davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Difficulties of the Convoy System

The loss Of two valuable conveys has
shaken the faith Of those enthusiasts who
imagined that the problem Of protecting
merchant ships was simply a question of
overcoming an unaccountable prejudice
against the convoy system. They supposed
that all objections against it must be
imaginary, and its merits seemed to them
so obvious that nothing but the stupidest
obstnacy could explain the attitude Of
those who continued to oppose it in the
face Of increasing losses under the old con-
ditions. They have since had occasion to
reconsider the question, not only in re-
spect of the two unfortunate encounters
in the North Sea, but for several other
reasons which had not before occurred to
them.
Some recent questions in the British
Parliament give us hints of the difficulties
that have arisen-difficulties long since
foreseen by those who opposed the system.
IL is admitted by the ministry that the
economic distribution of shipping at Brit
ish ports has been seriously interfered
with. Fifteen Of the principal ports quite
lately were not used at all for the dis
charging Of cargoes and grains, with the
result that thousands Of men were out Of
work. These local troubles are probably
unavoidable, but the conduct of the con-
yoyS themselves has been a cause of much
dissatisfaction. 1t is said that steamers
have been kept in port sometimes as long
as ten days, awaiting convoy, and that not
infrequently fast ships are compelled to
keep company with ships so slow that the
conveys have been obliged to proceed at
from to 10 knots at the most.
These complaints are quite natural and
might easily have been foreseen, for they
are not new The convoy system, used so
extensively in former naval wars, was
never universally approved by ship
owners, and was largely discredited in
Britain at the close of the Napoleonic
wars. Practical experience had convinced
many that unless it were possible inva-
riably TO provide a guard so powerful as
TO be proof against any attack it was
sheer folly to collect ships in masses and
thus offer a more enticing prize to the
enemy. Moreover, the inconvenience of
collecting a great fleet Of merchant ships
at a rendezvous and then exposing the
whole to the slowest sailer was demon
strated on many occasions, TO say nothing
Of the impossibility of insuring perfect CO.
ordination between ships unaccustomed to
working in concert.
For these reasons, among others, il
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Way to Save Fat
Let Housewives Preserve 1t and the
State Buy 1t

To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR | wish to put before you plan that
| think would succeed in all large cities in
America. II ought to be regulated by the
city authorities. as | find there is some OBJ
lection in apartment houses to allowing men
TO call, on account of their not always being
honest, etc. The plan is this:
find in my own household, and many Of
my friends, that there exists great waste
Of fat owing to the fact that certain kinds
of fat cannot be used up. and apparently
there seems TO be no way Of getting rid OF 1t
except by throwing it into the garbage pail.
There is no use for mutton and lamb fat
in the generality of households; and since
the price of meat is so high | find the
butcher is making profit by sending with
the meats an extra amount of fat lnls IS
trimmed of and in most kitchens sent to the
garbage can. The same applies to beef fat.
In houses where many joints are used the
cooks have more fat than they can use. II
this were rendered down and kept in tin
for sale it would at least be conserved. Now
the question is where 70 sell this fat. My
scheme is that the food conservation peo-
pie make a house-to-housc call and buy the
fat from the householder, or cook, if there
is one, and resell 20 soap makers, etc.
Circulars should be sent to kitchen doors,
also TO the householders, asking their CO.
operation in the scheme. Il seems to me the
ones to appeal to are the servants; they will
save anything If they know they are going
TO benefit thereby. And in England and
France the cooks get the money for extra
fat, bottles, etc. In England private concerns
make a house-to-house canvass, Offering to
buy fat It is a regular business, out OF
which they make money. So that | con-
slider the food conservation committee ought
to make the thing pay for itself, if run on a
business basis.
| find in buying ordinary household soap
the price has increased up to 81 on
case, and certain brands cannot be OBJ
tanned. and the grocers will tell you soap is
very scarce and very high to say nothing OF
candles; and it is caused through the scar
city Of fat. 1 happen 20 know that in most
households fat is thrown away as Of no
Sslue whatever and find the reason is no
one knows what to do with tiff they do
save il. READER.
New York, Dec. II, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Time for True Economy

