davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
ANoFFIcIoUSpoL
First Hand Evidence OF Uniformed
Stupidity.

To THE EpIToR OF THE SUS-Sir: A
few weeks ago had an engagement to
meet a sailor. a warrant officer, whom I
had known all OF my lie. in front of
Tlffany's. He had q very short leave
and wished me to help him select a
Christmas gift for his mother.
Imagine my modification when. as I
stepped forward TO meet him. a police
woman laid a hand on my shoulder. just
as though ! were a fugitive from Jus
tice. and demanded an explanation as
to why I was meeting this cff'cer. II
took fifteen minutes. during which my
blood was on the boiling point, before
she decided TO allow me to walk of
with the sailor. Even then she looked
az though she considered herself doing
me a great favor.
DO not think that passersby paid no
heed TO the little scene. Later, as I
tourneyed toward home in the subway.
heard a woman sitting IN front OF
me say: Yes. ! saw a policewoman stop
her to-day for speaker to q sailor whom
she didn't know" Locking down I rec
ogn!zed 4 witness Of the street scene.
GRACE c. BoNSEiL-
EAST ORANGE, y. J.. December -.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
A Great Surgeons Sermon.

It is too commonly said nowadays,
when men discuss the subject at all,
that nobody any longer really believes
in the Immortality OF the soul. That
men may DO immortal in the sense
that their works live after them"
most people readily concede; but the
confident faith in n future life that
was generally felt among all sorts and
conditions Of men fifty years ago is
no longer generally professed, though
1t may exist. The prevalent attitude
appears to be one Of indifference or
openly expressed doubt.
1t Is therefore we'll worth while to
emphasize q notable utterance on this
subject from one OF the most dlstin-
guIshed medical men in this country.
Among American surgeons none
stands higher in his profession than
WILLIAM W. KEEN OF Philadelphia.
He has contributed to the Yale Re
riep for January an article on the
Seven Decades in Medicine" which
have been comprised within the span
Of his long and useful life. It Is a
wonderful story OF achievement; and
he concludes It in these words, the
italics being ours:
IT think It Is not an exaggerat.on 20
say that medicine, surgery. obstetrics
and the many medical speclaltes have
made more progress in the seventy-two
years from is4s TO 1918 than in as
many centuries before. I am also quite
willing to believe that the next seventy
years will be as fruitful as the last sew
enty have been. Ny only regret Is that
I shah not Do here to toftness the prog
ress. Yet ! ought not to soy that. for
believe as firmly IN my future existence,
and tcith poioers for superior to tho
limited potoers that are given Us hero,
as do N my present. ertstenca I be-
Heve that ! shan knop tohat u going
on In this great though sste uorld."
These three sentences are a sermon
in themselves. They come from one
who Is familiar with life aud death
and the transition from life to death
as no layman can ever be. They are
uttered by man who does not speak
Lightly but is accustomed to weigh his
words. The significance Of such a
declaration from such a source lies
in It's necessary implication that in
the life work Of . surgeon, witch
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

Sections 1854 and 1855 we're born
on March 3, 1865, and are:
Section lT54-Persons honorably dis
charged from the military or naval
service by reason OF disability result
ing from wounds or sickness incurred
in the line of duty shall be preferred
for appoin tfnents to civil offices, pro-
v!ded they are found to possess the
business capacity necessary for the
proper discharge OF the duties OF such
Offices.
Section i755-In grateful recognition
OF the service. sacrifices ard sulferings
OF persons honorshly discharged from
the military and naval service Of the
country, by reason Of wounds. disease
or the expiration OF terms OF enlist
ment. It Is respectfully recommended
to bankers. merchants, manufacturers.
mechanics. farmers and persons en-
gagged in Industrial pursuits. to give
them the preference for appointments
to remunerative situations and en-
Payments.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

