davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
The Treasuryship

The succession to Secretary McAdoo
in the Treasury portfolio is an especial
ly important matter at the present time
1t may involve in a very large measure
the practical success Of the Federal Re-
serve system and have a considerable
influence on the country's affairs. Mr..
McAdoo has a keen business head and
an energetic and administrative mind.
But in broader views Of economic and
financial polity he was less interested.
What is of great moment now is a
Secretary Of the Treasury who clearly
understands that a continuance Of the
present financial policy, and especially of
the policy of the Federal Reserve Board,
which was felt to be necessary in war
times, might readily become financial
menace. The name Of Mr.. Carter
Glass, the head Of the House Committee
on Banking, has been frequently men,
toned. Mr.. Glass won an enviable repu-
tation in the enactment of the Federal
Reserve Bank act; and it is understood
that he has regarded the policy which
the board has pursued as subversive of
the very purposes for which the Reserve
system was created. He has the courage
and the understanding, and, if his health
would permit, might make an excellent
Secretary.
For the same reasons the names of
Mr.. Hanlin and of Mr.. Harding, of the,
Federal Reserve Board, frequently men
toned, ought not to be considered. If
because of the predominance of South
ern Democrats in the administration Mr..
Glass was accounted unavailable, we
would recommend Mr.. E. D. Hubert,
Of Chicago, less known to the country,
but banker Of high standing and Of
clear thought, who, it was understood,
was offered the Treasuryship before Mr..
McAdoo. In recent address before the
American Bankers Association Mr. HUI
bert took strong ground against the
Federal Reserve Boards encouragement
Of initiation and "easy money" and
pointed out very clearly the danger that
might develop therefrom. In order to
keep the money rate low, for government
purposes, the Reserve Board has steadily
maintained the rediscount rate below the
prevailing commercial rate, thus making
1t highly profitable to the bankers to
rediscount their bills at the Reserve
banks This led to the creation of
$4,000 100000 cf new credits in little
moro than a year. Practically all of this
we now know, because it could not and
did not in any way increase the produc
ton of goods, was imitation pure and
simple.
! Mr.. Hubert points out that this prac-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
A Box for the General
By Glendon Allvine

tn HERE'S a Christmas package on its
way overseas addressed to John
Joseph Pershing. 1t is from his son,
Warren, the only one of the generals
family who escaped in the burning of The
Preside in San Francisco, when Mrs.
Pershing and her three daughters died
Perhaps there will be some lonely Amer
lean soldiers in Europe month from now
Christmas, with its thoughts of home, may
be cheerless day for an occasional lad
in khaki if the mails go wrong But Cen
eral Pershing, at least, will be remembered
Probably none of the military or civil dig
nitaries in all Europe can put more JOY
into his holiday festivities than that little
box postmarked Lincoln, Neb., from his
son.
We will assume that the general observes
all the minute regulations of the War De-
partment. We will assume that months ago
he filled out the official Red Cross Christ
mas tag as required of all soldiers who
looked forward to Christmas box from
home. We can picture him pausing in his
administrative duties to write on the Red
Cross label, Warren Pershing, Lincoln,
Neb., U. S. A
coin. Warren, probably with an inherited
respect for military niceties, presented the
tag at the local Red Gross chapter. There
was futter of excitement as the good
Nebraska ladies handed the boy an empty
paper box destined for the commander of
the American Expeditionary Forces.
Then Warren probably did some hard
thinking. 1t was real problem, this, of
getting into small paper box all the things
he wanted to send to dad and keeping them
under three pounds. But finally by a
process of elimination he reached con-
clusion. This is what he mailed to father:
A layer of chocolates, layer of candied
fruit, knife. three linen handkerchiefs
and pair of silk hose.
And it will probably be worth it's weight
in gold to dad
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
The Victory Sings

