davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Words With Ariel
o the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In that curious series of articles,
with its constant criticism of the states
men of our allies, and the reiterated as
sumption of the lofty superiority of Colonel
House to them all, there appeared on April
10 the following passage:
Colonel House of the earliest sup
porters of the strategic theory of attacking the
Central Powers from within with propaganda
designed to stir the masses to rebellion and to
drive wedges between Germany and Austria
Long before the United States entered the ,car
he ddr0cdted this policy III informal talks tcith
the statesmen of the Entente countries but
they declined to see the possibilities of it. A
few spasmodic attempts made, but for the
most part The Allied governments persisted in
believing that there difference between
the German government and the German peo-
ple.'
Are we then TO understand that Bern
stortf learned his intriguing arts from
Colonel House? Are we to draw the con-
clusion that the accredited agent of Pres-
dent Wilson tried while we were yet at
peace with Germany to coach her enemies
how to make war upon her? We are just
dull enough not to see the difference be-
tween that alleged effort of Colonel House
and the efforts of Zimmerman to tell Mex.
lco and Japan how to make on u.s.
Colonel House from his high mountain only
offered victory to the tempted one, while
zimmerman offered lovely provinces like
New Mexico and Arizona, but even victory
was shining prize. And, after all, was
Colonel House any more clever than Lenine
of Trotzky? Did they, too not have
plan of separating the laborers and in
nocent common people Of Germany from
their bourgeoisie leaders? 1t even
permitted by The wise hand of Providence
that Leninc and. Trotzky should carry their
plan to its logical conclusion. Is it to
Russia's end that Colonel House sought to
lead England and France?
Colonel House, the mysterious. the silent,
VINO runs to the uttermost parts of the
earth and back again on the errands OF
his Prospe1o. surely he could not have
intended TO betray our allies. 1t hardly
seems wise to boast of TINS political inven-
tion until it has been shown to have had
some degree of success. Nobody but in
spircd pacitsts and threadbare Socialists
and furtive pro-Germans seem to take
much stock in ii in these days but
granted that it had been immensely sue
cessful is it just wise in an article ap-
parently inspired. containing long quota.
tions from what Colonel House said" and
filled with tributes to the Administration
is it wise in such an almost official utter.
ance to crticisc the folles OF the Allied
statesman in way .yiiici, if published in
a Gelman-langus1.c newspaper would cause
that organ TO be denied the use OF the
United States mails"
And, finally, We're not the Allied states
men right after all. and is Colonel House
such modern Isaiah? Surely the Ad'
ministration will deny any responsibility
for these articles. c. H. VANTYNE.
New York, April II, 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Many More Marriages

Ihe war has had marked effect on mar
rage statistics. 1t has resulted in 100000
people being married in England and Wales
between August 1914, and June, 1872, who in
the ordinary course of events would not
Rave married. The average number Of mar
riases in England and Wales for 1909 to
1913 was 274,725. This figure increased to
294.4G1 in 1914, to 360,Ss5 in 1915, and
dropped again to 279,S46 in 1916. 1t was
during the second, third and fourth quarters
OF 1916 that a sudden and phenomenal rise
occurred The first two quarters of 1917
show slump TO less than pre-war average
IN Prussia, Bavaria, SaXony, Hesse, Ham
burg and Bremen, six states containing more
than so per cent Of the German population,
the total number of marriages in 1913 was
424 1903. This figure Tor 1914 is 392 O53.
which shows very remarkable decrease OF
41O50, or nearly 10 per cent, in spite of a
great outburst Of war marriages, which de-
tailed figures show especially in Prussia,
Hcsse and Bremen duripg the first month
of the war. But since 1914 still further
phenomenal drop occurred in places for
which figures are available. In Saxony the
marriage rate actually decreased by 35 per
cent between 1914 and 1915. In Hamburg
it decreased 24.5 per cent, in Bremen 37.5
per cent and in Berlin 21.6 per cent Con-
slderlng that IN the previous wear the de-
crease IN marriages was considerably greater
in the country than in the towns, it is prob
able that if figures for 1915 were available
Tor tho whole empire the decrease of mar
ria&cs III Germany would be greater than
anything shown above
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Starved Contracts

