davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
After Suffrage the Deluge
Dire Prophecies for the Poor Old
Ship of State
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The suffragists demand Tat in this
grave hour of emergency we reconstruct our
very basis of government. But the present
is no time for social revolution. The suf
frage movement is too closely linked with the
pacifst-social cause for our permanent
safety, as the suffrage leaders proved before
our entry into the war. Furthermore, tho
country has problems enough TO pc worked
out without complicatng its difficulties By
bringing an entirely new and uncertain polti-
cal element into the body polite.
The dsloyal utterances of the Washington
pickets should be sufficiently enlightening as
to the course of woman in government to
make thinking men pause before letting 90
their last hold upon their own governments
affairs.
From being an ardent sufYragist have
come to hold the suffrage movement in abhor.
renee have found, generally speaking, that
to scratch suffragist is to expose a pachst.
During the past three years campaign for
military preparedness have observed that
the greatest opposition to preparedness has
come from the Socialists, the social workers
and the sufragists; that the majority of suf-
fragis.s were tainted with pacfsm in one
form or another.
The sufragsts and pacifsts have repeat
cdly Joined forces in a demand for peace AZ
any price and, besides fighting against pre-
paratory measures of defence. they have par
ticularly singled out for their bitterest at
tacks that most salient measure making for
permanent national security, universal mill
tary training and service.
Though there are many sufrsgists now
bending their energies to patriotic work, still,
in the last analysis, We know that the safety
OF our nation depends not upon woman power,
but upon man power-upon the masculine
qualities OF mlitancy. Permanent military
strength and consequent security are 20 be
created and maintained only by a government
strong in Insecurity. In view of the un-
patriotic opposition Of the suffragists to
strong national military policy of defence it
would indeed be the height of folly TO place
the security Of the nation in their hands. To
so revolutionize our political system during
this war that the weaker, the anti-mlitary,
element shall be given the power to negative
the masculine measures necessary for security
would seem to be the most puerie thing th"
. nation fighting Germany could do.
II to the anti-American Socialists who hsvs
the vots we now add pacifstic women, Il wlil
then be but a short and logical step 10 chilo
suffrage, when at last we shall have entered
the desired haven Of national weakness 20
moor that good old man-built hulk, our ship
Of State. alongside the Russian wreck 20 rot
in tho graveyari of "n''onal fis'n'egrstlon'
ELIZABETH OGDEN WOOD.
New York. Oct 2s. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
(Ertrncts from d Personal Letter.


Your present state Of mind is that whicn
characterized pretty nearly all the men OF
this country twenty-five or thirty years ago
And We. in this interval in nineteen states
o. the Union women have been given the
RICH. 70 vote for President OF the Uniteo
States.
Though il NAV be too much to expect tnat
nv communication will move you to JOIN
that procession OF your fellow citizens l.
nevertheless, am glad to reply TO the IN
ouiries you make Of me and TO set for'h
in the form Of letter my views upon tne
subject.
II is now a good many years since l pe-
came converted to the cause or woman SUI
fraee. The considerations which were most
influential with me were the following: III
tina first place. my protracted and earnest
consideration OF the conception Of justice;
became convinced that the denial OF the
right of suffrage to women was nagrah''.
unjust. And the years which have eiapSe"
since I reached that conclusion nave Only
served 70 strengthen my belief that no con-
ception of justice can be worked out ana
applied to the state in any democracy wh'e"
does no. give women equal political rights
and privileges with men.
The Modern Industrial System
A second consideration which weighed
with me was the position which women nave
come 20 assume in the modern economic ana
industrial system. The progress OF SCIENCE
the MULTIPLICATION OF inventions and the APP
nlications through machinery of the powers
Of nature to the industries Of civilized man.
kind have sent women in large numbers to
ioin men in the productive and distributiye
energies Of our nation. And as this IS the
central and most vital objective of modern
legislation, the tolls and labors of women
surely entitle them to a voice in shaping
that legislation.
These convictions of mine, formed many
wears aQo. have been deepened and intensi-
fed since the beginning OF the great world
war. in which America is now finally en-
gagged. Essentially considered, this is war
for the elimination of governing classes and
castles. It's ultimate object is the democ-
ratization of the world. But there can be
no democracy with half the people of the
world DISTINGUISHED. And it seems peculiar
" outrageous to continue that disfranchse-
ment at the very time we are calling upon
the women of the country to share with
men the labors, risks and sacrifices OF the
war. With the exception of those OF our
own sons who are between twenty-one and
thirty-one years of age who are physically
III. there is not man in the country VINO
is called upon to do more for the war, OF
who does more for the way, than the women
of the country. Whatever we men who are
not actually preparing to enter the trenches
are doing to win the war, our women are
matching us, whether contributions are
measured BIZ intelligent direction, by toll
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
A Fusion Board of Estimate