Are we singing people? Not yet, but
soon, may we'll be the right answer if the
country accomplishes a few more oc-
casions like the Victory Sings of yester-
day. They were an astounding success
throughout the country Our own Madi-
son Square Garden rally, packed to the
doors, was the finest community singing
the town has ever heard.
The war furnishes the bulk of the
present impetus Many of the best
songs used are inspired by the war
"Over There" Joan of Are" "Pack
Up Your Troubles" And through the
work of the Y. M c. A. song leaders
our soldiers and sailors are coming
home with a rare training in crowd
singing and new realization of it's
fun. So much is due to the war But
there are other factors at work Com
munity singing had begun normal and
sturdy growth before the war was heard
of. Moreover, our schools are paying
more and more attention to singing the
country round and can furnish a mass
of clear. fresh tone from enthusiastic
young throats for any occasion.
Best Of all, the progress is along
sensible lines of pleasure rather than
uplift. The spirit of the community
sing is fun--quite as at bobsled party
or baseball game. No effort is made
to force more difficult music down the
public's throat than is wanted. When the
crowd asks for katie" it gets it. Just
why the great American people should
fall passionately in love with slut
terlng song may be hard for the musical
experts to see. But it is a genuine love
affair and that is what counts.
The first thing, the important thing.
is TO get Americans to singing and to
get them to enjoy singing. Taste will
come after. In fact, that is the only
genuine, instructive taste can come
not by spelling Art with a capital A
and reading about it, but by living with
it until it becomes part of you. If
America becomes singing nation it will
soon enough become musical nation
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
The Unde rpaid
Teacher

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I was interested in your recent
editorial urging capable women to substi-
tute as teachers in the New York CITY
schools, even If the pay is but So day.
Why do you not devote energy in this line
toward urging better wage for sucn
women and see what effect that might have :?
Columns and columns ask higher pay for
teachers, and not once is the poor substi-
tute mentioned. Mayor Hylan says openly:
"1f the teachers arc not satisfied with their
pay lot them get outl" So they have got
out and while many will come back, the de-
mand for substitutes will increase
The detail for license is considerable, and
for one, used to high wages when living
was less cannot afford to leave my home.
pay for fires to be kept, to say nothing OF
carfares and lunches, to work for SO n day.
Would you? Even suburban places pay So. so
for such work. SUBURBAN.
Yonkers, N. Y, Nov. 25, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
Worrying Along

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: At first perturbed and unhappy over
tho Presidents announcement of his cru
sade to France, / have come to feel even
more than reconciled to it, After all. we
may trust the leaders abroad to preserve
the intellectual status quo ante armstice;
we con worry along here with the drones
left in the governmental hive, and there
would be great gain in their getting to
know President Wilson better, as. America
and Germany know him.
r. MAURICE NEWTON.
Now York, Nov. 20. 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
A Repudioted Leader
By Theodore Roosevelt

E~HE issue was perfectly clearly drawn.
The Republican party was pro-war and
anti-Admini nistration. The Democratic
party officially administration,
without any mind conscience Of its own,
and pro-war or anti-war according to the
way in which Mr.. Wilson changed his mind
over night or between dawn and sunset.
The Americans refused to sustain Mr. Will
son. They elected heavily Republican
House and, to the surprise of every one,
carried majority in the Senate. On Mr..
Wilson's own say-so they repudiated his
leadership. In no other free country in
the world to-day would Mr. Wilson be in
Office. He would simply be a private cti-
zen like the rest Of us.
Under these circumstances our allies and
our enemies and Mr.. Wilson himself should
all understand that Mr. Wilson has no au-
thority whatever to speak for the Ameri-
can people at this time. His leadership
has just been emphaticaly repudiated by
them. The newly elected Congress comes
far nearer than Mr.. Wilson to having a
right to speak the purposes Of tho Ameri-
can people at this moment
He is President of the United States. He
is part OF the treaty-making power. but he
is only part. If he acts in good faith to
the American people he will not claim on
the other side of the water any represent
ative capacity in himself to speak for the
American people. He will say frankly that
his personal leadership has been repudi-
ated and that he now has merely the di-
vided official leadership which he shares
with the Senate. If he will in good faith
act in this way all good citizens in good
faith will support him just as they will
support the Senate under similar clrcum-
stances.
But there isn't the slightest indication
that he intends SO to act The most strik-
ing manifestation Of his purpose is that he
sent over Mr.. Creel and sixteen of his en-
p1oyes who are officially announced as the
United States official press mission to the
peace conference; and with more self
satisfaction the committee announces, "to
interpret the work Of tho peace conference
by keeping up worldwide propaganda, to
disseminate American accomplishments and
American ideals" At the same time Mr.
Burieson seizes the cables after the war is
over and when there be no possible OBJ
ject except to control the news in the in
tcrest of President Wilson, as Mr.. Bure-
son and Mr.. Creel see that interest The
action of the Creel "otticial press" would
really seem more like an excessively bad
joke if it were mot so serious"
But during the war the Administration.
often incompetent to the verge Of impu-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
Italy Bankrupt

