davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

the association is $1O150. Any teach
ers interested in the trip may secure
further information from Mr.. Sheats.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

The Stage Women's War Relief Of New
York city is supplying the .oldiers with
jell'es, jams, preserves, marmaIades, and
other sweets.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22
ODD, ISN'T IT?

Ringling, Okla.-W. P. Harwell
chases big bee swarm five miles IN
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

The Southern Methodist University is
one OF the first colleges OF the country to
adopt compulsory military training.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

The huge guns of modern navies can on.y
be fired about seventy-flve times before
they are worn out.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

his flivver and captures it on street
corner, hitting the high cost Of
sweets.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

Duck, men, duck! Watch out for
flying lead! Golfers has printed the
picture of our governors son over the
name as. J. Cattle, Jr."
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

JUNE %, 1917.
Seventy-Seventh Day of America in the
War.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

Just as soon as it becomes known
that Charlie Chaplin has joined the
army, there will be a rush of recruits
anxious for front seats at the big
show over in France.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

For interrupting a Salvation Army
service to say he didn't believe there
was any hell, a Mobile man was fined
S., and now he knows there is, be-
cause that is just what he caught.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

Button, button, everybody's got the
liberty button.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-22

No man becomes an authority on
anything by getting his ignorance
printed and that is what a lot of
legislators and congressman can't
have brought to their attention too
often.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Old Bad Days
Will Never Return

Nothing of sensational nature can
be expected from me. The late Chlel
Inspector Schmittberger left matters i.
a condition that makes anything Wv
minor changes unnecessary ne sala.
"As TO wee conditions, / do not oe'
lieve New York would stand for re.
turn to conditions OF other days AZ!
student of social conditions, not ON!
here, but in Chicago and in every o'hS,
city in the country, knows that easA
year has brought about an improve
ment.
"New York is clean now" the eh n.
added and then stopped. The irenoir
ness that had characterized ms man
ner during the talk gave way TO hSiI'
cold and incorporating attitude. .
deep frown Swallowed the gray eye.
and heavy lines made more prom'hen;;
the. Roosevelt-like chin expressly, v
the determination that carried D'''0"
into the chief inspectorship.
81 have wife and ten children.
There are millions Of decent ~oihe"
and men in this town. New lorA
going TO remain clean. or
The voice trailed of, but the iaes
made il plain that a wide open 1oNH
will find James +. Dillon a retired men.
her of the New York Police Depais
ment, not its supervisor and diree'O..
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
See Conspiracy
To Cripple Nation

Through the courtesy of the board
The Tribune is enabled to print to-day
an article by the boards general man
ager. w. +. Mallalieu, of New York City.
AS the supreme authority on the fire
loss problem in the United States, the
National Board of Fire Underwriters
confirms in effect what Mr.. J.oover said
in his telegram to the Northwest that
the Germans have on foot a conspiracy
to cripple this country through the de-
struction of food supplies at home.
Statistics are not given because Tor a
given year all fire losses, together with
the cause, are not compiled by the
board in their entirety until the first
of the year following. But of condl-
tions as far back as March last. before
the United States had entered the war,
the board, through Mr.. Mallalieu, says:
THE country was beginning to real
ize that Germany had long been waging
a secret war within the boundaries OF
the United States. Mysterious explo-
sions and fires were becoming alarming
Iv frequent. Now and then there came
gIimpses of a huge organization OF hos
file incendiaries in all parts OF the
country working with amazing boidness
to cripple our manufacturing re-
sources"
To check these plotters, once the
country had declared war, was the i'm
mediate task that faced the insurance
men in April. What has been done
Notwithstanding that the enemy amen
continues TO roam at large, Mr.. MALTA
lieu goes on to explain.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18

Of rates or insurance. Tell the man
ager of the plant that you are there Tor
one purpose only, that of aiding hmm
10 eliminate fire hazard. and that for
this purpose you have the status Oh
proper official authority. although you,
salaries are still being private ly PAID.
The chairman would conclude his re-
marks by introducing the Governor
who, having already been consuiteu,
usually would enter heartily INTO tne
spirit Of the occasion and lend ms
strong Endorsement to the campaign.
Following the Governors speech there
would be speeches by the Fire Marsha,
the Insurance Commissioner and the
other members Of dhe committee, after
which the resolution would be passed
and the local executive committee ap-
pointed, organized and set to work. In
starting out the inspectors would
usually receive commissions of author
ity. signed by the Governor and some
times other state officials. Ihis pro
gramme has been carried out in nearly
all Of the states.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
City Engineers
Take Up the Work

