davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

how the whole affair looked to our un-
tutored imaginations.
Again. no one would suggest that. if he
differs from the Presidents diplomacy.
Mr. Lloyd George is moved by "a Brit
ish interest" quite the contrary. Brit
lsh interests would subordinate every
consideration to the one paramount OBJ
lect OF friendship with yourselves. For
br'tain, the rest, as for instance Bel
GUM, is duty. What matters to
US is the New World. not the
Old. Without your friendship what
compensation can we find elsewhere ?
But, as an obligation of sacred kind,
we have also TO think Of allies, who
have admitted us to their most intimate
counsels, whose soil is actually occu-
pied by millions Of our soldiers, who
are stricken harder than ourselves, yet
are, are fighting, fighting on. One ally is
Italy. Another is France. Italy and
France are like wrestlers, sweating to
exhaustion, every muscle strained to
agony. How can Italy and France ap-
preclate at full value the larger states
mansh'p, the serener faith. which con
templates an approach to Austria-Hun-
gary? And in the case of Italy. look at
the position on the Adriatic. America
and Canada have abolished vessels of
war on the Great Lakes. The Adriatic
is to Italy what the Great Lakes are
to you. She wants to get rid of naval
rivalry. She has believed that she can
only do this by excluding Austria from
the coast. Yet such exclusion is. /
take it, wholly contrary to the official
American policy. Therefore, the ques-
tion is how to meet Austria without
sacrificing Italy. When the Italian
forces broke and let in the enemy, it was
Mr.. Lloyd George who was chiefly re-
ssponsible for hurrying up the rein
forcements.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

y HE first move toward taking an
active part in politics by the
new National party-organ;zed
ca the theory that revolution by
force is not necessary in democratic
America, by seceders from all political
and social organizations-will be
made the first week in March when the
first national convention of the party
meets at Hotel Sherman, Chicago, on
Wednesday morning, March G. At this
convention each state will be entitled
to as many delegates as the number
OF its Congressman, and an equal nun
ber of alternates.
> The party leaders believe it is time
Tor vigorous agitation for the cleo
lion to Congress of men and women
who VIII push the aims set forth in
tho party's platform OF "sane radical
ism, and particularly programme Of
genuine public ownership on a dem
ocratlc basis" They say they will
enter the Congressional campaign with
lQ!l assurance of electing at leas.
twenty-five Representatives and three
Senator's.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Hope to Elect
Many to Congress

AS result Of the Chicago confer
encc, Offices were opened in Chicago
and New lork, and 4 national execu-
tive committee WAS selected. The plat
form agreed upon has been distrir-
uted by the million in all parts of the
country. ard large membership has
been enrolled. State organizations
have been created in majority of the
states.
Following the recommendation OF
their national committee the Prohjbi-
tionists in New York, Massachusetts.
ONO, Indiana, Washington, Nebraska
Idaho and several other states have
already voted to merge their organiza-
tion into the National party. The move
ment in the Northwestern States is
particularly strong, much of the
strength Of the Farmers Ncn-Parti-
san League apparently going to the
new party. Representatives from Cali
fornla, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Min
nesota report that the movement in
those states is fiourishing.
Allen McCurdy. we'll known in polit-
zeal and literary circles of New York.
who Is organizing secretary in the
Eastern States, says the party will not
attempt to run candidates in ever
congress district throughout the coun-
try. It's policy will be rather TO Sc
lect those districts in which it is
strongest and has the best chance OF
electing its candidates. He believes
the party will elect two or three
United States Senator's and not fewer
than twenty-five Representatives.
- FMS Is the opinion also of David c..
Coates, who is in charge of the Chi
cago ofi1ce. Mr.. Coates is labor
union man, an influential member OF
the Typographical union. He is be
lever in national prohibition, and says
that III the prohibition states union
labor has been converted to the cause
OF prohi hibition. Mr.. Coates declares the
National party will sweep the West,
and he says that it is not at all un-
likely that several Of the states will
send practically solid delegations to
congress from that party.
at the coming convention IN March
the platform adopted last October will
DC subject to some revision. but it is
not likely there will be any departure
from the principles contained in the
preliminary platform. The party will
pledge itself TO the ratification of the
Two Federal amendments for equal suf-
frage and prohibition.
1t will undoubtedly declare for war
prohibition and for the democratic
financing Of the war by rigorous tax
a'ioh OF incomes, excess profits and
land values. 1t will probably empha-
SIZE the public ownership plank and
demand that there shall be nc return
to private ownership Of railroads Pub
llc ownership Of mines and all the
steel and iron industry viii be insisted
upon as coroilary to public ownership
OF railroads. 1t is probable the ncrr
platform will throw much greater en-
phasis upon the plank demanding that
All members of the Cabinet should
have seats in Congress. but without
votes and subject to Interpolation bv
Congress- -
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Many Divergencies
Brought to d Point