To-day Italy is bankrupt, about 100000
of her men are dead, 100000 are perma-
nently disabled, and there is not enough
food in her land to properly nourish her
patient people.
We come to America, which so adj
mire for it's brave sense of right and love,
as the home of so many of our children, to
ask your help said Dr. Alberto Pecorini,
who, with Captain Piero Tozzi, bearing the
honorable wound stripes of service has
been sent here by the Italian government
on special mission to Washington
"Italy is exhausted" continued the doc
tor; "she has no money to repair war vast
age or to build up Her industry; she has
not enough food for her people. During the
recent influenza epidemic thousands of
babies died for need of milk, which is either
lacking entirely or held at prices far beyond
ordinary reach-a 25-cent can costing as
hungry we have also nearly one million
Austrian prisoners, with whom, as we are
not German blood and IRON our people
share their mite
For months our people have been on in
sufficient rations. There is little or no beef,
no veal, no pork. Horse meat and coffee
each cost 81 a pound eggs, 80 cents apiece;
sugar, 30 cents-though, there is very little
Of it anywhere, and ir most parts none.
There is no butter and but a limited supplv
of oil. The price of coal makes it prohibit
tive except to the we'll off; and winter is
upon u.s.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
Situation, Is Desperate

"Our situation is really desperate; our
need is urgent, for help now, at once I
cannot speak too strongly, and unless your
government, backed up by your generous
people, comes to our relief, the Italian
people must suffer cruelty"
There is no doubt Of the plight of Italy;
my first hand studies have uncovered it.
This brave ally who sacrificed and suffered
at home that she might give her utmost to
the common fight for liberty is now lacking
bread. With her condition before US, how
can we talk, even think, Of helping Germans
that have used every treachery and every
inhuman, cowardly device to destroy US soul
and body? How can we divert food sup
plies from our allies to this dishonorable
creature, still treacherous and always pusil-
luminous?
Italy, at the end of fighting for our COM
mon cause, needs food for her people, iron
and coal for her industries, and our intel
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
Kitchen News

To the Editor of The Tribune.
CIR: For the first time IN my career,
~ in reading the article by Frank R. Kent,
managing editor of "The Baltimore Sun"
reproduced in full by "The New York
Times" / felt that, after all, the censor
ship was not such an unnecessary institution
Of all the distasteful forms of journal
ism the most hateful one has always seemed
to be the practice which exists, when you
have to report the greatest tragedy Of all
times, to pay attention only to the faces Of
the ushers who show you in, and, when you
cannot reproduce the opinion of statesmen
or ministers, to reproduce the tittle-tattle
which Is going on in their pantries, among
their servants and cooks.
May ask what chauffeurs told Mr.. Frank
r. Kent that Marshal Foch and General
Pershihg had such a quarrel in such
language, that chad Pershing been French
man he would have had to fight dcei
with Foch"? May 1 ask in what kitchen
Mr.. Frank R. Kent heard that, in July,
1918, General Pershing was obliged to give
some lessons of strategy TO Marshal Focn
and to tell him bluntly that it was "bad
policy to stick around waiting for the
Boche"? May I ask in what bars of the boule'
wards Mr.. Frank r. Kent learned that there
was a disposition to extend the frontiers
of France to the Rhine and to the Alps
Gods boundary lines? May I ask what
cocktail was drunk when a British genera
told Mr.. Frank R. Kent, "If say tnss
IN o'clock we 81
tack at that hour exactly. but if the Frenca
say they will attack at half-past five. shH
are just apt to make it twenty minuN'
past seven?
Mr.. Frank r. Kent thinks that nations
are funny enough" The French nation
thinks that if there is something funny TO-
day it is the fact that responsible American
journalist, in a responsible American paps''
may write that "Wlson has more influence
with the Socialist French party than any
other man, and it is the support that he mas
given to the Clemenceau Cabinet that mas
kept it in power" If Mr.. Wilson's infu-
ence in France was limited to the Sociailss
party it would be small influence, indee0
this party being represented in the Frehea
Chamber by eighty members out OF oVV
deputies. And Mr. Clemenceau was kep'
in power for some other reasons than Inc
support given by Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Frank R. Kent seems to have under
stood France nearly as well did the 1ei
man publicsts before the war. His conSri-
button would certainly not have been ous
of place in German publication. It Will "
widely circulated in Germany. It deserves !"
STEPHANE LAUZANNE,
Editor in chief of the Mating diree-
tor of the Official Bureau OF French
Information.
New York, Nov. 2s. l9ls-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29

