davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
New Houses
ness man.

The Cabinet is to be congratulated on
its decision not to attack the housing
problem piecemeal It's plan to crea.c a
housing administration in the Department
Of Labor, to have full charge of prcvid-
ing for the workers in all war industries
save the shipbuiders (who are to be
cared for by the Shipping BoardD, gives
promise of speedy and efficient attention
to a fundamental need which has affected
the entire war industrial programme.
The Director of Housing, who is to be
appointed by the Secretary of Labor, will
have broad and sweeping powers. Work
ing with policies board, each member
of which will have charge of a different
phase of the matter--legal, social, con-
struction, transport and the li!le-he may
make his organization as potent force
for the betterment Of the physical and
social status of the workingman as this
country has ever seen. 1t will become
necessary for him in some cases to con-
struct entire communities in connection
long been a phrase in uplift circles
Model housing has been achieved here
and there around the country on linz
tied scale. Here is the opportunity to
bring into being model housing on a
huge scale, for thousands on thousands.
And that does not mean alone the build
ing of certain number Of well-con-
structed and sanitary buildings fol-
mechanics and their families; it means, it
the Director Of Housing has the intell,-
gence and imagination which alone wculu
qualify a man for such a great task. that
proper transportation facilities will be
provided and the social and mental life
of the workers will be cared for.
There are ample precedents for this in
the "modelP' industrial towns built In
Great Britain; there is ample ability in
this country to perform the job. Well
performed, it will make possible the OBJ
tanning of the necessary workers in the
war plants to keep production at its
peak, and the constant turnover of 'abor
will be vastly minimized. That is all-im-
portant in it's effect on the war. Blu.
equally important is the fact that IT the
job is we'll performed it will shove into
the scraphead the unsightly, unsanitary
barracks in which thousands on thousands
of workers now live. There will be all
over the land object lessons in the way
Of proper workingmen's houses and in
telligently planned, we'll organized com
munities. Speculative builders of the
future will have to compete with these
oOvarpnoant -h,1ilt ho,cac Thov will bovo
to reach that standard or better it. When
the profit and loss account of the war is
cast up, this will not be the least of the
credit items.
The day Of the completion Of tho first
Of the governments houses, if the Director
of Housing measure up to his task, will
be d sad day for the jerry builder
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Come and Help!
|itOr OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In the light of the recent investigation
made By the Senate committee and the dis
closures made by that committee, it might be
an interesting experiment to rercad Mr..
Roosevelt's book, Gear God and Take Your
Own PART" which was published in 1915.
If our government is interested solely in
the successful conduct of this war and the
speedy triumph OF the principles to which
every American who is worthy of the name
has pledged heart and soul, why has it neg
lected to give to our foremost American some
part of the work to be done? Why doesn't
it say to him. "Come and>hep!" He is big
enough to be impersonal and great enough
to help us win. MABEL NJ. STEVENS.
Mamaroneck, N. Y, Feb. 6, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Food for Low Prices