This conference lasted four days and
was attended by about thirty men and
women, including representatives of all
the groups named, as we'll as some of
the Independents Progressives, Republi-
cans. Progressive Democrats and Suf
fragists. AT this conference a skelc
ton was composed Of planks and state
ments which had been substantially
agreed upon in preliminary confer
ences. The conferrccs discussed
whether they should attempt to form
new party.
From one who was present at the
conference in Morristown it was
learned that there was remarkable
unanimity of opinion upon all meas
ures proposed for inclusion in the
platform and upon all other questions,
to be known by. Upon that rock the
conference nearly split.
The only name which was not in dis
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
By d. M. IIermalin

1\AG NEW YORK TRIBUNE re-
l. Gently had the following item
Of news:
AS the influence of the Bolsheviki
IN the Russian governments has hoen
increasing the number of Jews in it's
ranks mas been decreasing, according
TO reports received by the "Ayanti :"
INC Italian Socialist organ, of Turin.
me percentage of Jews in the more
moderate parties of Russia is now
higncr than in the Rolshevik party
ne foreign affairs commission of
the Anglo Jewish Ass sociation "wr;tns
the "Avanti," "has received some in.
formation and convincing figures in
regard TO the Jewish question in con-
nection with the extremist parties Of
Russia. 1t is pointed out that with
the growth of the influence of the
Bolsheviki tho number OF Jews
among them has been continually
decreasing. This is by no means due
10 dislike for the jews
The story Of Frankenstcin is OF
Jewish origin. 1t is at least two hun
dred years older than tho English YER
sion.
Here is the original Jewish nara
tive: Rabbi Leon, of Prague, was
versed in, all the mysteries Of crea-
tion. The Almighty himself had en-
dowed him with the knowledge of his
different holy names, with which even
mortals could initiate the Creator.
The pious rabbi was very poor, and
his wife was very i'll. He needed some
body to take care of his house, but he
had no money to hire a servant.
One day the rabbi decided TO OK
pertinent He moulded a man out Of
clay, and when he was through with
his work he wrote on piece of parch-
ment certain creative name of God
and laid it underneath the tongue Of
The clay figure. He had no sooner done
his when the figure of clay assumed
j fn iIIInnoI IL q nd n,:rl q IN cd
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
rohibition Writes
its Own Epitaph

AT the same time, in the same hotel,
the Prohibition party will hold a spe-
clal national meeting, and-unless all
signs fall-~will vote that party out Of
existence. This would be proceeding
unparalleled in American political his
tory. No political party, so far as is
KNOWN, has ever held a convention and
formally voted itself out of existence.
written Its own epitaph.
This is precisely what the Prohibi-
lion party is expected to do, after more
than forty years of active life. If the
plans of its leaders do not miscarrv
the members Of the Prohibition party
VIII enroll IN the newly formed Ma
tional party.
The story of the birth OF the Ma
tonal party has never been fully told.
Behind their achievement is long
story of patient planning and work,
which, whatever the future of the Ma
t'onal party may be, deserves to be
ods. During the winter of 1916-17 GER
tain leaders Of the Prohibition party
aud the Progressive party began to
communicate upon the subject of pos
fiole combination Of forces. This led
10 the holding of special convention
o. the Progressive party in April last
NAlch was attended by delegation of
frohbitlonists authorized to enter into
combination OF the two party plat
forms.
The leading spirit in this movement
Vas j. A. II. Hopkins, of New Jersey.
~ Is understood that TO this confer
;sase many prominent Socialists and
muependents had been invited, none
a. =, %honl, so far as can be learned, ac-
N'pled the invitation.
men came thc Socialist party CON
Snton, with the controversy it cngen-
~,ied upon the question of war policy.
- aaca was followed by a spt:t of some
dkasnitude. Many leaders of the party
as,, arSerfsed because Of the adoption of
o-1Herman attitude. These dissent |
itas SOCIALISTS, who believed they should |
Tsaliy support America and the Allies. !
] S,Hsd eSai;'.d themselves into II national So
'''''sS propaganda organization, tho
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
The Instance of
Sir Frederick Smith