Recognizing the need for economy which
this state always has with it and the par
ticular emergency which confronts the ma
ton now. Senator Sage, chairman of the
Finance Committee, has outlined a pro-
oramme of retrenchment for the next
fiscal wear which it is to be hoped the
other lawmakers will support. He says
that no bills will be reported from the
Finance Committee with his approval
which make special appropriations Tor
other than war exigencies, and there will
be no salary increases except for small
salaried men where they are necessary to
meet increased cost of living.
What must be done to keep the state
moving forward-lest it slip backward
will be done, Senator Sage insists. In
creased maintenance costs will be met,
deficiencies will be made up, the depart
ments will be enabled to do their work.
But he is against any new employees, new
construction or the undertaking of new
enterprises. unless New York is committed
to them by law, in the present period Of
stress.
Department appropriations asked for in
the preliminary estimate or budget this
year amount, approximately, to S98,0OO,-
600. This is an increase of about
S19,00O,OOO over the appropriations made
for last year On the basis of estimated
income there would be necessary to meet
such appropriation direct tax of about
100000 for highway and canal sink
ing funds, and probably an additional
So. .0OO. .OO0 or $G,O00,000 more if these es-
Inmates were not cut drastically. In Sen
ator Sage's programme such cutting is the
chief feature.
It is inevitable that the states house
keeping cost more from year to year.
Also, it is imperative that the state move
forward--if not, as Senator Sage well
says. it will move backward; there is no
standing still. But in this year Of all
years there should be a rigorous pairing
down of public expenditures. The state,
as well as individuals, should reduce its
housekeeping to a basis of sound, funda-
mental thrift. Fancy salaries, jobs held
Tor political rather than public purposes,
the printing Of reams of reports never
read by the public expense allowances for
Investigations which produce reports tell
ing only what everybody knew before,
should be eliminated.
If such programme finds favor with
the Legislature, the total of appropra-
tions may exceed last years total, but it
will not come anywhere near the depart
ment estimates. And there will not need
to be huge direct tax, the greater part
of which must come from the already
sorely burdened taxpayers of the me-
tropolis.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Progress-But

tFF0H Ihe PHHddelphid iHqHJtf)
We do not wish to be misunderstood. The
government is making progress, but is max
ing it too slowly. That is to say, II might
be accomplishing much more. Congress
knows this, and this is why the investiga-
tions have been ordered. No one wishes to
tear down. All wish to build up. How can
10 be done?
One way TO do it is to cast aside all par
tisanship and summon to Washington the
men best fitted by their actual experience for
the duties assigned to them. Never mind
the political affiliations Of man. That is
or should be-nothing. This is the nations
war, not the war of a political party. There
are too many lawyers, too many college pro-
fessors trying to run things. They have
seriously hampered the all-important shin
construction. They have seriously delayed
the manufacture of rifles, artillery and ma
chine guns. Mere shaks-ups in the Ship
ping Board amount to nothing. Secretary
Bakers new War Council is q make.hift, not
the real thing
Put shipbulding organization in the hands
Of experts. Put everything appertaining to
munitions in tse hands of a Secretary Of
Munitions, and bring TO that Office the brains
that 60 with knowledge and experience Put
real organizers in charge wherever organi-
zation has fallen down and give these or
gsnizers the order 20 cut the red tape and
push ahead.
Red tape and speed do not 20 together
Get rid Of the red tape and speed up!
We hope that Congress will take this view
OF the matter az the result Of its investigs-
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Does "The World" think the Democratic
party can be preserved in alcohol?
The Root Of the Trouble
lFrom Tie Ruralo Erpr,.sh

Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the Rail-
road War Board, declares that all the blame
for the coal shortage cannot be attributed
TO the carriers. lie says that between April
and November the railroads hauled 81 ,000,-
600 tons more of coal than they did in the
corresponding period of the preceding year.
The problem, he explains. is primarily one
Of distribution, for which the public must
assume some responsibility.
Mr. Harrison might as we'll have included
about every other necessity. for inadequate
Distribution of practically everything which
we must have causes large part of our
troubles. In some instances actual produc-
tion may be short, as In the case of wheat.
for example; but every one in authority In the
various Federal administrations and in gov
ernmental departments concerned with such
matters appears agreed that generally
speaking, there would be enough fuel and
food for all il there could be proper distri-
button.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Not a Political Body

