davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Gold Initiation

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l am sure many readers will share
my opinion that your recent editorial con-
tributions economic questions have been
unusually clear and convincing They have
thrown light on obscure corners and have
altogether done much to render this per-
picking subject understandable
Your editorial of this morning, however.
does not appear to me to establish the case
for which it contends.
BY currency imitation is usually meant an
issue of notes beyond a certain multiple of
the gold reserve. The use of the word in
other senses in this article makes the
thought difficult to follow. Mr.. Hamlin
seems to have contended that the gold re-
serve behind the note issue was yery large
and that further notes might be issued with
out approaching the point where imitation
begins
Your contention is that it is "gold in
nation which exists and that this is re-
sponsibe for the INFLATED state" of prices
and wages. Increase the quantity of cur
rency or credit "too" rapidly, YOU saw. and
prices will inevitably rise, for prices merely
register the relation between the outstand
ing volume of currency or credit and "the
amount of business to be DONE"
Prices, surely, depend more upon the cost
OF production than the quantity of monev.
Ihey may have some relation to the ouan
tlty Oh money, though it is not easv to
understand how this can be, seeing that
twice the amount of money may circulate
hall as fast, or half the amount of monev
twice as fast, and effect the same number
of exchanges
II the volume Of money were physically
unable to circulate fast enough to effect the
desired number of exchanges, then con-
celvably prices might fall. But it ia not
easy to imagine a converse to this under
which prices might rise
Every manufacturer knows that his SELL
ing price is determined chiefly bv Tho cos+
OF production, which is made up of certain
lairly well defined factors, in most of which
ANALYSIS shows labor cost to be the chief in
gredlent. Now the cost of labor denends
primarily upon the demand for it and that
upon the amount of work the country i;
doing. -
we all hope that thrift has reduced ma
terlaily the demand for labor to meet dis-
Pe"saole services, but it cannot possibly do
SO 10 an extent that would balance tho in
creased demand to meet our war need.
rms excess demand for labor with it's in.
eV''aoie rise IN wages, sufficiently accounts
Ioi 'he imitation characterizing present
prices. Or course profteering exists. and
'here are certain other facts tendinc ~
enhance prices, but in the main the increosoa
cost OF materials and labor seems tn ho
sufhcient cause of price advancements.
F. r. EELES.
New York, April II, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
A Law-Bedevilled Problem

The report of the Public Service Com
mission to the Board Of Estimate de-
claring that the New York Central Rail-
road "had no vested property right in
fact" to much of the property constitut-
ing it's West Side right Of way differs
little from the findings of the joint COM
mittee of the Public Service Commission
and the Board of Estimate last Novem-
Der. It's conclusion is the same-that an
endeavor be made to repeal the ordi-
nance of 1847 granting permission to the
railroad company to occupy and use
city-owned property there for it's right
of way.
This is the only thing now left for the
public authorities to do. The statute of
1917, unchanged by legislation this year,
directed the Public Service Commission
to proceed to relocate and modernize the
West Side facilities if no agreement on
relocation plan could be reached with
the railroad. No agreement was reached.
Now the commission admits that no re.
location can be undertaken until thu
1847 ordinance is modified or repealed.
Thus there opens long vista Of ltiga-
ton, rather than track removal work, for
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
# Not President Finley, Then Could
It Be Superintendent Shiels2

In the first public disclosure of it's
plans the new Board of Education has
given the lie to the report that it would
not consider man of high calibre and
standing for the important post Of New
York's Superintendent of Schools.
President Arthur Somers has written
to DR.. John H. Finley, formerly presi-
dent of the College of the City of New
York, and now at the head of the public
school system of New York State, asking
If he would accept the position. DR..
Finley replies with a somewhat diplo-
matte refusal.
1t is currently stated-we know not
with what truth-that a majority of the
board would have chosen DR.. Finley and
that he would have accepted if his cleo
ton could have been made unanimous.
We sincerely hope that the door is not
yet closed. DR.. Finley is everywhere
recognized as one Of the foremost edu-
Gators of the United States. He is a
man OF poise and understanding, an able
administrator, of broad ideas and high
ideals. He would be an admirable
choice, and we are sure that the people
of New York-more deeply interested in
the conduct and quality of it's public
schools than in any other domestic mat
ter-would feel deep sense of reas-
surance if he could be secured.
If this is impossible, then could the
choice fall upon Superintendent Albert
Shiels? 1t is understood that DR.. Shiels
has long been the first choice of Presl-
dent Somers, and this fact is of great
weight. President Somers is the onlv
member of the new board who has been
IN long and intimate association with our
public schools, who knows their needs
and the character of the man best
adapted to put them in the vanguard of
the public schools of the world
DR.. Shiels has spent the larger part
of his career in education in the schools
Of New York City. He is intimately
known to President Somers and host
of others in New York. He has
achieved splendid success in the con-
duct of the public schools of Los Angeles.
Probably no ADLER man could be named.
If neither DR.. Finley nor DR.. Shiels.
there still remains wide field of choice,
as The Tribune's poll on Sunday showed
1t is highly gratifying to know that the
new board will not narrowly restrict it's
choice and will not select an inferior
man, who at every juncture would have
to be explained.
The new board, let us assume, wishes
to give New York the finest schools in
the United States and to that end will
seek for the preeminent man to achieve
this result.
An excellent beginning has been made.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