There has been manifest no great
sympathy on the part of the Hylan ad-
ministration toward the efforts of the
Public Service Commission to obtain
authority to modify the terms of the con-
tracts under which subway construction
is being carried on. The fact that un-
less the city assumes some of the burden
Which war conditions have imposed on
the contractors they may be forced into
bankruptcy has apparently not i'm
pressed the Mayor greatly. Yet the re-
cent experience Of the city with the firm
which held the contract for dumping
ashes ought to incline the Mayors heart
toward the Lockwood bill now before
him, which the Public Service Commits
sion favors.
This ash-dumping firm found itself in
difficulties because Of the tremendous
rise IN labor costs, charges for barges
and the like. The city didn't give it the
relief it needed, and it was forced into q
receivership. Now the city is having to
handle its work at a cost said to be
about four times what the contractors
charged.
The subway work cannot be allowed to
stop-too much is at stake, both in the
matter Of providing necessary new
transit facilities and in the money al
ready tied up in the work 50 far under
taken. But bankrupt contractors cannot
complete their contracts, nor can the
city 90 in and complete unfinished con-
struction, under existing conditions, az
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
War S Hand Upon the Clay
Especial Coavcspondence1

II ONDON, April g Sir Bernard Nal
let, president Of the Royal Statisti
0 cal Society, has collected data show
ing the effect of the war on vital statistics.
The is shown among other things to
have diminished suicides and to have in
creased marriages, at first. Afterward, dur
ing 1916, there was a great slump in the
marriage market. One other notable effect
of the war in Europe has been phenomenal
decline in the birth rate.
The study of vital statistics, according to
Sir Bernard Mallet, is of great Importance.
It is from them that we must discover if
possible upon what lines efforts to repair
the war damage and improve the conditions
of the population in the future should pro-
ceed. These statistics concern, in the words
of Major Darwin, "the whole great question
Of racial advance or decline on which the
fate of nations so largely depends"
The figures at present collated by Sir
Bernard Mallet appear to confirm the wide
are born than in normal years. In favcr OF
this theory are Dusng, who, in his "Regule-
rung dos Observation-Disclosures" states
that an acccntuation of the excess of male
over female births in war time is q "wel-
known and .undoubted fact" and Won Firks,
who arrived az the same conclusion as the
result of his studies Of the effects in Ger
many Of the wars of 1866 and 1871. In Eng
land Mr.. Nixon carly in 1916 arrived at the
conclusion that the sex ratio of births is
unaffected. which fuller figures do not seem
tO hoar
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Saloons or Bootleggers

In our correspondents discussion as to
the wisdom of the "bone dry" amend
ment Mr.. Lawrence Ottinger makes the
point that the absolute suppression Of
the use of alcohol is impossible. The ar
gument is that it is simply too easy to
make. "Who does not know that barrel
of cider left alone will soon be appleiacl.
with mighty kick"
Whiskey is water-soakcd grain boiled
and distilled with the simplest appa-
ratus. Any frugal housewife can turn
out fair grade of wine or brandy with
the simple supply of grapes, blackber-
ries, peaches and the like. Alcohol is
pretty near the most familiar thing in
animate nature. 1t is estimated that the
average adult human being automatical-
ly manufactures from his food and con-
sumes something like quart Of alcohol
a day.
1t is argued that with the desperate
desire for fcrmented liquors that manv
people possess, or which possesses them,
homespun booze would very heavily in
crease under "bone dry" conditions.
The answer Of the prohibitonists is
very simple. The chief seat of the evil,
they insist, is the saloon. Prohibition
would at least suppress that. 1t would
suppress the open sale, and hence take
away the temptation, which at present
exists, to youth and to the weak.
But this still does not meet the oucs-
tion as to whether illicit production and
sale would not mean just as much drunk
enness, crime, insanity and disease as at
the present time. We should like moro
discussion on this point
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
The Women Speak