tice is absolutely contrary to that of
the Bank of England and practically all
the great discount banks of Europe.
There the "official" bank rate is almost
always higher than the prevailing COM
mercial rate, with the result that dis
counting is penalized and resorted to
only in an emergency. Here the reverse
policy has already resulted in an expan-
sion of Reserve Bank loans beyond their
actual resources. Mr.. Hubert very
trenchantly observes:
Zone Of the greatest peris Of our old
system was the practice of permitting
country banks to count credits with the
Reserve city banks as part Of their law
full reserves; and nasmuch as the Re-
serve city banks could and did loan out
at least rs per cent Of these deposits, it
followed that considerable part of what
the country banks counted as reserve had
no existence in fact
at seems to me there is now posi-
biity of running into an even more dan
gerous practice, as the only legal reserve
member bank can have is credit on the
books of the Federal Reserve banks.
Statements have been published showing
the loans Of the Federal Reserve banks in
excess of combined capital and deposits,
the difference being made up with Federal
Reserve notes. That is, the Federal Re-
serve banks, instead of having a reserve
force of their own, were borrowing from
the public to meet their obligations"
We clearly need man of Mr.. HUI
bert's candor and understanding in the
Treasury now.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
What italy Has Done

When Germany in August 1914. disclos-
ing her deliberate, consummate preparation
fer world conquest, flung vast army across
the Belgian frontier in the first phase of her
plan to destroy" France, Italy politically
an ally of" Germany Austria Hungary,
and economically almost dependent.
German money and German trade had
fastened upon her industrial, financial life
through her banks, her factories and her
shipping. She had neither reserve at home
nor credit abroad; she was literally in the
commercial arms of Germany. Yet when
Germany loosed her ruthless marauders
upon Belgium Italy, recoiling from the
patent, brutal scheme of aggression, con-
trary to the purpose of the Triple Alliance
of which she had been thirty-year part
ner, refused to join the Central Empire war
party.
In the face of commercial bondage and
potential military consequences the spirit
of this decision may be appreciated. Italy
was entirely unprepared to resist armed in
vaslon, and she was fully aware she would
be subject to lustful punitive measures
were the German army successful in over
running France and putting quick end to
the war.
Italy's declaration of neutrality was,
therefore, brave and great moral affirma-
ton, the greatest of the war after Beigium's
heroic pronouncement.
1t was contrary to what appeared to be
her immediate political interest, and GER
tanly the gravest risk the nation could
take in the circumstances
Before the Marne
The first battle of the Marne. dispcsing
of Germany's plan for quick victory, owes
It's success to the strategy Of the French
generals, to the impetuous, enduring attack
of the poilus, to the devotion and sacrifice
Of the Bclgians and to the superb defen-
sive fighting Of England's "contemptible
little army" But no small measure of
credit is also due to Italy, which did not
hesitate to encourage France to remove her
troops from the nch-Italian frontier.
thus enabling France to marshal her entire
strength against the home destroying in
vaders.
What price triumphant Germany would
exact of her for this act of unneutral
neutrality Italy we'll knew.
At the critical hour in 1915 when disaster
loilo"ed huSslas 8 troops, so heavily relied
upon by England and France to relieve press
ure on the Western front, Italy renounced
the Triple Alliance and joined the Allies
May "a, thus immobiizing a large part Of
the Austrian army and averting the collapse
Of Russia, which otherwise would have
come then when England and France were
so unready to resist the additional power
of German troops so released, as happened
last year when the Russian collapse finally
came.
Italy came into the war poorly equipped
miltarily; her finances far from prosperous
She knew she entering upon a long
and hard conflict, during which her slender
resources would be exhausted; that redemp-
ton Of her lost territory under Ally agree
ment was dependent upon Ally success, and
that Ally success, viewed from the military
situation then existing, was far from a
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
tic idea of league of nations with the
fact that we are boastf fuly proceeding
with tremendous naval programme
Panhandling America