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR: 1t is indeed refreshing to find a citi-
zen OF the calbre of Mr.. Samuel Frazer
VINO speaks out so pointedly in your issue
of February to some of the disastrons
results in attempting to fix the prices m
1000 products. | am sure that his thouob+s
have been revolving in the minds Of manv
1000 producers for some time. but thew havo
o'''a'eo ~ express themselves in public,
because they feared that an unpatr;ot;c IN,
~. i e'a'lon would be put on their words
olnce reading the article Of Mr.. Frazer 7
am convinced that it is the patr;ot;c dr+,
Oh the man on the other side to point ont
70 the food administrators the fallacies Of
'"eir procedure IN attempting to fix a price
on food products.
any good, sound business man who has had
experience in the mercantile trade could draw,
nut two conclusions from the methods no.
ing pursued by the government and these pre
economic results in all price regulations
viz:
l. Cheap food and a scarcity of if.
= High priced fooG and /, plentiful snunlv
NO other result could have been forecast
by any one who had his ear to the ground in
a community in which food is produced AS
" means OF livelihood. Already the farmers
are saying that as result Of the low price
received Tor their potatoes last season thew
VIII plant less the coming year, and the same
with other crops
AS MI. Frazer says, if the financial re-
suits are not satisfactory in one line of farm
ing, then the producer will surely turn his
attention TO something else, and, unfortu-
nately Tor the consumer, fear this line of en-
deaVor the coming year will be the getting out
OF WOOD Tor fuel. Because of the statements
II hay
authority Of State Fuel Administrator Albert
II. Wiggn, that the rural communities and
villages would nave to rely on wood for their
price being paid for wood on account of
the inability to obtain coal, the farmers are
already planning to devote considerable time
to cutting and piling stove wood to supply
a ready demand which they foresce another
winter. They also figure that in producing
wood instead Of food they can eliminate the
conditions which have to be surmounted in
producing food-viz., weather conditions. the
question of capital, high and unregulated
price and scarcity of seed stock feeds and
fertilizer, and experienced farm help, which
is nowhere in sight.
1t seems to me that the whole question
gets down to this in its last analysis: If
under the present methods of handling the
food situation the necessaries of life are to
become less plentiful as is freely predicted.
which condition would the consumer prefer,
ii he were faced with the hunger OF himself
and those dependent upon him---a low price
but no food obtainable a supply of food
to be had at price which the economic
condition Of everything which goes into the
production of that food mas placed upon it i?
H. J. MOSHEE.
New Berlin, n. y, Feb. 8, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09

natural Instincts and to respond in good
faith to generous treatment.
Germany will poison us If she can. She
will gas our soldiers in France. She will
infect our crops and our animals, our
bodies and our minds, in so far as she has
the satanic ingenuity to do It. And her
toxic experts abroad, her savans and
manufacturing chemists, her sham Social
lists, will find thousands of agents here
ready to carry on the deadly work, just as
these same agents helped to execute the
bomb and sabotage plots of Bernstorfr
No German professions should be taken
on faith. No importations from the coun-
tries adjacent to Germany should be ad-
mitted without the severest scrutiny. And
every enemy alien here should be ticketed
for what he lis or may be, just as we COM
pei the druggist to put warning label on
every bottle he sells containing poison.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
10 Hate or Not to Hate
Tribune Readers Debate the Question
Of Our Emotions in the War

vi ouI I-IIlOtlOnS IN the War
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Let US thank you for your editorial
this morning entitled ''To Hate or Not IN
Hate confess the recent direction from
Washington to the Four Minute Men left mo
somewhat puzzled and uncertain Your brief
editorial covers the subject completely and
most admirably. Nothing could be better
than giving the public the facts and lettinr
each individual react to them, as YOU say. as
he will
Mr.. John Burroughs reacted to the facts
as he knew them, and has said in effect that
nothing made. in Germany" will enter his
house hereafter. l am counted in as a men,
ocr OF the John Burroughs Club, club which
VIII exist In full force without officers. dues
or meetings so long the present generation
Survives. No dissolution of it can be looked
for, except in the unlocked for event that the
German nation, coming to itself, as was said
OF the Prodigal Son. publicly acknowledges
the folly and wickedness of its course. and
makes such amends as is possible in Belgium.
Serbia, France and Armena--an acknowlede.
r'eat so absolutely genuine, and followed IN
by acts which confirm it, that no one can
doubt the reality of its reform.
CHARLES f. MANIERRE.
New York, Feb 7, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Oppose Evil With Good
Tc the Editor of The Tribune

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t was splendid to see at the head of
your Mondays issue the adnonition from
" ashlngton, mot to hate the Germans
1t IS the most hopeful sign that we are to
WIN the war truly, since we are not going to
Hght our battles with the same weapons used
oJ Germany. 1t shows that we NAV really
D" what we should like to believe ourselves
indeed people of higher moral standards
able to fight evil to a finish. having that
"lehln us which can bring this war to
righteous end. Evil eventually brings about
lts own destruction; and this war will be won
MT by setting evil against evil, hate against
ha1e, but by opposing evil with the force Of
positive good
10 oppose brutality with considered lust.
ice' to oppose the idea of oppression of the
weak with the idea of the protection of the
weak, Will soon bring the whole world ON our
side, as it has already so nearly done, and it
Will eventually bring over to US the German
people themselves
DOROTHY OAKLEY HAGEDORN.
sunnytop Farm, Fairfield, Conn. Feb. 6,
1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
The Four New Congressman

