davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1917-02-20

services for this community effort:
Walter C. Clephane described their
methods last evening before the
Monday Evening Club. He said that
there still are agencies in Washing
ton which prey upon the sympathies
of donors for the gain of the pro-
moters, and other agencies which ad-
minister funds carelessly and in
efficiently.
Because of the committee with
which Mr.. Clephane is affiliated
there is no need of any generous per-
son being misled by appeals from
such sources. The Charities Indorse-
ment Committee issues yearly a list
of organizations it approves. This
year the list includes more than
seventy organizations, covering
every form of aid, relief, philan-
thropic and charity work.
The work of these organizations
has been investigated, their books
audited, their methods weighed in
the balance, and the personnel of
workers guaranteed by this group Of
business men. If any one gets
"stung" by pseudo charity pleas it
is his own fault.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
SCHOOL SONGS AND PATRIOT.
ISM

Why should not the school chill
dren of the District schools sing at
least one good old American patri-
otic song each day? We have quite
variety, which perhaps compen-
safes US for not having produced, as
yet, a genuine national hymn, that
can be compared with the "Marseil-
laise," or the Watch on the Rhine"
But we have America" and "The
SJar-Spangled Banner" product Of
the war of 1872. and the Battle
Hymn of the Republic" which was
born during the civil war, to say
nothing of "Dixie," which has been
completely nationalized. Tramp,
Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are March
ing" has a right ring to it, and
yankee Doodle" and Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean," have their own
patriotic associations. Let the chill
dren sing them all, and not the chill
dren of the lower classes only, but
of all the grades, IN elementary and
high school. So, when another gen.
Grafton has taken the stage, Ameri-
cans need not look so crestfallen and
self-conscious when an assembly of
themselves is requested to sing a
patriotic hymn. And need not make
such a mess of it when they try.
What says the Board of Educa-
| ton?
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
PROVINCIALISM OR PATRIOT
ISM?

The House Of Representatives is
composed of 435 members, each rep
resenting a comparatively small dis
trict. The Senate consists Of ninety
six Senators, two from each State,
and some of the States are smaller
than others. There is as much hu-
man nature in Congressman as in
other people, if not more. The Con-
gresham who reflects most accurate
ly the sentiment of his district or
State is the most likely to be re-
turned to his seat on election day
And so, naturally enough, Congress
men are divided into two classes,
those who put the interests of the
nation first, especially at Such time
as this, and those who measure each
speech and calculate each vote with
respect to the effect upon the minds
of their constituents.
This would not be so mischievous,
even in the discussion of foreign af-
fairs, if the matter were frankly
stated, if Congressman were openly
striving to represent the sentiments
of their districts, and confessedly re-
garded denomination and reelection
as more important to them than the
nations fate. But they continually
pose as patriots when they are
merely provincials. A man who
may represent Quaker constituency
in Philadelphia, or a German-Ameri'
can district in Chicago, or a former
Populist center in Texas, when occu'
nying a position of Importance, car
"blast the counsels of the brave ir
the hour of their might" by pre-
suming to speak for the nation wher
he is really thinking only of the way
to keep a majority of the votes il
his own little bailiwick.
Then to pro-Germanism and t:
pacifsm is added not little of The
partisanship that does not stop al
the waters edge. The magnificent
response of the American people t.
the Presidents last address to Con
gress concerning the break with Ger
many hasNprovoked partisan feeling
and expression in Congress. There II
probably no help for such displays o.
pettiness and provincialism. The!
are rendered comparatively harmless
when truth is told about them.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
LANSING AIDS MEMORIAL
Secretary Of state Helps Movement
to Honor Washington.

Secretary Of State Lansing enroll
ed himself today in the list of the
country's distinguished men who are
supporting the George Washington
Memorial Association in its campaign
to raise enough money by next Thurs
day to start Work this spring on the
George Washington Memorial build
ing. which Is to be located at Sixth
street and Pennsylvania avenue.
In letter received today by Mrs.
Henry F. Dimock, president of the
organization, Mr.. Lansing says:
Personally / am very much in
terested in the movement for the erec-
tion of a George Washington build
ing here In the District on the site Of
the old Sixth street station. believe
that a suitable place should be pro-
vided by this great National Capital
for the assembling of conventions and
conferences In quarters which are
consonant with the dignity OF this
nation and the beauties of this city"
Mrs. Dimock today Is sending out
broadcast throughout the country an
urgent appeal for contributions by
February %, IL possible.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
WHY A MILITARY CENSUS?