The return of Baron Burian to the
Austro- Hungarian Premiership marks
the end of the Emperor Karl's expert
ment of partial aloofness from Berlin.
He toyed with the idea after he came to
the throne of setting up for himself as a
ruler and factor of consequence in the
Quadruple Alliance. Burian, an Hunga-
rian and Tisza's man, is an unquestioning
pro-Gerlnan. Czernin, Bohemian, was
more of Hapsburg servitor. Now the
curtain has been rung down on the farce
of free agency. Burian will take orders
direct from the Prussian military party.
Vienna has ceased to be anything but
another Munich or another Stuttgart.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

the matters of law involved are not all
on one side and the railroad company as
suredly will make prolonged fight foc
what it has always claimed as its rights.
They have been upheld in more than one
legal proceeding.
1t is to be hoped that the Corporation
Counsel will be directed to bring the pro-
ceedings suggested. With no prospect
of track removal in sight, at least this
matter of trackage rights might be
cleared up.
The city has never had problem more
bedevilled by laws and lawsuits and poll
tics than this one. Apparently the only
recourse is to more laws and more law
suits, but the public is bound to regret
that the delays and the deaths on the
surface tracks must continue.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Woman and the Demon

Woman, the voter, was on trial in the
elections quite as much as rum, the
demon. However we'll or i'll the latter
Jared in the general vote. there can be
very little question of the record
marked by these voters on their first
ballots. 1t is the record of competence
and open-minded citizenship, the sex
line barred and human nature very much
to the fore.
There was no opposition more bitter
in its voice against suffrage than that of
the males who wanted their liquor when
they wanted it. Women were portrayed
as endowed with congenital grudge
against alcohol, which would prevent
their ever deciding the question upon it's
merits. Women would vote dry just be-
cause men wanted their paths wet.
And so on.
How women will vote in the years to
come nobody can predict-any more
than one can predict how men will vote.
Prohibition has gained ground; it may
push on to complete victory. Or it may
fall back. The important fact seems to
be that women are approaching and
passing upon the whole question without
preconceived prejudices or sex animosity
or personal grudge-as human beings,
not a sex.
Women have a vast concern in the
problem of drunkenness. There is every
reason why they should help to cope
with it. 1t seems safe now to expect
that they really will help--help by their
cooperation and judgment, not hinder
by sex antagonism or fanaticism
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Psychology of Drink
Is the Liquor Question Soul
Problem?
To the Editor Of The Tribune

10 tne EdltOr OF The Tribune
Sir: | am surprised that have not seen
anywhere in print protest from the stu
dents of modern psychology with regard to
the prohibition legislation now impending.
NO one could feel more strongly on the
subject Of saloons and drunkenness than
do, but one of the things which both So
clology and psychology teach US is to look
for the cause rather than the symptoms
and to try to provide new means of escape
for already existing forces before we cut off
the DID,
We know from the recent conclusions of
investigators in this field that one of the
constant instincts at work in all of us is
that of adaptation to our surroundings to
an extent that will make it possible for us
to endure life. This has long been familiar
to us in the physical world, but we are only
beginning to understand it's application to
the psychical world
Without any doubt insanity, with it's de-
lusions, the use Of drugs and alcohol have
been means to this end, as we'll as the
mllder illusions about ourselves which we
all recognize in our friends.
If alcohol; the least dangerous of these
external means, is suddenly cut off, shall
we not have a tremendous increase in the
able? And should we not be much further
along in our development Of the educational
and ethical forces which will make these
abnormal adjustments unnecessary before
we take this plunge of whose consequences
we know so little? j. Y.
New York, April Is, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Peace BabbLe
To the Editor of The Tribune

