davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
The Fight by Towns

lhe Tribune believes and has sought
to prove that the. Hearst newspapers
were disloyal and dangerous and should
be suppressed by the Federal authorities
That seems to us the right and sound
way to deal with this farreaching ma
tional menace.
But the Federal government has not
acted. AS in almost every other war
problem, the government at Washington
waits upon the popular will. Therefore
we welcome, as must every true Ameri-
can, the courageous stroke of the city of
Mount Vernon in taking up the danger
as local menace and forthwith exclud-
ing the Hearst papers from local circu-
lation.
There is considerable German popu-
lation in Mount Vernon. There was a
natural hesitation to take the lead in
initiating SO drastic step. There is
legal problem involved Yet the alder
men of Mount Vernon held that the pa
triotic issue at stake overwhelmed every
prejudice and technicality. 1t seemed to
them time for neither small caution nor
legal hair-splitting. A menace to loyalty
and the prosecution of the war was loose
in the town. Wipe it QUIT A finer
braver municipal act we cannot recall.
This fight by towns has already hit the
German-language press body blow.
Hackensack and Oyster Bay had shown
the way. Now Mount Vernon leads off in
the fight against the minded
press masquerading in the English
tongue.
1t is a good, old-fashioned American
scrap by localities. The more the better!
When enough town meetings have stood
up and spoken their say the government
at Washington can be relied upon to stir
it's belated processes and ratify what the
will of the country insistently demands.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16

man empire that was TO come. 1t may be
possible to restore Austria Hungary as
Spain was restored when Napoleon's
armies repassed the Pyrenees. 1t may be
as impossible as the effort to restore per-
manently in Italy the conditions which
preceded the Napoleonic upheaval
Our attention has been fixed upon the
battlefelds where one of the decisive
conflicts of human history is proceeding.
And yet it may be that agreements like
that of Brest-Litovsk, changes like those
which are written in the new alliance be-
tween Austria and Germany, will prove
more interesting to those who come here
after and have more profound effect
upon the lives of millions of people in
the future. In any event it is essential
for the American people now not merely
to see what is happening in the fields and
on the hills of Picardy and Flanders, but
also to keep in mind those changes which
are being made alike on political from
tiers and political ordinations on that
eastern fringe of Europe and in those
countries which for the average Ameri-
can exist only to be bounded in school
days and forgotten in maturity.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
The Postplane Takes the Air

In many ways the biplane of Lieuten-
ant Webb that scared aloft from Bel
mont Park yesterday marked more
striking progress in aeronautics than all
the miracles of fighting in France. In
war men will dare and do anything.
Here was the Inauguration of regular
mail service by aeroplane, a safe and
sane, practical, business proceeding. No
wonder Mr.. Alan r. Hawley was moved
to quotation and prophecy:
II believe within few years there will
be stations established for passenger SER
vice, such as have been visioned by such
men as Tennyson, when he wrote, eighty
years ago, in Locksley Hail. of the
pilots of the purple twilight l believe
that the time is at hand when the
Empire State Express and the Congress
siona Limited will have to take their
places with the Pony Express and the
oldtime canal boat"
That would have seemed wild surmise
few years ago-until the war arrived
to accelerate our whole interest in flying,
in fact. Now it seems as certain as
anything in the future can be certain.
1t may be good batch of years before
we have flying carryalls for families and
air buggies for bachelors, but postplanes
are long leap forward toward trans
fer of all fast transportation from earth
to air.
Will wings altogether supersede wheels
some day? Not if the evolution of natu-
raj wings and legs offers a parallel.
Quadrupeds and bipeds have Jared very
we'll in the struggle for existence. Wings
have been reserved for the f1iglHy, speedy
ANIMALS and legs have done the real chore
OF carrying life upward to man. Wheels,
the mechanical equivalent of legs, ought
to do at least as we'll
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
The House Shortage in England