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: viii you kindly publish this letter
so as to make clear to your readers that the
League of Foreign Born Citizens, of which
the undersigned is president. mas no connec-
tion of any kind with so-ealled "Mitchel
League OF Foreign Born Citizens" which is
mentioned in the recent accounts of political
organizations that were recipients Of money
in the recent Fusion campaign?
A few weeks before Election Day. when
my attention was called 20 the assumption
of that name by a number Of individuals
gathered together for campaign purposes,
took up with Mayor Mitchell, who was one
of the honorary viee-prssidents Of the League
Of Foreign Born Citizens. the confusing
similarity of names. lie knew from close
association with our league that we were a
non-partisan, non-poitical, civic organiza-
ton, that we had refrained from taking any
part in espousing the candidacy of any one,
and that our membership numbered people
Of every political faith.
The Mayor thereupon directed the Mitchell
league people to change their name TO the
Mitchell committee, etc. so as to avoid any
possible Misunderstanding. Evidently they
neglected to obey that direction.
The league of which am president has been
in existence four years and Is maintained
by membership dues and by voluntary con-
tributions. We are now confronted by a
deficit and have difficulties enough to carry
out our Americsnization programme without
the added burden Of having people believe
we were a political body and that we proited
by the use OF thousands Of dollars which
we're in fact expended by totally different
group. NATHANIEL PHILLIPS,
President, League of Foreign Born Citizens.
New York, Dec. 20, 1917
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

seemed likely, even a century ago, that the
old system Of convoy would never be re-
vived but that, in all probability, it would
be replaced by some such patrolling sys-
tenn as was actually put into effect when
the present war broke out. 1t was the sub
marine that brought about a return 10 the
earlier system in a modified form; nor is
it denied that the change has been justi-
fed. But the old difficulties still hold good,
and the delays and vexations that have
followed were probably inevitable. The
convoy system is not, as some supposed, a
Danacca
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Exchanges Of Slackers

To the Editor Of The Tribune. .,,.
Sir: In all fairness to loyal Americans 's'. %.
government has made IL impossible fof ~.
cowardly element to escape liability to ser,s. -.
by leaving the country. Why do nos 's
Canadian and British governments take ~
TO place in service all those who have so.s''
refuge in America 10 escape conseripuon.
Every day we read OF American soia's.,
who have died with Canadian troops, ane ~.
In this country are Canadians and BTU. BIT, =.
who would be placed in the ranks II sun =
their own country. "a.
What do you advocate doing TO change W.
condition? W. ". hAbh~
Brooklyn. Dec. 10. 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

bullying that come from Berlin, Germany
Is heartily sick Of the conflict and wholly
ready to make peace on terms that will
leave Western Europe as it was before
the war. The peril now is that these pub
lies. seeing the issues which they under
Stand settled as they believe that they
should be settled, will be brought TO make
peace before the equally vital issues raised
by the Eastern situation are likewise set
tied satisfactorily.
The war began, as a military test, in
the West, and it is the Western field which
holds our attention; but the Western issues
Of the war are in reality settled, the larger
issues are disposed Of. The question Of
Alsace-Lorraine and the Italian Irredenta,
together with the question of indemnities
for Belgium and France for wanton in
iuries, is all that remains to be deter
mined, and for any debate about the green
table the nations controlling the sea and
the German colonies have the advantage
in pawns.
BY contrast, the fate Of the East is in
the balance and the advantage is with the
German. If his will prevails in Russia
and in the Balkans, he will remain the
great world peril he has become and we
shall continue under arms and in the
presence Of the same peril that kept the
world in unrest before July, 1914. We are
all Of US fighting now for settlement,
not a truce; for a dissolution Of that great
empire Germany has built up by fire and
sword in the last three years, dissolution
which shall give many peoples racial and
national unity and leave no nation dan
ger to all peace and an obstacle to all
disarmament.
We have escaped the gravest danger, we
have only to endure and to hasten our men
and our munitions to Europe, to rush our
shipbuilding and organize our industries
to abolish the lesser danger, lesser be-
cause it is not immediate. The notion
that France is to be destroyed Belgium
to stay in chains, Britain to succumb to
German might, and that we, ourselves,
are to be left naked to colossal foe, Is
merest moonshine. If Germany had won
at the Marine, it might have happened;
the last chance Of this perished under the
walls Of Verdun.
There are real dangers enough without
giving way to fear at imaginary perils.
If after all the sacrifice and suffering Of /
the past three years we do not attain
new order of things, the end Of nations in ,
arms. the end of preparations for and
against predatory warfare, if there are
new Alsace-Lorraines created in Russia,
in the Balkans, in Asia Minor, We shall
have nothing to show for the most terri /
bic affiiction in human history save scars
and wounds unhealed. But this is the
danger. The German is not going TO get
to Paris or stay in Brussels. The next
year of the war will decide whether he
can stay in Riga, Belgrade and Warsaw.
His road to the Strait of Dover is closed. .
His way to the Dardanelles and Suez re-
mains omen.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
A Plea for the Hapsburgs