We reprint two paragraphs Of calm
and lovely wisdom from the Hon.
PHILANDEB c. kSox's speech in the
Senate on the unknown entanglements
into which this republic may be
drawn II some hastily adopted Ito
plan scheme Of worldwide RESPONSE
bility is forced on our people by ty-
ing 1t up with the immediate bust
ness Of concluding peace:
-one danger to the country Is the ex-
treme radical, the progressive who de-
mands the millennium here and now.
and who is very intolerant OF the views
of others who may differ from him al
TO ways and means. The coequal dan
ger is the danger Of reactlonism.
'The path for Americas true prog
ress lies through the middle ground OF
n wise and sound liberalism. That mid
die ground has been vacated often by
the political leadership OF the day.
appeal particularly TO Senators on this
side and 70 Republicans generally to &C.
cupy and make their own that middle
ground OF conservative. wisely progress
sive. modernlzed policy that Is called
for by these great days. And I know
that many OF my Democratic colleagues
feel this same appeal"
The Senator's words apply as truly
to the Republican organization with
regard to domestic policy as with re.
gard TO world affairs.
Harmony OF action, sacrifice OF
some pride Of opinion and some per.
sonal and partisan interests in many
quarters, union of effort along the
middle line OF sound liberalism, caA
alone render the Republican party 20.
tent and effective in the coming work
of preservation and progress which
the people at the last election have
entrusted to 1t.
THE Sun joins its invitation to
Senator KNoX's appeal TO Republic
cans Of all shades and descriptions
to meet on that common ground OF
sanely conservative, wisely progress
.slve, entirely modernlzed policy which
alone can make the United States safe
for democracy in the years to come
And We agree with him that the dan
ger of reactionism and the danger oi
extreme radlcalism alike and equally
threaten failure in the party's great
new mission.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
THE SAILOR WITH A GIRL.
Miss Allen Suggests Complaints
Against Ofieious Pollcewomen.

To THE EDITOR or THE sUN--sir: In
THE SUN of December IL you permitted
me to enter the fascinating forest ~
debate on the policewomen's tall /
am a bit appalled, to encounter there our
old friend the Chief Yeon an " the L. s.
N. flanked by a bo'sun's mate.
Feeling very much as IL 1 have ven-
tured where angels might fear to tread,
I hasten to state that I hold no brief
for policewomsn. am the daughter Of
generations OF American sailors since
Mayfiower days. and have spent much
OF my time out OF sight OF land.
Knowing American sailors az I do,
however, 1 am a little surprised that Mr..
White lays special stress on the kind
OF patriotism that makes them give
their services to their country or inn
plies that they claim any special priyi-
leges therefor. Special advantages ac-
crulng to sailors now there will be
a plenty. to be sure. Our Government
and society will see to that The boys
In blue need no champion. On the con-
trary. we expect from them that spirit
of noblesse oblige which will make them
models Of conduct rather than subject
them to the scrutiny OF policewomen,
who are alert for disorderiy conduct
cases.
Mr.. Thomas says he was told by n
policewoman to get OF the street. I
contend that so temperamental po-
licewoman might better be reported to
the Police Department responsible for
hcr. which would promptly accord Mr..
Thomas satisfaction, than be tried in
the public press, giving wide circu.a-
ton to an unfortunate impression OF
the policewonen's work
NJ. White explains that he refers to
cases where girls have had the pleasure
of being with the sailors at the theatre
or a dance" and then come under the
observation OF a policewoman That
gives me the cue, for I suspect that II
my Jim were to come sailing back
from overseas, and had the pleasure
OF being in his company along some OF
these dinly lighted streets, It is barely
possible that a vigilant policewoman
might mistake the cause of my own
exuberanfe. GESEvIEvE ALLEN.
NEW FORK, December 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
THE SILVER cHEVRONS.
Case Of the Men Who Tried to Serve
Overseas but Could Not.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--Sir: It
is with thu. deepest interest have read
references to the disappointment OF the
many officers who have been unable 10
get TO the front Ny son was among the
first to volunteer his services to his
country. and in spite OF the fact that
he passed all his examinations and tried
many times to get to the fighting front
he Is still in this country. a Major, to
be sure. but a very disappointed one.
Silver chevrons TO this type OF man
will never make up for the opportunity
OF doing his part abroad We hear Of
all the heroic things our boys have done
in France and elsewhere. and are indeed
proud of them, but how about the poor
officers on this side. who cheerfully have
spent long and weary months in the
midst OF all sorts OF dreadful diseases,
drilling men TO go abroad and not being
able to get there themselves? Surely
their sacrifice was one that the world
should never forget
A PROUD But SYMPATHETIC MorHm.
BRooKLTN, December 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
What the Devil Are We Doing In
That Galley