THE stars arc Slipping down in golden
a shoals,
The birds are crying in the carly
light;
Among the hills of home the russct knolls
Are pricking into green upon the sight.
Our hearts are freshly green; again we
hold
The vigor of the year. Upon our brow,
The agelcss dreams are stamped like stars
Of gold
With which the precious, early dav
cndows
The sky Oh! not in vain that we arc tall
And rcsolutc, with eyes as clear as
spring;
Tho secret fame that hears the April call
Leaps in us at our country's summoning;
And though the whirlwind ride upon the
land,
We will not falter-.wc will firmly stand!
FLORENCE RIPLEY MAsTIN.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
More Males Born

During twenty years, from 1894 to 1918,
the average proportion of male to female
'hirths in England and Wales was O3S to
1000, and at no period during those years
was there succession Of three quarterly
records of over 1.040. Since the war there
have been ten such records, the ratio for
the whole of 1915 being l,Ol0 and for 1916
1,049. In Scotland the ratio jumped from
tho prc-1914 average Of 1,0l3 to 1Oi7 in
1915 and to 055 in 1916. The same figures
For Ireland arc l,054. 1,O6l and LOGS respcc-
lively.
The figures for infant mortality for 1916
in the three parts of the United Kingdom
are the lowest recorded. In England and
Wales the deaths were 81 per 1000, against
10S in 1918; in Scotland 97.3, compared with
1896 and in Ireland a3.A, after a previous
1913 figure Of 97l. In comparison with
these Germany had an infant mortality rate
Of 1871 per 200 for 1918. This rose TO 152
in 1915, and is back at ISL for 1916. De-
shows that at the outbreak of the wa~ there
was q sudden rise in the August and Sep
tcmber rate of infant mortality in Germany
which brought the average for the year 1914
up to 163 and caused special attention to be
directed to the question of saving infant
lives.
In the matter of the actual number of
births the partial figures available for Ger
many and Hungary show that the United
Kingdom has suffered far less ii this vitallv
important point than these two countries.
Calculating for the whole Of Germany on
the basis Of all the figures available, Ger
many's loss by fall IN births Will be abou;
100000 potential lives from May, 1915, to
June. 1918. approximately 10000 per million
of the population. During the same period
the loss in tnc United Kingdom amounted
TO over 500 900, or only approximately 600
per million of population. On n similar
basis Hungary lost 100000 lives, or about
10000 per million.
In other words, but for the war the num-
Der Of children born in the United Kingdom
from May, 1916, to June, 1918, should have
been 100000, while the number actually
born will be about 295O,OO0; in Germany
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
In the Manner of Nelson

The attack on Zeebruggc has sug
gestion of romance about it. 1t recalls
the cutting out expeditions, with muffled
oars and all the thrills of dead-of-the-
night surprises, in which the old naval
historians and novelists revelled
It will thrill Britain because Britain
is still essentially seafaring nation. Its
pride is in the great fleet which guards
its shores and which has carried war
into every nook and corner of the Seven
Oceans. When the navy is in action
Britons never think that they are fight
ing with their "backs to the WALL"
1t has been a cause of deep regret to
in this war so few opportunities to fight
that it has been compelled to await
the challenge of a tied-up-in-harbor
enemy.
Every indication of the possibility of a
change of policy is naturally hailed with
delight. The adventure at Zeebrugge
may or may not have produced results
of military Importance. There is not
sufficient evidence as yet to base a sober
judgment op. But if it has, if it points
the way to larger and more aggressive
role for the navy and to defeating the
submarine by breaking up the submarine
nests-then new and cheering chapter
of war has been opened.
Germany will be easily strangled once
her U-boats are effectually barred from
the seas.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
No War Bcbics

The serious increase of illcgitimate births
which 1t was feared would occur as a re-
suit OF the war does not appear in the
present statistics. The number of illegiti-
mate births IN the United Kingdom has been
practically stationary during the present
century. Only two previous years show so
small a number of illegitmate births as the
year 1915, and although 1916 gives an in
crease Of 1,444 over the previous year, it is
lower than the number recorded in 1913.
The death-rate figures present some diff
Guilty owing TO the war, but statistics tend
to show that among civilians alone in Eng
land and Wales, as we'll as for Ireland. Scot.
land and Hungary, there was marked rise
in the deaths in 1915, followed by fall to
below pre-war numbers in 1916. Deaths by
suicide have steadily declined during the
war.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

cheaply as the contractors who have
their workmen and equipment on the
job. The Lockwood bill offers the way
out of the difficulty by authorizing
modification of the terms Of the present
contracts so that provision may be made
for the completion of the construction,
the contractors to obtain no profit on
their work, but to be enabled, by city
help, to pay their workers what they
now demand and buy materials at the
existing high prices.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Coiled in the FLAG
II e a r S-S-S-S-S t