The trouble with Mr. Bohn's position as 70
Austria Hungary is that in the last analysis
it is q plea for the Hapsburg dynasty
would be unfair to Mr. Bohn to say that Do
intends any such thing, but this is the ehea
of everything that is said on behalf OF the
preservation of Austria-Hungary, and al
those cognzant Of Hungarian ansrs
know that the only thing that holds Austria.
Hungary together is the dynasty, encireieo
by court camarilla and n group oil me
high army officers. This combination has 'he
support Of Berlin for Prussisn purposes
Once you remove the dynasty, as this vs
probably will, Austria-Hungary ineyitsoiy
falls TO pieces. The observation OF victor Az
Ter, who told Mr. Bohn that Austria-Hunssry
is a political impossibility but an histonesl
necessity, would have been true at the time
OF the formation OF Austria Hungary IN lo.'
by free compact ot the Bohemian peopN
with the Hapsburg dynasty. Austris-hah-
gary then perhaps was an historical necssslv'
in order to meet the Turkish onslaughts Inc
Turkish danger having become generstloh'
ago a thing Of the past, Austris-Hungs'
loses its raison d'etre and becomes not onH
a political impossibility, but historically use
less.
imagine Mr.. Bohn has in mind in Europe
a group of federal states, or something o.
the sort. | cannot understand Why theors"
like Mr. Bohn always overlook that even
federalized Austria-Iungary would be On an
natural entity, a federation OF the VIII"
II will certainly be granted that, II ieden'
tions We must have, We should seek feders'
tiOns OF the similar and not Of the dissinF
lar The Czecho-Slovaks At present are sess'
ing independence, and nothing less VIII 81,
isfy them. Anything less will mean eontinA
turmoil within the very heart Of Earope
Bat ! have little doubt that they will eons
TO trade agreements with the future Polsha'
as we'll as the future Jugoslav state. h'e,
all. all sorts of alliances are species o.
fedsrations Who can tell but what sueh
agreements would lead in the future TO los'
ieal federatlons OF the Slayonic groups, upeh
which could be built the world federstion'
Of the future But all this is In the futur'
As far as the smaller nationalities are eoh.
cerned, the main object at the present tln'
Is to remove such derelicts as Austria-huh'
gary undoubtedly has become.
CHARLES PEEGLER
New York, Dec. 20. 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

D'rbgsr' 800 t5o9SSS S ,5s sSSS SsS 70 cSS 90
r..., 90 $40 81 297 go 900 5000 ser .o'g
Thes. figures do not take into account the
tiros Manufactured in the year ended june
30. a total Of $4,000, 900 tires, valued NJ s4oV'
o0O 600 They do not take into account the
ti~c makers thousands Of employees Ihere
are also accessory and supply storekeepers
and their help. independent garages, repair
shops and gasolene stations, which lnVoIVe
the services Of thousands of persons out OF
the draft age, whose families must i've IN
gpito Of such persons as patriot
The 10 Per Cent Who Ride for Pleasure
As shown in The Tribune article on Sunday,
a business which takes in sS0O,0OOooo worth
of raw and fabricated material, the products
primarily Of mines, cattle and sheep ranches'
cotton and rubber plantations, lumber camps,
tone ouarries, sand and clay pits and OIL
wells. is hardly a thing TO be juggled with IN
Patriots" easy and light way.
have gone thus far into detail in TINS
article because people who think Ike "a
triot" are unfortunately many, and they can
not diferentiate the 90 per cent automooiie
users in this country 20 whom car IS wholly
or in part a utility from the 10 per cent who
ride exclusively for pleasure.
would like to know what particular good
would be accomplished by the non-use OF
rubber, metal, gasolene, oil or mechanics
labor. To check an industry Of this size, 70
cut It of untimely, would mean only terri
fc economic disturbance. | do not think II
would make available any additional funds
wherewitk 10 win the war. Quite the con-
trary. It would ruin thousands and bring
their families to penury. | wonder II Pa
triotn understands that the government at
this time has not called for more than 40
per cent Of the facilities of such automobile
factories as are engaged upon war WORK.
Not by any means all the factories in the
business have been called upon to do war
work. The automobile industry alone, by
devoting 100 per cent Of its facilities, could
take complete care of all our war needs for
years and years 10 come.
This is just one small part OK the country's
whole munition facilities, aad the day has
bv no means come when the government must
close down the automobile factories in this
country and say no more cars can be built.
The situation is serious, / admit, but it IS
made decidedly more serious by such thought
less, unreasoning statements as those offered
by "gSsriot."
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

