davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
The Protean Powers of the Movie

1t is banality that a vast nation like
ours, covering a wide area, could never
have been long held together save
through the binding forces of the steam
engine, electricity, the printing press
and other powers Of modern invention.
We sometimes wonder if the once humble
movie is not destined to surpass them
all as force of cohesion, education and,
we had almost said enlightenment. We
are moved to these reflections by the
latest development in the film world, the
irruption of the operate stars into the
arena of screen favorites. Mr.. Caruso
now follows the illustrious Miss Farrar,
Cavalieri, Miss Garden and lesser lights.
Which has prompted US to a little calcu-
lation.
We have made a guess that probably
not over half million different people
in this country, even through twenty
years, have heard Caruso sing; pos
sibly not quarter. Presto! he appears
upon the screen, and in few weeks all
his characteristics and mannerisms be-
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Life Saving Criticism

fFrom The Laurence (Kon) Journal World
The constant fault-hnding of Roosevelt
mas in way minimized his influence for
good, and yet the nation has saved millions
IN money and thousands of lives through
Just that sort of criticism. The President
objected to criticism, fought to the last
against having any limit set to his actions,
and yet he again and again guided himself
by the very criticism he opposed. Perhaps
all of the criticism may not have been
merited, but it is probable that much more
might we'll have been directed against other
extravagances, delays, inefficiencv and
gratis. This criticism came from Demo
Gratis brave enough to face the Presidents
wrath as we'll as from Republicans. 1t has
been the salvation Of the country, as 1t has
speeded up supplies, has hastened the send
ing Of troops abroad. has corrected evils
IN the cantonments at home and saved the
aircraft programme from utter failure.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

longed to the soil. the seaman belonged
to thing (the ship, and he was not q
free man.
Aside from the humanitarian point OF
view there was no economic justification
for these treaty regulations for the
enforcement of these contracts. A definite
declaration will be made shortly by the
Supreme Court of the United States on
the meaning and intent of this statute, in
case which l had the honor to argue
before it on November s, 1918. When
finally enforced the effect of Section 4,53O
of the United States Revised Statutes is to
cqualize wages foreign and domestic
vessels. 1t sets free the law of supply and de-
mand as to labor in American ports and
in time will equalize wages on all vessels
in all parts of the world.
The operation of the statute is like this:
A foreign vessel arrives in the port of New
York, with a low paid crew, say $25
month; they are bound by their thirty-six
months articles. When apprised of the
seamen's law they naturally desire to get
free from the ship in order that they may
obtain the higher wages prevailing in the
port of New York, which may be $50 per
month. They learn through one or
another the provisions of the seamens act,
and they ask the master for half wages.
Obtaining this, they are provided with suf
fcient money to get along for few
days, or possibly weeks They take their
clothes and walk ashore. They cannot be
arrested here. The result to the foreign
vessel is not demoralization; it may disturb
complacency and discipline, but principally
it interferes with profits.
A foreign ship cannot depart without a
crew. The master must go to the open
labor market in the port of New York, or
wherever he happens to be, and sign his
crew on at the prevailing wages, which may
be double what he had been paying. Nat
urally, his foreign owners are frantic. for
they may have effected a charter which
made allowance for the lower wage. Hence.
we find the British and other foreign gov
ernments backing the ship owners of their
nations in organized opposition to the en-
forcement of the seamen's act.
S. B. AXTEL,
Proctor in Admiralty
New York, Dec. Is, 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
A Presidential Bogey

The report that President Wilson in
tends to try round of golf at Versailles
is disquieting. By no stretch of courtesy
can Mr.. Wilson be termed a representa-
tive American golfer. 1t has been stated,
and never denied, that he drives with
midiron and approaches with niblick.
Loss of prestige with the French public
is not particularly to be feared, since,
with the exception of Marshal Foch, who
plays daring but Indifferent game, there
are few in authority competent to pass
upon the merits Of the Presidents game
The possible effect on England is much
more serious. Mr. Balfour, for instance,
might have gone far if he had taken up
golf in a serious way. Even in his pres
ent state Of unpreparedness he is COM
petent to better 80 at almost any cham
pionship course. Lloyd George, we un-
derstand is not very severe off the tee,
but is deadly putter 1t is in this de-
partment that our fears for the reputa-
tion Of the President chiefly centre. On
numerous occasions Mr. Wilson has
displayed an ability to recover we'll after
being badly bunkered, but it will be much
more disconcerting if he happens to miss
a sx-inch putt. And if Georges Clemen-
ceau, the Tiger of France, should be near
enough at the moment to hear the Presi-
Dental "tut-tut' the complications may
well become International.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

