davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
- estitution, Reparation
Az And Guarantees

The political programme for peace seems
10 me to promise we'll. 1t is only the eco
nomic programme that is liable to be un-
fortunate. But. if our economic policy is
one that makes against democracy, this
war in the interests of it must also be
failure in ultimate political effe is. In the
large and long run, there can be no politi-
cal democracy that is not based on eco
nonic democracy
We have TO assume--and we believe
That the war was of German contriving. a
deliberate crime. On any other assump-
ton We discredt and condemn our own part
IN 1t. Who, then, shall pay the damages
AID what is the bill-not of punishment
for the Central Powers or of profit for us
- but of strict and even of scant indem-
nifty? Within these limits the Germans
the Central Powers--should foot the bill
ID SO far as they can, (2) so far as it can
he done without punishment to the guilt
less. (S) so far it can be done without
prejudice to the prospective democratiza-
ton Of Germany
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

him, except that he might possibly play
the role of Skoropadski (usurper Of the
government of the Ukrane) in case Of a
foreign invasion. The shooting of these
former dignitares of the Cars govern
ment, altogether twenty-nine persons, took
place, as intmated by one Of the Moscow
papers, without trial before court, but
upon a mere order Of the Extraordinary
Commission.
"Thc epidemic Of arrests" writes
Paquet in another part of his article,
demands new victims every day"
"On Sunday the names of over fifty for
mcr gendarmeries officers and policemen
were published as having been shot on the
previous day. Factory managers, house
owners and business mon, among them per-
sons more than seventy years old, arc ar
rested simply hostages, who, in case Of
fresh attempts upon the lives of the Soviet
government, would at once be shot There
is probably not family left in all Moscow
whose circle of relatives and friends has
not been afflicted by the frightful measures
of the Extraordinary Commission.
From all the provincial cities from Pensa
to Smoensk comes news Of arrests, execu-
tons, coniiscations, contributions.
Even in the darkest periods of the Czarist
regime Russia had never become such
hell as in these weeks of the Great Terror"
Where the blood of the wealthier
classes is shed with such recklessness
their property, it goes without saying,
is seized with equal freedom. On Sep
tember 6 Radek printed an article in
the "Investija," in which he demanded
the confiscation of the property of the
bourgeoisie. "We must not only get the
means Of production into our hands, but
all the personal property of the bour-
geoisie, for it is to them a means of
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

In view Of this state of things, to-
gether with the food famine and the
high prices
"thc citizens are fleeing from the city to
escape present and future prosecutions
Seized with a panicky fright, they try at
the last moment to convert their household
goods into cash. . The more prOmi-
nent citizens had already fed the city, for
prison and death threatened them. Nearly
all of the men to whom ] brought letter
of introduction, or with whom ! was for
merly acquainted, had already left. Now
even the middle classes arc going.
And even the working people are fleeing
because the city no longer offers them en-
ployment and they can get no food. Toward
the end of 1917 the population of Petro-
grad was still 2700,O00, but in June, 1918,
it was only 100000"
Worst found that prices at Petrograd
averaged twentyfold higher than in
peace times. The exmission of the bour-
geois from their homes had also begun
there. A commission appointed by the
Soviet Government had adopted reso-
luton to this effect:
"The parasitical classes, capitalists, man
ufacturers, bankers, spectators, house ow1,-
ers, contractors, and in general all persons
who do no paid-for work, are subject to
exmission"
MEANWHILE" concludes the writer,
''the Red Terror is striding through the
land. To-day the Northern Commune,
the official paper at Petrograd, an
nounced that at Perm, in answer to the
attempts upon the lives of Uritzki and
Lenine, fifty hostages from the bour-
geos and the White Guards have been
shot,"
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
Will the Inevitable Surplus of Tonnage End
in Cutthroat Competition Along
the Main Routes?

