davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Clemency for Paul Chapman

There can be no criticism of the Court
of Appeals for it's refusal to set aside the
verdict against Paul Chapman. Respon-
sibility for the law which permits the
capital punishment of sixteen-year-old
boy does not rest upon the courts 1t is
their function only to construe and apply
the law as it stands. Responsibility rests
singly and solely upon the people of the
state, who have permitted this barbaric
statute to remain in force.
Under it Paul Chapman could equally
have been convicted of murder in the
first degree had he been ten years Of age
Or eight. To state the law is to demon
strate its failure to conform with current
convictions of individual responsibility.
Paul Chapman was but few days be-
yond his sixteenth birthday when the
crime was committed. BY the standards
of to-day, by our larger knowledge of
child development, it would be brutal and
wicked injustice to put him to death.
The Court Of Appeals very properly
suggested that the mitigating circum-
stances in the case be referred to the
proper tribunal We have no doubt of
the Governors just decision in the case.
Wholly aside from the age of the de-
fendant, there are abundant grounds for
tempering the stern verdict of the jury.
We think it inconceivable that in this
day and generation the death penalty
will be inflicted upon Paul Chapman.
Beyond and above stands the far
larger question of amending the law that
made the conviction possible. AS has
been pointed out in these columns, two
amendments are necessary. At present
murder in the first degree does not come
before our children's courts at ALL 1t is
this exemption which preserves the old
common law rule and permits the execu-
tion of child of eight. This exemption
should be removed. We believe it exists
in only one other state in the Union,
Georgia. Furthermore, the whole juris-
diction of our children's courts should be
raised from sixteen to eighteen years.
This is a conservative change, but keep
ing pace with the practice of enlightened
states and the views of experts.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
The Right Timber

(From The Laurence tKdn.) Journal World
In Will II. Hays, national chairman of
the Republican party, the nation has a man
who has shown himself big enough to be
President of the United States. To Mr..
Hays belongs the distinction of conduct
ing campaign without making single
mistake.
When President Wilson tried to dictate
to the people of Wisconsin he opened the
way for the keen reply of Senator Len
root, which helped gre *tly in securing his
nomination, and when Secretary Tumulty
attempted to throw scare into Hays, the
reply was a brilliant and remarkable docu
mont, one which showed decisively that
the chairman both knew what he was talk
ing about and had tho courage to defend
his convictions.
Hays put life into the campaign from
start to finish, and everything he said and
everything he did was helpful His speeches
sounded we'll to his hearers and thew read
equally we'll in the newspapers, and the
literature sent out from the publicity bu
reaus was 80 entirely different from that
of former campaigns that the editors were
astoundcd. Hays on the platform was an
asset where Hughes two years ago was
liability.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20

have a population almost equal to New
York's. Serbia will be the largest unit
in the combination, with a population,
before the war, of about 100000. Gro
a-Slavonia will contribute popula-
tion of 100000 and Bosnia and Herze-
govina a population of about 100000.
The mixture of races in the Austrian
coast province may make it difficult to
apportion the territory there on an ethni-
cal basis. But, with trihing exceptions,
the areas brought into the new state will
constitute solid Slavic block. The
southern Slav peoples will thus have
their longed-for opportunity to develop
their own culture and national spirit,
and, with a free outlet on the Adriatic,
to control their own economic future.
Serbia was grossly wronged at the end
of the first Balkan War, when the out
let to the Adriatic which she had won
was denied her by the Concert of the
Powers at London. That denial kin
died the flames of the second Balkan
War and led straight on to the tragedy
of Serajevo. Now Austria-Hungary, the
oppressor of Serbia and the chief OBJ
stacle to the free development Of the
Balkan races, has gone the way of crum-
bling, dead-hand empires. From the
wreck of Hapsburg fortunes new nations
are emerging-Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia and
Poland-all eager for freedom, self-ex-
preston and places in the sun. They
deserve them and they will get them, for
justice to suppressed races and peoples
will be the keynote of the reorganization
of Europe which is about to begin.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
SHOES G. SHIPS G.
SEALING WAX
MOTHER. MY MOTHER