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: While the lives of our sons and
the sons OF The mothers of France and
England are at stake on the bloody
pam OF Plcardy, in defence Of ali
mat makes life worth living in this
world or any other-while the sopl
OF every man and woman CAPABLE of
honest indignation is stirred to its depths
by the lnfamies of the merciless Hun--tbs
Womans Peace Party still carries on ts
ne1arlous propaganda in its academic lair
IN the Educational Building, 70 Fifth Ave.
nue., New York City. Why is this allowed,
10 be sure, its organ, "The Four Lights
mas been suppressed; at least, it is no
longer published. Presumably it was too
openly pro-German and seditious to face
the light of day any longer in this almost
awakened country. But in the outer office
OF those rooms there are three or four
shelves covered with seditious literature
leaflets and pamphlets of al! Kinds and
sizes, some on sale and some free to any
who enter. There are articles from sup.
pressed magazines, "The Seven Arts
for example. And while Max Eastman's
activities against the cause of his own
country and the civilized world have
been partly stopped, here at 70 Fifth Ave
nue. his sister carries on his work Why
should not the morale of our people and
our soldiers be protected from this insid
Gus peril?
While our sons die for truth and right
eousness this peace babble gives aid and
comfort to their enemies. While those Of
us who believe in truth and Righteousness
are stralning every nerve to serve the
worlds just cause by hard earned money,
by effort and sacrifice this campaign OF
traitorous folly goes serenely on, amid "the
wreck of matter and the crash of worlds"
Why should it go on? What are we going
to do about it? MARION C. SMITH.
East Orange, ~ j., April 16, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Forensic Oratory in War Time
(Fron The Arao,,n,

In Mississippi they tell of young lawyer
retained to defend man charged with the
theft of pig. The young man seemed
determined to convince the jury that he was
born to shine, and, accordingly he deliv-
cred the following exordium: "May it please
the court and gentlemen of the jury. while
Europe is bathed in blood; while classic
Greece is struggling for her rights and lib
critics and trampling the unhallowed affairs
OF the beardless infidels to dust; while the
United States, entering the war, shines
forth the brightest orb in the political
sKy-l' with due diftidence, rise to defend
the cause of this humble hog thief"
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
An Absurdity

The law is taking it's course in "The
Masses" prosecutions and it must be car
ried to its conclusion without bias or
prejudgment. The defendants are only
exercising their legal rights, and as long
as the nation permits these rights to per-
sist in such case in war time there can
be no conceivable criticism of their
course.
But what of the nation, what of Amer
lea, that permits group of men to
obstruct vital military measure and
then encourages them to debate their
action through an eloquent counsel con-
STRUNG dubious law, while our allies die
by the thousand from our hardness and
sloth and neglect? 1t is absurdity, it is
wickedness, it is treachery to our nation
al faith, to treat obstructionists with
such laxity and soft-heartedness.
There is a reason for martial law in
time of war for military offences. 1t is
the reason of self-preservation, and the
reason applies not less on our home bat
tlefeld than at the firing line. The elab-
oratlons of law are not for the iron days
of battle when an act Of sabotage or a
failure to obey draft order may mean
battle lost and brave men sacrificed
Let us do equal and exact justice t6
the men now on trial under the existing
law. Let us then put an end to such folly
for the period of the war by turning over
all such prosecutions to the military au-
thorities.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
insidious form, which our present bank
ing methods and our Federal Reserve
system are doing their utmost to foster
Maurice's Blunder

There are two explanations of the fact
that greatness adheres to the British
people.
One is that they cannot give reasons
for the faith that is in them.
The other is that no matter how badly
they muddle they are at last invincible.
No Englishman will talk about his
own greatness. 1t is taboo. No English
man can be trusted to talk about the
greatness of Great Britain,-because the
reasons he assigns for that unique phe-
nomenon are fatuous. That applies to
any time. But in war time it is hope"
less. His deep reactions he conceals
from himself, and his camoufaged emo
tions are offensive.
If all this were not so, the gratuitous
statement issued yesterday by Major
General Maurice, the vocal instrument of
the British War Office, would be. un-
pardonable.
The British army, he said, had done
much more fighting than the French
army since the German offensive began,
and was now fighting Waterloo and
waiting for Blucher, but, he asked:
What is happening to Blucher?
What has become of the reserves?
Although the French army is larger
than ours, we have taken the strain Of the
battles off them.
The British know how to apologize.
They will apologize for this, and here
after, let it be hoped, they will abate
Maurice
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
The Demon in Kentucky
(FrOOl Lam NotrcN

In these days Of the high cost of drinking
1t is like finding money to be let into the
secret Of the way they drink in Kentucky
Says the court in Denton VS.. Logan, 60 Ky
435: THE testimony of the witnesses by
whom the plaintiff proved his claim also
conduced to show, in substance, that dur
ing the period over which the account OK
tends the defendant was much about the
plaintltf's tavern; that he ate there occa-
sionally and drank a good deal; that, in
the expressive language of one of the wit
nesses, He drank with "sideboards" that
is, put his hand around the top of the glass
and heaped it,"
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Is Booze a Psychic" Problem?