A military census like that being
taken in Connecticut, and provided
for by law in the District of Co.
lumbia though it has never been
taken because of the absence of an
appropriation for the work, has more
than an academic value.
1t is worth while for any state
to know its human resources in case
of war. But if we engaged in war
which necessitated the calling out
of large numbers of men, such CEN
sus if it were common to all the
States of the Union would help us
avoid the difficulties Great Britain
experienced early in the war.
England's troubles, it should be re-
called, did not lie with the failure
of her men to enlist in the beginning.
Her men enlisted so fast that there
was congestion at the training
camps. Then the requirements for
service were artifcially raised to
keep down the numbers of volun-
teers, and this resulted in dampen-
ing of enthusiasm which later caused
a shortage of volunteers when train
ing camps had been arranged and
officers were available to break in
the recruits. The other drawback of
the random enlistment method lay
in the failure to select the men from
the volunteers who ought to have re-
mained at home because their skill
was needed in munition making or in
industry.
The Derby system, by which these
difficulties were overcome, was based
on a method similar to that employed
in Connecticut and now being con-
sidered in other STATES. A census
of all men available for service was
taken. These were classified ac-
cording to age, and according to oc-
cupations. All volunteers were ac-
cepted, but those who were not need
ed at once were told to 20 home and
await the call to arms.
If this country must 90 to wal
before any system of universal train
ing is effected, the taking of mill
tary census by States will be of in
estimable value in enabling the ma
tional recruiting authorities to avoid
doing the things that handicapped
England at the outset of the Euro,
pean war.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
MARCH MUNSEpS IS OUT
Judson C. Welllver Tells "Who's
Who In Washington"

You can see that when 1t takes
two weeks, after the votes are all
cast, to decide who has been elected
President of the United States
And when 1t takes a year, after
that, to decide what party Is going
to rule Congress, or whether any
party in particular Will rule Con-
gress-
"why, the question of who's going
to be who at Washington under q
new Administration becomes quite
complicated" -
This is the manner in which Jud.
son C. Welliver introduces his article
on who's Who at Washington I'm
der President Wilson's Second Ad
ministration," which appears in the
March number Of Munsey's Magazine,
on sale today.
Though the difficulty is great. Mr..
wellJver accomplishes the task Of
predicting very clearly who is going
to be who in the Capital City during
the Administration which begins
March 8.
Though the article by Mr.. welliver
is the feature OF this months Mum
sey's, the remaining contents of the
magazine also are most interesting
For instance. Louis A. Springer's ar
ticle on THE New Education" opens
up a new phase in the problem OF
vocation education and fitting the
student for the practical problems
of life.
The monthly installments of three
serials, together with four short
stories, a novelette, and six poems
form the remaining contents of thi:
months magazine.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
WOMEN IN MOTOR CRASH
Cut by Flying Glass When Street
Car Hits Automobile.

While returning form the theater
last night in her Limousine Mrs. Ed
ward Echols, 2139 Wyoming avenue
northwest, and a guest, Mrs. T. ]. ID.
Fuller, 2317 Asmead place northwest,
barely escaped death when a Mt.
Pleasant street car, bound west along
II street. crashed into their machine
at Fifteenth street.
The accident occurred as the auto
mobile, driven by Mrs. Echols' chauf-
feur. o. A. Anderson, All Sixth street
northwest, started to turn into II
street from Fifteenth. Flying glass
cut the occupants OF the machine and
both women suffered from shock. The
automobile was damaged.
Mrs. Echols and Mrs. Fuller are both
prominent in Washington society.
Mrs. Echols stated the accident was
unavoidable.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
Mr.. MOORE WINS

Congressman J. Hampton Moore
who has not seemed deeply concern
ed with the personal privileges OF
Uncle Sam on the high seas, arose
yesterday to a question of personal
privilege in the House. As the Con-
gressional Record has it:
Mr.. MOORE, of Pennsylvania
read further: "The cheapest sort
of demagogy is that which hatters
the people and tries TO make
them believe that conspiracies are
on foot which can only be
thwarted by their brave and vigi-
liant representatives, the afore-
said demagogues" Now have l
proceeded far enough to make
this a question of privilege affect
ing the dignity OF the House?
The SPEAKER. You have not.
(Laughter)
Mr.. Moore then asked permission
to read further from the editorial he
had quoted, but the Speaker ex-
planned, "Now, that matter that the
gentleman has read may be un-
pleasant and all that sort of thing,
but there is nc. resolution pending
But it does not say word about the
gentleman so far as l can hear"
Mr.. MOORE, of Pennsylvania. 1t
does speak about demagogues In
the House, however. Naughtero
1t is a pleasure to note that Mr..
Moore won out on his clearly proven
case of personal privilege"
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
LISTING WORTHY CHARITIES