MOTHER, MY MOTHER
The drops nm fast on the dripping pane,
Mother, my Mother.
What do you hear N, the tramplimg ram?
l hear the clamor and mighty beat
And measured surging of marching feet,
Marching, marching, marching away.
1t may be the throb of my heart l feel,
Yet l see him pass with his smile SO gay
In the slanting bayonets' storm of steel.
The aUind swings IN from the open sea,
Mother, m1y Mother.
Why do you look so eerily?
1t seemed at the glass where the rain
drops shine
That his eyes looked in, a-search for
mine;
That he smiled and called that we should
be going
fears.
1t was only the flag in the tempest blow
ing,
And it's star of gold seems black with
"People IN Vienna line on chest
,auts,Y says q headline, thereby afordimg
colmnanists ON opportunity to tell their
children WAat they did IN the great aOa1.
X *
Have 1t Your Own Way
Sir: This
While sleeping soundly last night bur-
gar entered the bedroom of Mr.. and Mrs.
Mortimer Wood, who reside on farm a
mile out of Whitehall the Poultney road
and succeeded in taking $275 out of the
trousers pocket of Mr.. Wood which
hanging over the back of chair.
is taken from "The (Glens Falls, N.
~ Times" 1t is self Explanatory. In
one sense, that is.
If you are too moved thereby to think
of pertinent comment you might sug-
gest that the burglar had his sleepy
head with him that time.
RALPH.
Winter must haze signed an a,'n,is-
tice!
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Ticketing the German

1t is an admirable proposal by Senator
Lodge that stores and dealers shall make
public declaration of the fact when they
are dealing in German goods. The tariff
requires the branding of goods with the
name of the country where it was manu-
factured. But there are some limitations
on the enforcement of the rule in prac-
tice, we believe, and the law will doubt
less require strengthening. In addition,
it needs supplemental act of the char
acter of that introduced by Senator
Lodge, giving the purchaser a general
warning.
What must be remembered in all this
legislation is that the German is apt at
dissimulation and possesses an organiza-
ton and a propaganda system in this
country, as in every other country, that
will utilize every means, fair and foul, to
evade our laws. Harsh punishments
must be named. Vigilance must be con-
stant. 1t will require persistent effort
to prevent deception and forestall fraud
If this system of informing the public
can be made effective the individual can
act according to his conscience. This is
surely his due. Any other system would
be an outrage upon the right of free
choice and individual conscience Of
Americans,
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
A Grave Mistake

The Tribune shares the general re-
gret expressed throughout the country at
the Presidents decision to attend the
opening Of the peace conference. 1t is
our conviction that he is making grave
mistake. Whatever formal invitations
have been sent by the leaders of the
Allied peoples, they could not speak for
the traditions or the facts Of our govern
mental system.
1t is said in defence Of the plan that
the coming months will be slack ones for
Congress and the executive business OF
the nation. But this is surely super
fetal view. Never did the fate of the ma
ton stand in more critical days. No man
can foresee what new social and political
and international problems may spring
forth at any hour. Not even the recent
months have held graver possibilities.
Whatever the custom of the past, the
exigencies of the present demand that the
President stand by the ship.
Nor is it as if Mr.. Wilson could par
ticipate in the actual conferences. Con-
cededly, he can but attend the opening
sessions and advocate general principles.
But it is abundantly clear that whatever
advance is now to be made by the nations
Of the world toward justice and peace
must be builded of practical specific wis
dom rather than generalities. There has
been and can be but little dispute over
the ideals of the Allies. There is endless
M 4 hn
ton of these ideals. 1t is in the pro-
longed sittings determining specific facts
and decisions upon which success or fail
ure will depend. If the League Of Nations
rs not to be another Hague fasco, an
other impractical dream, but a practical
and effective machine of right, it will owe
its success wholly to the skill and crafts
manship by which the existing conscences
of the nations are enabled to find fit and
controlling expression. The ideal is as
clear as any ideal can be. The reality is
still vague and uniformed.
The problem which faces the Allied ma
tions is surely not less grave and extraor-
dinary than that which faced the men,
bers Of our own Constitutional Conven-
ton of 1887 which met to create new
nation. The same prolonged debate, the
same patience, the same union Of ideals
with astute political sense, will be re-
quired at the Petit Trianon as at Inde-
pendence Hall.
President Wilson's visit can initiate
unwise disputes over phrases. He cannot
remain long enough to aid in the actual
settlement of specific problems. In the
end his expedition cannot fail to take
on far more of the aspect of roya
progress than Of democratic confer
ence. His welcome, for himself and fol-
his nation, is undoubted. The persona
tribute and the personal pleasure will be
great. The risk to the United States anc
the confusion to the Allies may not be less.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Who Won the War {?