before coming TO the main issue
Wnich confronts Lord Reading. let me
clear up one or two details. When
Americans visit England they do not
always on every occasion say precisely
what sticklers would consider to be
the usual thing. There was one great
occasion, which every one cnjoyed,
when MIR. Roosevelt-who has always
been with Us prime favorite-startled
the clubmen (thouch only few by
telling us how to govern the Sudan.
We liked him all the better for his
frankness, and may God spare him to
VISIT us again, the oftener the better,
On the other hand, YOU must not be
astonished if Englishmen entertained
by you sometimes drop into monolocues.
We cannot help it-your generous hos
pitality induces a flow of words-you
invite US to talk, and more often than
not we talk too much. No one wants
to remark further on the brief soiourn
of the British Attorney General. Sir
Frederick Smith. | have known him
Tor years. He was president Of the Ok
ford Union when was president of the
Cambridge Union. and both universe
ties considered him to be brilliant
and witty speaker All that he failed
to realize was that the present situa
ton is too big for mere clevcrness. And
! you may rest assured that whatever
cmotions were stirred here by Sir
Frederick Smiths amusing comments
on Ireland, leagues Of nations and
other delicate topics are as nothing to
the warmth Of the reception which
would await him in England if it were
imagined that his playful platitudes
had caused any one here, especially anv
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

lists. The same was true of the atti-
tude of the men to prohibition as 4
definite programme. They might not
accept the theories Of the Prohibition
ist concerning the relation of intem-
perance to poverty, nor accept prohibi
tion as a full solution of the social
problem but they were unit in agree
ing that the sale of liquor ought to be
prohibited.
BY the middle Of summer the lead
ers of the movement determined to
avoid premature publicity and held a
larger conference in July at Morris.
town. n. j., at the home OF ] A. II.
Hopkins.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

ORD READING has been pre-
sented at the White House and
now begins his great task as
High Commissioner, or virtually Am
aassador Plenipotentiary in the United
States. His time will be fully occu~
r;ed with business. financial and eco
ron,c as well as diplomatic. yet
covld wish that 4 week or two could
he spared for him TO see Chicago and
ne cities west of Chicago. which Brit
ish visitors OF distinction are too apt
10 ignore. Full attention has been
pail in your press to the fact that in
Lord Reading We release our most en-
inent Judge Of the high court, who in
London prcsides over the Kings Bench,
aud no predecessor Of that illustrious
office Of Lord Chief Justice has ever
occuuied foreign embassy. We III
tend this 10 be the utmost compliment
.hat it is in our power to pay to your
country and the President. Earl Read
ing has difficult task to perform.
For some months his position at Wash
ington was virtually in allegiance,
through the doubtful health OF Sir
Cecil Spring Rice, whose death cvohes
general regret and sympathy. Owing
70 th&t condition of affairs it is posi-
ble that British and American policy
has drfted in somewhat divergent di-
rections. But so genuine is the good
will on both sides that, beyond doubt,
the misunderstanding will be arranged
errors, if there be such, will be recti-
fed and common policy rapidly
built up.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

rot rs yet the man Tor Washington,
nor-l must add in all friendlincss
does he run the British Empire. as
some of you seem to imagine. Lord
Reading is sent here by no publicist,
however powerful, but by Britain,
which includes Lord NorthclifYe. as a
most Jealous son, but which also in
cludcs others. No newspaper man in
our country. peer or commoncr, can
dictate to our Lord Chief Justice. and
ii he should be so foolish as to try it
on, he can be put into prison or fined
tor contempt of ,court-~a matter of
some Importance for Colonel Rcping-
ton, with whom I dealt a week or two
ago. II, then, Lord Reading fails to
satisfy one section Of the British press,
which do not in the least anticipate,
he may rest assured that another sec
'ion, equally influential and Of as large
circulation. will sec that he is not
misinterpreted In the meantime, what
America should realize is this-that he
speaks for US all.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