pendeatiy of the general judgment os
kind. A@a'
Before the war Great Britain a.,.
entirely on the private ownersh,c - .
mercantile marine. Technically, III, :
still the position, but in actual f.,s !. "
mage has been reauisitioned by thu .,,,,..l ~s
ties, and the use of it ailocatea "a, &c
power aid merchandise. Shiphny,a,.s
also controlled and the output Of u.,.l'
men has fallen severely because the ' -
were fully employed on repairs, ana a. ~ =
construction Of a navy which has h.. :
creased from 100000 to 1000. .ooo - :
Before the war we built 5000 GOO a.
weight tons year. In 1915 we built .,s
100000 tons and in 1915 only 75o.ooo A..
In 1917 we managed to turn ont sas ~,
tons, and this year it looks as II the s...
would rise to about 100000 tons ,.,.s
owing to the assistance of our women ~ :
| am told can construct a ship from s,,,,
to stern.
The prospective American figures 49,.
much larger than these. Before tn. ~.
you built 100000 deadweight tons in ,or.
years. In the year ending Septemb.,
1918, you lost STA vessels of 100000 IA,
weight tons. In August alone you d.!,.rs
$4,000 tons, and on Independence D,v W..
launched 95 vessels. You have now Ns
shipyards, Of which n are for steel ~
for wood, for composite and "a, a.,
crete vessels, and the uumber Of your ,hA
ways Is 1920. You employ SSs,oeo pse,.
in this industry where previously you en-
ployed $4,000 and your present proxrsnr,
is for 2,693 ships Of 100000 desdv.l,,,
tons.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

been becoming creditor instead of dsbss
nation has not accrued to the common uas
1t is profits.
We have a new crop of millionsires bf'
most men are poorer for the var, Ht'
spective Of the bonds that they must ~
off. The pre-war creditor class hM b.'n
wellnigh ruined by our expansiondassp
dollar. Mr.. Wickersham's propositim
superb in its generosity with other psuvss
money. 1t will be enough if America SLOWS
to its allies q preferred claim against u.
assets Of the aggressor nations. Ensl'n'
and France will not ask more than thst 's'
Germans and not the taxpayers Of AneFs
take care of these debts. Or, II We are WI,
ing to make gift, let it be made oas o
the proceeds of new ineoma and prcap
taxes. But Germany can pay and eught
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

whether by intrigue or otherwise, IN re-
spect to naval stations the security OF
which Is fundamental to League Of Peace.
Let US suppose for one instant that Great
Britain had surrendered, as she was asked
to do, the right of search and capture Of
privately owned shipping in time Of war.
Where would the world have been to-day ?
Germany would have had unlimited re-
sources and would have maintained war
effort by a large foreign trade. In. this
matter the practice of the American navy
and of the Allies as a whole is indistin-
guishable from the plans which Lord Grey,
when discussing the subject in 1907, de-
clared to be necessary in the unhappy event
of a struggle arising with the greatest
military power in Europe. Assuming that
in years to come we shall all act together,
as we are doing to-day then it follows
that the right of blockade in the widest
sense will only be exercised by Great
Britain in association with and with the
consent of other civilized nations and espe-
cially the United States. which will then
have a navy equal to our own. This fact
is surely a sufficient guarantee for Ameri-
cans, whatever may be their susceptibilties,
that England will not and cannot act inde-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
Rut We Must Avoid Too
~ Much Severity

If we settle the accounts OF this war in
line with the policy under which we have
conducted the current financing Of it, in
greater solicitude for the interests of wealth
even German wealth--than for our own
labor and poverty and life, we arc likely
to get, and shall quite clearly deserve, our
own term Of Bolshevism. This method
and temper of settlement will even the
more certainly impose on the Central Pow
ers their own doom Of economic and social
revolution. Two billions of interest charges
annually to be paid to German war bond
holders the German people cannot and will
not bear-and ought not if they could.
So much for general principles. 1t fol-
lows that it is insane to talk of burning
German cities--town for town. 1t would
be fair enough, doubtless; but it is 10
waste the assets of our debtor. It Is to
impose upon our taxpayers the burdens
that this property might have cancelled. It
would leave the German owners no better
Off than appropriation, the victims of Ger
many worse off
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
Rack Go the Stolen
- Machinery and Art Works