On March S greater New York will elect
four new members of Congress, two in
Manhattan and two IN Brooklyn. This is
10 provide successors to Messrs. Hubert,
Bruckner, Fitzgerald and Griffin, resigned
In this election women will vote
Here is an admirable opportunity for
the Republican leaders to heed the call for
the return of strong men, men of distinc-
ton, to Congress. They have fine material
from which to choose There are in New
York City four men of national reputation,
Of high caIibre and former members of a
Presidents Cabinet. We refer to
The Hon. Elihu Root,
The Hon. George w. Wicke4sn>n.
The Hon. Oscar S. Straus,
The Hon. Henry L. Stimson.
The nomination of men of such stamp
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Our Travelling Educators
he Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Replying to the letter appearing in
your to-day's issue signed "Anti-P Parasite"
should like to tell the gentleman, though
am of the class travelling for manufacturing
concerns, and which he so kindly exempts
from his remarks, that l cannot quite agree
with him that it would be advantageous TO
the country to eliminate the travelling sales
man.
The travelling man has done more for the
education of the small town merchants than
any other individual in our CONNIE rcial fabric
and the criticism as set forth by your CORE
srondent is, to say the least, asinine If we
oDAlterate the travelling man. which would be
'he case II ne were forbidden the use of the
raliroacs' II would be taking step that is
not only most reactionary but positivelv oh
surd NJ
New York, Feb z 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Scorn, Loathe. Despise, but Hate
Noyer

20 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: We all recognize in the word 'hate"
dinerert meaning than abhor, loathe and
afomlnate, Webster's Dictionary to the con-
tfary Notwithstanding Hate is an emotion
porn OF envy, and always flows from an in
1erlcr toward superior. The slave hates
ms master; the weak hate the strong; the
stupid hate the clever; the failures hate the
successful; the poor hate the rich. 1t is
therefore impossible to hate one VINO hates
you. The reciprocal emotion is scorn or con-
tempt. For this reason, to hate Germany is
impossible, knowing as we do her own hatred
fol England, France and America; moreover,
VIC should not wish to, as hatred harms no
ono but the hater, and invariably denotes in
ieriorlty. Despite her vaunted superiority
Germany reveals by her hatred sub-con-
sclous conviction of inferiority a conviction
shared by nine-tenths OF the world Germany
possesses great knowledge, but is destitute
Ct wisdom. We may scorn, loathe and de-
srise Germany, but hate her-never,
SYLVESTER NJ. COOLEY.
Newark, N. j., Feb. 6, 1918
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09

would force the selection Of men Of like
distinction on the Democratic side. Or,
better still, in this national crisis, when
we have such woful lack of such men in
Congress, the two parties might we'll agree
upon four men of high ability, without re-
gard to party lines.
No man could refuse such a call. If q
Clemenceau sits in the French Chamber,
an Asquith in the British Commons, we
can reasonably demand an Elihu Root, an
Alton B. Parker, an ex-Justice Hughes or
John Purroy Mitchell.
We might even find fine type of busi-
ness man,
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Superhuous Scandal