Dispensing of aid to the unfortu-
mates of a big city is no longer a
haphazard sort of affair, dependent
upon individuals or spectacular ap-
peals to community altruism. Some
folk regret that the application of
modern business methods to charity
has robbed giving of its personal
touch. But the same regret holds
good in business and in civic life of
all sorts. To be efficient the charity
organizations of a city must co-Ordi-
nate their efforts, and must demon
strate their individual efficiency.
A yearly survey of the charity or
ganizations of Washington is made
by the Charity Endorsement Com
mittee. This committee, appointed
by the Commissioners, is made W
of able business men who give theil
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
Joins In DisapprovaI of the Piekets
and Indorses the Times support of

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
VIII you permit us to thank you
for your editorial of the 18th, In
which you say: The sane advocates
OF woman suffrage are quietly pro-
ceeding along the path OF certain viz
tory by winning the States, one after
another" and point out that every
State won to the cause OF suffrage
makes a solid delegation in House and
Senate in its favor" The National
Woman Suffrage Association, founded
in 1869, comprising about 81 or 9S
per cent of the enrolled sufragists OF
the country, has always been abso-
lutely non-partisan and non-milnant-
This is still its policy, and II Is gen
orally recognized that the present ad-
vanced status of the movement Is due
to its dignified and constitutional
methods. 1t has assisted with money
and workers every State in which
women now have the complete or par
tiaI franchise. While from the be-
ginning its ultimate goal has been the
submission of a Federal amendment.
IL has realized that Congress could not
be expected to act until the expert
ment of woman suffrage had been
made in a number of States, and
therefore 1t has always worked along
both lines.
All of the leaders and most of the
members OF the national association
believe that the campaign of the Con-
gressional Union last year against the
Democratic party, the unfJGling Of
the banner in the House of Represen-
tatives during President Wilson's ad-
dress, and the present ''picketing" OF
the White House have been an injury
| to the cause of woman suffrage. and
I have created a resentment on the part
of thousands of its supporters, which
it will require a long time to ever
! come. II the sentiment of the coun-
/ try can be gauged by the editorials
| in the newspapers, this belief Is justi-
fed, for of several hundred which have
been received by the press bureau OF
the national association, not half d
dozen have sustained these semi-mili-
tant methods, and 90 per cent have
| severely condemned them.
| IDA Hustled HARPER
! Feb 90, 1917.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
SHOULD OUR MERCHANTMEN
ARM?

he dTHllnB VI lIlt SA
can vessel in the war zone Will be
construed by the imperial sub
marine commanders as evidence
of hostility against the U-boats.
Again the German mind. Plainly
we are to understand that the i'm
perial governments announcement
that the U-boats would sink all neu-
tral ships not painted zebra-wise at
sight was not "an evidence of hos
tility;"- it was a declaration OF
benevolent intent But, of course,
the right of the U-boats to sink and
destroy is sacred-sanctifed by Ger
man necessity. 1t is only resistance
to them that is a crime.
At the same time we must freely
admit that the arming of ships for
defense, though not technically a
belligerent act, is a distinct step to-
ward war. For, supposing ship so
armed meets a submarine somewhere
on the high seas, it is fair to assume
that she will open fire on the ship.
The peaceful merchant vessel must
take the initiative unless the sub
marine incontinently run away from
her. How can she do otherwise, or,
rather, what is the use of her guns
if she use them not before the ad-
versary gets a chance to use a tor
pedo?
The situation is not like the en-
counter between surface ships,
wherein many rounds must be ex-
changed before decision is reached.
The torpedo settles the affair in one
dull rumble of crushed steel and con-
vulsed water. In a word, the trad
ing ship must drive off the U-boat
with her guns at the very outset or
else she must go to the bottom, guns
and all, giving an excuse to the sub
marine Paladins, to boot, to murder
all her men by shelling her boats.
We note that the new German
warming" conveyed in some round
about way to Washington not yet
very clear, adds a few "ifs" to the
formal outburst of frightfulness, ex-
planning that if the "ifs" were OBJ
served the U-boats would not sink
American ships. This only moves US
to wonder why the German imperial
government did not say so before,
instead of enjoining the zebra stripes,
the narrow ocean lane, and the once
e-week voyage to Falmouth upon US.
We can only ask whether the Ger
man government meant what it said
then or means what it says now? 1t
cannot mean both at one and the
same time.
At any rate number of ships have
sailed under the American flag and
without guns. Our peace loving and
patriotic Government has furnished
none of these latter provocations to
U-boat wrath as yet. So let US see
what will happen. Will the U-boats
sink any or all of these unarmed
ships?
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
FOLLY OF A REFERENDUM ON
WAR

