davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
School Favoritisn,
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l have noted with keen interest the
issue raised between the Board of Educa-
ton and the Board of Superintendent in
connection with the principalship of Public
School Is in the Borough of Queens. and
the Morris High School, in The Bronx.
express no opinion regarding the Qualifca-
tlons of any of the candidates for these
positions, but the principle involved
vltally affects the welfare of our public
schools and the rights of the teaching staff.
The education law clearly vests in the
board OF Superintendents the authority
and responsibility of recommending Tor
such positions candidates who, in their
Judgment, are best qualified to serve the
interests of the school system. The Board
OF Education has the responsibility and
duty Of refusing to ratify any such ap-
polntment If, in its judgment, the candi-
date recommended is unit for the position.
out for the Board of Education to select
It's own candidate and refuse to approve
any other recommendation by the Board Of
0uperntendents is manifest violation OF
the plain intent of the law and a manifest
usurpahon of the function and responsi-
ollity of the Board of Superintendents.
Inc demoralizing and disheartening
erect IN the school system of appoint-
ments based upon personal favor rather
than upon recognized qualifications and
merit cannot be doubted. Members of the
Board OF Education are constantly urged
to support one candidate or another. on
personal grounds or as a favor to some
friend, and the temptation so to misuse
their position and influence is as insidious
as 1t is dangerous. I myself during my
four years service as a member of the
Board OF Education, deliberately adopted
the policy OF refusing to support any cam
dldate or express any preference in ad-
vance OF the action of the Board of Super
lhtendents, IN order to avoid anv impress
sion that ! desired to influence its deci-
slons and recommendations. This, be-
leVe' IS the only safe policy for members
OF the Board of Education to pursue If
our best teachers cannot feel assured that
years of faithful service and notable
achievement will be rewarded by fair
recognition, and if they must always be IA
danger of finding their just claims set
aside IN order that some personal favorite
OF members of the Board OF Education may
De promoted, the far-reaching effect on the
morale Of the school system can easily be
imagined
The Board Of Superintendents should re-
ceive the strongest kind Of public support
in its stand for fair play for the teachers
ana IN defence of its own legal preross-
we WILLIAM c. WILCOX
New York, Dee. ). 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Germany's Hearst

We have at last the official German
opinion of Hearst.
Il recommend that under suitable cir
cumstances Hale should fer obvious rea-
sons, be given preference, as Hearst or
gans have during the course of the war
always placed themselves outspokenly on
our side"
So cabled Bernstorff to the Foreign
Office in Berlin via Buenos Ayres and
Stockholm.
Must the citizens of New York accept
the insult Of having Hearst, with his
spots, as their reception committee for
returning soldiers?
If Mr.. Hylan insists and Hearst sticks,
our returning soldiers will accept the in
suit of Hearst's outstretched hand?
They have opinions of their own, as re-
cent events have demonstrated. Is it in
conceivable that the first contingent faced
by Hearst may address him as Herr
Hearst, advise ticket to Berlin-and
urge him on his way?
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Burlesoning the Air Service

Congress will scarcely delay a careful
investigation of the charges made by
Captain Lipsner, superintendent of the
air mail service, in sending his resigna-
tion to Postmaster General Burleson.
Captain Lipsner makes the charge that
the Second Assistant Postmaster, Mr..
Otto Praeger, had issued an order "plac-
ing novices in charge of important
branches Of the air mail service" and
quotes further a statement of this same
official that the air mail service was to
"haye special airplanes constructed for
carrying mail" He refers further to the
efforts of certain aircraft manufacturers
and Of the Manufacturers Aircraft As
sociation "to have the Postoffice Depart
ment spend tens of thousands Of dollars
unnecessarily in constructing special air
planes or having extensive alterations
made on the military airplanes which the
War Department has turned over now to
the Postofice Department"
The Aircraft Board has completed a
total Of $4,000 airplane engines and 12,-
900 finished airplanes The magnificent
records being made almost daily by these
machines is matter of general knowl-
edge. But the public was not aware Of
the degree of efficiency attained in the
mail service. Captain Lipsner points to
the fact that in single month the few
airplanes now in use made a total of
1000 air miles with a perfectly clean
record. He further adds that since he
took charge "only two legs of trips
failed ON account of the weather and
three on account Of accident. There was
total of only seven forced landings"
This is an astonishing and gratifying
achievement. And the speed that is
being attained IS equally notable The
distance from New York to Wash
ington has been covered in less than
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
The Shortage 10 Food Crops

