there was
no uniform law operating in all the
British dominions. In some of the
colonies the outbreak of the war
meant the complete stoppage of the
business of enemy firms, and liquida-
ton began Immediately. Only in
Great Britain itself were the Ger
mans given the fairest possible
terms. AS the war progressed, and
as the bitterness against Germans
increased, the licenses were revoked;
but German business houses were al
lowed to close out their business, re-
ceive the money due them and pay
out sums owed by them. They were
not, however, allowed to do any more
new business. At the end Of 1914
liquidators were appointed for all
German businesses, to close out run
ming accounts; but by June, 1915,
the liquidators in most parts Of the
British Empire were empowered not
only to sell all goods in warehouses
and in transit, to take up deliveries
under contracts already made and
to settle accounts, but also to wind
up the businesses as soon as possible.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
When Trade Is
Out of Balance
Sir Edward Holden Tells Of
Methods Used by London
Bankers to Maintain Rates
of Sterling Exchange
THE gigantic task undertaken by

THE gigantic task undertaken By
u the British Treasury authorities
in attempting to maintain the sterling
exchanges at a workable level and make
IL possible to finance Allied purchases
in the American market was described
recently in an interesting manner by Sir
Edward II. Holden, in a speech deliv-
cred to the stockholders of the London
City and Midland Bank, of which he is
the chairman.
at must be admitted" said Sir Ed
ward, "that in 1915, when the ex-
changes fell to 450. it seemed almost
incredible that the Allies, working to-
gether, would be able to keep the Lon
don-New York exchange at 4.7650 or
thereabouts, but it is to their credit
that what at that time appeared to be
impossible has been accomplished. 1t
has been done by the Allies pooling
their gold, and VIC estimate that be-
tween July /, 1914. and December 81,
1916, they have contributed 10 less
than 81 ,O60, 100000 of gold out Of total
gold imports into America amounting
to about 81 16O,OO0,OOO.
"To students of the exchanges it is
interesting to examine the American
trade figures more closely and TO en-
deavor to group together the sellers
Of exchange and the buyers of ex-
change. We must remember that in
ordinary times the exchanges can only
be maintained when the imports and
exports, both visible and invisible, are
fairly evenly divided, but in these ex-
traordinary times different state Of
affairs has arisen and different meas
ures have been adopted. All exporters
from America in the ordinary course
would be sellers of exchange.
From July 1, 1914, TO November 30, 1876
Exports Of American COM
modities amounted to-. 50, 5e5 900, 900
Exports Of gold amounted 10 300 5000
Exports Of silver amounted TO 1875 000. 600
Making total exports of. $40 ooo. ooo. 900
"If, therefore, the exporters of these
commodities were sellers of exchange,
how has the exchange been dealt with
and how have these exports been paid
for? These exports have been paid for
partly by the purchase of exchange by
the proceeds of gold imported, securi.
ties sold and loans negotiated in Amer
lea.
During this period
Imports OF commodities
amounted 10 ............ SAFE. o00, 900
Imports of silver amounted 10 5000, 900
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18

Belliqerents Have Succumbed to the Tempta-
ton to Take What They Found in Their
Domains Without Regard for Rights
Established by Such Fragile Things as
International Law and Treaties-Cerman
Property in United States Far Exceeds
in Value American Possessions in the
Teutonic Empire
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Making total imports Of. s4.s6o. ooo. 900
"These importers would be buyers of

sxcnange.
Imports of gold have
amounted 20 t1.000.0o0,-
900, the proceeds OF which
have been used either in
purchasing exchange or in
direct payment Of exports,
thus preventing the de-
mand for exehange... 1000
II Il estimated that America
has bought back her own
securities 20 the extent Of
$4,000. 900. 900. thereby ere
atinz purchasers Of ex-
change 10 that amount. 1000
The loans contracted In
America during this period
ard outstanding on No
vember 30. 1915. may be
taken at about l.lb0,-
900. 900. and the proceeds
would be used In pur-
chasing exchange or In d.
rect payment Of goods to
be exported, ~ In the
case Of the securitics and
the gold. 1850
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Connection with
Colonies Severed

The next step was the sale Of
physical properties which we're held
in connection with German trading
houses. This was a radical step to
take, but it was a logical sequence
of events. In all the British col
onies most of the sales were held
at auctions, and the properties were
knocked down for a small fraction
of their original values. With this
step the German connection with
British colonies was completely sew
cred.
In Great Britain itself the pro-
cedure was more liberal, and the au-
thorities tried to stave off practical
sequestration of German property
until public opinion and the extrem-
list section of the press compelled
them to adopt that course. Licenses
10 trade were granted much longer
in England than in the colonies.
Even liquidation was carried on in
such manner as not to prevent the
Germans from taking up the bust
nesses that were lost, should peace
be restored IN the meanwhile. The
criticisms directed against Sir WY
lam Plender, who was appointed by
the government to liquidate the Ger
man banks in England, by Lord
Northchffe showed the trend of feel
ing which the government was IN
able to control. Events now are
tending in the direction of actual
conhscation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
international Law
Disregarded