The Allied experts are already begin
ming to debate the question. There are
the Eastern school and the Western
school, as throughout the fighting. Per-
haps Joffre did it at the Marne. COR
was it really Foch at La Fare Cham
penoise?) Or the conquest Of the air
did it? Or the tanks at Cambria? Or
America?
We think there is a better answer
than any of these. There are degrees Of
credit, goodness knows. America ar
rived In the nick Of time and deserves
credit for not being too late and for some
mighty fighting. But France. for in
stance, fought nightly from the start
and to the end. AS for individuals, there
surely goes to Marshal Foch more glory
than to any other human
But who actually won the war for the
Allies? Why, everybody, we submit, who
put his heart and soul to the job and
risked his all. To argue otherwise is to
ignore all the facts of fighting. 1t is
like saying that one blow in the tenth
round wins fight. 1t does only in the
sense that it may be the final, deciding
blow. But where would it have been
without all the earlier blows that gave
the cf1ance--and all the defensive block
ing and guarding without which the
fight would have ended the other way?
Without the First Marne there could
have been no Second Marne. Without
Verdun there could have been no grand
Allied offensive Of 1918 Even the blum
derg count. Gallantry is never lost. Tho
heroism OF Gallipoli lived on to inspire
Englishnen through their darkest hours.
Morale is not creature Of moment
or Of success, but of tradition and cx-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
The Next War
(FrOna The V5lIdger)

IN RESIDENT WILSON has declared that
the formation of league of nations
cannot be deferred until after the
peace; it must be achieved at the peace and
while the worlds affairs are in a state of
elasticity "1f it is delayed beyond that"
said Viscount Grey in his recent London
speech, "its chance Of ever being formed is
prejudiced."
There is no doubt that this is true; we
are all conscious of the need to strike while
the iron is hot but in that very conscious
ness resides succinct evidence of the fatal
weakness in the present league Of nations
project. For there are Psychological mo-
ments' in military affairs, but not in great
political reforms; temporary advantages
need sometimes to be snatched in county
politics, but not in world movements. If
the league of nations is not mighty wave
now at its height or near its height, if it
has not behind it the gathering force of
centuries of tendency and ahead of it the
complete determination of mankind to sup
port it, if it is a mere device dependent
for its institution q peculiar set of cir
cumstances, then it is not worth risking
the measure of security for which we have
four years been battling.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
AS to Satunalia
To the Editor of The Tribune.

o Cnc EQ1COr OIL me tribune.
Sir: l was much interested in your edi-
torial Of November 16, entitled Emotional
Tightwads." Not having been previously
informed of the three great American
classes" "aristocrats, ""bourgeois" and "the
people"-I am greatly indebted to The Trib-
une for this addition to my education. I
would like to reciprocate by giving Web
ster's definition of "Saturnalia"-a period
Of wild, licentious revclling. A drunken
orgy was exactly what happened on Monday
night and if The Tribune indorses that
method of "cutting loose" I am going to
choose to belong to the "bourgeois" class,
even if l have to "tightwad" my emotions
a bit.
On Thursday afternoon I confess to hav-
ing had bully good time driving around
lower New York in my "Tin Lizzie" (hav-
ing business at several hospitals). I
cheerod and hurrahed and picked up sew
eral equally enthused passengers and had
parades engulf me and truckloads of ol-
lifcations nearly run into me, but no ono
was drunk.
On Monday morning went to the garage
to get "Liz" and repeat the performance
with friend husband and some joysome
friends. Two cars had just returned from
New York, confetti covered. The chauf-
feurs advised against my going to New
York, were glad to be back safely, stated
that so many chauffeurs and truck drivers
wore intoxicated that it was absolutely un-
safe; one man was running his car at full
speed with both arms in the air. We
bourgeoisly celebrated at Coney Island by
taking sailor boy to dinner and tho
movies" ELLEN DAY RANKEN
Brooklyn, Nov. Is, 1918.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
The New South Slav State