Fhe first necessity is that Germany re-
turn in kind to the countries that she has
devastated the machinery. supplies. art
products and personal property that she has
stolen. Tho Entente factories must start
and start promptly. Mere money will not
suffice for this~the unemployed French and
Relgians buying goods frsm Germany's en-
ployment.
The shipping in German ports must re-
place the shipping that Germany has de-
stroyed. Otherwise we must pay freights
to German ship owners-the higher, the
greater the destruction that has been
wrought stupid fulhlment on our part
Of the original German purpose.
fhe account ig then az follows:
Astpxa ri tbs m5nsy contributions "a.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
The Effect Of Rising
Il Freights

Moreover, apart from government regu-
lations, freights have risen to-day to an
almost prohibitive figure. l suspect that
it is out OF their early profits, added to
later insurance on ships sunk, that the
British syndicate is finding the money to
buy tonnage from the International Mer-
camille Marine. South American freghts
on food rose to fabulous figures during the
year 1915. / cannot give an exact quota
ton, but the kind Of thing was 1856 shillings
per ton where Is shillings per ton had been
the normal charge. An ample supply of
shipping will bring back freights to some
thing like their old level, and according to
the laws Of political economy this reduction
will tend to increase the transport effected,
while reducing prices for the consumer.
For all concerned this will be good thing
for the present imitation is not healthy and
must be brought to an end.
Many English people dislike the phrase,
Freedom of the Seas" because German
lips it is held to imply that before the
war we used our naval predominance in
order to limit the commercial opportunities
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

System of international inspection under
the council. This would probably consist
rather in a body of Investigators to inquire,
where necessary, into the administration of
the international regulations in countries
suspected of latitude. Probably in the
absence of world federation for more
general purposes it would not be possible
tor the international Investigators or in
spectors to deal direct with recalcitrant en-
ployers. Their functions would probably
end with criticism of lazy or incompetent
national inspectors and departments. ANY
adverse report published by the interna-
tional council ON the system of insp ,ction
in any country would perhaps have to be
lett to work merely through public opinion
in the country concerned. But serious dis
regard or misinterpretation of treaty obli-
cations or international regulations might
be made the subject of proceedings before
The Hague Tribunal. The system could not
be perfected under present circumstances,
but much good could be effected through
the organization here proposed.
10 sum up, would be step
of immense value if, in settling the
terms of peace, the conference could
agree to refer all questions of Industrial
regulation and protection of immigrants to
permanent international council, which
could be really representative of the in
terests concerned, which would really un-
derstand the questions at issue and have
tina TO discuss them thoroughly"
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
~ OF Wise to Cancel the War
4 y Debts Of Our Allies

Mr.. Wickersham's proposal that America
cancel the war bonds held against our allies
Is essentially monstrous, no matter how
ideailstic may be its purpose. 1t does no.
greatly matter to our bondholders who shall
DO the paying, SO long as it is done. If the
English and the French taxpayers don't pay,
our taxpayers must in their stead No one
Will need object if the bondholders are
moved to cancel their own bonds. That is
not the idea Instead, they hold tax free
bonds. Or If the German criminals pay. no
one WILL object. The wealth that the war
has brought to America while America In.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
THE Problem of Finding
l. the Crews

