davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
RECIPROCITY IN SLANG
Fair Exchange in Phrases With Punch
Prevails Between England and
the United States

lloyd GEOkGE Is said to have shocked
- the British public in his famous Paris
speech by the use of yea instead OF the
more sober yes" A comic paper, with an eye
to our cooperation ip the war, stated that
perhaps he meant to say yep"
It seems TO be a matter of remark on the
other side that our slang has been inter-
penetrating the kings English. says the Eve
ming Post English statesmen have been re-
ported as pounding the diplomatic table ana
stating that I'VE viii put it across" gen
erals are reported to have concluded an order
of the day with the words, Soldiers of Eng
land, it's up to you." When Asquith fell.
staid old member of Parliament is said 70
have remarked II knew he would get ID
bad Some" in the superlative sense, mas
risen TO the dignity of discussion in the stao
old Manchester Guardian. a,.t.
How have we reciprocated for this British
courtesy? We have adopted such expires
sions as doing our bit" Stacker" over the
top and certain other war expressions. But
ordinary English slang has passed over our
heads. Side" doing some one in the eye,
fancy "josser" and the others have not ye'
reached us Courtesy might point to our cul'
tivation of them. But good sense. let U:
hope, will keep us TO our own idiomocracy OF
Mark Twain's soil.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08

sees through problem. too. very quickly,
lie Is mentally alert"
What do you/ think OF your supreme
Court?" he inquired.
at is IN good shape | answered. The
Chief Justice, Mitchell, Is an eNceptlonaHy
able lawyor.-and there are other strong
mon on tho bcnch?'
no YOU know Hay Brown" nc asked
Yes, know him
DO YOU know John Elkin?'
Yes. and hc is making n good Judge
better than YOU might have supposed. AS
YOU know, Inc was \ politician, and had
many associations other than legal, But
lie Is doing we'll"
II knew Judge Joseph T. Bradley OF
the United states Supreme Court" he
said. 't1e had intended 70 resign, but he
died on the bench. lie had his own antlr'
athios lie came to me when I was Sole
itor General and said; 'Gf YOU have any re.
spoCt whatever for my wishes In the mat
ter, you will sec to II that that man
paNson. of Pennsylvania, IS not appointed
my successor. never have pain I'm my
finger that he docs not hurry down TO
Washington to send up his card inquiring
for my health" Thcrcupon 7 laughed
"PsNson," I said was a man of strong
common sense hut lacking in tone lie
grew rich"
'llow did ne make it,
Tic was executor for David Jayne. and
thereafter. was thrifty and savns."
81 suppose hc had good Information a-
to lac, I.iI Nt.it tvsin lC
"t am not ono ur those" said I, who be.
licvc that the Philippines ought 20 be sur
rendered Nations as we'll as men have to
meet their fate. We have them and ought
10 take care of them"
That is my opinion" said he decidedly,
"and ! shalt do all I can to have the
Panama canal finished while ! am Presi.
deut. The resolution of Congress at tho
outset Qf tho Spanish War announcing
policy AZ to cub, in the event of success
was . great blundor."
This is one of my own pot views, and I
strongly asscnted. adding, "Mr. Mckinley
ought never to have tied himself up with
his proclamation"
~ SEQ by the newspapers" said I. that
YOU are going 70 appoint Senator Knox
Secretary Of state. # IT he true. am
much pleased. Now do not tell me any.
thing"
II am going TO appoint him" he replied
With emphasis. "Sou know him well?"
quite we'll; ( appointed him to the
Senate"
$50 YOU did"
you may be able to do something with
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
VALUE OF SARCASM

To the Editor Of the Ereuip0 Public Lcd1c2
Sir--t am 50 sstonighed on reading "Over-
paid Teachers letter IN tonight's paper II
she feels Sc uncomfortable about receiving so
munlhcent salary for SO feeble an effort
why not turn IT back TO the board? I an,
sure those able gentlemen could make ree
OF H. For, IN answer to every request. thev
hNaFlahiN sing song of shortness of funds
or perhaps "Overpad Teacher" is merely
sarcastic aud |, after minding my 3i3 Young
Fters--dont gasp ! don't have them all i'm
one daN-am too dun and stupiS TO soc
through it, Really, | hope the latter is tbo
case there r. more hope fer a sarcastic
person tnan Tor ono devoid of her sound
NINA why, the hope of the schools of TO-
morrow lies In dissatisfied teachers. for The
satisfied one quickly sagnates And if
'oNerpald Teacher" is content to remain tho
Inferior of men in regard to salary and will
rest on her oars thinking the city is doing
enough ana too much for her. she'd better
curl up III her little corner and accustcnl her
Selt 10 loneliness, for not many of us will
keep her company or share her views
A HARD WORKER
Philadelphia. March Z
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
DEVELOPING MEsOPOTAMIA