Necessary as it is for the best interests
of this city to reeect Mayor Mitchell, his
success would be victory robbed of half
its fruits if Fusion Board of Estimate
and Apportionmept were not elected also
Much Of the splendid record of the Mitchell
administration has been due to the support
he has received from his colleagues in this
all-important body. They have stood with
him in spending money wisely for depart
ment activities which would serve the
public and in refusing to spend money for
projects containing extravaganza and
graft.
The Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment in the next four years will parcel out
about one billion dollars of public funds.
On these appropriations the Mayor will
cast three of the sixteen votes. In addi-
ton, he will have veto power over items in
the budget as finally passed by the Board
of Aldermen. Nevertheless, the Mayor
alone would be minority influence in the
handling Of this immense sum of money.
1t is only by electing with Mayor Mitchell
the Fusion candidates for Controller,
President of the Board of Aldermen and
Borough Presidents that Tammany can be
baked of its sedulously sought control Of
the city treasury.
Election Of an anti-Tammany Board Of
Estimate is necessary not only to prevent
Tammany's appropriation Of this money,
but TO check Tammany influence in the
spending Of it. The Controller or the
President of the Board of Aldermen has
voting power in the Board of Estimate
equal to that of the Mayor. In the Con-
troller is lodged the power Of audit of city
expenditures. Borough Presidents not only
vote on appropriations for their depart
ments, but actually spend the money thus
appropriated.
The Controller is the director of the
city's financial affairs-a function equal in
Importance to that of president Of a great
banking institution. He markets the citys
securities; he audits and pays its bills. 1t
is an Office imposing vast responsibilities
and demanding great technical knowledge.
For eight years Mr.. Prendergast has filled
il acceptably. He has been educated in its
intricacies at the city's expense, as any
man must be who Is put into it, no matter
what his initial qualifications may be.
Now he knows the job-knows it thor
oughly.-and performs it with signal
credit 10 himself and particular advantage
TO the community. In his administration
Of the Office there has been no faint of
dishonesty or graft. Tho city's funds and
the city's credit have been secure In his
custody. He has co0perated loyalty with
Ma yor Mitchell in working out the pay
as-you-go policy which, while imposing
somewhat heavier burdens on the tax
payers for a few years, will at the end Of
that comparatively brief period relieve
them Of heavy annual appropriations for
interest charges on long-term debts for
city improvements.
Accomplishments such as these are not
spectacular, winning frontpage headlines.
But they are at the base Of good city gov
crnment. Without them no administration
can ,srys the public we'll. for safe and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01