OF the National Housing and Town Planning
Council, affirms that the only reason Ameri-
can towns are divided into blocks is that
this was the easiest way of parcelling out
the land for the purposes of buying and
selling. He says: "If the needs of the
community were considered, the American
towns should be constructed entirely
different lines. Cities in America are domi-
mated by the needs of the land spectators"
In view of the shortage of houses, Eng
land is finding great difficulty in housing
munition and additional land workers. In
accordance with compulsory billeting act
passed in 1917 powers were given to billet
munltion workers in any area scheduled for
this purpose. The government has also
been compelled to embark upon large build
ing operations for the housing of workers,
but the houses erected are almost entirely
of temporary nature. A few of the gov
eminent houses of a semi permanent
variety, following the lines of the usual
English workman's cottage. These cottages
are let to married munition workers and
are made of wood and concrete. They con-
sist of story, Of three to five rooms,
and are rented to munitioners at from s137
to $1.S7 a week
Unmarried workers mostly housed in
temporarily erected hostels for thirty or
forty people, with common dining rooms
and kitchens, in numerous cases there
is whole colony of hotels which CO.
operate. This method of housing has
worked very satisfactorily, but will not
solve the after -the-war housing problem.
Capital Difficult to Get
1t is generally thought that when the war
is over there will be big boom in England
in the building trade. On the other hand,
Mr.. Aldridge points out that great diff
cultles will present themselves in this trade
during the years following the war. One
of these will be the difficulty in securing
capital in the form of long-period invest
ments, such as are required by building
operations. The rate of interest. which
will be high after the war, will also tend to
discourage building. Finally. the high
price and scarcity of raw materials will
further tend to prevent the immediate
building of houses
In order to deal with these difficulties T.
is expected that the government will IA
cllltate the granting of loans to local an.
thorities for building purposes, and recently
the government consented to the nrincin1e
OF paying to local authorities rs DER. cent
of any loss incurred by them in their build
ing operations.
The building industry is reputed to be
the third greatest industry in the United
Kingdom and employs some 100000 work
men. OF these, it is reckoned that one-third
nave nav, Joined the army. A good majority of
tne remainder are engaged on munitions or
war building work for the government
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
"Older Brothers" Needed
10 the Editor of The Tribune

10 the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: am writing to tell you of great
need cover here" that the war has in
creased many-fold. This is an cxtraordi
nary need, created by an extraordinary
situation. | have in mind the children of
the East Side, who, more than ever before.
require our help this summer. The Older
brothers-the large earners of the family
are In service. Restraint is temporarily
removed. Living conditions, OH the whole
are much harder. Bare necessities are
constantly rising in price. The burden of
the war rests most heavily upon our neigh
bors, because they already carry so manv
other burdens. And the little ones are tho
most acute sufferers.
lhere are 1000 people to the average
blocE mere. is 1T any wonder that most of
our little boys appear two wears vonnuor
than they are--that our men are under
SIZED! Our summer camps are especially
designed to meet the needs of annm;c
youngsters. Many of our children come to
camp directly from hospitals. To these
weak chlloren our camp is a sanitarium
where few weeks result in a body-build
ing that often surprises even the workers
lhey come nearer to normal life and
strength and weight in these two weeks
OF their stay than ever in their lives. With
O-N'NA DAoCHClo III service and lncre2SaN
living cost, this opportunity too. closes to
our little neighbors unless the general pub
lie is willing to come forward and NAV
older brother. FN'
Las1 year we were able to do a splendid
WORK. We took about 1000 mothers and
children on day outings to the different
parts OF New York; 2e5 boys had the bene
fit of two weeks visit to Camp Tiorond.
and 100 girls were sent to Cedar Grove
Camp. 0'e
Fresh air, lfe-gving food and sunshine
Tor our boys and girls depend upon the
response of the general public small
gift may mean new life. The bows and
girls of the East Side hopefully await the
answer. ''o
This is children's year The nation ;s
pledged to save 100000 young lives ovaS 30
here! Help US do our share.
JACOB s. EIsINGER.
-, Acting Headworker.
University Settlement. Society Of Now
York s"
New York, May 10, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
MIR. Dillon 8 Patriotism
tFro,n m. Joudo,, CO.,

tFrom The Lomdon, Globe)
MIR. Dillon's attitude at the time of tho
Sim Fein murders is we'll illustrated from,
the following quotations from his sneech
in the House of Commons on May II. 1916
We quote from the official report: "The
boy said to him Ga British officer). Shoot
me, for | have killed three of your SOL
diers.' That may horrify you, but + de-
clare most solemnly, and am not ashamed
to say it in the House of Commons, that
| am proud of these men," at is
not murderers who are being executed; it is
insurgents who have fought clean fight.
brave fight, however misguided, and it
would be damned good thing for you if
your soldiers were able to put up as good
a night as did these men in Dublin"
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Privacy or Publicity