Jugo-Slavia, the new South Slav state
Of the eastern Adriatic coast and the
Danube basin, has taken definite form.
Last week a dispatch from Berne,
Switzerland, brought the extraordinary
news that the Provisional Government
of Slavonia-Croatia had expressed pur-
pose to remain as federated state with
in the Austro- Hungarian Empire
This was on it's face a malicious inven-
ton. The Austro-H Hungarian Empire
ceased to exist when the armistice with
the Allied powers was signed. Galicia
had gravitated into the new Poland. Bo-
hemia, Moravia, Austrian Silesia and the
Czecho-Slovak portions of northern Hun
gary had united to create the new state
of Slovakia. German Austria had de-
clared herself a socialistic republic. Hun
gary had cut loose from the ancient Dual
Monarchy. There was no federated Aus
trian state left to which Croatia and
Slavonia could adhere. And the one fixed
idea Of the Slovenes and Croatians for
generations past has been to rid them
selves forever Of their abhorrent associ-
alton with Hungary.
When the compact of Corfu was signed,
in 1917, the Jugo-Slav leaders were mere
ly running up the scaffolding of a new
nation. They were building on hope.
Only a pitiful remnant of Serbia was
then in Allied hands. All the rest of the
territory to be incorporated in the south
sSlav commonwealth was under enemy
control. But faith triumphed over the
war map. The Serbian and Monteneprin
governments, both in exile, compacted
with the eXiled Jugo-Slav Committee in
London for union, after the war, of all
the southern Slav peoples, excluding Bull
garia. Frictions with Italy were adjust
ed and Jugo-Slav divisions were organ
lied to fight in Italy and in the Balkans
for the liberation of their home lands.
just as the Czecho- -Slavs won indepen-
dence for Slovakia by fighting for it in
the wastes Of Siberia.
Now the dream Of Corfu has come
true. At conference in Geneva last
week representatives Of the Jugo-Slav
group in the former Austrian Reichsrat.
delegates from the provisional Slovene-
Croatian National Council at Agram, the
president of the Jugo-Slav Committee in
London and Premier Pashitch of Serbia
signed an agreement uniting all the
south Slav territories in single state.
This state will have an area OF about
$4,000 square miles and population of
about 100000. 1t will include Croatia
and Slavonia, formerly belonging to
Hungary; Dalmatia and a part Of the
coast province formerly belonging to
Austria; Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina
and Montenegro. The new state will be
about as large as West Virginia and
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20

Already the Christmas spirit is in the
air. By using little less sugar the
people of Arkansas have saved a mill
ion pounds, which they have made into
candy to be shipped overseas. The state
is justly proud of this message from
General Pershing: "Please convey to
the people of Arkansas our grateful
thanks for their generosity to the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces. Their act
of self-denial in offering one-quarter Of
their November allotment Of sugar to
provide candy for the troops is Christ
mas gift that warns the heart Of all
and makes us still more thankful for
American ideals and more proud of our
people, whose battles we are fighting."
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Q Mothers of the Nation

MOTHERS of the nation, will ye stand
~ While they pass on with bare and
bleeding feet,
Our best of chivalry, our sacred band
Meeting the sorrows that we all shouId
meet?
ihey ride like Ariel on the thin, sharp air;
IN ohe cold sea they show no weariness,
Laughing at danger, Needless of despair,
They march away into the wilderness.
rise with your titan strength and succor
their distress.
ANNA M. STUART.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Is the World Ready?

If the league of nations can only be
formed in the few weeks or months of the
peace conference the world is not ready
for it, Mr.. Balfour struck at the heart of
the matter when he said to Mr.. Wilson that
such a league must not be a reforming
agency; it must not exist to teach US, it
must be the result of our education; it
may not be q hopeful experiment, but the
expression Of our certainty. Vscount Grey
recognizes frankly the difference between
the machinery of the league and the pull
sating world-consciousness which is, which
only can be, the league. But he urges US
to have the machinery ready; long before
it was discovered how to apply the power
of steam, he declares, man might have had
the ocomotive-wheels, pistons, all COM
plete-and it would be forehanded in this
matter of the league of nations to have the
machinery set up in the hope that the ex-
perence of this dreadful war will provide
the motive power. The whole difficulty is,
however, that we do not make our progress
that way, not even in transportation let
alone laws, and even could we change our
wasteful human nature there would remain
in the majority of minds the objection that
once we got the wheels revolving GERMANY
would somehow get control of the machine
and steam-roller US.
The leaders of the league of nations
idea are not the last to respond to this
apprehension Viscount Grey assures US
that they overlook none of the obvious
dangers; in the matter of armament for
example, Germany has led US up the hill
and it musts be she who leads us down
again, she who assumes the initial risk
in disarming But risk yet remains; how
ever the practical details may be adjusted
however many precautions may be thrown
about every clause Of the proposed inter
national agreement, the danger is still
there, for that danger resides in the false
sense of security which league to pre-
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Advocating Preparedness
(From The Houston POso