and service. or by sacrifice and suffering
This world war consequently gives women
a new and obvious claim to the ballot.
hope for the credit Of American cNii'Ia-
,ion we shall not be the last nation TO rec
ocnize that claim. rejoice that IN n'he-
teen Of our states women already nave 'ne
righ. 20 vote for the President Brs since
the beginning of this great world war our
European allies have enfranchised women
as q means and also as an expression Oh
national reorganization and unity which
suffering had taught them was essential "
the winning OF the war. Woman Suffrage
il a cardinal plank of the revolutionary plat
farm of Russia. The French Chamber OF
D.puties has voted in favor OF municipal
suffrage for women. The British House OF
Commons has already passed bill confirm
ing the suffrage Of British women. and 1t is
to be enacted into law as soon as the close OF
the war gives Parliament the opportunity TO
return to the field OF domestic legislation. Al
though all the Canadian provinces, from
Ontario to British Columbia, had already
conferred suffrage upon women, bill is now
TO be introduced in the federal Parliament.
and Premier Borden has made it an essentiai
plank in the platform on which he is soon
70 appeal to the people Of Canada. All these
nations recognize the absurdity and inJus'
tice Of denying the franchise to women at
the very time when women by equal isbors
and sacrifices with men have helped to save
their fatherlands from conquest and dessruc-
ton.
Women have proved themselves the saw
iors of their nations How monstrously I'M
Just that they should BIO denied the right to
vote on the policies of those nations, in
GLIDING the policy of peace or war in the
future!
Is America to be less liberal than its
European allies in this world war? Are
We to lag behind while they march forward
under the banners of progressive civliza-
ton?
In the Present World War
No one has seen more clearly or expressed
more truly the relation Of the question OF
woman suffrage TO the issues of the present
world war than President Wilson. In an
address which was published in all our
newspapers on the Goth inst. he stated that
this great struggle of the nations goes
deeper and touches more Of the foundations
of the organized life of men than any strug-
gle that has ever taken place before, and no
settlement of the questions that lie on the
surface can satisfy situation which re-
qures that the questions which lie under
meath and at the foundations should also
be settled and settled right" To this Pres
ident Wilson added: II am free to say that
| think the question Of woman suffrage is
one OF those questions which lie at the
foundation" And IN order to bring the
matter home to the minds and consclences
of us voters of New York President Wilson
sounds this note of leadership: al, thore-
fore, am very glad to add my voice to those
who are urging the people Of the great
State of New York to set great example
by voting for woman suffrage"
I note from your Letter that you have fallen
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
The Conversion of an Anti-Suffragist

The Conversion of an Anti-Sufragist
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Married about ten years! Yes. and
happily married. One night we were asked
to attend a woman's sntl-suffrage meeting.
We went. The speakers were women, and
good. About two men got up and opposed
them. This was nuts" for the trained
speakers, who "foored" them promptly Great
applause and lots of fun for the audience.
Non-members we're asked to sign mp and
become full-fedged "antis."
urged my wife to join. a. the arguments
appealed to my natural feeling against
women voting The wise girl said, Let's
hear the other side first" The other side!
To me il carried with II the poor men who
had lost their tempers and were the Joke
If the evening. This was eleven ysars ego,
and WAS guided then perhaps more By I'm
pulse than later on in life.
After a while q suffrage meeting was an
nounced and wo went. Their speakers were
just as we'll trained. but they had the ad-
vantage of carrying conviction in what they
said. Il went against the srair." but had
70 admit they had better arguments. l COM
menccd to think about it and couldn't find
any IctsOH why WOEiSu WV
if she wanted to. Men only vote II they want
to and tho anita needn't vote II they don't
want to. II seemed "dog In the manager"
game for them to say they don't want to
vote and therefore women who do want to
vote must not be allowed to.
About this time friend came on from New
Zealand. where they havo had suffrage for
many years. He had been like me, but found
that It worked very well there and wouldn't
change now. His principal reason WAS that
it had raised tho standard Of tho mon put
in office in both parties, for each eide was
afraid that II it put up poor man the
women would flock TO tho good man In tho
other party.
The more q man and wife have In common
the better chums they become, and the hap
pier the married life. Politics adds one more
interest. Let's add II. WILSON D. LYON.
New York, Oct 30, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
the Editor Of Tho Tribune.

Sir, Mr.. Amos Pinchot made public In q
fairly explicit letter. published by your paper
this morning. his reasons for voting for Hill
quit rs Mayor. He neglected. however. TO
state whether ne approved OF Hillquit's re-
fusal 70 subscribe 20 tho Liberty bond ISSUE
and whether he has himself followed the
same course,
II might bssuggcs,ed 70 him that, as he en-
joys an inherited fortune. a form Of wealth
particularly obnoxious to Socialists, he might
consistently lend that to the government,
while dsvotinx his abilities. which are all
his own, to tho HillQuit party.
LUX 1T vERlrA&
New Yssk, osA - lelS.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
If?
II T 7 IL
lowing:
A friend of The Tribune writes the fol-

