davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Honor for Labor

In statement issued yesterday the head
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, which
is the shpbuilding arm Of the Shipping
Board, repeated what Chairman Hurley
said in this city last week.
"The Shipping Board has the necessary
yards. the materials and the money. All
that is lacking is the spirit in the nation
that will send a quarter OF million amer
lean mechanics into the yards to give the
best and most efficient work. The yards are
to- day only working one eight-hour shit,
six days week. If we are to get ahead OIL
the submarine we must run three shifts
per day, ffty-two weeks in the year"
General Manager Piez added that at the
present time only one-third OF the workers
are American born and that ''to the extent
of 65 per cent we are forced to depend
upon foreign-born labor" Why? We be-
lieve it is because neither the American
born mechanic, nor our manufacturers. nor
the press, nor the Administration has yet
deeply felt and broadly realized that this
nation is at war, that it's high repute IS at
stake and that America cannot make good
it's promises to it's allies and cannot make
the contribution to civilization which it has
promised itself until it is organized for
the job.
We have taken nearly million and a
half picked men from the farms and the
factories at time when the industries OF
the country were pitched at full speed. No
wonder there is shortage of labor for the
ships if other industries cannot be drawn
upon and are competing for labor against
the shipyards themselves. We do not know
how many men could be temporarily re-
leased from camp drill to serve in the ship
yards. Out of nearly a million and half
it would seem as if there might be 100000
or 100000 at least. If this can be done it
should be done quickly. But if American
soldiers are to go into the shipyards in
uniform, the men who work beside them
should have an equally honorable distinc-
ton and equally feel that they are doing
their share as Americans to help win
the war.
We repeat our belief that the swiftest
way to get the needed men is promptly to
enlist volunteer army of shipbuilders
who shall be the industrial arm Of the
United States army at home.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
The Perverted Lee Again

1t seems worth while to emphasize cx-
actly what Warren G. Lee, at the head of
the Brotherhood of Trainmen, meant when
he said before the Railway Wage Commits
SION at Washington that engines were being
left to freeze up in order to ciscredit GOV
ernmental management.
Mr. Lees charge meant that the en-
glneers and tiremen, members of two allied
unions, were taking orders from Wall
Street to put their engines out of bust
ness-traitorously scuttling the ship-at
time when the whole nation and perhaps
their own families were suffering from a
lack OF coal and millions were out of steady
employment for the same reason.
We should like to know what the loval
engineers and firemen of this nation think
of this abominable charge.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Rationing Needed
Card Systems Do Not Assure a Fair
Distribution of LIES Necessities
70 the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | want to make a suggestion, or to
second one if the same one has been made
before, for a machinery of rationing the
necessaries of life while the war is on that
will reflect fair distribution. Our present
rationng can hardly be called a system
And even the "card" systems of which
know in Europe serve only to limit the
amount one individual may buy of COM
modify and, as far as know, do not insure
anybody his fair share
1t would probably cost some money. but
would be worth the cost, for the government
to establish "rationing Offices" in every
community, to which people could apply for
a rating upon the basis of which they could
obtain supplies of "short" commodities such
as sugar. flour, butter, oil and coal
The ordinary foods should obviously be
supplied upon per capita basis, except that
young babies, children up to ten or twelve,
and sick people should have certain foods in
normal quantity regardless Of per capita
supply. Coal would necessarily be distrib-
uted so much to each household, with some
modification for the number in the house
hold. Next years coal pinch might we'll be
or three servants, couple or trio Of
elders with servants should have to accept
a minimum as practical measure of con-
servation.
The amount per capita, pro rata as the
case might be, ought easily be determinable
because by July the government will surely
be in possession of information about the
supply and consumption of commodities
sufficient for the administrators to determine
what share each individual or family is en-
titled to have
The heads of households should be d-
rected to apply, after making out we'll
designed report that gives the number ages
relations and especially health conditions of
his family, in order to obtain permanent
certificate of his allotment of each commo
dity, stated in percentage or other relative
form SO that the positive amount of each
commodity which he is entitled to buy would
be fixed relatively and vary if necessary,
under changing conditions of the supply.
With these certificates, showing at glance
the right of the individual or the head of a
family to so much of any commodity it
would be a mere clerical matter for people
to obtain, as they needed, government orders
upon dealers for specific quantities of the
goods, and if the government should desire
to regulate both price and quantity it could
sell these orders to consumers and make its
own settlement with dealers, or it could
make the price appear upon the face of the
order.
Consumers, with such orders, should then
be free to negotiate them with any dealer
they choose, and dealers should be fuSnished
at wholesale with new stocks only as they
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Your Part