We have the greatest confidence In
the industry, the discretion and the
dislnterestedncss Of Colonel EDWARD
". HOUSES labors In the way Of
remaking European boundaries and
erecting strictly tribal nations IN va
rious parts Of the world; but the fol-
lowing passage in a despatch from
Paris yesterday sets US a-thlnking:
ut Is known that the President feels
the warmest sympathy for the purposes
which led Italy into the war. Never
theless. the tentative lines laid out in
consequence OF an Investigation by Colo
mel EDWARD n. HOUSE, respecting the
probable extent Of territory which should
go to Italy, on the principle OF racial
or linguistic determination. do not fully
accord with the ideas OF the Italian
Government"
A possible conflict Of opinion be-
tween the Italian Government and
Colonel HoUsE's large and accom-
pllshed stan of geographical, ethno-
graphical. sociological, pathological
and historical experts seems here to
he indicated. The sentative lines
drawn by Colonel House. on the map
Of the east shore OF the Adriatlc may
he reasonably supposed to represent
his Interpretation and application Of
the Ninth of the Wilson Fourteen:
"a readjustment OF the frontiers OF
Italy should be effected along clearly
recognizable lines OF nationality"
The trouble is that the lines of ma
tionallty clearly recognizable by Colo
mel House and his experts may not
coincide with the lines of nationality
clearly recognizable by the italian
Government and the Allies bound to
Italy by the Pact of London, we not
being of the number. If so, what is
going to happen?
And II anything serious should hap
pen from President WILSON'S accept
lines Of geographical and ethnograph-
ical and sociological reformation on
the other side Of the AdrIatic. in spite
Of the Presidents "warmest sympa-
thy" for the war aims Of the Italian
Government. would that which might
happen count for or against the future
peace of the world?
These two questions lead naturally
to third:
What the devil-the expression is
MoLIERE's. not THE SrS's-are we
doing in that galley, anyway? In the
more restrained and dignified Ian
guage OF Senator KNOX, "even when
ives, conf1ne ourselves TO what Is
broadly but no less really germane to
our war aims, we are carried far
afield and we look for limits 10
the obligations which America could
wisely share with Europe"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
Sinking the German Warships.

A despatch from Paris asserts that
the American delegates to the Peace
Conference have resolved to advocate
the sinking of the surrendered enemy
warships and 10 resist any effort to
have them distributed on the basis Of
naval losses.
The reason given for this attitude
is that It will materially support
President WILSON'S declaration that
the war was not based on aggression
or the acquisition of property"
OF course If we want to throw
away millions OF dollars worth OF
property just to convince ourselves
and the rest Of the world, including
the Germans, that we were telling
the truth when we disavowed any
selfish motives in entering the war,
then there Is nothing TO be said
against the proposal to send the Ger
man fleet to the bottom OF the sea.
There are some people, however,
who think that the consciousness Of
our own rectitude Of purpose is a
sufficient moral safeguard. The En-
tente Allies know that our motives
were pure. AS to the Germans, they
will question the honesty of our ac-
tons whatever we do. in addition to
thinking us fools for destroying a lot
of valuable property.
II there Is anything in the CAM
paign against wastefulness which has
been relentlessly waged throughout
the length and breadth OF the land
since We entered the world war; II
the gospel of saving has any moral
or ethical sanction: II it is wicked,
except as a part of warfare, to de-
stroy any property which can be ap-
piled probably to the uses OF man.
kind, then the proposed destruction
OF the captured German warships is
a grave mistake.
President WILSON went to France
on the steamship George Washington,
n German merchantmen which was
seized by the United States In Amerl.
can waters and turned into n Govern.
ment transport. Why don't we sink
her and the Leviathan, formerly the
German Nnterland, and all the other
German vessels which we have thus
appropriated to our own use by vir
Tue OF the war pOwsr1 There would
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
Mr.. steed's Misrepresentation.