~ VI TIC lIIDuUc WlltCS tiiC W.
lowing:
In view of this mornings development a.
TO Judge Hylan and his connection with 6
disloyal society may not suggest in the
interest of the people Of New York City
that you now demand, absolutely demand
the retirement Of Mr.. Bennett as candi
date for Mayor-if he is patriotic anc
loyal citizen-and if he is a patriotic anC
loyal citizen he will retire.
Under the law | do not believe Mr.. Ben
nett can retire at this late day, but he car
tell from the stump his displeasure at the
disclosure concerning Judge Hylan's con
nection with disloyal society. y.
New York, Oct. 81, 1917.
The Tribune recognizes that the same
thought is in the minds Of thousands OF
Republicans to-day. Even Mr.. Bennett
must perceive now that his campaign has
diminished, not increased, his stature in his
own city and within his own party. His
candidacy may defeat Mayor Mitchell, but
his persistence as candidate will assured
ly destroy his public career and leave him
an object of pity rather than anger.
In the present campaign Mr.. Bennett
has grown weaker with each day. He has
not alone lost the votes but the regard of
those who in other times have thought of
him as one of the younger Republicans of
promise. But no man can be catspaw
and retain the respect of his associates
To-day the whole town perceives that Mr.
Bennett is only an insignificant accessory
to crime against national honor and civic
decency-the crime of surrendering the
city to Tammany Mayor with Hearst
label.
No personal ambition, no petty grudge
can be worth the price that Mr.. Bennett
will have to pay if his candidacy elects
Hylan. In such an outcome there will be
many losers, but none will lose as much or
have as little left as Mr. Bennett. People
of this town, of this country, forgive mis-
takes, but they never forgive deliberate
betrayal of a cause, whether from sordid
or selfish motives, and this community
recognizes that in Mr.. Benefits case the
motive is utterly selfish.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
Bntsrvd ct ns P.stonce a, New YORK /. Second Class
NAL Mater

Yos csa purchase merchandise advertised In TIE
Tribune with absolute saety-'or y dssitSacton results
70 any THE TRIBUNE guarantees 20 your money
hack upcu No red No quiobhrE. We make
gpod promptly n the advertiser does not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01
MEMBER OF THB ASSOCIATED PRESS.

TIE Associated Press exclusively entitled 20 the use fo'
pusnca-on ali dispatches credited 70 IL or not
shawss credited IN this paper and also the local news oil
spsntAneous onrn published herein
AL nights OF republication OF all other matter herein arr
also rsssrvsd-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01

Owned and pusNshed daily BY The Tribune Association.
S.s York Cooperation. Ogden Red. president. c. Vernon
Iosess Vice President I. A. Suer. Treasurer Address
suns BundinS i5< NsS,iu Street New York Telephone
Yeskrsn soep.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-01

SUBSCRIPTION RArEs-By Mail. Postage riid out
ads o, Greater Nsv YORK
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-16
THANKS AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR HELP TO BELGIANS
Cardinal MERCER Sends President
Wilson Letter Which Is Struggled
Through German Lines.

Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Ma
lines. Belgium, who has achieved
worldwide fame because of his de-
Tense Of the Belg:ans in the manner in
which they have been treated by the
German military authorities in Bel
gium. has sent a letter to PRESIDENT
Wilson. thanking the American people
through the President for the humani-
tartan work done by Americans for his
stricken country.
The letter, which is dated February 3,
was smuggled through the German
lines in Belgium at the risk of his llfe
by Rev. John B. de Vile, Belgian
priest. now attached to the Belgian bu-
reau IN New York. 1t was brought TO
the White House yesterday by Father
de Vile. 1t is as follows:
Mr.. President: Often. since the
commencement of the war, I have had
the desire to express to the people OF
the United States. of whom you are
the highest representation, my CRATE
full sentiments. You have been prodigal
to US OF your sympathy, of your help,
OF your devotion. At the very moment
when you see yourself compelled to
break Off the diplomatic relations of
your country with Germany. you have
had still an exquisite thought for our
poor country; to the fifty delegates of
the c. r. B. you hive given the advice
not to abandon US as long as the power
of occupation left them free to provide
for our Authorization. May you be
thanked for your magnanimity. Mr..
President. and may you accept as well.
| pray you. the thanks of the entire
Belgian nation. Permit me to say that
We shall pray to the good God and ask
Him to bless your noble country.
Please accept. Mr. President, together
with the renewed expression of graft
tude. the homage of my very high con-
sideration. (Signed) X d. l. Cardinal
Mercier. Archbishop of Malnes."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-16
GERMANY HAS DIFFICULTY
OVER FOOD SITUATION
Admits There Is Inadequacy of
Grain Stocks and Shortage
Of Potatoes.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
COPENHAGEN. June Is. via London.
June l6.-oficial admission of food diff
ficulties in Germany. resulting from a
shortage of potatoes and the made
quacy OF grain stocks to afford sup
Elementary bread ration. is made in al
announcement of the food control de-
partment. The announcement states
that the fve-pound potato ration.
which has long been only official fic-
ton. will hereafter be abandoned. and
that while an attempt will be made to
supply bread in the place of potatoes.
the quantity must be reduced.
The Berliner Tageblatt reports. after
having made inquiries. that two. or at
the highest, three. pounds of potatoes
weekly is all that can be supplied
until new potatoes are available in
grammes Of bread, hitherto supplied as
a substitute for each failing pound Of
potatoes. only 20 Erammes. or less
than ~ ounces. can be furnished
regarding possible potato rations are
internretable as erring, il anything on
the optimistic side.
Frospects for the grain crop are. be-
coming dark. owing to the long-can,
the first of this month. but the amount
Of rainfall is quite Inadequate. and
for fortnight the German weather
reports from all parts of the empire
have reported naught but cloudless or
slightly cloudy skies.
There has been no precipitation. or.
at most. only an occasional and iso-
lated millmeter of rainfall. and high
sumi:>er Temperatures prevail.
Therr conditions on the light sandy
soil in a large part of Germany are
conditions in June most dreaded by the
farmers. With such a season the crop
experts. who a fortnight ago were say
ing that with plenty of rain an aver
age crop could be expected. have of
late discontinued discussion of an ap-
parently unpleasant topic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-16
Wants U. S. Air Service
Placed Under One Head

Coordination Of the aeronautical ac-
tivities of the government under one
of America fully utilized in building
the navy Of the air and getting SUI
premacy there. just as Germany has
developed her submarines. Howard E.
Coffin, chairman of the aircraft pro-
duction board of the council Of national
defense. told the subcommittee of
the Senate commerce committee at a
hearing on the Sheppard-Hulbert bill
to create a department Of aeronautics
in the cabinet The United States. he
said. can develop this industry without
interfering with the resources of pre-
pairing the army and navy.
Its a question of material, time and
organization which face US today in
said. 1t is comparatively easy matter
for the army and navy, from the ex-
perience of the allies. he said. to decide
on the type of machines which are
needed. but the production is the great
question: and the industrial forces must
be organized and many plants convert
ed into turning out the parts which
go into the machines.
He said the manufacturing resources Of
Germany were already strained and they
could not meet the competition with
America in air activity without weakening
in some other sphere.
America. he declared, is the great reser-
voir of men who will make good airmen
and contains the resource for producing
the machines. but it is necessary to as
semble and coordinate these activities go
as to turn out the large number of air
craft which will be needed.
Training schools are being established
and good progress made in beginning the
production Of the machines. Mr.. Coffin
said. but some appropriations will be nee
essary.
Representatives of America. Canada and
Great Britain have agreed on a standard
machine. which will be used in training
the airmen. and types of the heavier and
speedy machine Of the French are avail
able, and will be standardized for use
by this government, he said. explaining.
however, that it was necessary for be-
ginners to train with the slower and
easier controlled machine
The United States. Mr.. Coffin stated,
should follow the example of Great
Britain and crea,e a board to deal with
the after-war development of air craft
Mr. Coffin suggested that manufac-
turing of machines for obtaining the
control Of the air was the very best
help which America can give the allies