A postal card referendum is being
actually conducted by the American
Union Against MiliJarism, the return
postal cards, answering questions
asked in the originals, now coming in
to members of Congress. 1t has been
pointed out that the first question,
whose answer was sought from a
selected list of names, contained a
falsehood in the explanatory note
which said Germany has offered
safe passage for all American pas
senger ships which keep to a pre-
scribed course"-when every school
child knows that Germany offered to
let one American ship through each
week if painted like a barber pole.
But the second question deals with a
referendum on the question of war,
the explanatory note cheerfully stat
ing that an advisory referendum is
not unconstitutional and could be
carried out by the Census Bureau,
through the posJmasters, in twenty
five days.
The irony of it all is that in the
present crisis we should be taking
advantage of our protection by the
allied fleets while we allowed, say,
for twenty-five days, while we were
voting, the German submarines to
cripple the resources of those who
would be our allies in the war. Under
ordinary circumstances, with Ger
many threatening war, a delay of
twenty-five days might well be fatal
to ourselves. Great Britain might
have taken a referendum in August,
1914, but the delay would have cost
France the capture of Paris and
Calais, and might have won the war
for Germany before Great Britain
could go in. Did France have time
for a referendum?
Then, even in our case at present,
we would simply divide our people
by a passionate campaign, when
now above all times unity is neces-
sary. IL is bad enough to have dis
cussions of our foreign affairs in
Congress. But think of a debate be-
tween amateur Gussie Gardners and
Hampy Moores, extended to every
stump in America, with Chautauqua
assemblies addressed by Works and
Lodge, or by James NJ. Beck and
William Jennings Bryan! And SUD-
pose the referendum decided for
peace, would we take a vote over
again with every fresh outrage by
Germany? Would the furnishing Of
the sinews of war by the munition
makers on one side and the German
American Alliance on the other give
US a real test of American senti-
ment?
The real fact is that a democracy
is by nature inefficient for war. That
makes for the peace of the world, the
more democracies we have, but wher
war comes, the. greater the tyranny
established the surer the victory. A
referendum is democratic no doubt
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
Tomorrow.

Meeting Of woman's Benehcent Society OF
the Peoples Church. 4s5 F street south
west. p. m
Private view ana TeSep'ion S,.t.,v ~
washington Artists, Corcoran Gallery oi
Art s-l1 p. m.
Address, The American spirit IN Ar sI nnu
the Drama" by Percival Chubh. audi
torIum OF the National Museum. p; m
Meeting OF the Washington Board oi
Trade. the New Willard, p. M
Meeting OF National Committee OF PaIri'
otIc and Defense Societies. the New VII
lard, afternoon and evening.
Meeting Of tho Board OF Edusation. Frank
lin school building. $3.50 p. m. c,.
Cleveland School. ! 80 p. m r,,..-
Illustrated lecture on The A. B. see bieC'
trIc Elevator" by J. M. winnemore, De
fore Tho Washington Association. No. /
National Association of Stationary Eng
neers. 1904 Pennsylvania avenue nor'h'
west. y. m. -. e nj,
weller Beneficial Society, Florida avenue
and Eckington place northeast: ) p m
Lecture on Food Values ana sSs NEtF,%ut T.nn,Is,t
by Or Harvey Wiley. 1905 I"ehtie'h
street northwest. 1850 a. m.
Dance. by fIeId and staff officers OF mgr
school cadet regiments. Raleigh Hotel
Ma asoTnic"Washington Centennial. No. II
Osiris. No. ss; East Gate. No. "a: Potomac
No. 3, knights Templar; Areme' NO. 10
odd 'tyi 'FyeiIIows-Fastern. No. Z: Harmony. No
Q: Federal City. No. 30; Friendship, No. L
Mount Nebo No. Z, Encampment:
Knights OF Pythias-Eaual; No "a; FRIEND
ship Temple No. 3, Pythian Sisters .
National I'nion-Treasury Council, NO sOo
Postoffice Department Council. No -Ot
Congressional Council. No. SOs. ana MI
Vernon Council. No. 49i.
AN Evening with James Whitcom'
Riley" by Dr. John T. Huddie. Friends :
Church Thirteenth and Irving street
north Invest. p. m. oI
Dance. pixie Chapter OF the United Daugh
tprs OF the COnfederacy. Confederat
Memorial Home. . p. m.
hrev Association. National Hotel. p. IN
Meeting. Northeastern Suburban Citizens
Association, LanEdOn NJ. f. Church.
p. m. r,,..--, -.
citation, Jefferson School assembly hall
y. ~
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
PACIFISTS ADVISE WILSON
J. Eads How Sends Petition Urging
Food Embargo.