Watching the present conflict from me
other side Of the globe, Count Okuma, OF
Japan is said TO have declared II to mean
the end of European civilization. The states
man seems 10 have implied that soon u
would he as effete that of ancient BABY
lon In consonance with this judgment there
comes the news from the lands OF tne
ancient Bsbyonian kingdom that ALREADY
steps have been taken which will render tne
once fertile soil of the Tigris and Euphrates
the abiding place of a newer and better
civilization. British engineers have com.
pleted the work of throwing barrage across
the delta of the Tigris Thus relstivey,
large area has been made fertile, and ~
the necessary cereals poultry and dairy ~
ticles sufficient for supplying the entire br'''
ish army are now produced on the spot.
In this almost incredible message, iiV,,
hesopotamia one Is irresistibly reminded ~. ?,
the statement of Herodotus that the fertly
of the river was such that 1t was called upon
to furnish one-third of the total supplies ne,, ,s
essary for the maintenance Of the housenos J.
and the armies OF the great king --Chris'ia"
Science Monitor.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
HOME DEFENSE
HAS ADVOCATES
Officers and Organizers of Phila-
delphia Reserve Answer Criti-
cisms-1ts Value and Purpose

o me Editor Of The Eueniug Public LcdGcr
Sir-On the first page of recent issue OF
your paper an article appeared giving great
prominence 10 the alleged inactivity of the
Home Defense Reserve which seems 10 re-
ruire comment.
Judge that the writer is not member Of
tho organization, and regret that the patriotic
motive which has inspired . large number of
men for period of more than six to eight
months--mcu who, by reason of age or family
considerations, have been unable 10 offer
their services as enlisted mon to our coun-
try--to faithfully drill night after night pre-
pairing Themselves against an emergency so
that. IL IT should arise, they might acquit
themselves as men. should he ridiculed aud
the organization itself characterized AS
Broad .treet ParaderS."
Have YOU considered the fact that since
the organza ton of the Reserve faithful men
have given their time and energy I'm holding
It together, in helping TO drill and discipline
not only themselves but also draft men, and
that the orgdnizatio todays while not yet
ready for service, IS advancing rapidly TO
the point where. If needed, It can he of real
value in case Of aN emergency and this in
spite of the fact that until recently our
city fathers have offered practically no en-
Coura cement and IN spite of the fact that
there are not even yet enough rifles TO supply
the men, other equipment even now being eG-
tircy lacking? Your comment uniforms
is unfair If worl.ingmen give and are
willing TO give gratis their time and energy
AL they hsve---why should not they be uni
formed? And indeed, let the criticism rest
on Councils for not having supplied the nee
sary equipment long before this.
| grant you that We have not been called
into action, We have Police Department
in the city OF Philadelphia which is intended
TO take care of ordinary police duty. We
| are preparing for emergency and we hope
| that If it should arise, by next fall or before
| we shall be ready to meet it.
hope that YOU will give this letter half as
| much publicity the article TO which it has
| referred, ALFRED T. STEINMETZ.
| Lieutenant. Twenty-ninth Company H. r. r.
| Philadelphia March 7.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
HAS GAFFNEY CAPT.
ULATED?