Every stranded enemy power seems to
think it is entitled to check at will on
American generosity. Germany can't un-
derstand why American food ships are
not already on their way to Bremen and
Hamburg. The German press denounces
as "brutal' Mr.. Hoover's remark that
when the European bread line forms Ger
many's place will be at the tail end of it.
The new state of German Austria is
clamoring for American food cards and
timely loan from the United States
Treasury. Bulgaria, having spent all her
German marks, would be glad to hear the
jingle of American eagles and half
eagles. The Unspeakable Turk is also
longing for an opportunity to "touch" the
munihcent friend and brother beyond the
Atlantic. According to dispatch f4crn
Constantinople, nine newspapers in tha;
city have just come out strong 'for
American control of the Turkish gen
darmerie and finances" Especially the
finances. These have been speciality
for a century or more of various Euro
pean powers. Now the psychological mo-
ment has arrived to put them on an
American gold dollar basis.
"We welcome any control" says Medjid
Effendi, the heir to the throne, mot men
acing the sovereignty of the Caliph."
1t is not the business Of the United
States to be fairy godmother to the
bankrupt powers Of the Quadruple ALI
ance. We didn't declare war on Bulgaria
or Turkey. We had no voice in the ar
mstice terms imposed on them by the
Entente. We have only an indirect in
terest in the peace settlements to be made
with them. They will have to accept the
fortunes of war which they both en-
tered on the sordid basis Of greedily dis
counted profits We have certainly bet
ter uses for our money than financing
Bulgaria or guaranteeing the salaries of
the Sultan's gendarmes and civil SER
wants.
Even less are we under any obligation
to act as "angel" to Germany, Austria or
Hungary. These countries sued for peace
after they had failed at war No one can
doubt the severity Of the terms which
they would have imposed if they had con-
quered. They started the war and they
conducted it without decency or mercy
Why should the United States be singled
out among the enemy powers as the one
most likely to treat them with fabby
leniency?
Our food and our financial aid should
go first to the victims of Teuton brutality
We have Belgium, Serbia and Rumania
to reconstruct. We owe prior obliga-
tion TO the Czecho- -Slovaks, the South
Slavs, the Albanians, the Armerians, the
Ukrainians and the people of the Baltic
provinces, all OF whom have suffered
from enemy frightfulness. We must sup
ply their needs before we think of indulg-
ing in Quixotic philanthropy toward
their oppressors.
The Germans, Austrians, Hungarians,
Bulgarians and Turks pay US poor
compliment by begging aims and crying
"Kamerad" at our door. Do they think
that we fought the war without knowing
what we were doing and lack now the
moral fibre to maintain a righteous bal
ance between friends and enemies?
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29

dence in dealing with war problems and
with the Hun within our gates, showed it.
self past master in bullying, browbeating,
deceivlng and puzzling our own people 1t
is utterly impossible that the Creel "offi-
cial press" and the Burleson- ed cables
can have any other real purpose than to
make the news sent out from the peace
conference to ourselves, our allies and our
enemies what they desire to have told
from their own standpoint, and nothing
more.
Copyright, lsls The Kansas City stsrl
New-York tribune., 1918-11-29
ID EFORE we talk of feeding Germans,

ID EFORE we talk of feeding Germans,
ID who craven and despicable in defeat,
only whine over the "cruel" terms of
a just and none too severe armistice, un-
awakened, unrepentant after four years of
merciless ravaging and dishonorabe war
fare, let consider the very great and
pressing needs of our ally Italy, of whose
accomplishments in the war and present
home conditions little is known to our
people because Italy's side appears to have
been inadequately unintelligently pre-
sented to America.
Moved by the will to help set men free,
Italy abandoned her German Austrian alli-
ance when she dscerned the brutal purpose
of it's war, and Joined the Allies at time
when her help relieved very grave situa-
ton.
And she gave her ALL