Y.1 can purchase r1srrhsndiss sdvertis-d IN TIE
rREf NJ with tteru'n sa'ry.rr n dssAtlsfscucn results
fn arv case TE TRIBUNE guarantees 20 pay ycr money
t.-t Loon --cH-,t NO rel iape 40 ouibbug. We make
.aoI PROMPTLY % tfc advertiser dos not
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
An-AnER OF TIE ASSOCIATED PREss

Tie Associated Press ia crcusivey oc'ted % Ne use i"i
rer.lst1r % all ncas dispatches credited 20 70 or not
oe N crrfc3 ll this paper and tso the Local news o.
sr~l-faneogs origin rribIshed herein.
sights q republication o. al CheT nsttT herein are
also rfar-re.i
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

r.,.-ea a. ts ros,onoe a. Ncv York scrond GAS
Man Mtter
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
Automobiles a Necessity
Pleasure Use Small Utility Is Essential 10 The Efficiency
of the Nation
BnC r. Schmps. Automobile Editor Of The Tribune

To back up the statemen. r, 20 i'VoVOyV
porsons. let me quote from statistics pun
Iished on the automobile page OF TIE IT'D
unc itself only last Sunday;
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2e, 1917

o-cd And Published dsiiy by 1Ts Tnbune As'crauo'
N,,r lort Ccpo-auo1 Ogden R'd. President. q. Ne7''
Ro.s- ylce- Presider,. p l. Su'er Trrtsun-7 Adofe'
I,rf PurSine lst Nassau sif,~, New YORK Tti'ph"re
I5rkrran 5000.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-26

SUBSCRIPTION RATS. by Mail Pos.asc Paid cut
SIDE q Grcafcr Nce York
IN ruE UNITED STATES. OUTSIDE OF GREATER
The Little River news., 1917-10-20
Published Wednesday and Saturday

Entered at the postoEice al Aai' town. Arkansas, as sccoHI-class naN
The Little River news., 1917-10-20
RUY FARM MACHINERY TOGETh
 ER-cOOD BUSINESS.

People who have sold or will sell their cotton, and have paid their debts can do no better than to take I part oe their surplus and buy now the farm n,plem onts which they will nocd 1oxI spring, as the prices are certain 70 continue to increase.
 Why not cooperate and buy farm tools together. On- disc harro" Is enough for two or three small farms and one rollor is amD'n for two or three or more farms. Neighbors on adjoining farms who hay" level lan!. could buy gang riding blow to- gethar Remember it is not only good business and cheaper to buy farm i'm. plements together. but it enables the individual farmer to use better i'm plements and the cost of repairs is reduced considerably.
 As soon as possible build that ma ch.2ery shed. Grease the implements and put them away when you arr through with them. If you desire eX, pert advice on farm machinery Write to V. H. Kern, Extension Division University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Ark
The Little River news., 1917-10-20
PUT IN WINTER COVER CROPS
 VERY VALUABLE

Do not forget the value of wheat, oats and rye for cover crops. There are four distinct values of these three cover crops.
 First They produce fine winter pasture.
 Second. They lessen the washing o! the soil a.d loss of fertility.
 Third. The green plants use plant food that is being liberated through out the winter and when they are plowcd unde.' a great deal of plant food is saved which would be lost othrwise.
 Fourth. Tho plants blower under in the spring Will l.ot only add fart !, fly but humu5 to j't' soil and thus m- crease :ts moisture holding capacity.
 If you have any quest on3 to as:i concernin Gthosa coY"r crops or care for bulletins on this subject. write 70 the Extension D.T:#ion. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Ark