(Fron The Houston POSI- -.
Enough has happened to conSi". |.
dent Democrats that it is about s. ~ ,s,
put fresh wire entanglements @V" IA,
postoffices, and 1t might not be Ds 80.
to mine the approaches and e0nsus't ~ d.
system of catacombs for reIuse ,h,,
event of siege. There is no'a'@' .A,r
the devils wouldn't do to expose 80 h,.su
lambs of Democracy to the co'oss'
of winter.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20

After its recent peace celebrations
New Orleans was tempted to resume
the annual Mardi Gras festivities, which
the war had curtailed. A realization
that money might better be spent to
cheer the thousands of American SOL
diers spring will still find in France
quieted the impulse. The Southern city
will forego it's famous carnival, at least
until March, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
Civilization Must Do 1t

The premature advocates of world
league have argued that war is more
necessary to settle the feuds of nations
than knives to settle the quarrels of in
dividuals; as civilization has instituted
community courts for the latter, so it must
eventually establish world courts for the
former But the point is precisely that
civilization itself must be the establishing
agent, not this or that politician, nor even
this or that nation, at this that mo-
ment. The idea of trial by jury did not
hang upon date; it was not possible for
the salvation of mankind if accepted between
Monday and Friday and lost to the world
if delayed to the end of the week; it was
growth inevitable and self-supporting
and no events could turn its course We
are slowly building up among US now an
institution for the settlement of industrial
conflicts by arbitration in place of the
strike, and the proof Of the constructions
solidity lies solely in that it's administra-
tors could miss any number of "crises,"
yet the irresistible force behind the work
would push it on.
New-York tribune., 1918-11-20
BACK HOME STUFF

Editor Simeon Nash settled back home
the year Henry Clay was. seeking the Whig
nomination for President He bought "The
Leader" for $500 and moved it from over
the feed store to the northeast side of the
public square.
Sim Nash was a stern man. He always
wore wide brimmed hat and a long
dropping mustache and boiled shirts and
white cuffs. He had an anchor stickpin
that fastened in his shirt and was attached
to a gold chain that around his neck.
Rain or shine he had old black Hannibal
come to his room up over "The Leader"
Office and polish his shoes every day.
On Sunday mornings Sim Nash, General
George House, Henry Cruezet, Captain
Jack Sheppard and Banker Henshaw used
to occupy the bench near the pump in the
public square One Sunday they were de-
batting the question "Is British tyranny
more tolerabe than American slavery 2"
There were hot words, and some one saw
Henry Cruezet rush over Court Street after
DR.. Cromlish.
Sim Nash was stretched out on a bench
with a long cash across his cheek and
looking very white. People were going
home from church. They carried him over
into General Houses Old Reliable 1nsur-
ance Agency Office across the street. The
affair was hushcd up, but Sim Nash never
would print advertisements from Banker
Henshaw or allow his name to be pub
lished in "The Leader" He carried deep
scar to his grave.
Sim Nash made the great trip from
Louisville to Pittsburgh on the fast
steamboat Belle of the West, and the arti-
Gle he wrote about it was reprinted by
"The New York Weekly Tribune" Sim
Nash ran for county treasurer and was
defeated. He sold "The Leader" to Colonel
Sam Harper and left town and no one back
home ever heard of him after that
They've loaned the government &c.
000,000,000 and they're raising $35 5,000,-
900 to amuse the soldiers, and the war is
going to cost $2OO,OOO,O00 900 before
they ring down the curtain.
We hope they're satisfied, but with
millions and billions falling about they've
taken away all the thrill that used to be
attendant on opening our pay envelope.
f. r. V.