we print this morning a quite re.
markable letter on phase of the
movement for national prohibition. It
IS from woman widely known in the
held OF sociology who has for years
been close student of the questions
involved.
1t is very striking that woman should
be the first to raise the question as to
whether the alcohol question is not at
base "soul problem"
We shall present an extremely inter-
estlng discussion of this phase in our
symposium on next Sunday, from the
pen of DR.. David Orr Edison. 1t is ev,-
dent that the newer side of the science
OF psychology has new word to saw on
this very old controversy. The argu-
ment as we understand it is this:
One of the cardinal tenets of the
advocates of prohibition is that verv
large part of insanity has been caused
by alcoholism. So far from this. the
use of alcoholic liquors is a defence
against insanity. For great number
OF people this is hard and somewhat
bitter world. The stress of the fierce
competition of our modern day has not
softened the struggle. It has intensi-
ned 1T. Strong and rugged souls are
able to face reality, to bear disap-
polntments and even failure, and not
be utterly cast down, but the weak
need the adventurous aid of alcohol to
help them through the black hours of
extreme depression.
1t is persuasive argument but, as
usual, the experts disagree All psy-
chology is not on the side of alcohol
even for the weak. So that Just as YOU
think the question has become practical
1T turns off again into the endless paths
of ethical discussion. 1t may be proved
that drink is a soul hunger, but there
remains the question: Should it be graft
fled even to save the weak who might
otherwise be unable to stand the strain
of modern existence?
The majority of men and certainly a
majority Of women use alcoholic bever-
ages little-if at all A relative few
all things considered habitually use
them to excess. So the question is:
What is the value of these beverages
to the great number of people, possibly
a third or more of the people of this
country, who use them moderately?
Does the abuse of the few demand an.
solute suppression for all? Complete
suppression of alcohol has never beef,
known by any modern nation, and per-
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

"But you can't do it-you've no an
thority," protested counsel for the
"Staats-Zeitung" to the citizens COM
mittee of the Home Guard of Hacken-
sack. "But we have done it," replied
the committee Of the Home Guard with
great courtesy. And they have. No
German-language newspapers are being
sold in Hackensack. Or will be. Dur
ing the war or after. Will the language
of Bernhard, Wilhelm and the Riders
please take notice? Also any Home
Guards elsewhere who are finding time
heavy on their: hands.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
The Swedish Bolsheuiki

The Swedish Bolshevik were too SAN
guine in their hopes. Their revolution.
which they attempted to start with great
demonstration in Stockholm, was fiat fail
ure. similar enterprise in COPENHAGEN
had no better luck A third attempt is 70
be made Norway, where conditions arc
becoming Seally serious. Committees of
Workingmens and Soldiers Delegates have
been formed in many of the cities. and in
Christania q Russian Bolshevik commit
tee is assisting in the movement and add
ing fuel to the flame. Prevailing unemnlov-
ment and great scarcity of food among
the poorer classes add to the tense pravitv
of the situation.
The syndcalists, or Bolshcviki. have
profited By their failures in Sweden and
Denmark and making better prenara-
tions for action in Norway. AS in Sweden.
they claim that the army has been largely
won over, and threaten to start their upris-
ing with 10000 armed men in their ranks
Their manifestoes and the public speeches
of their leaders are bold and defiant. Thev
have made mepacing demonstrations in
front Of the Norwegian Congress. now in
session, and have presented impudent and
Impossible demands upon Congress in the
form of an ultimatum. to be accented or
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Spring in the City Park

a BLACKBIRD whstled, and a crocus
n blew,
Earth coded up a message as the buds broke
through:
Grown-ups tried to guess it, but all children
knew.
Starry forsythias yelowed on the spray
'"See. We're way out ahead of our leaves
signalled they.
eve know" said the children, "your flower
folk way."
A swan from the sedges swan with ne'
brood
Teaching them to forage, as every mo'ne'
should.
Baby-swans and carriage babies underss00''
A robin patrols, with rollicking air,
But an eye that threatens, let early "o''
beware!
And worm tries to turn, but cannot 'u''
hair.
Policeman shouts, in high official roar: =,
"Let you childrhun be playin' on the sfa'''
floor. ...
For folks to keep off it, that's wns'
grass is for!"
The children mock. "a ladys dancing 'ns. ,.s
In loveliest green tatters, with nsf
loose hair!" 49,.
Policeman retorts, "Sure, she and s0u
pair!"
An old man dozes under grey hornDe'm.;
Then wakens with start: lyons inc
of my dreams. er
Strange! The older wane the y0aA'
she seems!"
"Ho. ho," laugh the children. on oA
wing x.s,u
Where someone is piping for some00''
sing. - .he,
They know about April, for are MOI
the spring? v,nrnN.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

Premier Clemenceau, seventy seven
years young, is a little older than the
war, but not enough older to dim his
clear Gallo eye or daunt his uncon-
querable courage. That untold birth
days lie ahead Americans are glad to
know. No Allied procession into Berlin
would be complete without Georges
Clemenceau at it's head.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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for republication all dispatches credited TO 1t or
not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local
news OF spontaneous origin published heren
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also reserved.