Anybody who wishes to funk his part.
to tail in that small share of the business
of war-making which is the most that a
majority of the stay at-homes can do. will
have no difficulty in finding a hundred cx-
cellent excuses. "Mr. Garfield never should
have been appointed; the whole coal stua-
ton is hopelessy bungled; therefore | will
not pay any attention to fuel orders.v "Mr
Hoover let the American Sugar Comnanv
make a lot of money; why should | obev
the food regulations?" Some such con-
plants and"eNcuses arc heard on the |i,.s
of soft-mindcd Americans wherever vc,
turn. They are the exception, the rare ey-
ceptlon. But their attitude is familiar
enough to earn a word Of comment.
The point we wish to make is that if the
soldiers of France and England, orsthe
peoples OF France and England, had paid
any heed to the blunders of their leaders
they would never have fought the mao
nl1cent and successful battle thew have
1T is precisely because the men and women
of both nations did their utmost as indi-
vlduals, regardless Of official stupiditv
that civilization has been preserved and
we Americans have now our chance ia cnd
the peril of the Hun for all time. On the
Allied side, in every democratic nation at
war. it has been the history that the people
pushed their leaders forward, that the
people corrected their leaders blunderS
with individual courage and devotion. that
the people prevailed after their leaders
had fallen to the rear.
That is our parrto-day and throughout
the war; No official laundering is the
smallest excuse for individual slackins
Rather is it the reason for redoublinc our
individual efforts to lend that aid without
which the war cannot be won.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
The Shows of Present Years
o the Editor of The Tribune


Sir: In your editorial last Sunday you
spoke of "Snows of Yesteryears" and our re-
markable January. You should have men
toned that our grandfathers, and even the
celebrated oldest inhabitant could not boast
of colder day than that of December 30 last.
The four severcst winters within a hum
dred years were those Of 1741-'42 l764~'65,
1779-'S0 and l92O-'2l On January 25, 1921,
the mercury dropped to degrees below zero.
This was one degree colder than in January,
1865 (date not given, when it was 6 degrees
below zero, the coldest ever known in this
city. December 80, 1917, when the ther-
mometer registered Is below zero. was as far
as any records found show, the coolest in the
annals of the city
There are accounts of the harbor being
Closed by the ice and teams of horses passing
from the Battery to Staten Island on the
same but this was caused by large cakes OF
zee becoming jammed at he Narrows. On
several occasions both the East and Hudson
rivers have been crossed over on the ice at
the lower end of the city
One of the most remarkable changes in
temperature occurred in Albany in February,
1888 (date not given). At noon the ther-
mometer was 1S above; at $3.50 the follow
ing morning it was "a degrees below Zero
ABRAM WAkEMAN.
New York, Feb. 5, 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Are You a Patriot or a Pro6teer )

o the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: You n,oy be both and justly so
but you may determine just where YOU stand
by use of the following:
flrst-Make private list for your personal
use of all the advantages you have gained
Dy the present war; in this connection it NAV
o.. De SAID that Notwithstanding the high cost Of
,lv'ng' wages have been such that during
1917 more money has been placed in the
savings banks by the laboring men in this
country than during any previous year. and
.hat last Christmas more money was spent
Tor luXurles than for many years.
Second-Make similar list of al, tho ,,o,
untary personal sacrifices you have made for
your country. In this connection YOU NAV
add such efforts you have made to consar,,s =
bread meat and fuel for our allies .,d g. y
our own soldiers in France, but do not lav
100 much stress on your purchases of Libert.
bonds winch are largely an evidence of your
prosperity during the past year. as thew ars
profitable investment of your savings
AVG" AoiA' 1ep. T. 1919 T. A. HAY.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
What Prices Do Farmers Want }