Colonel George Harvey consumes the first
two pages of his current "War Weekly" in
& flame of indignation over the fact that
relatives, friends and intimate acquaint-
ances have been giving and taking war
contracts. The title of the article is:
"THE BROTHERS KAPLAN AND
THE BROTHERS BAKER"
We should hate to be tried for our sins
by Colonel Harvey. He would convict us
of everything and accuse of nothing. Be
fore you know it--almost at the end of the
title-you are outraged, not by anything
Messrs. the brothers Kaplan and Baker
have been found out in, but by the thought
of what they might have done. One was
at once the brother of member of the
Rosenwald Committee on Supplies and
stockholder in company that had a rags
and-old-clothes contract with the govern
ment. The other was at once brother of
the Secretary of War, which he couldn't
help, and partner in a company that had
. contract for airpaane parts.
Both contracts, we believe, have been
cancelled.
The kaplan contract was voluntarily
abrogated, and afterward General Goe-
thals, having made a personal investign-
ton, said it was proper CONTRACT and
ought not to have been destroyed by
clamor. The Baker contract appears not
to have been cancelled until everybody had
become "conscious" of it, including the
Secretary of War.
In neither case was it proved shat the
government had been swindled or that
anybody intended to swinde it.
AS to the Kaplan contract, we are will
ing to accept General Goethals's word that
it was all right.
AS to the Baker contract, we know only
that its propriety was impugned by the
act of cancellation. II it was intrinsicaly
proper contract, and we assume that i.
was. then we wish the Secretary of War
had had the courage to say: eyes, my
brother has contract to make airplanc
parts. What of it? He will make good
parts at fair price"
The Tribune has been offered lot of
seemingly scandalous information show
ing that friends and relatives have re-
ceived contracts, that business men called
to serve the government at 81 a year have
literally given contracts to themselves be-
cause in their haste they did not finish
getting rid Of their private property be-
fore getting into uniform, and that one
has transferred his property to his wife,
who may some day give it back to him, in
stead of giving it to blind man on the
corner
Which ali and first and last is utter
nonsense.
There seems to us to be one question
only. Does the government get it's moneys
WORTH II so, and mcn, to expedite the
work, trade with each other, themselves or
their brothers-no matter
Enough suspicion would lose a war.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
The Wry Austrian Face of Austria
Hungary

The resignation of the Austrian Cabinet
comes with slight jar of surprise, not
withstanding the well known fact that all
political and social conditions there are
now in strong fermentation. Above a
fortnight ago. in the midst of the great
strikes, it was reported that the Cabinet
had resigned; but this probably was a mis-
take. At least, nothing more was heard
of the matter; and since then news indi-
eating anything like danger to the govern
ment has been lacking.
According to the Amsterdam dispatch,
the resignation was due to the opposition
of the Poles to special debates and the pro-
vlsional budget; but details are lacking as
to what this means. That it was the
Poles, however, who overthrew the Cabi-
net is a second surprise. 1t had been the
other 'Slav elements which, according to
the latest newspaper reports, had been civ
ing the government trouble German
newspapers Of the first week in December
brought reports Of exciting scenes in the
Austrian Reichsrat. The Czechs, South
Slavs and Ruthenians Of Galicia demanded
the appointment Of a so-called peace coun-
Gil, which should undertake to carry into
effect The right Of the various races of the
Dual Monarchy to self determination.
Their resolution was voted down, and the
usual Austrian parliamentary Voodoo
scenes followed.
The government had remained silent to
the angry speeches Of the Slavs. Its atti-
tude on this occasion was in keeping with
it's general reputation for weakness. DR..
Won Seydler took office last June as a
makeshitt Premier. Austria is practically
without strong men in it's public life
Berchtold and Burian, if they ever de-
served d place in that class, had already
been brought to the end Of their political
careers Hence Seydler, mere admins
trative official, succeeded to the premier
ship. He may consider himself fortunate
that he was able to hold the rudder for
seven months at a tme like this.
While all the circumstances leading to
his resignation are not known at this mo-
ment his going may safely be taken as
another indication Of that war-tired feel
ing that now seems universal in Austria.
That the Emperor Charles will be able
to find another minister who can brew
such nerve-tonic as Austria sorelv
needs may we'll be doubted Austria is
hungry, Austria longs for peace, Austria
is troubled by serious racial complications !:
and the tonic in question will hardly be
found while the clash of arms continues.
From that viewpoint, the resignation of
the Cabinet may be hailed as another step
toward peace
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Poor Choate!
New York, Feb. 8, 1918.
I of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: note with regret that the inventory
of the estate of the late Joseph Hodges
Choate shows that he the possessor of
wel-stocked wine cellar This fact doubt
less explains why he lived for the compare
lively short term Of eighty-four years and
why he failed to attain the distinction and
honors to which his remarkable natural abii-
ties entitled him.
Had Mr.. Choate been total abstainer he
might have achieved eminence in the legal
profession and might even have become rec
ognized authority constitutional
law. If he had taken part in politics he
would have been regarded wise counsel
lor, true patriot and statesman ranking
with William j. Bryan and Richmond P. Hob
son. 1t is conceivable that but for his beset
ting weakness he might have conferred honor
on diplomatic service and have estab-
lished international reputation as am
basador to Great Britain.
Unfortunately for this great-minded man,
bis youthful associations with Medford rum
and hard cider gradually led him into the
downward path that leads to old Burgundy,
sparkling Moselle, and possibly even the Sc
ductive compound of vermouth and distilled
spirits known the cocktail. This pleasant
indulgence prevented his attaining more
than local notice a hard working attor-
rey who, strangely enough, was sought out
by men of genius-poets, wits, scholars, Gre
ative artists-despite his drinking habits. To
those who knew and loved him there must
come the sad reflection: "Poor Choate, if he
had only been a member of the Anti Saloon
League he might have had long and useful
life, crowned with high honors and ending
worthily as became great American"
WHIrDEN GRAHAM
New York. Feb 5, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
The Time s PLAGUE
n'ron The TiNa0cr)