Congress has just passed the Overman
act vesting the President with powers to
reorganize the executive departments
which no other war President has ever
enjoyed or even thought of asking for.
The magnitude of r this war requires
extraordinary measures. The country is
therefore satisfied to give the President
all the executive power which he de-
mands, trusting that he will use it in
the spirit of his own striking phrase:
"Force, force to the utmost"
Having granted this power Congress
necessarily retains a certain amount of
moral responsibility for the exercise of it.
1t can properly ask of the trustee form
of accounting. Only by insisting on
prudent measure of accounting can de-
fects in administration be brought to
public attention and remedied.
The resolution empowering the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs to nves-
tigate our military preparation was
much too broad in it's language. In so
Military Affairs Committee into a Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War,
it was ill-judged. Congress has the
technical right to appoint such a body,
if it sees fit to do so. But it ought to
be a special joint committee represent
ing both houses. And the experience we
had with the Joint Committee on the
Conduct Of the War from 1862 to 1866
cannot greatly strengthen public conf
dence in the experiment of Congression-
al dabbling in questions of military
strategy and policy.
If the Military Affairs Committee
merely asks an allowance for the purpose
of investigating matters already within
the scope Of its own authority, the Pres
ident's criticism of the resolution now
before the Senate loses much of it's
point. Congress cannot run the war.
1T has no equipment to do so That is
the Presidents task. But if the SEN
ate Committee on Military Affairs wants
to inquire discreetly and in a spirit of
patriotic service into the use made of
power and money voted by Congress, it
is certainly within it's prerogative in con-
ducting an investigation into war pro-
duction and kindred subjects. Great
good has come Of former investigations
of this character.
The form of the resolution offered in
the Senate was bad. But if amended so
as to restrict the investigation to the
committees legitimate field, it's pur-
pose can hardly be considered either
unwholesome or mischievous
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Purchase the Mail Tubes

In both houses CT Congress Postmaster
General Burleson's recommendation for
the abolition of the pneumatic mail tube
service has now been voted down. Both
houses have approved an appropriation
for the government purchase of the
tubes, despite Mr.. Burleson's vigorous
and continued opposition. This is de-
cisive defeat for him, but one merited by
the facts of record.
1t is notorious that the postoffice SER
vice has broken down since Mr.. Burleson
took charge. Business men all over the
country complain of delayed mail. Of
long overdue letters, of train connections
missed because of delays in leaving the
original postoffice. This means handican
to them-but only loss of time, a slow
ing up of their affairs, but sometimes
serious financial losses. A discrimination
of the pneumatic tube service would still
further cripple the mail service, not only
of this city and the other large cities of
the country where the tubes are in use,
but of the country itself. 1t would be felt
in the foreign mail service also.
There is no means of transportation
which can adequately replace the tubes.
The automobile trucks on which Mr..
Burleson has pinned his faith have been
tested here and in other cities, and have
failed to make good. They cannot handle
first class mail as rapidly as the tubes.
In bad weather they are frequently de-
layed, so that trains are missed and the
mail schedules thrown awry. Moreover,
in the metropolis at least, the number of
trucks necessary to handle the letters
now transported through the tubes would
SO add to the street traffic, already grave
ly congested, that they would constitute
veritable menace to the population.
These facts have been strongly set
forth in the report of the Congress COM
mittee which inquired into the subject
1t recommended not only that the tubes
be continued in service but that the gov
eminent purchase them, and Congress
has wisely accepted the recommendation
and acted favorably on it. What further
Mr.. Burleson can do in his inexplicable
antagonism toward this most useful part
: OF the postoffice machinery, tried for
twenty years and many times extended
in scope. it is hard to see. Whatever he
tries in that line should not succeed. The
tubes are not, as some provincial legis-
lators have argued, a facility for the
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Subterranean Critics