Secretary Houston makes very clear in
his report why food prices are likely to
remain high fos a good while to come.
One would easily imagine that with a
guaranteed price of 1926 for wheat, the
price on corn ranaing from $125 to 81
and cotton from Is cents to 81 cents the
crop acreage cf the United States would
have been heavily augmented. Nothing
of the kind happened In the face of
these prices the total acreage this year
exceeded by less t&an 2 per cent the rec
ord of any preceding year. The wheat
acreage was increased little, but only
at the expense Of other products,
AS result of this situation, while the
wheat crop is Well above the average,
others are deficient, and even tle wheat
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09

crop this year is below the record. Taken
as whole the cereal crops show de-
crease Of something like 100, 100000 bush
els from last year. But this is made up
by considerable increase in the pro-
duction of beef and pork. Eggs, poultry
and milk were just about normal
A nation cannot raise big crops with
out plentiful supply Of lShor ald fer
tilizers. Our farmers have been short Of
both, and until this shortage is made up
food, the Secretary of Agriculture thinks,
will necessarily remain at something like
present levels. Save a surplus of wheat
in Australia that will take long time
to move, and small surplus in Argen-
tina, there is no cheap food available any
where in the world.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Wealth and War Debts

1t is seemingly deep mystery to many
how the nations could pile up the vast sum
of $3.50, 0,000, 900, 600 or more of war debts
and not stagger under the load. And in
the days to come we shall hear much of
the crushing taxation" therefrom. This
may be true for some, but it certainly
will not be for England or France, and
still less for America. The truth is, of
course, that in and of themselves these
war debts represent neither loss nor
gain. The war was fought with goods
and men, and it was paid for and the
losses taken, SO to speak, on the spot
The interest on the war debts is Simply
paying from one pocket into another. If
the taxes are rightly adjusted they
should be no burden.
! But those who believe endlessly in the
creation of wealth by government fiat
are beginning to read the statements of
financial writer's that the war has meant
for the United States, for example the
creation of some $17,OOO,OO0, of
highly liquid new capital" And they
wonder why this process could not go on
forever. 1t is an alluring thought. The
war establishes an enormous flow of
money. Industries run on full time.
wages and prices for produce are high,
and out of this, under the emotional
stress Of the war, immense savings seem
possible. Why not in peace? Why could
not we always lay by ten or fifteen
billions of new capital each year?
The answer is that if we could sum
the same emotional fervor, and the
money so obtained could be wisely ex-
pended, it might be possible. Neither of
these requirements seems at the present
time attainable. But our remarkable
achievements in the war will undoubted
ly be made the basis for every kind of
wild proposal for governmental under
takings when the flush conditions at
tendant upon the present imitation begin
to wear off
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Complacent Nonsense

Coupled with this atmosphere of superb
ority in Washington is the habit Of re-
garding our position in the war as some-
thing outside the position Of the Allies.
Mr.. Wilson, in fact, has refused to be an
ally and has given the impression that our
motives in fighting are purer and more
high minded than the motives of the Allies.
Because our motives are so pure we are
now standing rather aoof at the close of
the war, acting the grand dispenser of
justice to the world. "The New York
Times" had a headline the other day de-
scribing our part at the peace conference
as one of arbiter, while in the text of the
article 1t was even suggested that our
delegates would stand up for Germany
when she was pressed too hard The
SNUG complacency of the man who can
talk such nonsense this and believe that
1T can be swallowed gratefully by the Allies
is almost past comprehension. If our Ad-
Hlnlstration is so far bereft of sense as to
allow Its delegates to the peace conference
to act as counsel for Germany at Versailles.
then there is no saving the good name Of
America abroad. For that would seem to
the Allied peoples treachery of the worst
kind. We cannot believe, however, that the
Administration is really so misguided as
"The New York Times" would have ua
imagine
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
BACK HOME STUFF
Ormsby McTavish