From The Ncp York American. Mnu
81, 1917.
1t is plain enough that the bord
issue is not being eagerly taken, to
say the least. The banks have gone
to their limit with commendable
alacrity, but the people are not buying
bonds. The government will doubt
less eventually. dispose of the two
billion issue. But who can say as
much for the next issue?
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
The Humiliation of 1t

Ronar Law said in Parliament on
Monday that Englands war budget for
the coming year would be near to Is
billions of dollars.
Consider that England has been nearly
three and three-quarter years in the
most gruelling war she has ever known;
that she has to date mobilized nearly
seven-tenths of her adult male popula-
ton; that she has impounded and sold
off billions of her holdings of foreign
securities.
Then put with all this that Great Brit
aims national income, in normal times,
does not exceed two-6fths of that of the
United States, and is now probably less
than one-third, if it is one-fourth.
Consider that she has raised, to date,
for the war more than 80 billions of
dollars-and that all this comes practi-
cally from Great Britain alone, very
little from Ireland or Canada or India or
Australia or South Africa. Then con-
trast this tremendous financial effort
with our own.
We have loaned to the Allies Az bill
lions, and in our first twelve months
actually spent for all war purposes a
little over billions-that is, less than 9
billions in all.
Taking into consideration our national
wealth and income, as compared with
that OF Great Britain; our present bank
ing resources and industrial output, and
1t would not be unfair to say that COM
paratlvely England has raised and spent
the equivalent of 80 billions against our
billions, and her loans to her allies
would be the equivalent of at least Is or
10 billions as compared with our AZ
i billions.
Great Britain will this year raise bv
taxes oa billions, or just about the same
as the estimated budget of the United
states. Which means that Great Brit
am taxation is relatively three times as
heavy as that Of the United States.
There is talk of "the dangers of over
taxation'' and we hear of some who
make the present taxes an excuse for not
buying Liberty bonds.
We have recently heard, for example.
-'' ''e"i"Si cHtcImyer ana Mr..
o'to n. Kahn as to these dangers" We
may cordially agree that the war taxes
may be laid 50 heavily upon the rich and
the larger corporations as seriously to
impair the necessary supply of LIQUID
capital and to lower the present rate Of
production.
But we very much doubt if lew Of
something like or 8 per cent Of our
present inflated income represents a dan
ger point If rate of taxation of prob
ably Is to 20 per cent Of the national in
come OF Great Britain has not proved =
serious detriment to business and indus.
Try in that country.
1t il we'll 10 remember that. while tax-
sfion amounting u 3H or 4 billions
might have been considered very heavy
four years ago. in these four years our
nominal national income has very nearly
doubled; 10 that billions now is the
4uiyalent of no more than 2 billions
you'd have been then.
Our national budgets had exceeded a
billion year, 70 that the relative or
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Why the Hun Hurries So

From The Chicago Nc,os)
Just now Germany is like the small boy
with the bucksaw and the cord of wood.
When asked why he was laboring in such
mad haste he replied that he wished to get
through before his saw got dull.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

the number born should have been $780,
oco, and will be only about 3,25e,Doo, while
IN Hungary there should have been $780,
ooo, and there will be only about 100000
IN the United Kingdom this is the equiva-
lent to the loss of over six months normal
births, in Germany to a loss of seventeen
months births, in Hungary Of twenty-four
months
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
MEMpEn OF THE ASSOCIATED PRES