come familiar to ten million. And the
same is true Of our dramatic stars. In
the flesh they can be heard nightly by
a thousand or two thousand people. But
flashed upon the screen, they become
familiary known to q quarter Of the
population of the country Little by lit
tie the Same thing is becoming true Of
our politicians and others more or less
in the public eye.
Eventually, we suppose, Mr.. Edi-
sons dream of linking the photograph
with the movie will be realized. Then
the rolling periods of a Shakespeare play
will be intoned to millions by some
future Booth. The voice of Mr.. Wilson
or Mr.. Roosevelt will be heard through
out the land from half million mega
phonic throats. In fact, we do not see
why with little ingenuity this could
not be realized now for our singers.
The .present-day transcriptions of the
monographs are often of marvellous
accuracy and richness. Why should not
Caruso or Farrar break into song from
the silent dramas of the films? AT no
distant day. perhaps, a tolerable repro
duction Of whole operas will be possible
and millions will see and hear what a
few thousand are privileged to now.
But of course the great future of the
movies is in the public schools. There
their powers have as yet been scarcely
touched. Probably four-tifths of our
mentalities now may be described as eye
mindedness. The ear is falling far be-
hind This is a fact that our laggard
system of public education has failed
wofully to realize.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
The Shells of a Friend
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the EDITOR of The Tribune.
Sir: | inclose check for six months sub
scription to The Tribune, from January I.
obstruction to the general good and prog
ress Of the country in your attitude and
policy. Your patriotism is not only earnest
and aggressive, but naive and utterly devoid
of the kind of thinking and feeling that
would aid in advancing affirmative causes.
You take the easy course Of criticism of un-
doubted evils along with an infantile, wild
devotion to national backwardness, nterna-
tional misunderstanding, righteous 10y
atty" and ali the rest Of the specous out
let's for personal and mass hatred and jeal-
ousy.
And vet you are the best newspaper I
know of for intention and for fairly COM
prehensive reporting of what can hope
to get of the news. You distort refuse
often the news | want, of course, but I
surely get the side | am not on as honestly
as any naive yet so-caled cultured and in
telligent paper give it, And in the
course of it all you give food for stimu-
lus and thinking in that this day can pro-
duce and nourish such continuing earnest
ness and fat-headedness, when you think
you think, and believe you believe in the
finest of ideals and purposes. You are help
ing to hold back a new attitude that you
cannot see in any way that is not of the
past-afraid of fellowship and justice to
the many, because you fear primal selfish
ness in the other-and would not so fear it
were you not yourself. And under the
guise, completely unconscious to yourself,
| of patriotism and loyalty and all the other
Rooseveltian and religious virtues you have
the JOY Of pursuit and fight and hate and
vengefulness--it is all so soul-flling, espe-
cally when it is "justice" and democracy
or is that word about done its job and re-
tired on pension? L. V. EDDY.
Honesdale, Penn, Dec. 13, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Taxation on What You Lose

The Senate is essentially body OF
ideas. Its sense of income is derived
mainly from drawing salaries. Hence
no great surprise attaches to the de-
bate reported by Mr.. Knappen yester-
dav on the proposition that losses oc-
curing in one year be deducted from
taxable income for the following year.
Mr.. Knappen states that the subject was
first brought to the attention OF the
Finance Committee by the experience OF
cattlemen and farmers, who, after two
wears of losses. sometimes have one good
wear. and this may be no more than
enough to Just make up fair average.
Some of the Senators engaging in the
debate seemed to feel that business
should pay annual taxes whether there
is any annual income or profits or not
That is true of the excise and special
taxes, why not of income taxes?
The imposts of the present law are
heavy, and they must so remain TOR some
years if the country is to get back to a
sound financial basis The income tax
feature has come to stay. 1t is no longer
temporary eXpedient. clear recog-
milton of the fact that it is a continuing
process and that profits of single year
only, with losing years behind them,
ought not to be taxed as heavily as
those of industries on more even keel
would seem a sane and wise provision.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