The foreign editor OF the London
Times, Mr.. III. WICKHAM STEED, con-
veys in despatch to The Sun his
apprehension that the British Govern
ment has gone too far in paper prep
aration for the Paris conference:
ut would be a' serious mistake 10
imagine the American President is dis
posed 70 let the grass grow under his
feet or wait indefinitely untfl all the
Allied Governments have stacked hun
dreds of tons OF archives in the requi-
sitioned Paris hotels. British authori-
ties would do well not to ignore the
strong feeling growing here on this
point Even the moderate Journal des
DebGts now protests vigorously"
The Paris newspaper mentioned re-
marked edltorially that the French
capital, after escaping the Gothas and
Berthas, is 'likely to succumb under
the weight of paper and bureaucratic
INVASION" and adds:
This is sheer madness. The empti-
ness Of official brains never has been
more apparent A multitude of special
lists and pyramids OF files will throw Us
Into inexpreSsible confusion. II the Allied
plenipotentiar1cs have not already got
clear ideas upon the preliminary condl-
tons of peace they never will have any"
The innocent Mr.. STEED, who seems
to fancy that his own Government is
principally responsible for the de-
sceIt upon Paris Of an archlval del
uge, could not have been aware, when
he wrote his conjecture of the Amerl-
can Presidents disposition in the mat.
ter, Of the preparations made by that
very President to take to Paris the
most complete collection OF reference
data that the embattled intellectuals
Of his chosen savants could accumu-
late. Mr.. STEED could not have seen
the two column announcement, given
out on the eve of the George Wash
ingtons sailing, telling In skeleton
form what was being sent to Paris,
some ahead OF the Presidents ship
and some in that vessel. in the way
Of cold facts about Europe, Its peo-
plies and their habits, shapes Of skull,
forms Of worship. &c.
The British Government may have
been piling up data, as Mr.. STEED
says. for more than four years. Pres
ident WILSON was at it only fourteen
or fifteen months. Only one man
shares credit with Mr.. WILSON for
the monumental enterprise, as Is
shown by the official announcement,
made In New York on December 4:
IN September, 1917. as a result OF
conferences between Colonel f. NJ
HOUSE and President WILSON, Colonel
HOUSE was authorised to organize forces
to gather and prepare for use at the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
OLD GLORY AS DRAPERY.
Keep 1t Right Side Out as Well as
Right Side Tn.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sr: That
the flag should be kept right side UP, as
stated by F. l.. Hitchcock in THE SuS
OF December IS, goes without saying,
unless Il Is flown union down as a sig
raj Of distress. but his emphatic de-lara-
ton that there Is not "a certain proper
method in which Old Glory should he
hung as an article of dgapery" should
not go unchal!enged. for the simple and
sufficient reason that there Is a right
and wrong side TO every flag. as re-
CARDS the manner Inf which II is finished
and without exception when viewed
from its right side the starry field Is in
the upper left corner when the flag is
horizontal, and In the upper right cor
ner when vertical; in fact, this is the
way flags are practically always de-
picted except In photographs or when
they are crossed
In view OF these facts permit me to
express the opinion that your former
sharp eyed correspondent was correct
in saying that the flag was Improperly
displayed on the occasion when Mr..
Wilson last addressed Congress, because
the field OF stars was in the upper left
corner when the flag was draped in a
vertical position behind the President
1t is not clear what Mr.. Hitchcock
means when ne says: "Mach might be
said against the proprlety of using the
flag for decoration at all" II It's use
was limited 10 the places and occasions
when 1t could be hung free and clear
and IN its proper place OF honor. fits alb
sence would be conspicuous IN innumer-
able cases.
Not only keep the flag right side up"
for decorative purposes. but keep II
right side" out. ]. II. NETTLEroN.
NEw MILFORD. Conn. December ! o.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

be just as much sense in 90 doing ms
there Is in sinking the German war
ships that were surrendered to Ad-
mlrnl BEATTY, in order to AFFORD ma
terlal support to President WILSON'S
declaration that the war was not
based on aggression or the nqulsl-
ton OF property"
At the worst, there must be hun.
dreds OF thousands Of dollars worth
Of material worth saving in the Ger
man feet. Why cannot this be turned
into money to be applied to the relief
Of innocent sufferers In the war;
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
TRADE BRIEFS.