Ormsby McTavsh came from Scotland
He ran the Sample Store on Court Street
back home. He had light sandy side whis-
kers, but his mustache was stained dark
brown from nicotine.
His son, Treat McTavish, waited on the
trade, while old Mr.. McTavish spent all his
time keeping books under coal oil lamp in
the back of the store. Sometimes the lamp
would be burning as late 10 o'clock.
Mr. McTavsh sent out all his bills week
ly, and to those who came to his store and
paid up he gave 5-cent poke of gum drops.
After closing the store he always stepped
into the Blue Goose with Conrad Schreck,
the butcher. They would sit for hours over
q glass Of beer and Scotch whiskey, not
saying a word-only smoking.
Mrs. McTavish was an English woman, and
people used to laugh behind her back at her
strange accent. The day Heptonstall's lum-
ber yard caught fire Alb Atkins and crowd
of men were running over past the McTav-
ish home. Mrs McTavish came to the gate
and asked what the trouble was
"Big fire." some one shouted
"Fiah! Fiah Wheah ?" cried Mrs Nc
lavish. And those three words became BY
words around town. Mr.. and Mrs. McTavish
always went to the brick Presbyterian
Church and he always walked behind her
Nobody knew why Mr.. McTavish was
very learned man. He predicted the coming
Of Halley's comet, and he knew all about
old coins.
During the Cleveland administration Mr.
McTavish failed in business and became q
watchmap at the -four mill. Every night
Conrad Schreck would 60 down and sit with
him out in front near the big scales
DOM.
THE KAISER'S CELLMATE
First and foremost the guy who says,
"She has no love for US. She is only wait
ing for a chance to put something over on
Look out for England" BILLIKENS.
The perfect peace delegates are hailed
in "The Evening World" which an
nounces:
PLAN TO SEND SENATORS
TO PEACE CONFERENCE DEAD
The Cro1Vr, Prince has remounced his
claim to the tbrone, and aUe, m,oved to
emulation, beg to assure Mr. Rockefeller
that aVe aVon't contest his wiL.
F. F. v.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Conualescence

NEVER knew how clear November stars
4 could be
ABOVE the rain-wet leaves; nor that the owl
could make sweet cry in yellowing tulip
tree,
But all dim things shine now, dear.
And tomorrow in the gracious sun
lhere will be patterned roads Of leaves
Where we shall walk
Up to stubbe field
There under a gentle sky
We shall look out on russet hills
And watch the autumn die
Knowing that you will live.
FLORENCE RIPLEY MASTIN
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09

TITO PRETEND, as Mr.. Wilson's ad-
mirers do, that the Allies are more
or less a band Of pirates whose chief
aim is to rob Germany and Austria and
Turkey Of every stitch of clothing they
possess and then turn them out into the
cold to starve, is not only ridiculously un-
true, but also most insulting to our as
sociates (whom we must not call alles)
in the war. In order to make Mr.. Wilson
saint his sycophantic followers in the
press must needs paint Clemenceau and
Lloyd George in the blackest colors. The
whole contention is manfestly absurd.
There never has been the slightest danger
of treating Germany too harshly. Even
among the French, who suffered such
enorm}ties at the hands Of Germany in
1870, all signs of real vindictiveness are
amazingly absent. AS for the English, their
good nature in dealing with their enemies
is automatic. Even during the war it was
never possible to organize any hate against
the Hun.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Fix Bayonets

To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR Somewhere recently l read poem
describing our boys as marching along with
their bayonets flashing in the SUM- Said
flashing, alas! must be considered poetic
license. There must be some army resula-
ton which does not permit our soldiers to
parade with bayonets fixed, for during the
last Liberty Loan parade our men did not
display one bayonet, although the English.
French, Belgian, Italian and other Allied
troops all marched with every inch of the
cold steel so feared by the Boches in full
view. Also, in film showing the Fourth
Of July celebration in Paris our troops
were the only ones who did not have their
bayonets where they naturally belong.
May we not hope that when our bovs
parade through the triumphal arch we are
going to erect in their honor we NAV sac
them just for once with their bavonets
proudly flashing like river Of steel wind
ing its way up the avenue?
FREDERICK REEVES ASHFIELD
New York, Dec. 3, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
The End of the Draft Boards