WHAT every good citizen wants to
w know today is whether Mr.. Gatfney
has abandoned his efforts TO be loyal
servant of Philadelphia and has con-
sented to become the agent and tool of
rapacious political faction.
The chairman of the Finance Commit
tee conducted himself in the beginning
in such way as to produce the pn-
preston that he had decided to do busi-
ness in the open and to smother all job
berry and crookedness. lie maintained
this position for months and enabled the
people to take heart of hope for better
things.
But the conduct Of Mr.. Gaffney yester-
day can be explained only on the theory
that he has surrendered his own Jidg-
ment and has become the tool OF the
faction in control in City Hall.
He stood by and consented to the over
riding of the rule providing that no ap-
preparations can be made without the
consent of two-thrds of all the members.
And he made no protest when that rule
was overrdden by the trick of an appeal
from the decision of the chair, carried
by majority vote, in spite OF the tact
that rules of Councils order that no rules
can be suspended without the consent OF
two-thirds of the Councilmen. These
two rules were made TO prevent any such
trick as the majority attempted to play
yesterday afternoon. They still stand
unchanged, and they accuse the ma
jority of deliberate violation of the letter
and the spirit of the laws.
The Nobre incident proved that the
dominant faction had lost its head. The
Councils incident proves that it has lost
its sense of honor and decency and its
respect for law.
If Mr.. Gaffney has not capitulatcd HI
should let it be known without delay.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
The Boys Fears

This worlds rotten place, I know;
There's nothin' decent in it.
An if I'd somewheres else to 60 s
I'd leave it in a minute.
The blamed old place seemed pretty
wrong
When got up this mornin',
But now more troubles come along
Without minutes warnin',
For when ! dressed an hurried down
As quick as was able, ""
Pa dropped his paper with a frown
Upon the breakfas' table.
An then he talked of "honest toll"
An 'gougin' folks" an "lyin','
But most be mentioned STANDARD OF
An business purifyin'.'
This rotten world is bad enough
Without all them things in it.
Such talk jist gets me feelin tough
When pa an ma begin it.
1t puts my stummick on the blink
An makes my heart eat faster,
Because ] know all parents think
The standard oil is castor
TOM DAILY.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
TAFT

Nlondsy. February %. 1909, at the dinner
Of the Alumni of the University Of Fem.
sylvania ! sat through tine evening alone.
side of the Honorable William II. Taft and
made this memorandum the next morning,
He said TO me,
You were about 10 say something TO
me this morning when met at the Acad.
emy of Music and we're interrupted"
"Oh, l was only about to express my
surprise at your calling me by name We
met only once before and then but for .
few minutes"
Il have a pretty good memory for faces
but that IS not it--you have a face that
fingers. Besides, have met more than
once Perhaps We we're not introduced,
but ! have seen you at functions"
How do you like it," I inquired, up
to the present? You were thrown out OH
the stump, making speeches, rubbing up
against all kinds of people. many OF them
anxious To commit you upon subjects of
interest to them II must have been
great experience"
Il rather enjoyed it. ! made four hun.
dred and two speeches. Bryan made over
eight hundred. but then, as some one
said to me, he is an exception which don't
count and is all. throat l wrote out at
the beginning Of the campaign letter
of acceptance in which I expressed my
views on all the issues In my speeches I
confined myself TO it, and YOU know while
YOU may use different language it is
virtually a repetition of the same thought
in all of them
DR.. S. Weir Mitchell sat on my right.
Mr.. Taft on my left Presently Mr. Taft
turned to me aud abruptly asked.
what sort of a mayor is Mr., Reyburn
making
Mr.. Reyburn was a few seats TO our
left and in the course of the evening vas
unfortunate in an effort to secure an
| interview. I answered:
Doctor Mitchell only few minutes ago
said TO me that he Is ali unlimited IDIOT
7 do not agree with Doctor Mitchell in this
conclusion. You know Mitchell Is little
decided in his views, l think Mr. Rey-
burn is a good mayor, doing all he can
for the benefit of the city. In Philadelphia
the lines are drawn pretty closely. 1
mean the social lines. Mr.. Reyburn has
| not the correct social brand
at amused me-" said he. ITO hear that
Mrs. Reyburn feels that her husband is
like the Lord Mayor of London and ough,
to take the lead in all functions"
"she not only SO feels but she shows a
disposition to enforce what she thinks to
be a right. There is much in the relation
of all sorts of people which may afford
amusement TO a mind OF philosophical
tendency" Thereupon he gave a hearty
laugh.
You must be a very goodnatured fel
low" / ventured, ito have got along Sc
comfortably with Mr. Roosevelt"
'"Roosevelt" he replied. sis impulsive
but he has as little pride OF opinion as any
man have ever known. In all matters
in my department when the reasons were
explained to him. he was satisfied. HI
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
PENNYPACKER'S
MINIATURES"
Former Governor Gives Charac-
terizations of Prominent Persons
With Whom He Came in Contact
copyright. 1918. " Public Ledgcr Coppapy.J
CHAPTER XN-MINIATURES
JOSEPH G. CANNON