The United States took during the
19lT-ls season 81 per cent OF Chlna's raw
elk exports During the same season the
United States imported from Japan 2?4,-
OH bales GU; OF . total export OF 257.ST6
ba'es. or 81 per cent. Japan takes so per
cent. OF China's total export OF cocoous
which for the year 1917 amounted to more
than 1000 ;onA
Pigs are raised everywhere IN China, and
pigs brlstles have become an important
article OF export. amounting TO 1000 tons
year. valued at about $4,000, 900.
During 1917 China exported 247 400. oOO
preserved and fresh eggs. or 100 900. 600
less than the number for each OF the two
previous years; nearly 5000 900 pounds OF
frozen eggs. or about One-sixth OF the
amount for the previous year: and 55,-
600, 900 pounds OF egg yolk ard albumen,
or nearly double the amount for the pTs-
Ylous year. Chinas exports OF egg prod
ucts FOR 1917 were valued at nearly Sl4,-
600 900.
The Latin American Division of the Blu
reau' OF Foreign and Domestic Commerce
Washington. Is compiling and distributing
to American exporters various bibllogrA-
PIXIES on Latin American trade topics.
These blblioErAphies are prepared in mlmeo-
Eraphed form and comprIss selected titles
from recent periodicals.
The aggregate declared value OF the ev-
ports H-nrn the Paris consular district g
the United States during the FIRST nine
months Ct 1918 amounted to total Of
s22, 93T, $50, compared with s35. 49,. 600 Tor
the corresponding period OF 1917 and SAL
900, T45 for 1915.
Revenues from the grain heids Of A.
osrtA during the season Just past are esti-
mated by the Department Of Agriculture
of Canada to be sara, 2s7, TOi from an acre
age of 1883 In addition to this the
revenue from the live stock industry was
iis1.77e.iss.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
Cost Of Government Ownership OF
Wires in ENGLAND.

To THE EDITOR or The SUN-sir: Mr.
Burleson does not know. nobody knows.
whether the Government will operate
the wires at PROFIT or q loss" The
words are from TIE suS.
Why the uncertainty? In England.
where civil service standards are h. Oh. the
loss in Government operated telegraphs
has been over 100000. 900 since they
were taken over by public authority. and
the service is poorer and slower than
under private management in this land
OF higher wages. d. @.
BRooKLYN, December 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

In Marshal FocH's costume worn
when he called upon President VII
SOMA blue uniform which appar-
entity has seen much service, no
medals, decorations or military adorn-
ments, and an old forage cap-the
picture OF the most noted military
figure Of our own civil war is vividly
recalled. Severe plainness was a fore
most characteristic of GRANT; he al
ways appeared in uniforms most prt-
Yates would have considered 4 a hard
ship to wear. and without insignia,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
CANCELS WAR RESTRICTIONS.
Industries Board Control to End
January I.

WASHINGTON. Dec. Formal an
nouncement was made to-day of the
canccllat' n OF ali restrictions and or
dcir OF the War Industries Board ef-
fective January /, and the withdrawal
of all pie ges made by industries at
the instance of the board.
Notice of the dissolution of the board
January l was given several weeks
ago with the resignation OF Bernard
NJ. Baruch as chairman and its accept
ance by President Wilson, 10 become
effective that cate.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir. In
distributing the money cost OF the war
would II not be an equitable plan to
assess neutral countries for a pro rata
share7 Every country In tho world
would consider II privilege thus TO par
ticipate In the cause OF humanity and
civilization. ADoLPH GRANT.
NEw YoHK, DecemN1r -.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

keeps him always close to the domain
Of death, he has found nothing incon-
sistent with perfect confidence in
Immortality.
Somehow, the expression OF that
confidence by one who has held hu.
man life in his hands as a part OF the
days work comes to us with greater
force and does more to carry convic-
ton than similar expressions which
come from other sources.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

When the members Of the Middle
West Plumbers Association decide to
have a gregarious good time they come
TO a big city hotel and enjoy them
selves. The same Is true OF MEM
bers Of the Southern Tier Turtle
Farmers League and the Upstate
Overall Operators Union. What does
n hotel proprietor do when he is weary
OF watching these banqueters? Why,
IT seems he takes week of ana
spends most OF 1t in hotels, doing the
same things the folks do who make
him weary and rich.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20

King GpoRoE. to give proper ex-
ample and incentive to his loyal sub
tects. four years ago climbed aboard
the water wagon. as the saying goes;
an admirable undertaking which he
performed. no doubt, with determine
ton and dignity. But he climbed
down from his dry eminence on the
evening of historic November IL, as
also did. II is reported. some sovereign
citizens in this more immediate neigh
oorhood. Instead OF partaking OF
"the same" as a devilish beverage is
concealingly named, the King relieved
his aridity with Juice whose
bubbling vivacity more nearly ex-
pressed the prevailing enthusiasm.
It Is not inconceivablc that some
New Workers, pouting over prevailing
prices for potions deemed by them
proper for purposes. patriotic. will
attribute his Majesty's choice of
champagne. rather than a more in
slant provocative OF enthusiasm, to
mere motives OF economy.