1t vas an open secret that many Of
tne Proiioitionists and. some Of The
other groups were rather suspicious C.
the Socialist group, and especially o.
opargo. 1t is said that the national
committee OF the Prohibition party. in
closed session. called in some Of the
leaders OF the other groups to consider
With them whether it was ecessary 20
taHe any defensive measures against
MI. Spargo's Vaccinations.
Yet before the conference had got
very far it was evident that Sparso
mad disarmed all suspicion. and in au
address which he delivered early in the
conference he brought the Prob ibitiou-
ISIS to their feet. Before the confer
,ence was ended he had become per
maps the most popular man in l.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

Dorr II. Carroll. Progressive leader Of
North Dakota: O. II. p. Shelley, Pro
gressve leader OF Montana. who man.
aged the campaign of Miss Rankin. and
thus made the first American Congress-
woman, and Fred II. Chase, the national
secretary OF the Progressive party.
Sitting side by side with these two
apparently inharmonious groups we're
twenty odd Socialists, men and women
whose names had long been identified
with the Socialist propaganda in this
country. They represented that very
large and influential group OF socialist
lntellectuals who had withdrawn from
the Socialist party on account of its
Mar nnlicu
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
e Hope for Victory for All BY Pooling Interests in Neuv Part

Social Democratic League" clectjne
Jchn Spargo president and J. G.. Phelps
stokes secretary treasurer. 1t was moi
INC intention of these Socialists to form
a ne" party, but to constitute them
selves INTO a separate propaeandist
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Political Ships and
Shoes and Sealing Wax

John Spargo, one of the executive
committee members Of the Socialist
party, and long recognized in this coun-
try and Europe as one Of the leading
cxponents of the movement, was there,
as were J. G. Phelps Stokes, Of New
York; Professor Ellen Hayes, of
Wellesley College; Professor w. p.
Montague, Of Columbia University; Ed
ward ellis Carr. editor of "The Chris
ton Socialist" and William f. Coch-
ran, Of Baltimore.
With these mingled twenty-odd single
tax advocates of national prominence.
including Mrs. Mary Fels, of the Fels
Foundation Fund; Louis Wallace, au-
thor and lecturer; Otto Cullman, of
Chicago, ard Harry W. Wilcox, of
Pittsburgh.
In miscellaneous group were labor
union men like Morton johnson, OF the
Chicago Federation Of Labor; Hugh V.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
And There Remains
Freedom of the Seas

Having said this, I should like, if l
may, TO appeal to your statesmen to be
little tender to our susceptibilities
over the freedom of the seas. If you
give us time and make it plain that you
do not want to hand US over to the
kaiSer's submarines. we Will accommo O.
date our slow mentality to this idea in
due course. AS | understand the mat
ter, you do not accuse US Of using our
navy in selfish or overbearing man
ner. While we hold Gibraltar and Sucz
and Slngapore-as you, by the way.
hold Panama!--we have not stopped
one German ship pursuing lawful voy-
ages. Indeed, before the war, the free
dom OF the seas was so absolute that
many OF the largest vessels ahoat were
German. These vessels called at our
ports for passengers, and when war
came they had their flag compulsoriiy y
10 Official iiims-to you.
Indeed. | seem 10 recoilect that you
are using some Of these ships for the
transportation Of your gallant troops.
1t is not denied, think, that our navy
has cleaned up piracy in Chinese
waters and the ocean slave trade. We
have done what we could in a small
way to maintain the traditions Of the
sea, to build lighthouses, invent COM
passes and establish ifeboats. And
our home ports are almost entirely free
trade. Even when you raised high tar
ifs against commercial competitors
which, alas, included ourselves, we still
welcomed your exports. Doubtless our
reasons were se!ish-still, is it up
against us that We liked your goods
more than, apparently. you liked ours
Anyway, we take it that the freedom
of the seas is not intended as unfriend-
Illness nor as a vote of censure on our
past conduct.
The idea is, I suppose. that. all in
ternational responsibilities should be
internationalized Just as navies and
armies are pooled in this war, so after
the war there must be a general in
stead of specialized responsibility
for the materials of force, possibly
for colonies also. Clearly, Great
Britain cannot and does not expect
naval predominance over Japan in Far
Eastern waters; over the United States
III American waters; over France and
Italy i'll Mediterranean waters. But
how about British waters?
The German navy, formidable before
the war, remains, practically untouched,
a latent. actual menace. at our very
shores. Of course, Germany would like
us to concede what she also calls the
freedom of the seas: But, ] would re
spectfully inquire, freedom for what
purpose: To send liners to New York
When did we hinder her? Or is it to
send submarines to Nantucket? Are
the experiences Of your Eastern sea-
board to be the precedent for human
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Freedom of the Seas Vital Issue to Britain Whose Pbc
Opnon Largely Supports Pesdentays Need for Control
OF Adr1ac nOoluedLord Reading Has Delicate Task Here