n cellar has many uses. Among other
things, it is an admirable place for serious
contemplation. In the semi-darkness the
mind becomes more active; it takes a
flrmer hold of the realities of life. That
IN these circumstances deep thinking NAV
lead to pessimism is perhaps to be ex-
pected. But there is no safer place for
blowing off mental steam. = Thus. one
John Donovan, recently brought before
New York magistrate on the charge of
dlsorderly conduct because he had made
dlspa:ag'ng remarks about the President.
was discharged on the plea of his counsel
that one cannot be disorderly save in
public place. This obite7 dictuna is open
to some dispute. Circumstances might
conspire to make even a cellar public. If
John had shouted at the top of his voice
IN his subterranean retreat he might
have made himself nuisance within the
meaning Of the law Or if he had staged
prizefight or a game Of craps there
would have been no immunity bath for
him.
Still, the cellar is undoubtedly con-
venient spot for critics whose language is
lnsufiiciently guarded. The distinction
between legitimate and illegitimate criti-
cism is, after all, not so very hard to
draw, even if that supercensor, Mr.
George Creel, occasionally has some diff
Guilty in drawing it. Disparaging remarks
about the President may not mean that
the speaker is traitor. But good taste
Z and good sense should restrain him from
violent denunciation. 1t is easy for
little matter to kindle great fire in time
of war. Whoever is tempted to say things
that might give aid and comfort to the
enemy should address them to the fur
mace or the ash barrel. These are safe
confidants. But a period of silent con-
temptation would be better yet 1t is
conceivable that even a cellar would not
always be safe refuge from cyclone
of popular wrath.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
The Tightwads of Black Oak

'6'ach OAK Cor The Braymer (Mo) Bee>
Professor j. D. Wheeler gave an enter
tainment on his violin last week wh;oh ,,,o.
very fine. He initiated the old caro n,;1,
'he NUE. the sow and the pigs, the Arkan-
saw traveller, the old spinning wheel and
various other things. The Rev. Lawrence
Wheeler preached couple of good ser.
mons, and then c. W. Lane passed around
the hat. The collection was 65 cents for
the young preacher, who thanked the sud;-
ence for their good behavior and dismissed
them to their homes. 'eu
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
France

France
s RANCE-la belle France!" we read
n it once, and then
woman's face drifted before our eyes,
Less Madonna than a Magdalen--
But beautiful as the pale light that lies
Above the mountain when the sun has
spent
HIS silver spears upon its battlement
And the first star comes swinging into ken.
"France-la belle France!'' one murmured
it; the word
Came to our ears like music, dreamily;
The gray cathedral's carlton we heard.
The lingering echoes pulsing like the sea
In the shells bosom; laughter's ripping
On ruby lips, and peasant songs that
float
Through purpling vineyards. sweet as triIi
of bird.
But France" day: the word has beat sno
swing
OF hammer in the grasp of Titan hand
Grimness of avalanche's laundering
Down mountain slopes upon the cowc--
ing land
Strength of the granite cliff that wait,
the sea
To hurl its charging billows brokeniv
In swrling form-wreaths back, an idle
thing.
Who knew thee cast in such heroic mold?
The shapely hand we thought the artist.
brush,
The sculptor's chisel, better framed to hold
So wields the Sword of Liberty the blush
Comes to our softer cheeks who think
of thee;
When the great trumpets peal for vic.
tory,
immortal France, thy glory shall be told,
FRANCES BEERS.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16

cities only. They serve the country at
large. 1t would be misfortune to the
business interests of the nation if the
appropriation and policy of government
ownership of the tubes which the two
houses have voted favorably on should
not be written into the law.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Boston's s Superlative of Praise
tFrom The Nashvtlle renn,,,,,o,,

tFrom The Nashutlle Tcnnesseeon,
The Washington newspapers boa
deal 10 say ABOUT the fact that the Arch
bishop OF York recently opened the Senate
with prayer, which reminds US of the Do.
scription given by Boston reporter 80
public prayer delivered in that city as "the
most eloquent prayer ever delivered to =
Boston audience" ~
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Passed bv the Censor

tFrom The Philadelphia Public Ledger
Gravy goes we'll with potato," says
pamphlet issued by the Department of
Agriculture we'll known fact stated with
accuracy and precision.
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16