Good plans, however, require com
petent execution, and this involves ex-
pert supervision. The national board,
in order to provide such supervision,
at once recalled field parties of en-
gineers from their regular work Of
city inspection and assigned one man
to each Of the sixteen environments.
Thus when armies Of workmen began
10 clear forests and erect buildings the
work Of fire prevention engineering was
included from the very start. The
mushroom cities were as safe as sci
ence and care could make them.
To-day a visitor to any one of these
great camps will see an interesting
sight. After he has gained his first i'm
preqsions of high pressure yet orderly
activity; after he has been inspired by
the esrnestness Of the innumerablc re-
cruits drilling by squads in every open
space, he may begin to appreciate the
measures that have been taken for
safety from fire.
lie will see long vistas Of implanted
two-story wooden barracks in street
after street. How burnabe they look
How easy,it would seem for a fire once
under Roadway, with n strong wind, TO
develop into an irresistible confagra-
ton! Then he may, perhaps, notice
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18

TOU have read Of the wartime
hres-of ammunition plants de-
stroyed, grain elevators con-
surned and stockyards crippled; here is
a glimpse at the much greater story OF
the fres that did not occur. 1t is not
too much to say that movement which
began on March 81, 1917, has organized
itself into the most extensive hre pre-
vention campaign that the world has
ever seen. Thousands of people have
participated in some one or other OF us
various phases; millions have come un-
der its influence, but very few are able
to appreciate its scope. This campaign
is to-day one of the vital factors IN the
nations preparations for war. It's story
10 worth telling. .,
For several years the nation had
been drifting toward war, and by the
latter part Of March most people real
lied that hostilities could not much
longer be delayed. War meant the IN
settlement Of many kinds Of business,
and earnest conferences were taxing
place in countless executive ofhces
throughout the nation. During such
conference the National Board OF Fire
Underwriters realized that public
duty devolved upon il. This organlza-
ton saw that the speed and efficiency
Of the nations military preparation
might depend very largely upon the
possession Of certain information con-
corning manufacturing and storage
plants.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Posters and Booklets
Given Wide Circulation

The results were highly gratifying;
requests for additional copies came in
by the thousand and extra editions
were called for. Up to the present
time each document has attained a cir
culation of about l25. 900 copies, most OF
which began to operate effectively for
public safety as soon as issued. Some
organizations have shown the greatest
appreciation of the value of this matter.
For example, the Diamond Match Com
pany has been furnished, upon its re-
quest, with five hundred copies of the
prevent Fire" poster, the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad has asked for and re-
ceived total issue of fifteen hundred
copies, and copies of the booklet have
been applied for by the Fire Prevention
Bureau Of the British government. In
every case, of course, the entire ex-
pense has been borne by the national
board
No sooner was this matter in the
mails than another booklet was in
course of preparation. The food prob
lem was looming up as one of the big
gest problems Of the war. There were
earnest appeals for increased supplies
War gardens began to sprout in city
backyards, and millions of farmers
pushed their production TO the utmost.
This was not az all TO the liking of the
common enemy, who was industriously
using his submarines to send food sup
plies to the bottom Of the ocean. Sub
marines alone proving insufficient. he
called the tirebug TO his aid.
Elevator fires were especially TO his
liking, since one good hot blaze could
neutralize the efforts Of hundreds Of
farmers. Thus one fire is said TO have
destroyed all Of the grain from $4,000
acres Of land, and another is calculated
to have destroyed the material for 50,-
100000 loaves Of bread.
Submarines themselves could do no
better, and the number of these ele-
vator fires was becoming alarming 20
the American government and its al
lies. OF course, not all Of these fires
were to be classed as incendiary; a
large percentage were due to character
istic American carelessness and lack Of
precaution, but nearly all implied faulty
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Peace Attitude
Was a Handicap

Had the government already such in
formation in hand?
IL seemed unlikely, and 70 sceumu-
late II would be a matter Of great eI-
pense and delay. This was the handi-
cap Of nation trained to thoughts OF
peace when suddenly confronted with
the emergency Of war.
And then the duty Of the board be-
came plain. Information Of exactly
this nature was already in existence,
but II was in the hands Of the FIRE in
surance interests. The underwriters
had spent many years and millions Of
dollars in collating IL and classifying
II, as a requisite 70 their business.
Their records covered practically every
building in the United States. In view
of the emergency there could be no
question as 70 the duty Of placing this
priceless material at the disposal Of
the government.
But this was only part Of their
duty.
Merely 70 turn over 10 the govern
nent information already collected
would be a somewhat passive service.
II was evident that the situation re-
ouired a campaign OF widespread and
highly organized activity. This rea-
son was az follows:
The country was beginning 20 re-
slizs that Germany had long been
vaging a secret war within the boun-
dsries Of the United States. Myste-
risus explosions and fires were beeom'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Organized $1,000
Into Home Defence