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of this date | read an
article by Mr.. Samuel Frazer, of Genesee
County, in which he claims or predicts that
price fixing on farm produce by the govern
ment will bring on-a famine in 1918 If he
will answer my inquiry through your paper
of which am constant reader, | would be
very grateful.
He says farmers cannot be controlled. II
that is so | am very anxious that he make
known to the people at as early a date as
possible what prices farmers want for wheat
rye corn, barley, oats. buckwheat, hay. and
all their products, that the people NAV
use their greatest influence with our lepisla
tive bodies, and they in turn use their in
huence with the price fixing bodies at Wash.
ington. in order that our abused farmers
may be used right and get square deal.
> f. M. PALEN.
~ N Y Fob 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
rape of Belgium and the sinking Of the

rape of Belgium and the sinking Of the
Lusitania.
What we suggest is that the American
people be left alone to hate or not to hate
exactly as their individual consciences and
hearts decide. Hate is destructive, ter
rlble thing to arouse. But there are times
when it is a sound instinct of self preser-
vation-as sound as the instinct to fight
Just whom we shall hate tif we arc in,-
PEELED to hate at alD, whether only the
Kaiser, or only the Junkcrs, or the whole
German nation, is equally a matter for in
dividuai thrashing out. The only criterion
we can insist upon is that we shall know
the facts and that we shall be sincere. We
should be very sure that it is the truth by
which our hearts are stirred. Once we are
sure of our facts, we should ask only to
feel as honest, self-respccting human be.
ings, neither trailing humbly in the wake
OF an Emperor nor pretending to be holic1
than God made us.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Shall the Famine Grow Worse?

1.-The Globe" of last evening quotes a
prominent coal operator as saying:
Unless the fuel administration at Wash
lngton takes its hands from the throats of
the mine operators the country this spring
races shortage in bituminous coal which
Will be more disastrous to industry than
anything we have so far experienced"
Meanwhile the present famine threatens
to grow more acute. And still the Admin
lstratlon at Washington will do nothing
that promises permanent or even extensive
relief; that is, the increase of production
and, what is far more important, the min
ing OF real coal and not a mixture of coal
and dirt.
We have i'll a time of high prices and
steadily rising prices, of high wages and
steadily increasing wages, relatively cheap
coal. 1t is fantastic. There is only one
way to stimulate production and that is to
put the price high enough to bring out the
coal and to discourage needless con-
sumption.
We wish we could bring home to the
public how small an amount of coal-and
especially of soft Goals used for do
mestic heating. More than one-ouarter
goes to the railroads. more than one-third
goes to the large factories, about Is per
cent goes in the making of coke. Not more
than one ton in ten is used for house heat
ing. The direct charge to homo consumers
from an increased price for coal would be
very small. 1t is the reckless use of coal.
Tor needless transportation, for prodigal
street lighting and house lighting, for the
running of needless industries and for the
making of luxuries-which has in large
part produced the present famine. The
famine, it should be clearly understood. is
not due to decreased production of coal,
but to heavily increased demand. '.
There was plenty of coal last summer.
The more foresighted of consumers ialn IN
considerable supplies. And paid the price
The present situation is simply the result
OF trying to legislate cheap coal and high
production. A lowered price for coal
means needless increase in consumption
and inevitable cessation of the steadily in
creasing production.
We shall have no material improvement
SO long as doctrinaires and troublemakers
remain in control.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Hollands Difficult Course
Her Statesmen Defend Her Efforts TO Steer Neutrality
Route Past "Danger Zonc'
The Mem York Tribune Foreign Mems Bureau