The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use
for republication OF all dispatches credited to 1t or
not otherwise credited in this and also the local
OF spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights OF republication OF all other matter herein
also reserved.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Not Policeman
To the Editor Of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In justice to Miss Marion smi'a
herself, lady of integrity and eenerosl'y,
as we'll as 10 the editors of -Four Lights
OF whom | have the honor to have oeen
one, will YOU kindly correct that part ,l o.
her letter in Fridays Tribune which ca''
-Four Lights pro-German II was as 10
mote as it is possible TO conceive OF any
periodical being from the smallest degree
OF pro -Germanism.
SARAH N. CLEGHORN.
Brooklyn, April 81, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
1893-1018

and it is the only memorial book which
both for its associations and intrinsic
value we have ever really resolved to
keep. 1t shall stand on the shelves of
The Tribune as long as The Tribune is.
Our compliments to IN. E. S."
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

You purchase merchandise advertised In THE
TRIBUNE with absolute safety-for II dissatisfaction ro-
quits In any THE TRIBUNE guarantees to your
back requests No red tape. No qulbbllng.
We mako good promptly IL the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Accurate Workmanship Proved

'from TIE Savannah Ne,cs)
she'll fired by the German long range
gun has struck founding asylum in
Falis' And yet some observers say the
monster weapon can't be fred accurately
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

Bolshcviki AnatomcalIy Studied
tFfom The San Francesca Chronicle
Russia has still n capital, seat of gov
ernment, but no government to sit in it.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

Then Try to Dodge Taxation
(From The Dayton JourmaD
Over in Shamokin, Penn. the grave.o,.k.
gers have gone on strike. Boycott 'a'
gang. Refuse to die, peoplel
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Melville E. Stone

Yesterday he had been general mana
ger of The Associated Press for clean
quarter of century, The directors
could not say that he was the best gen
eral manager the organization ever had,
for there never was any other. IN. Z.
81 himself incompatible and unique,
deserved memento in kind, and it took
the form of book, a regular book, in
heavy boards, printed by regular pub
lshers, on very good paper, $50 pages,
illustrated, and indexed--produced for
no other purpose than to discover the
qualities of an unusual man and report
them in spirit Of news. The volume
stands before us:
M. E. S.
His Book
Tribute
and Il.
Souvenir
Of the
"a. p"
1893-1918
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

Owned published daily by Tho Tribune Association
New York Corporation Ogden Reid. President: u.
Vernon Rogers Vice President Richard H. Secretary
r. A. Suter. Treasurer Address Tribune Building loA
Nassau Street, New York Telephone. Beekman 1000.
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Entered At Poslonice New York Second Class
Mail Matter
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
If Ireland Becomes "Irland'

NF'rom The Washington PosN
Quarrels in Ireland over Home Rule will
be purely academic il the Hun wins
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
"Bei11g Studied''
By C. w. Gilbert

wv AsHINGTON, April 23.-secre-
w tary Baker told the House
Committee on Military Af-
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
GUARANTEE

Entered At the Posroice New York Second Class
Mail Matter
New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

SUBSCRIPTION RATEs.-By Mail. Postage Paid. out
add Of (,reater Now York.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-29
FOUR LOSE LIVES
in NEW YORK FIRE
Chorus Girl Among Victims of
Blaze in Theatrical Board
ing House

New York. March 29.--Four persons.
three women and one man. lost their
lives in fire which swept Two upper
foors of = th,a,r;ca. boarding house
on West Thirty-cighth street early today,
one OF the women. the only ono iden-
tiled was Miss Catherine Harrington.
a chorus girl. Another clung to a
watcr-p.pc while Luther Estes, sailor.
tried 20 climb hand-over-hand up n vine
alongside the wall. Before he could
reach the gill her strength gave out and
she dropped, dying later in hospital.
Twenty-onc boardcrs escaped, som"
with tho aid of heroic rescue work.
Another sailor hailed a passing electric
light repair wagon and used its tower
TO rescue Il woman from an upper floor,
Fireman Lawler, crawling upward on
an extension ladder TO reach a chorus
girl crouched on Il window sill while
the flames leGped at her night clothes.
found his ladder too short. lie scaled
un from the window below 10 the ledge
she stood on and held her out of reach
Of the flames until other fircmcu raised
another ladder