Without show or noise our draft
boards have accomplished labor with
out an equal in vital Importance, in eff.
cheney, in lavish giving of civilian labor
They are to be disbanded now because
the government sees no way to use their
services further. This we think mis-
take. Surely in the processes of de-
mobilization these local bodies, intensely
interested and patriotic, thoroughly
acquainted with individual needs, organ.
lied and successfully operating, could be
used to advantage. But accepting the
decision of Washington and taking the
labor of these boards as thing accom-
plished, we speak on behalf Of our com
munities the praise and obligations
which we all feel.
There was no precedent for the draft
upon this scale in America. There were
countless doubts and questions. Any
number of good Americans feared untold
trouble. The bulk of the credit for the
perfect success of the draft belongs
with the American people, unquestiona-
bly,. The rank and file stepped into
line with a discipline and a high sense
of obligation which made every Amcr-
can feel a new pride and confidence in
his country But in this process of
smooth enlistment the draft boards
played a part immeasurably important.
1t is said, with reason, by our COM
mentators upon the American form of
government that it is a system of local
rule, found in it's purest shape in the
town meeting, that trains our citizens in
their duties and makes the whole Fed
eral structure a practical working ma
chine. The draft boards were organized
in essential accord with this spirit of
home rule. They were the community
conscience, the community's attitude
toward the war, the local heart throb-
bing for the nation and the local mind
translating that patriotism into the one
essential of an army, loyal fighting men,
Right here, in the solution of this in
finitely complex human problem, Amer
lea fought and won her war. Without
the draft, successfully achieved, nothing
could have been done. With the draft
all things were possible. Now, as the
demobilization of the draft boards takes
place, it is fitting and proper that we
should pay our tribute to the admirable
services of these men and women. In
finite labor, infinite sacrifice, was there
given freely and silently to the cause of
the nation. Let US not forget Amer
lea, then, rose to her duty not only as a
united nation, but as a continent of COM
munities, each giving it's best for the
one great cause
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
SIN ug Americans
(From To,Um and Country)

sort, because it is also untrutbful. Great
Britain did not charge an exorbitant nrice
for the transport of troops. The price was
fixed by joint agreement between London
and Washington and was satisfactory to
both sides. Great Britain willingly gave
up her ships to do this work, although she
needed the ships badly to feed her own
people. The price paid included the cost of
convoy which took warships off the regular
patrol and subjected other British mer-
chant ships to greater losses through sub
marine attack. But whatever the price was.
1t was reached by agreement. Far different
was the price which we charged to France
and England for wheat and steel and shells
and gunpowder when our government did
not intervene until very late to influence
prices In this war all the Allies have been
obhged to charge one another for services
performed. The French, of course, charged
the british for all houses rented in France
ny their troops and all damage done to
property even when the damage consisted
OF digging trench. We ourselves have
charged our associates" in the war for
eyrything we have done for them. And we
have charged good, round prices. And it
only nation that has grown rich out of the
war. 1t is peculiarly wrong, therefore, for
any American to attack either the British
or the French for charging US any par
ticuar price for services performed The
profit of the war has been all on our side.
To Save Our Skins
1t Is also an insult to common sense +o
Keep repeating that we went into tho war
to save the Allies. For two wears ana
half we never lifted finger to helm tho
Allies We went into the war bac.nso
Germany drove US into it by sinking Ameri-
can ships Neither the President nor Con-
gfess ever declared war on GERMANY Tbov
only recognized that state of war existed
Ahey recognized, in fact, that GERMANY was
warning upon US in a peculiarly brutal
1ashlon. No American could ever ho,a ba,d
MS head up again if we had allowed tbis
oheSloed warfare to continue without
fghting. To pretend now. therefore +bo+
we went to war to save France or England
- 20 pretend what is patiently untrue Our
gong 10 war may possibly have saved the
<s'iles from defeat; it certainly enabled
them to gain a conclusive victory. But IL
It also true that for two wears and half
the armies and navies of the Allies stood
between ourselves and Germany. If anv
saving was done, they saved US first For
"ha1 we have done they are genuinely
grateful
Let US not fall behind them in gratitude
Tor what they did for U.S. We have the
cnance to seal great friendship; we are
on the verge of missing the chance, not so
much through arrogance on the part of our
people but through singularly unpleasant
'omplacency and lack of generosity on tho
part Of the Administration.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
By Caspar Whitney