Feeling that with the crushing of
Prussianism their usefulness in spread
ing American propaganda has passed,
the several hundred authors and artists
associated as The Vigilantes have dis
banded their organization. While the
country was at war they were unit for
stanch Americanism. By word and pict-
ure, contributed voluntarily and without
cost, they fought pacifism and enemy
propaganda. Now that victory has been
achieved, they return to their individual
tasks, feeling that "there will be new Is
sues in the reconstruction Of the world
but honorable men may differ as
to their solution"
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Sea Wages

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: | have read the article Board
Thinks Seamens Act No Bar to Marine
27, 1918, by Mr.. Theodore NJ. Knappen.
The opinion is based on the fact that
the wage cost of operating o vessel at sea
is only per cent Of the cost of operation Of
the ship. The writer fails to take into consid-
cration very important part of the La
Toilette act so called
1t is generally understood that wages
on board ship are higher in American ports
because free men cannot be induced to 90
to sea unless the wages high enough
to make it to their advantage to do
when compared with shore industries.
The same condition prevails as to sea labor
in foreign ports. the only difference being
that the costs of living and wages in in
dustries and farms in foreign countries
are generally one-third to one-half lower
than they are in America. The wages paid
to the seafarers are in proportion to their
shore wages, and, consequently, prior to the
amendment of Section 4,53O of the United
States Revised Statutes, wages 80 to
so per cent lower on foreign vessels than
they were on American vessels engaged in
our trade.
Section 4,530, called, has been on our
statute books since 1890, being amended
from time to time. By the act of 1915, or the
La Toilette act this provision was extended
to foreign vessels. The purpose of the act
is to give the seamen on foreign and do
mestic vessels the right to receive upon
demand one-half portion of the wages they
had then earned. 1t further provides that
If the demand is not complied with the
courts Of the Ursted States are open to
seamen for enforcement of the provision.
Another clause of the act provided
that the arrest of deserting seamen in
ports of the United States should be abol-
ished. A third provision directed the Pres
ident to abrogate all treaties with the
United States which gave foreign consuls
exclusive jurisdiction over the matter of
seamen's wages or In any other way inter
fered with the carrying out of the above
provisions.
With the exception of 2ree major ma
tons, we had agreed vita ali for the recip-
rocal privilege Of arresting their desertine
seamen who have broken their civil con.
tracts while in our ports before their ex
piration according to the terms stated r
the agreements. These contracts univer
sally provided that the seamen should BE-
employed at rate stated for the return
voyage, not exceeding twelve to thirty- al,
months, money or wages to be paid or
account or during the voyage except at tn.
option Of the master, and final payment ant
discharge to be made in the home port
These contracts, rendered enforceable b,
the police bureaus of various nation,
! through the treaty provisions, made tn
seaman virtual slave to the ship. Lik
! the ssrf Of q thousand years aro who ba
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Emblem of Democracy
From The Nicho,asvills (Kv.) Ns,,.

The famous Red Cross mule, General
Maude, who has been spending her vacation
at the C. c. Glass farm at Camp Nelson
after her various experiences and travels IN
behalf Of the Red Cross, will shortly he
taken to her home in Mercer County and
will be the guest for the winter of her for
mer host, Phil Christman. who raised tho
animal. The auctions Of Maude have brought
thousands of dollars to the Red Cross can.e
The Kentucky colony at Washington has
asked for the mule, and, it is said. will nr.-
sent it to the President.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
A Warning From Gilbert and
Sullivan