The future of this vast property dep.no,
upon whether under normal conditions Won
can build as cheaply and as we'll as Other
nations, and furnish crews who will fuu
The ships punctually and at commercial
cost. Seafaring is a hard life, and IL is
By no means certain that in a country o.
such limitless opportunities on land as
America there will prove to be sufficient
number of sailors, except at a prohibt,t
wage. Countries like Norway and Englsnt
take to the sea as part of their emigration
and even in England there has been a
growing dependence on Asiatic labor in Il,
engine rooms of ships. Under the Shippins
Board your enterprise is virtually pca
of state ownership, and in due course 1t will
be necessary to strike balance, and male
1t clear to the taxpayers whether their
property is making loss or profit Then
will come the crisis, or perhaps should
say the moment of decision. Is II better
worth while for America to continue de-
veloping her own resources, leaving II TO
other less favored nations to do the fetch
ing and carrying, which has been her policy
hitherto. or will she consider that che
cannot any longer be left in q situation oi
such dependence on foreign help? Th.st
are questions for Americans themselvss 10
answer, and it may be found that they bear
indirectly OH the fiscal policy of this cour
try which again is domestic matter. But
] have said enough to show that there il
nothing in the American programme u Dis
turb the mind of any British shpovn,'
or shipbuilder who takes broad view 0.
the general outlook
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

national Council on Labor Legislation
would indeed be more complicated than
those by which the Postal Union IS con-
fronted. But the general lines on which
such council would work are not very
difficult to devise. Experience shows that
what is needed is, in the first place, a per-
manent council instead of occasional con-
ferences. In tho second place, this per-
manent body should be representative of
government departments. 1t should possess
powers:
"(D To draw up treaties on labor ques-
tons (includng immigration), which would
De subject to ratification by the govern
ments concerned;
"(2) To issue regulations under such
treaties comparable with the orders which
our Home Secretary has power to issue
in pursuance of the factory acts;
"(s) To devise proper system of super
vision to insure that the various govern
ment departments shall 90 their duty in
enforcing the treaties or regulations in
their respective countries.
"A council Of this kind would be really
competent 10 draw up and arrange for the
due enforcement OF quite elaborate In
dustrial treaties. 1t would receive and con-
slider applications for further regulation or
Of existing rules. Complaints of failure to
carry out the regulations would Be referred
70 IT. Is wauld be nsesaasxy to establish q
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10

keeping up the struggle against the
proletariat. The impression made by
that article, says Paquet, was terrible.
At once exmission orders began to be
issued in great numbers. These orders,
writes Paquet-
fare raining down upon humble families
occupying flats in big apartment houses, as
we'll as upon the villas of tho rich on the
boulevards. There is a dearth of wagons
and laborers to carry out the vast number
of movings. Entire families, including
little children, are compelled to spend the
night on the streets. Latterly the
families that receive an exmission order
are no longer allowed even the usual three
days in which to move out
The ostensible purpose Of the exnlis-
sions was to make house room for the
proletariat.
The letter Of Hans Worst was written
from Petrograd at the end Of Septem-
Der, where he had just arrived by rail
from Moscow. On his way from the
railway station to his hotel he already
saw external evidences that Petrograd
was a dying city, "Therc is no
house," he writes, 'on which there is
not a placard announcing the hurried
sale of furniture and household goods"
con all street corners there have been
opened so-called liquidation agencies for
The sale of household goods of all kinds
furs, clothing, furniture, art objects and
antiquities. All these things, in many
cases collected during decades by connos-
seurs, are now thrown upon the market,
and they must be sold at ridiculously low
prices il purchasers are to be found at all; ;
for who is willing to buy at time when
the conf hscations of goods in the houses of
the bourgeois are already in full swing"
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
When We Come to Retiring
w Our Own Bonds

Whatever ex-war bonds remain to be ps~
should be promptly retired through the e'. =.
tinuancc Of our present war taxes. Vp~
the bonds are retired there should % -,
talk of debating our inflated currency ~,
of getting back to the pre-war ie'e' y
prices. Otherwise we replace dollar DUE
by two-dollar bond for the beneht o. ~
pie who ought to have had No boncs ~ ..
Ny conscripted colleague who IS 10
trenches ct the loss Of his position ana ~
ing a $50 per month job will rstusn' :
gets back at all. to pay me interest," ou !.
investment in war bonds. It is ~N,~
enough without doubling Of the ophs'.,
in my favor. There are injustlces a'p'.s
in our imitation programme. bus 'A' g.,
tempt at remedy will merely bring aa,'. ~,
crop. We must lie in the bed as W. ~, -.
made it. The next step after wrong ~
can rarely be right thing. 1t is '0''
IL it is not still another wrong.
This communication is brief, nos
ter, and as such requires obviously ~ -,
swer. ! write it in the hope OF sS's -,
suasion as it may carry. holo 40 .....
greatly at hears-its policies as " ~
cendent Importance. A class pesS' ,.vst
end of great and heroic war ior "a 80
racy is liable not merely to maze .rIa
racy impossible, but also to MAKE 4.
and anarchy neither impossible nor =. -, q
tant. The common people will s0ea' !, s
later get at the realities OF the o''. e.. ~
dangerous to allow our sympathy II,
wealth Of Germany to outranS o"s
the poverty Of America.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
The Red Terror in Russia Runs Its Ruddy Course