The chief inspector, however. feels
that his greatest work in the depart
ment has been that of organization
He is the father of the Home Defence
League. the police auxiliary, made up
of $1,000 citizens. When he took hold
Of the league there was no organiza-
ton, just body of men ready to help
the police if war emergency called
them away from ordinary duties.
He began by organizing unit in
each police precinct and then had the
men elect their officers. His next step
was to uniform and equip the men.
How well he succeeded was shown in
the parade of the league last spring
which replaced the usual police parade
and the work of the league IN policing
the city when the regular men were
called away to take part in the Pre-
paredness Parade.
Another of Dillon's pet schemes
which assumed gigantic proportions
was the organizing of the Brooklyn and
Queens Police Athletic Association.
Starting with few scattered baseball
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Modelling the
Insurance Army

The next development to be launched
was equally important, but widely diff
ferent in character. II concerned vital
necessities of war preparation and in
volved work that could only be accom-
plished through modelling the fire
insurance forces themselves.
On April 10 letters were sent from
the headquarters of the national board
TO all Of its members. and to all insur-
ance boards and bureaus affiliated with
it, asking for their support in a great
campaign Of conservation, and particu-
larly for the services Of their field men.
All of them agreed at once. and the ma
tional board files soon contained the
names of 3,400 of the most highly
trained specialists of their kind in the
United States. These men are located
in every district. Through years Of
experience they know every nook and
Granny in the United States. They
were imme diately drafted for govern
ment service by being drawn into this
In order to direct their activities.
President Bissell thereupon appointed
the Presidents advisory committee.
consisting, in addition to himself as
chairman, of Frederick c. Boswell.
Henry II. Smith, John o. Plat and
Charles l.. Case. He then appointed ad-
yisory committees in different parts of
the United States.
Each committee in turn organized,
appointed its chairman and entered
upon its duties; to each were assigned
the field men equipped for work under
its direction.
The experience in one state will show
the methods generally used. First, the
committee would issue a call for a
state convention TO be held in the Cap
itol in order that the Governor, the
Fire Marshal, the Insurance Commits
sioner, members of the State Council
of Defence, press representatives and
any available prominent citizens might
be able to attend. The convention
call would be sent to the special agents,
engineers, adjusters and other fire in
surance men in the state. Next a
"slate" would be prepared for an exec
utive committee consisting of carefully
selected engineers and special agents
in that district. Upon this committee
would devolve the responsibility Of
local management for the work of the
advisory committee, When the "slate"
had been prepared and resolution
had been adopted for the convention
the preliminary work would be COM
plete.
The convention itself would begin at
10 o'clock in the morning. First the
chairman of the advisory committee
would arise and explain the nature Of
the work to be undertaken. He would
show the Importance Of its bearing
upon the wartime situation, would out
line the work of the companies and
would proceed to give definite instruc-
ton to the special agents and en-
gineers.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
ut il was merely a beginning.

but il was merely beginning.
War could not be fought with arms
and ammunition alone. Supplies of the
greatest diversity and in enormous
quantity must be produced at once. The
names of their possible producers must
be forthcoming. While all of this in
formation was possessed by, or was &C
cessible to, the underwriters, it could
not be used to advantage unless stand
ardized and concentrated at a central
point, such as the headquarters of the
national board.
The next development was of an en-
gineering nature. 1t concerned the
plans for the army camps.
Before the issuance of the draft
calling hundreds of thousands of young
men to the colors plans were prepared
for sixteen great cantonments distrib-
uted throughout the country for the
concentration and training Of these re-
cruits. It was deemed necessary to
give these cantOnments the form of a
collection of large wooden barracks,
but with this thought a serious diff
Guilty presented itself. Hastily con-
structed wooden cities of such extent
and of such crowded conditions would
be peculiarly subject to conhagratons,
and confagrations at such points
would seriously delay the nations
entry into the war.
Fire prevention plans at this junct-
ure were therefore Of the highest i'm
portance. The National Board Of Fire
Underwriters proposed to the War De-
partment that specially trained en-
gineers from the formers committee
ah
task of solving the problem. This
prefer was at once accepted, and two
engineers were sent to Washington
in the latter part of May. They were
given Offices in the Quartermasters De-
partment and charged with the duty of
working out the best possible systems
of water supply, fire prevention, fire
protection, etc, in order that these
might be incorporated in the con-
struction plans. They are still en-
gagged in these duties.
Then began the marvellous process
of making the machine that was to
make the army. Into the sixteen great
environments were TO be poured hun
dreds of thousands of raw recruits
from the Offices, the factories and the
farms, there to be transformed into
Uncle Sans fighting force. The ne
cessity for speed was paramount. The
construction division of the Quarter
masters Department worked at high
pressure over the plans, and these in
cluded every safeguard that engineer
ing skill and experience could suggest
in the matter Of fire prevention and
protection. As result the sixteen
new cities that began to spring magi-
cally from the soil in various parts
of the country were models of precau-
tiOnary planning.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Printer Ink
Called Into Service