debate in the lower house Of the Dutch
Parliament has brought out several interest
ing points in Dutch foreign policy. One re-
latcs to the part of Holland in peace negotia
tons and another to the mooted question OF
the sale of the Dutch West Indies to Amer
lea. AS reported in the "Gazette de Hollande, "
the debate began with a criticism by Mr.. Nier-
strasz, free Liberal Deputy from Amster-
dam, on the anxious care with which Hol-
lands warshps avoided the Changer zone TO
prevent "incidents." He said that if the "dal.-
ger zone" had been ignored the Dutch pro-
tests would have had more force, and wanted
to know why the government had not got 4
free passage for coal from England
Mr.. van Hamel, United Liberal Deputy
from Amsterdam, declared that there was
much Misunderstanding of Dutch neutrality
both at home and abroad If it was simply Il
determination to keep the peace at all costs,
then the reproaches hurled at Holland were
justified. Holland had to pay heavily for her
neutrality, and it was a mistaken policy to
smash the country economically for the sake
CT keeping peace. Maintaining neutrality, he
insisted, did not prevent a vigorous attitude
ana ne said that there was much misunder-
standing of the Dutch policy in America
where Holland was regarded with disdan and
contempt Public opinion abroad would have
an important effect on after the war CONNER
Cldl IeldClOuS, ana tne speaker doubted
whether the government had done all il
should from this point of view. Dr. van Dyke
he said, was the best propagandst for Hol-
land in America.
Jounkheer Loudon the Foreign Minister
replying to the various criticisms, said that
exports to Holland were prevented by Amer
ica on account of her own needs and those of
her allies, and could not be allowed before
careful calculations had been made OF the
actual needs of the neutrals The proposals
under consideration were to allow Dutch
ships to make voyages outside the danger
zone" provided a certain proportion of the
vessels used for the relief of Belgium,
and France in exchange for supply of coal
for Holland by the Allies. MEANWHILE until
the details Of this arrangement could be
settled, an endeavor was being made to reach
4 provisional agreement by which all Dutch
ships in American ports could make one
voyage to India, South America or Holland
save the vessels reserved for the Belgium
Relief Commission.
The Minister denied that the Dutch Com
mercial Mission in Washington had been
given power to negotiate the sale of the Dutch
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Nerve

Nothing calamtous had yet come to
pass. That was why many things were
not more swiftly done, and why great
deal of precious time could be plausibly
wasted. If the Germans were committing
barbarities upon our hearthstones instead
of torpedoing our transports, we should
not/be taking the time to cross-examine
the Secretary of War on the conduct of
his job.
We shall pull it all out; we shall make
up the time we have lost; we shall yet de-
liver the world, if that task be really re-
served for us--all provided we do not lose
control of our nerves.
The Administration must not suffer
criticism to touch its nerves. 1t is bound
to be criticised, for that is the immemorial
way of the very democracy it believes in.
Every one engaged in the conduct of the
war must expect to be criticised and per-
haps to be sacrificed. That happens even
in Germany.
The test Of men is how they take it..
Some take it weakly, in a personal manner.
and invite losing feud with the multi
tude. They are destroyed Strong men
take it effectively, in the impersonal
manner.
The rules are immutable 1t is like the
game of hearts. The way to win is will
ingly to take what is honestly coming to
YOU. One who tries to take less will lose.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Why Let Statesmen Travel? =?

10 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Remarks are being made in high
quarters in regard to the curtailing of rail
way travel, and various suggestions have
been limited rather than actually made such
as the raising Of railway rates considerably
or the forcible reduction of traffic by 80
per cent. dc not travel much on the railway.
but on recent trip | was impressed with
the fact that there is much travel which is
not IN the public interest. In fact, the pub
lie would be better off if some Of the
travellers were not allowed to travel. | refer
to the travel done by those whose business
it is to soil goods. At a venture would saw
yhat one-half the Pullman traffic is made un
of this class. 1t also constitutes a yerv
large proportion of the day coach traffic.
Now most OF this traffic is entirely unneces-
sary. It's object is simply that some particu-
ular manufacturer, or more likely some dis
tributer. may sell more than competitor The
travellers themselves, in a great MANY cases
dc not represent producers, but arc simply
parasites, who, to make profit for themselves
enhance the cost of goods to the consumer
We would get all we need, and at a consider
ably smaller cost, if this class of travel were
entirely suspended. Let the railroad man
aeement forbid the travelling of selling
agents for any but manufacturing concerns
and let the manufacturing concerns be ap-
preached to cut down their travel to mini
mum. Let all spectators be forbidden to
travel We shall save in money when we 20
to buy anything. and railway traffic will be
reduced to reasonable proportions without
interfering with legitimate business germane
10 the general good of the country
ANTI PARASITE.
LcXin gtOn. XIV, Jan 81 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
More of MIR. Baker