fFroW The Tifia0cr)
," HE normally collected and urexcitod
Public Ledger" of Philadelphia prints
on the front page of recent issue
the very inclusive heading, "U S. Dreaming;
Allies Tottering, Says Taylor, 'and in descend
ing type lines we are informed through this
speaker, late Of Colonel Houses party in
Paris, that Europe is staggering, the West
crn line is bending and near the breaking
point and the clarion Of danger must awaken
America to assistance. DR.. Alonzo TAYLOR,
who spoke these thoughts to a "glutterng"
assemblage at a "palatial" PHILADELPHIA home
is professionally professor Of physiological
chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania:
an expert Tor conservation through his Of
/ hces on the War Trade Board He himself.
If questioned, would doubtless not pretend
to any better information or Judgment on
the military situation than the rest of us.
Yet deliberately affecting expert knowledge
and with most reckless use of underscorings
and exclamation points, he delivered an ad-
dress which, according to the reporter "c,+
"nu scared as 1t was intended" an audience
'"a' sat chilled and Fascinated in the Stotes
Jury craving room" In the end we can
Imagine mat his hearers left putting on
"1'A lAeIl chlncnllla coats some new resoIr
tions for cutting out another course at din.
ner, and that will obviously enough he
helpful; but Mr.. Taylor's game hardly worth
Ine dangerous candle. For he said nothing
winch IN essence has not been known Of
every intelligent lay observer of the wars
progress. hat the battle now runs against
the Allies has for good many months been
depresslngly plain, and that America. upon
whom the decision now rests, continues to
be reckless and wasteful and ignorant Of the
grave situation in its entirety is no news
But unsupportable hysterical expression at
this Juncture is to be deprecated as much
as the complacency and sef-assurance of
little while since. Senator Chamberlain
strengthened the opposition to his wholly
right case when he let emotion carry him
into an utterance which he had afterwards
to qualify and Senator Frelinghuysen stick
ing for The most part to the concrete facts
on which he had specific knowledge, has been
OF very much greater service than Senator
Hitchcock with his extreme and gloomy gen.
eralizations. Between reasoning and expert
ence, the public will eventually get grip
on the truth, but fright can only drive us
into the state of panic where efficiency is
not. "'Ts the times plague, when mad men
lead the blind"
New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Nature s Reaction

TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: May venture to express my appfe-
clation of your editorial of today ITO Hate
or Not to Hate" in regard to the presen'
campaign against hate, and further to sus-
gest that while hate in itself is not conducive
TO commendable state of consciousness, j.
may be considered as natures spontaneous
reaction against agencies which are worse
than hate, and thus as q corrective. 1t mus.
nave been such reaction that caused Chr's'
70 make himself scourge and to use 1t.
intense love of fairness can hardly be as
soclated from an equally intense aversion
TO violation of fairness, and between tness
extremes lies the balance that could not %
reached II violence were not counteracted "
the hate of it. PIERRE TROUBETZKOf.
New York, Feb. 7, 1918