~
JOSEPH G. CANNON
IT HAS been my fortune TO meet With
Uncle joe as II is the custom 10 call
him. the autocrat Of the House Of Repre-.
sentatives, upon two occasions In 1905
! was a delegate to tho Republican ma.
uonal convention which met in Chicago
and nominated Roosevelt and Fairbanks
Tor the presidency "Unclc joe presided
over the convention There were ghiIy
thousand people within the vast building
very few of the speakers could make them.
selves heard ana there was more or less
Of hustle and disorder
From the platform q long and narrow
boardwalk was extended out into tho
midst Of the vast aSsemblagc from the far
end of which the speeches were made
Failing TO secure silence by ordinary ap.
peals, Uncle Joe" got down on his hands
and knees and pounded with his Gavel on
these boards. The attitude caused laugh
attention WAS attracted TO him and away
from the buzz of conversation and the
mancuver succeeded. I made y speech
nominating Fairbanks Elhu Root and
Chauncey NJ Depew had spoken and when
Uncle Joe" introduced me he did II with
a reference TO three of q kind" which no
doubt called up familiar associations I'm
the minds of some who were present.
met him again in the summer Of 1?o9
The Honorable l. r. .Wanger brought him
to Nurristown where he had q reception
and made all address at tho Court House.
We then went in automobiles over tho
camp ground at Valley Forge. and then TO
tho King of Prussia Inn. AS it Happened,
Jack O'Briou. the noted pugilist, was at the
inn preparing for coming bout. lie was
an agreeable fellow hut had an unhealthy
look and my anticipation that he would he
beaten In the coming contest was verified
by the result
Uncle Ioe' and o'Brien took or their
coats and with raised fists faced each
other in front Of tho inn and i'm this atti.
tude were photographed From there We
went to the Merton Cricket club at ltav.
erford. whore We luuchcd with y large
party Of ladies and gentlemen and some
of us made speeches. He spoke sonSibly
and with certain pcreuasiveness. \ talL
Caunt CrizZed and homcly nau with q
fund of anccdotc from the prairies and
with rugged bluntness of phrase, ho gives
the impression Of possessing character
and resolution. At this luncheon being
one of those who appreciate his public
life and services, I had personal and,
in a sense, a confidential chat with him.
lie made it plain to me that he thought
Roosevelt, in his disturbance Of all 'eX.
isting interests and conditions and his
use of the power Of the presidency to ad.
vance his friends and control tho success
sion, had done much harm.
II is the fate of every old lion when
his teeth begir TO loosen and his legs TO
stiffen to fan prey to the lackals who
howl and hunt in packs, Even now, as this
IS written, March -, 1910, tho iacllas
are gathering around Uncle Joe" with the
chances that his work is over
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08

ming and take look. The building was
originally intended for training of men by
its donor and he would be proud today could
he see the work going on
Colonel William r. Mills has had his hands
fun in the organization of this regiment and
let me state right here. even If he does hold
a job at city Hall 10 more efficient man
can he found in Philadelphia today.
London has its home defense reserves
and when the need actually presented itself
the men gave good account of themselves
PhiladelphiaS men beyond the draft age
will do AS well. Don't knock, boost We
mean business. JOSEPH l.. BAILEY
Acting major, LIST division p, IT, Il. II
Philadelphia, March Z
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
NEED A PRESS AGENT