illustrious person, the least shadow of
annoyance. This incident in the career
Of a politician who is still young is
merely an incident. and we will pass
on to other more vital topics.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

liberty on the ocean? These arc natu-
raj questions. Doubtless the reply is
equally simple.
My impression is that Mr.. Wilson
is thinking out an equitable principle
which viii perpetuate orderly authority
on the ocean while disarming German
talk about "navalism." He wants the
seas to be safe. But he doubts
merely speculate-the entire appropri-
stirring anthem, Rule Britannia"
must point out that our ambitions are
limited to one element. the ocean.
whereas in "Deutschland iibcr Allies"
our enemies claim the universe, in
Guiding the furthest fixed star. so
that even when We sing "Rule Britain
MA song which during the war |
dld not hear sung once until I came
! 70 New York. where, for some reason.
1t seems the proper thing, we are not
quite so boastful as the Germans Any
way, we all agree that democratic
navies must in future cooperate.
saw somewhere that Mr.. Daniels wants
his to be the biggest. I rather like
that idea, because it means that we
can, make ours smaller and that you
viii add to our other obligations 70
you the payment Of taxes now borne
by us. But hope that Mr Daniels
Will not go on to insist that all Ameri-
can goods must be carried in Ameri-
can merchantmen. Probably we need
the context to that interesting suc-
gestion of his. For what does it i'm
ply! Ii you close your ports TO our
tonnage shallow minded people in Eng
land may clamor for US to close our
ports to your tonnage. which will mean
either that all our trade must be car-
RED by neutrals or that we must drop
trade and swim. Alterna,ivcly. il
American goods are only carried IN
american ships and British goods In
British ships, then it follows that both
mercantile fleets must steam one way
empty, and therefore charge double
frelght. The real situation to-day is
that we need all the ships possible, and
1t matters not row of pins to which
Of US they belong.
The Upshot of
Austria Trouble
People constantly ask what will be
the upshot of this Austrian business.
90 not pretend TO know. But certain
things are plain. By withholding food
from Austria the Magyar nobility has
provoked intense bitterness. The peace
with Ukraine removes the one menace
that Austria has ever feared. With
Russla out of the way, she needs no
German help. She detests Prussian
suzerainty. Her Emperor and the En-
press, who was educated in England. are
waiting to be rescued. And the brother
OF the Empress is, ! am told, fighting
Tor France. That Austrian troops
should be thrown against the Western
front is merely 20 compel Austria to
night for her own more utter subiuga
ton. The real problem is how to dis
entangle her court and people without
fearful reprisals by the Emperor Will
Jam, who would not hesitate to resort
to assassination or any other crime to
make good his aims. One cannot but
lear lest British debates should give
Germany the chance of playing off one
declaration against the other and so
preventing real expression Of the true
Austrian view by Count Czernin. On
the other hand, if Austria really wants
peace, American diplomacy is sufri
gently unconventional to find way
for her to secure it.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
7o1U Wilson's Peace Offensive Affects the Allies

Allies, and weakening the enemy. No
British government that was so fool
ish as to line up against the league Of
nations or the peace offensive in Aus
tria-Hungary could stand for a week.
And if ever friendship with America
becomes an electoral issue in the Unit
cd Kingdom-which is inconceivable--
the critics, if there be such, will re-
ceive such punishment on polling day
as will make them sorry, II they sur
AT the same time, let US all devoutly
pray that neither country be involved
in the domestic politics Of the other.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
By P. w. Wilson

Amefco" Correspondent Of The London Daiy Ne,vs