Officers of the American forces en-
gagged in policing occupied German ter
ritory complain that the regular mess
is almost deserted, the soldiers pre-
ferring to slip away and accept the hos
pitality of the German inhabitants, who
take the Americans to their homes and
entertain them lavishly These being
the same Germans who lately were
wearing medals struck in celebration of
the sinking Of the Lusitania, their con-
duct is strongly reminiscent of the
plaintive song Of the policemen in "The
Pirates of Penzance," which runs:
"When felon's not engaged in his employ
ment,
Or maturing his felonious little plans,
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is just great any honest mans"
The picture of our boys enjoying all
the comforts of home is pleasant one,
of course, but we charge them not to
forget that evil communications corrupt
good manners. This sudden recrudes-
cence of the kindly German mature"
only serves to recall that:
"When the coster's finished jumping on his
mother,
He loves to lie a-basking in the SUM-"
Taking zone consideration with an
other" the boys who are walking a beat
along the Rhine are going to find out
Gilbert and Sullivan we're right when
they sang:
"'The policeman's life is not happy one.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

Flint, Mich, where the first "Uncon-
ditional Surrender Club" was organized,
is on the map again. This time it
is an unconditional surrender from the
merchants and landlords. The citizens
have signed ninety-day armistice.
During that period six hundred retail
merchants have agreed to cut all except
living profits on all necessaries sold. Two
hundred landlords, and real estate
agents representing $500 more, have
Of Is per cent on all dwelling house and
apartment house rentals for the same
period.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
On Being Deprived
of The Tribune

THIS morn doth hopeless heaviness op-
IL press me
While yet the hour for breakfast scarce
ly chimes;
I mediate the while slowly dress me-
Again must peruse the tome-like
Times!
o pentitude of print, thy bulk amazes.
O heavy hearted harbinger Of change,
Be thine to light the palid past with
praises,
And clutch the skirts of passing things
and strange:
But here's "The World: contemplate and
heave it
Atop the pile of papers: Who am I
When White House portals open to rc-
ceive it,
And doubtless many Mansions in the
sky,
I'll try "The Herald" then, for want Of
other;
The very thought its inner being shocks
That should read it, lacking cen a
brother
VINO owns yacnt, or, say, an opera box:
But why should deplore my lot or falter
While yet anew "The Sun" doth shine or
high?
No shock which time can deal it's course
shall alter;
No fux of human thought shall modify
Yet who this changeless orb, upon con-
sulting,
It's grim immutability can stand?
I crave that old, exuberant, exulting
Familiar feeling. glorious and grand
SEYMOUR BARNARD.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Strange Ne1us
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

ClR: May I, before sailing, express my
warm appreciation for the splendid
way in which, since the beginning of
the war, The Tribune has always presented
and defended the cause of the Allies, which
was also the cause of Liberty and Civiliza-
ton?
May also call the attention of your read
ers and of the American public to a rather
obscure and strange sentence contained in
a cable from Paris to The Associated Press7
ut is not necessary" we read to-day in all
the New York papers, "to assume, according
to the view of American official circles, that
the French people would go to the point of
taking issue with their government if it
were necessary to support President Wilson,
for it is the belief of American representa-
tives that no issue of that kind can arise"
1t is not quite clear if this is intended to
reassure the American public opinion or to
threaten the French government.
What would have said the official circles
In Washington and the American public
opinion If, on the occasion of the trip Of
Mr.. Viviani and Marshal Joffre to the United
States the official Havas Agency would have
sent a cable to Paris couchcd in the follow
ing terms: ut Is not necessary to assume,
according to the view Of tho French mis-
sion, that the American people would go to
the point of taking issue with their Presi-
dent if it we're necessary to support the
personal ideas Of Mr.. Viviani and Marshal
Joffre for it is the belief Of the French
representatives that no issue Of that kind
can arise?' STEPHANE LAUZANNE.
Official bureau of French Information,
Hotel Vanderbilt, Now Yolk. Dec. IS, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
"I Am an Englishnan"