1t is hardly correct TO state that
the changes took place in interna-
tional law; neither Of the belliger-
ents paid the least regard 20 law or
even precedent. / refer TO interna-
tional law in the sense Of the estab-
lished precedents previously accepted
By both belligerents. Everything
that was done was dictated solely by
the intensity Of the feeling against
each other. Time has increased this
bitterness and led them 20 commit
acts which do not conform TO any law
at all Al the outbreak Of the war
Great Britain issued orders 20 super
wire enemy trade, detain enemy ships
and obtain control Of enemy property
all over her dominions. There was
20 difficulty in regard 70 shipping,
except the formal procedure Of the
prize courts. With regard 10 physi-
cal properties, there was also mini
mum Of trouble, because enemy cub
jeets could not dernolish or move
them. With regard 10 holdings Of ee-
euritiss in jointtstock companies and
Che conduct Of commercial and bank
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01

acknowledge receipt of the notifica-
ton under penalty of being assessed
fifty percent However, local motor
boat men, who were asked regarding
the matter, state that they have not
received any notification as yet.
The government lighthouse boat
Dandelion was in Quincy yesterday
en- route to Keokuk. The steamer
Reokuk was also in Quincy yester-
day with a large freight cargo. It
Is expected the pleasure boat Mime
sofa" owned by the Mayo brothers.
of Rochester, Mimi, will be in Keo-
kuk the latter part of the week.
1T is said that the Stevens Arms
company has purchased many trees
in this section to be used in the
making Of gun stocks. Recently one
man jim Canton. No, was dumb
founded when representative of an
army company offered him s42 for an
old tree that he did not think was
worth anything. Gun stock making
has become quite an industry since
the war begun.
On account of the PASTORS alb
sepce last Sunday at the Baptist
state convention, special service of
prayer in response to the presidents
call has been arranged for Sunday
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01
Month Which Went OFF the Calendar
at Midnight Last Night Averaged
Only 10 Degrees ia
Temperature.
WAS FAR BELOW NORMAL
Rainfall Was Somewhat Deficient
There Was Trace Of Snow Dur
Ing the Month, Also
Thunderstorms.

The month Of October which passed
into history last night at midnight
holds the Keokuk weather records
for the coolest October in forty-seven
years The mean temperature was
46 degrees. In 1873 October tempera-
ture averaged 10 degrees but for
the most part the mean for the month
has been in the hfties In 1900 II
reached g. The normal for the month
was 54.5.
The total rainfall during October
was 1873 inches, the heaviest rains oc-
curing October Il and IS when one
inch OF rain fell The normal rainfall
for the month Is 2.49 inches. There
was Just trace Of snowfall. In this
respect the 1900 record for snowfall
of three inches stands.
The wind direction was northwest.
the greater part of the time and there
was a total movement Of 6.53s miles
On October 81 the greatest velocity
was attained, the wind blowing at the
rate Of 26 miles from the southwest
There were only 10 clear days in
the month, II were partly cloudy and
there were 10 cloudy ones. Eleven
DAYS In the month there was precfpi-
tation recorded of OF inch or more.
Lunar halos were observed October
2 and "a. Thunderstorms occurred
October 2. 16. II and IS. Light frost
occurred October L; heavy frost on
the sixth and killing frosts October
s.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01
CITY NEWS.

800 buys a 4S lb. sack of Cyclone
flour. Iowa Feed Co.
The Keokuk factories evidently
have an abundance of work as most
of them are advertising for help.
Regular meeting OF Keokuk
lodge No. 106, B. P. o. E., tonight at
s o'clock. Elks' hall. Sixth and Blon-
deau streets. Visitors invited.
After December LIST a special tax
must be paid on all large parcels,
according TO the daily bulletin Of
orders affecting the postal service.
The tax viii be one cent for each
twenty-five cents postage and must
be attached before parcel is sent
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01
MORNING FIRE
AT WILBATS
Blaze Starts in Back Roam and Made
Progress Before Discovered
-Fireroen sagtlch

4 fire occurred early this morning
at the +ailor shop Of Carl z. UEl5zr,
HOS Main street. The alarm vas
given at 2:55, and when the nreIaen
arrived the fire had made soyae pro
gress in the back room where Il
originated, but had not yet burned
through the walls Of the building.
The fire boys made short gork Of
the blaze when they got there.
Considerable damage was done 20
walls of the building, goods and appa-
ratus In the back room, and some
goods in the front room were dam.
aged by smoke and heat. II ia
thought the fire started from an eelc.
trio sad iron.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01
CITY NEWS.

Fresh channel cat fish Keokuk
Fish Co, foot of Main. Phone GG5.
Camp Dodge announces the ar.
rival of more than 1000 negroes from
Alabama who were assigned to the
366th infantry. The Alabama sol.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01

morning. The pastor, Rev. ]. II
Matthias, will speak on the topic,
When a Nation Prays." In the
course of the sermo on the pastor viii
relate the incident of the farewell
given some Of our troops recently in
New York City, and Mrs. Henry
Schouten viii sing 20. Rest in the
Lord the contralto solo sung at that
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-01
COAL fMINE RuNl-

$500 delivered. Just the thing for
furnaces. D. E. Reeves & Co. Phone
$50.