fruit of revenge. The dictatorship OF the
proletariat' proclaimed by The Bolsheviki
was rapidly and violently intensified to a
terror en- masse after the attempts upon
the lives of Uritzki and Lenine, after the
counter revolutionary attempt supported by
the French and English"
Paquet describes some Of the steps
taken by the Bolsheviki to foment the
spirit of the Terror among the laboring
classes. On the night of September 6
krylenko appeared at public meetings
and announced amid laundering ap-
plause that ex-Ministers Tcheglovitov,
Chvostov and Beletzki had been shot in
retaliation for the attempt upon Lenine
On the same night Radek, who is de-
scribed as Small, insignificant look
ing man with the brow and eyes of
scholar and the brutal and eloquent
mouth of the demagogue," made fiery
speeches in the workingmens quarters
Of the city, ending with call to in
stitutc a reign of terror.
Soon the Butyrka prison was filled
with $500 prisoners, mostly from the
respectable classes of Moscow. Provi-
sional prisons had soon to be established
in all sections of the town-former
asylums, schools and business houses.
"On the Streets" Paquet goes Oh
"one sees groups of arrested persons
under escort of Red Guardists; the big
black prison automobiles, without windows.
roll along the Nikitskaya, one of the main
streets. The best known dientaries
OF the Cars government had already been
brought TO Moscow some months ago. Their
prison was in the Kremlin. General Rru-
s'lov was added to their number a few days
ago, although there was no charge against
New-York tribune., 1918-11-10
THE Formative Period
l. Before the War

Before the war the United States was
occupied mainly with the gigantic task OF
developing her internal resources and as-
simiiating large immigration Of foreign
people Neither in commerce nor in the
carrying trade WAS she competing strongly
with Britain or, for that matter, with
Germany. But even during that period Of
peace it was clear that in due course
America would emerge from this prepara-
tory self-absorption and would make her
contribution to the worlds imports and ex~
ports. Sooner or later that evolution must
have brought her into contact with the
foreign trade which Britain had already
established. l am one of those who think
that the prosperity of one country assists
the prosperity Of all and l have never be-
lieved that the United Kingdom, with pop
nlation of only forty-four millions, would
be able to monopolize or would have a
right to monopolize the international wealth
of the human race. All we could fairly
ask for is our due share, and 7 have seen
it claimed that in actual industrial output
the British workingman, with all his ap-
parent lethargy, has shown higher record
than his German neighbor--indeed record
second to none other. Our plants are now
organized on modern lines and so great
is the shortage of commodities all over
the world that for many years to come we
shall find customers for the goods we are
able to produce. told that in India
alone orders are held up which would EN-
ploy the engineering plants of Great Britain
fully for twelve months. Moreover, we shall
take part in reconstructing the ruined areas
of France and Belgium, and in addition to
this task, we could end employment for
our builders and carpenters which would
occupy them indefinitely on cottages and
schools-the latter needed throughout the
country under the new education act For
long spell after the war, therefore, we
anticipate good trade
do not share the misgivings which are
felt by some distinguished people who
shake their heads over the prospects of
our shipping. 1t at Great Britain
urgent request that the United States dc,
Ncloped the mercantile marine without
which it would be impossible to maintain
the American army in Europe and to feed