10 the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger
SRI note in a recent issue of the EVENING
PUELIc LEDGER the work of the Phladel-
phia Home Defense Reserve, seems TO have
been criticized, and for the information of
those, at least in that portion of Phladel-
phia south of South street aud from river
to river | would ask the question: Are thev
included IN the draft age or beyond? If
the former they should have enlisted long
ago. IL the latter they should be members Of
the Home Defense Reserve and be better
informed, II does not take any political null
to become member Just look up the
lieutenant of police in your particular dis
tTct and he VIII see TO II that YOU are
enrolled
Is the Home Defense Reserve defunct?
No, it's the livest military organization in
Philadelphia outside of the regular article
at the present time. The only trouble we
have had to contend with is that we have
10 press agent and therefore suffer in con-
sequence.
Yes, 1t is true that we have quite a nun.
ber of officers with high-sounding titles, such
as colonels lieutenant colonels. adjutant
auartermaster, inspector, etc. and the writer
would add that in addition TO the aforesaid
there are majors, captains, first and second
lieutenants men who are giving their time
to this work without any hope OF. pay, who
as yet do not wear the gaudy uniform re-
ferred to, drilling men who as yet have NOT
had the honor TO don that uniform and who
are not equipped with rifles, In this particu
lar case we have been drilling in a private
aripory that has had no coal in its bins for
| more than "A month, but the drills are held
| Just the same
| slow. 1t is impossible to make soldiers over
| night In fact It takes three or four months
| TO make 'em at Camp Meade, where they get
| It for breakfast, dinner and supper and some
| even 60 to night school Here we have the
men once week and We are even getting
4 I
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
dope" BREAKS LOOSE AGAIN

FTNIERE Is always this difficulty about
l. progress: that when reformers conccn.
trate attention to wipe out one evil, an.
other evil is found to have made forinid-
able strides while the reformers' backs
were turned Much effort has been turned
to the purpose of combating the oNCes.
sive use of liquor, aud while mems minds
were pointed in that direction tho dope"
evil, supposed TO be under firm control
some time ago, breaks out afresh with all
its old viruence. This is not to fall into
the trite old nonsense to the effect that
some people must nlwo,a nave an arti-
fetal outlet for their baser passions. II
would he as absurd to say that narcotics
are a natural substitute for stimulants as
TO say that oversleeptng is a natural sub.
sttute for murderous wrath.
Judge Thompson, of the United states
District Court, declares that the dope
evil is increasing in city md suburbs. The
users of drugs are all suffering from a
specific malady. They are in no way to
be considered normal citizens but sources
of infection, There is no human clement"
In treating with the rogues who peddle
drugs and their victims, except charity
for the victims in causing them TO disap-
pear into hospitals Nor is there any eX.
cuse IN the speeding up of war industries
for workers who say they are under a
strain. IT is the war administrations pol.
icy TO demand for labor every safeguard
from overwork that It had before the war
Judge Thompson deserves the thanks OF
good citizens for his tireless efforts to
wipe out the drug poison and conserve the
,,ubItr health
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
WHY AUTO INDUSTRY WENT WEST

! believe that the determining factor In
sending tho automobile industry West was
the purely psychological one of lack of i'm.
aGination on the part of the eastern coptin
gent,
ON the other hand the western deeic,or,
and manufacturers Were hanlpered bv M
huch restricted outlook. Ther had no such
cloud of tradition to come between them and
the vision, They beheld some faint outIins
OF what the motor vehicle was TO become and
promptly SET about Transforming the vision
into realty.-AeXander Johnston in Nc
tor. 80 '''
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-08
THE STATE RESERVE MILITIA

TFiE United States is fortunate in that
L. its shores are not menaced by foreign
invasion. The war has taught us a hard
lesson in military preparedness" and one
part of that lesson which we must not for.
get Is the necessity for an organized home
defense. 1t is a duty of patriotism for men
who measure up TO the eligibility stand
ards to enter the Pennsyl- ania Reserve
Militia, now ili process of organization.
The Keystone State has given SO rener.
ously of its guardsmen, volunteers and
drafted youth that there is small oppor.
tunity of duplicating in the new LONE de.
fense legion the complete army division
the y. @. r. contributed to win this war
But a showing of which the Commonwealth
can be proud, for its number and yigor, is
possible If abebodied men Of the pre-
scrlbed age volunteer for the new reserve.
Federal and state constitutions make
explicit provision for militia and We
should see to the speedy and efficient
creation of the new reserve to replace the
former National Guard, mustered into the
service of the nation, I'm time of peace
prepare for war" may become an outworn
formula in the millennium we expect will
follow iiberty's triumph over autocracy,
but Just now safe guiding maxim e in
time of war prepare fer defense.