Thus the work Of inspection was
launched, and thus it has continued
steadily for several months, with re-
inspections already being made in many
places.
Soon after its inception it became
evident that the influence of printer s.
ink was also needed. An inspector,
after all, could be in but one place at
a time, and it was important to reach
many thousands of places without de-
lay. Accordingly committee OF In
surance engineers was appointed for
the purpose of framing practical sug-
gestions in non-technical language and
issuing these, for the Council of Ma
tional Defence, to the manufacturers
Of the nation. No sooner was this pre-
paratory work under way than some
one suggested that there should also be
means for reaching the factory hands,
since these shared with the manage
ment the responsibility for preventing
fires. The most practicable plan
seemed to be that of an illustrated
poster containing simple fre proven
ton rules and appealing to the patriot
ism of the employees. Such posters,
when fastened up in conspicuous places,
would preach precaution to hundreds
of thousands of hands.
Active work upon the preparation OF
this matter began without delay.
Copy for the booklet was produced by
the committee in charge, and just be-
fore it was sent TO the printer Presi-
dent Wilson showed his appreciation Of
its importance by issuing a special
signed statement for use upon its
cover This statement. which has since
attracted widespread attention through
out the United States and has been
reproduced in thousands of papers, Is
as follows:
"Preventable fire is more than a
private misfortune. II is a Ddblic
dereliction. As time like this of
emergency and Of manifest necessity
for the conservation of national re-
sources, il is more than ever a mat
ter Of deep and pressing consequence
that every means should be taken TO
prevent this evil"
The booklet was produced under the
title Of Safeguarding Industry, War
Time Necessity" In the meantime a
list of $4,000 leading manufacturers of
the United States had been prepared
and the extensive task was undertaken
of sending booklets, posters and letters
of transmission to this number. With
each booklet there was included spe-
cial form of "Self-Inspection" blank,
whereby the manufacturer might de-
tect and correct his own hazards in the
light of the instruction given TO him.
The original issue was sent out in
August.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18

mines, the association now embraces
rs per cent of Brooklyn and Queens
policemen, baseball team in every In.
spection district and gymnasium in
almost every station house. He be-
lieves that the morale of the depart
ment has been improved wonderfully
by the introduction Of athletics and in
tends to extend the association TO in
clude all New York precincts.
Athletics have Always been an alb
sorbing topic with the chief inspector.
He is man of powerful physique,
standing over six feet two and carrying
not an ounce of surplus flesh. His
every act and movement reflect per-
feet health, vigor and clean living.
He was obliged to tell of some Of
his ideals, now that he had reached the
highest position in the uniformed
force. He was asked also TO give some
of his experiences in his long police
experience.
For the first time during the long
interview the big New Yorker ceased
to be the sophisticated policeman. He
took over his glasses and swung around
in his chair to gaze through the VIII
dows to Centre Street in a vain effort
to hide boylike embarrassment.
"Oh, I don't know" he finally said
haltingly. 81 haven't been Oh,
well, Pm just a policeman who has
tried to do we'll all the ASS gnments I've
been given. haven't committed
any mortal sin, / think. But !
haven't been very brilliant, either You
don't see any medals pinned on me,
you'll notice. I've always tried to earn
a policeman's dearest name-a good
cop"
But when he was asked about his
family he lost all his embarrassment
His face glowed as he told Of his ten
children--fve boys and five girls.
"My oldest boy is lieutenant in the
army he said with just trace Of a
boast in his voice. Hes thlrty-one,
married, has three children and had
a good Job in Wall Street. When the
call came he gave up everything, know
ing that his family would be cared for.
Another boy, not yet twenty-one, is an
enlisted private in the army. Another
twenty-eight, will be in service when
the doctors, who have been treating
him for q serious ailment, pronounce
him fit. The other two cant 60 Tor
while yet. One is twelve and the other
ten"
A look of wistfulness crept into tne
direct gray eyes as he said, as II Il
were meant more for himself: "lts 700
bad that army regulations set an age
limit for men without military tram
ing"
The seasoned police commander ap.
reared again in a few minutes, Whes
the chief was asked what he expected
to accomplish in New York and sna'
he thought of the rumors that prepare.
ton were being made TO welcome
wide open" town with the new yesf'