In other words, after plea for lenlent
treatment of Germany, which came in one
of the earlier speeches, the whole meeting
was intended to turn American diplomacy
into a critical attitude toward the British
people, and my simple statement, II am an
Englishman" was followed by q storm OF
protest, as if the blood in my veins were
crime The offence that committed,
and for which l was afterward denounced
as an imperialist, was simply that l refused
to toe the line against my own people.
Frankly, I did not lose much sleep over
this little affair, but | may point out in
all seriousness whereunto anti-British SEN
timent will lead, especially if it be asso-
ciated in the public mind with responsible
journals conducted with great ability, like
"The New Republic" and "The Nation
The ink was not dry on the armstice
before the important question of the free
dom of the scas was made the occasion
for violent twisting of the lions tail
this at the very moment when all parties
in Britain were preparing to welcome
visit from the American President. We
actually we're told one occasion that
America would the interest which we
are paying her loans to US IN the CON
struction of ships which would overawe
our own navy-this at time when an i'm
mense American army, largely conveyed
by Great Britain, is overseas and when
American and British diplomatists are sit
ting side by side at the same conferences
Happily Mr.. Roosevelt stepped in with
a definite statement that he would be pre-
pared for the American navy to be smaller
than the British navy AS readers Of The
Tribune know, my suggestion IS u
fifty-hfty arrangement. But already the
mischief makers have had to be answered
first by Sir Henry Darlington Smith, VINO
in recent speech mentioned the rumor
that the next war would be within the
English speaking world, and, second, by
no less person than Viscount Grey, 9
sober minded Statesman if ever there was
one, who from experience warns both coun-
tries against the danger of rivalries al
sea
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

IN SATURDAY evening had an in
I tcresting experience. During the
week I had met gentlemen Of many
nationaites and discussed with them the
territorial and other claims of their re-
spectve countries. was not surprised
therefore, when l was invited with every
courtesy to attend conference, to meet
at the Hotel McAlpin, for discussion of
problems affecting small and subject peo-
pies.
Somewhat to my surprise, I discovered
that the programme included speech upon
India from u gentleman native to that
country, who has had u difference with
the British government who is living
away from India and has written n book
which has been suppressed by the authori-
ties. 1t did not occur to me that the Indian
Empire, with 330,o00,000 people and at one
time recently garrison of only $4,000
white men, could be described either as
small or subject nationality, especially
with the great scheme of Home Rule on the
anvil and the splendid record of 100000
Indian volunteers going forth to fight for
freedom as interpreted by British tradi-
tons. Still less did imagine that
should be called upon to listen to
brilliant Irishmans attack my country,
where, said he, l heard him, there is no
Liberalism outside the Labor party. Fran
els Hackett, Of "The New Republic" has
for years displayed literary gifts to which
I cannot pretend to attain, but with great
respect to him l cannot quite what the
problem Of small natonalities, which we
met to discuss, has to do with his griev~
ance against Governor Whitman, who, IN
Hackett's height, weight and age.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Entertaining Royalty

From The Ldwton (Okla.) Constitution
President Wilson little dreamed of what
he is going to stir up by his visit to Eu-
rope. All of the rulers of European nations
he will visit have announced their intention
of returning the compliment, and the Pres
dent's salary when he gets through enter
tanning the distinguished guests will un-
doubtedly closely resemble McAdoo's fort
une.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Breaking Up Britain

So much for the first attempt to get up
trouble Let US now look at the second
line of action. The peace conference is
to be asked not to settle the map of Eu-
rope, but to break up and distribute the
British Empire. Incidentally, this was one
of the objects with which Germany risked
everything when she plunged into the war.
She believed confidently that-to give one
illustration Egypt would want to break
away from her alleged oppressors. But
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19

of our raw materials under debate, we
should have at the conference men OF
first-cass financial and business ability
and experience to represent this country.
If. as Judge Gary says, it is open to us
to gain the financial, commercial and in
dustrial leadership of the world, it seems
elementary that we must develop ana
sustain capable leaders as we'll. Abun-
dant materials exist.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
The Butter Hoarders

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The other night, at q s5-a-plate
dinner at one of our leading hotels, I
asked for second helping of butter and
was refused. Against the rules, said the
waiter. Last night, at 75-cent table
dhote restaurant, 1 was cheerfully given
two additional helpings of butter. No such
rules there. Who makes these rules, any,
way? And to what purpose?
FELIX ORMAN.
New York, Dec. II, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
A Slogan Revised

(Fron, The Romsas Cstv Stdr)
"The Lawrence Journal World" suggests
this tardy but appropriate slogan for
Kansas Democracy: ale kept US out of
Congress-"