The evidence obtained yesterday by the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs by
it's cross-examination of Mr.. Baker is of
no intrinsic value. 1t comes to nothing at
all. Nobody knows yet on what the Secre-.
tary of War based that estimate of the
this year which Senator Hitchcock has
called wildly preposterous. 1t is very
doubtful if the Secretary himself knows
He now admits the probability that he
spoke without particulars.
What he does know we'll is how his own
mind works. This was revealed in singu-
lar statement here reproduced verbatim,
but with certain typographical arrange
ment, as follows:
want to make suggestion if
may. The misfortune for
Me, if
may call it such, in
My first statement to the committee,
lay in the fact that
attempted to give opinions of the
saw it, when the information lay in
details that ought to have been got
ten from the experts in direct charge
or in statistics giving specific facts.
N was attempting general survey. 1t
was a misfortune for
Me to do that
l think it better to give the committee
specific statements
Several things from this appear.
Most men think concretely of objects.
When they say transports they think of
ship with bow and stern, funnel for
smoke and deck to walk on; when they
say troops they think of men in uniforms.
1t is apparent that when Mr.. Baker
speaks of transports and troops he thinks
abstractly of principles and situations.
That is why he cannot be held to anv-
thing. He did not say, for example, that
certain great number Of troops could be
sent to France in 1918. He said that mum.
ber would be "available," and that the
prospect of transporting them twas not
unpromising."
1t is apparent, in short, that Mr.. Baker
sees things intellectually, without edges
He is an intellectual in the job of doer
His "misfortune" lies there, and not, as he
said, in the fact that at first he "at-
tempted to give opinions of the broad
general situation"
Mr.. Baker is a very remarkable person
with a mind of unusual refinement. He
would make, perhaps, great Attorney
General or Secretary of State.
Also he is great egoist, and continues
to believe that Investigations are personal
People are f,uch less interested in Mr.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Zionism Elucidated

n rom The JciciSh D0ilv Nelrsl
inc Ne" York Tribune has rendered a
d's,inguished service to the Jews in general
ana the Nonlsts in particular by having un-
dertaken TO give its readers a series of ort;
cles on the vital question of Zionism. z;on-
'sm-is now not only Jewish question.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tire Press exclusively entitled tho for
republication OF AL dispatches credited TO It
otherwise credited paper also the local of
spontaneous origin published herein.
Al rights OF republication OF all other matter herein
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
RAN1EE

You purchase merchandise advertised In THE
7ReUNE with absolute safetfo dlssatsaction results
In any ThE THtBUNE guarantees to money
back REQUEST. No red tape. No oubbns. We make
coed promptly II the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07

Owned and published daily by Tho Tribune Association a
New York Corporation Reid President: G Vcrnor
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Tribune Building l5A Nassau Street New York Telephone
Beckpan se0o
New-York tribune., 1918-02-07

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New-York tribune., 1918-02-07

Entered rostoace York Second Clas
Mail Matter.
The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-02-21
Col. Roosevelt Invited Here

The following telegram was de
spatched to Col. Theodore Roose'
welt Saturday morning:
Punta Gorda, Feby, 10th, 1918
Col. Theodore Roosevelt,
Roosevelt Hospital,
New York City:
We take pleasure in offering
you the courtesy Of Hotel Punta
Gorda for yourself and family,
when you are able to be out. Col.
Darlington is here and wishes to
be remembered.-uRay PAYNE,
Mgr.
If Col. Roosevelt should accept
the above invitation, as all Punta
Gorda hopes he may be able to do,
the same enthusiastic reception
which he received here on his WIS.,
it last year, will be given him. A
sojourn here would undoubtedly
be beneficial to his health.