President Wilson was petitioned by
a, group OF pacifists led by J. ERds
How. "The Millionaire Hobo" last
night to include in any future address
he may make to Congress on the Ger
man situation. a suggestion that an
embargo be put on foodstuffs and
munitions consigned to the warning
countries.
The pacifist propaganda for a refer
endum on the question of whether the
United States should go to war is in
full swing and the legislators at the
Capitol are being deluged with peace
literature.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
LETTERS TO TIMES
FROM ITS READERS
Admiral Peary Elaborates Anti
Aircraft Defense Plan for
Capital.
To th. Editor Of THE TINES:

To the Editor Of THE TIMES;
I am complimented by editorial At
tention in The Times Of yesterday,
even though that attention is not en-
tirely commendatory.
Referring to the subject Of the
editorial, / am naturally not respons-
ible for head lines with which my
statements may be garnished. but the
following facts are Of possible IN
terest:
Last spring Stephen MacGordon OF
the Curtiss Aeronautic School AT new
port News dew from Newport news
to Washington and returned to New
port News with a passenger in nve
and one-half hours SEquivalent
flights are made daily by aviators on
the European battle fronts.
II the air line distance from New
port News to Washington. as covered
by MacGordon, be laid out due East
from Washington, the other END OF
that line will be forty miles AT sea
on Cape Henlopen.
About a year ago, three steamers
Of a foreign power, two or them
among the largest of ocean liners.
came into Hampton Roads without
the slightest advance news OF their
| tL.t 5 1900 a. o.oaa
Could Carry AeropIanes-
The smallest OF these steamers. the
Appam. could easily carry a squadron
of aeroplanes. She could readiIy pc
| arranged to carry double that num-
Der or more.
One thousand pounds of explosives
besides driver are carried oy Ae
/ planes in actual use ABROAD AZ INC
present time.
I have recently seen moving pic
lures Of a ship at Salonikl wnlcn
carries not only twelve aeropiAneS
but q dirig1ble as WeiL .,,,.
Another Deutschland could reaohy
bring a squadron OF aeropiAnes sno
explosives to some secluded inlet ON
our coast
The Emden, the Moewe, tne Appan'
the raiders now at work. All snow ~
clusively that 1t would not pc
ficult thing for one or more cIalt IN
der cover Of night or tnlck Wea.he. ~
creep close into our coast unoe.ee'ee
From the coast 70 Wesnns "
Baltimore, or to Philadelphia- - q
distance the equivalent OF Wnlcn
daily covered by aeroplanes on the
European battle fronts.
A. M.r.x af Aircraft. .
In view OF these facts my
that q tramp steamer oozen VI ~
.aronlanes and a few tons OF explo-
sIvs couId; practically destroy Wash
ineton in a single night still stands.
OnIv the uniformed are blind to
ltbs fact that this country 1t at pres
ant utterly helpless and unprotected
The Washington times., 1917-02-20
VtTy oIHC5IeIyI
February 20, 1917. PEAR

EDITORIAL NOTE-The Times
did not quote from headlines, but
from an exact quotation whose
accuracy our correspondent does
not deny. The Times has been
too steadfast an advocate of real
preparedness to be put In false
light when II objects to hystert-
cal and alarmist interviews. We
have no information as to the
kind of collapsible aeroplanes that
might be carried by the dozen In
the hold Of a submarine.
The Washington times., 1917-02-20

The act for the protection OF mi
gratory birds should not be construed
to protect migratory jail-birds along
the Mexican border.