every other commune, each commune being
required to guarantee against a specified
amount of bons, which were to be struck
off according to series and number.
They printed the bons in Germany, but
instead of issuing only the amount guar
anteed by q commune, according to agree
ment, the Germans repeated the numbers
and series, reduplicated the bon as shown
in this Photographic other words, delib-
erately cheated the people
The two bons of this photograph were
found in st. Mihiel after the Germans had
been driven out
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09

half the time in which any railroad
train can make it. The development
of the mail service ought reasonably
to mean mails in eight or ten hours
from Chicago, and eventually under
twenty-four hours from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Coast This is too fine
prospect to be muddled by the jealousy
OF two government departments or the
incompetence of one. We have all the
airplanes that can possibly be needed for
several years, and the army and the navy
have trained the fliers to run them.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
How the Germans Robbed the People

"HE little town of St. Mihiel, released
by the Americans in their great drive
September IL which closed the salient
that had threatened the French line for
four years, offers typical concrete illus
tration of one of the many and varied and
fraudulent German methods of extracting
money from the civilians of Belgium and
Northern France
The German military authorities issued
an order declaring the "bons"-as the war
paper money was called-of one commune
in Northern France and Belgium good in
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09

Thus, this town, which had 5000 inhabi-
tants before the and had been reduced
to 1,500 when delivered from the German
grasp, had been forced to give UP to the
Germans 100000 francs in addition to
fines constantly imposed upon individuals
at the least possible excuse.
Besides which they looted the best resi-
dences of their finest furniture, glass and
pianos and pictures
Near the railroad town of Vigneulles,
north of ST. Mihiel, I saw a number of
pianos in warehouse thus obtained boxed
and ready for shipment to Germany!
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
We Alone Have Grown Rich

Part and parcel of all this smueness ia
the notion still too prevalent, that we went
to war to save the Allies from destrrc+;on
Lately 1t has been put about, for example
that Great Britain charged an exorbitsnt
price for transporting our men to France
which was all the worse since our n,an
were going to fight Britains battles. This
sort OF talk is not merely pro. Cerman
propaganda; it is rank treason Of tho ynrs.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
The Compleat Smoker

F. F. V. and w. N. P.--I can go you
one or two better on your smoking ex-
perience of forty years ago.
l smoked cornsilk, grape vine, Indian
tobacco, rolled in cured leaves; also in
pipes made from acorns or horse chest
nuts with any kind of stem you could
push the pith out of.
I made make believe chewing tobacco
by stripping the leaves from the young
birch. They curled tightly and dried
quickly. Chewed with little green
spearmint or peppermint, they made
black juice. (Mrs.) G. 3. B.
"Disorderly Mobs Riot in Berlin," Says
an "Eueming San" headline, and the fact
that the confusion in that land has er-
tended evem to the n1obs is most depress-
ing.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
On Picking Winners
From The Hartford Couror

From The Hartford CouranD
What does Carranza think now of h;s
friend the Kaiser? The President of
Mexico is doubtless shrewd old guy or
he would not have been able to keep his
position SO long, but as picker of winners
he is failure.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Sob Stuff
(From The Phi1adelphfu Inouire

tFroM The Philadelphia inQuirer)
THE Crown Prince cried while sign
ing his renunciation"; German ENJOYS
sobbed when they heard the armistice
terms; Or. Solf pleads for help for Ger
many and so on and so on
One always expects a whine from
beaten bully, but the concerted beat of
the former German leaders is nauseatinp
and disgusting
New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
SHOES G. SHIPS G.
SEALING WAX
TO THE YOUNG MANHOOD OF GREAT
BRITAIN

TO THE YOUNG MANHOOD OF GREAT
BRITAIN
/ drink to you,
Sons Of God-loved nation!
Swift to leap at the cry for help,
France to wrest from the beast and his
whelp,
Guard Of our civilization!
Grimly exhausting the blows of Hate;
Grimly exhausting the blows of Hate
Deep from our loves libation,
Sons of God-crowned nation,
/ drink to you
JOHN DOE.
We hope that the pigeon that came
aoingirg back from, the George Woshimg-
ton aUas not By any chance tho Doue of
Peace.