Yen purchase merchandise advertised in THE
To'BuNE with absolute satety-for II dissatisfaction re-
suite In THE TRiSUhE guarantees to pay your
back uros request. No red tape No auibbiIne.
Wo make good promptly II the advertiser does not
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Especial Correspondence

r ONDON, April IA serious shortage
of dwelling houses exists in Eng
land. According to official figures,
some 100000 are required at the present
moment. Data collected by the Labor party
put the requirements at million houses
by the end of the war. This latter esti-
mate is supported by figures given by Coun
cillor Myers, of Dewesbury, who reckons
that during the last four years there have
been over one million marriages in excess
of the number of houses erected.
No building is being done in England at
present There is great shortage of labor
and material, and an enactment forbids the
spending of more than $3.50 on any build
ing operation during the war.
Revolutionary Requirements
When building begins again it will have
to conform to certain new requirements. A.
great number of the large towns, including
London, have, through the action of their
local authorities, adopted series of reso-
lutions which seem likely to revolutionize
the lines of their future growth. One OF
the most important of these resolutions
regulates the number of houses which must
not be exceeded per acre. The actual reso-
lutions adopted recently by the town of
Leicester, town of some 100000 inhabi-
tants, involve:
GD The limitation of building densties
to twelve houses per acre.
CD Defining that portion of the site
area of dwelling house which may be COW
cred with buildings.
(3) The fixing of building lines.
(4) Provision of proper spaces
60 bath for each house.
(6) One room on ground floor should be
at least 1870 square feet.
CD Height of all bedrooms to be not
less than eight feet for two-thirds of the
floor area, and the vertical walls not less
than five feet high.
(8) Three bedrooms of minimum floor
area of 160, 10 and 70 square feet re-
spectively.
The effect of these resolutions will be to
turn the future suburbs Of English towns
into garden cities"
The cities which are adopting housing re-
form also committing themselves to a
system of scientific town planning Future
suburbs will be town. planned in accordance
with this science evolved in England
with an eye to beauty as we'll as utility and
the streets will be laid out as main arteral
thoroughfares and the various other kinds
of roads which town-planning recognizes.
In no case will the planning of English
towns be on the block system, which OBJ
tains in America. English town-planners
are said to regard this system as most un-
scientific. Mr. Henry r. Aldridge, secretary
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
MEA,BrE OF THE ASSOCIATED rREss

q u
TIC Associated Press is exclusively entitled the Use
fcr republication .. all dispatches credited
otherwise credited this paper also the local
ncsrs Of spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights republication OF other matter herein
also reserved
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16

SUBSCRIPTION RATEs--By Mail Postage Paid. out
side OF Greater New York:
IN TIE UNITED STATES OUTSIDE OF GREATER
NEW YORK
1v no srno. ] mo.
ns,.. r,,, rs, s""""y ''''''t.-' m "a l73 60
ifaht oalS ........---,.--, tsVu
sunday only 1oo Lou 80 'SN
CANADIAN RATES
nsiis and Sunday 900 500 $40 sleo 100
tfaft only --.-.....-.---.. ,-vo -" -.
sunday only ovo -.So i-' '''
FOREIGN RATES
nsilv and Sunday s9s 90 sl2 90 $500 ~" *Ic
Sunday only J.............. 200 $50 l,'5 go
Entered a, the pcsoface ct New York Second Glass
NiailM Nj
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16

owrcd as,d published daily by Tribune Association
New York Corporation ogden Reid Presiae"t' VI
vcrnor Rogers Vice President Richard II Lee Secretary
= A s,,ter Treasurer Address Tribune Building. l5i
Nassau Street New YORK Telephone Beekman Sooo'
New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
GuARANI IE E

Entered a, the pcstotace Now York Second Glass
Mail Matter