davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20

Los Angeles, Cal, Feb. IL, 1919
Editor New Mexican,
Santa Re, New Mexico.
Dear Sir;
have been vefy much interested ii
the discussion now going on in thai
State, brought about by the PROPOSE
ton submitted In the Legislature, nov
In session, seeking to pass a Law
whereby both the English and Spanish
languages should be made compulsory
in the public schools of the State
Your daily has published several very
intelligent articles on the subject
You have also very generously asked
public discussion upon this most i'm
portant matter, and availing myself Of
this kind invitation, | ask to be per
mitted to submit my humble views up
on what | consider one of the most esi
sential things for the welfare Of the
youth of the State.
AS most New Mexicans know, j
speak as a native New Mexican who
has lived with them all my life, until
a few years ago circumstances beyond
my control compelled me to leave
them. Should the fates decree that
my absence be permanent, | shall still
entertain and harbor in my heart that
love and affection for New Mexico and
its good people that a man has for the
place of his birth and for q people who
are not only my. fellow citizens, but
who are also of my same ancestry,
language and religion, and. for whom l
could only have the sincerest love and
kindest wishes.
Mans two greatest attributes are his
God and his country, with a CORE
spending love and reverence for each.
Our devotion and duty to our country
should be undivided and complete. We
should only have one language as we
only should have one country, for to
the extent that we adopt any other
language officially than that of the
country, to that extent do we impair
and retard the ideal standard of a per-
feet citizenship. A bi-lingual and a hy-
phenated country should not exist. All
Americans should possess the same
ideals and characteristics from one end
of our land to the other. Their Ameri-
canism should be cast in the same
mould SO to speak. The same educa-
tion that is given to the children in
New York or California should be Civ
en- in New Mexico. Why should there
be any difference? The fact that one
half of our population is OF Spanish
extraction Is no reason for a differ
ent standard Of A~mericanism. My idea
Is that TO pass a bi-lingual law would
be a discrimination against our people
of Spanish descent. We do not hear
of that distinction being made with re-
ference to American citizens Of
French, German, Italian or Scandina-
Wan descend 1t would be considered
to make French, Italian OF any
other foreign language compulsory in
communities where people Of those ma
tionalities exist, and still the princi-
pie would be the same. The citizen
ship of NeM Mexico should be of the
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
2,575 Lives
Given By Coal
Mine Industry

washington, February 1.-THE
casualty list Of the American coal
mining army for 1918, just reported
to Secretary Lane of the Depart
ment OF the Interior by the Bureau
Of Mines, includes 2,575 men killed
This is the penalty paid by Que
peaceful industry during a year q
war; said Secretary Lane, and 1t
emphasizes the hardly appreciated
fact that the workers in the mipiug
industry who did fhis full duty dur
ing the war braved perils as did the
soldier at the front, and quite as
willingly went to the supreme sacri'
flee.
when the war a on, we Ameri-
cans created many slogans, and not
the least among them was that Coal
will win the war!' The war mas
been won, and in its winning there
win always stand forth the brilliant
achievement and patriotic effort *
the american coal miner. With a
little more than three-quarters Of q
million men in this army, with only
5000 more men than employed AN
the year before, these men s~ucceedsI
in bringing from the earth tnlrtsN
four million more tons OF coal tnan
in 1917, a tremendous factor in BRING
ing the war to a speedy close. Tne
total production of coal was 6S5.-
800, 900 tons. the greatest production
ever achieved.
''And while II Is always regretapie
that a single life should be lost Rn
informed by Mr.. Manning, the dire y
tor OF the Bureau Of Mines. that the
year, in comparison with other years,
war a rather fortunate one in re-
gard to fatalities. Despite the fuct
Of the younger men being called TO
the colors and the ravages Of the
influenza epidemic, under the stress
of war We produced more coal Tor
every miner killed than ever before
IN the history of American mininE.
For every life lost there was 1885,
600 tons OF coal produced.
There was Al decrease Of 23sdeaths
from explosions Of gas and coal dust
which shows that, despite the rush
and turmoil, the operators and me'l
are paying more attention to the
precautions promulgated by the Ba-
Of Mines.
1T is rather curious but true, that,
with the mines operating to capacity,
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
! History of Free Text-Books

school administrative district is Sc
cured.
3. Textbooks MAY be changed with
little inconvenience whenever changes
are desirable.
4. Additional textbooks and supple
mentary books may be supplied.
5. School work is not delayed OF
the beginning of the school year
while parents obtain books for their
children.
The consensus of opinion among
teachers, superintendent and school
authorities wherever free books have
been furnished to children Is strong
ly in favor Of the system, The re-
ports are practically unanimous that
the plan is successful. An inquiry
was made a few years ago among
cities Of the United States furnish
ing free textbooks. This inquiry ask
ed for information as to whether the
plan was generally satisfactory; "a
cities reported yes, s, partially and no
cities reported no.
In the following states free text
books are mandatory:
California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona,
Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Penn
s~ylvania. New Jersey, Delaware.
Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut,
Rhode Island.
In the following states free text
books are permissible:
Washington, Idaho, Colorado. Texas,
Kansas, South Dakota, North Dat
kota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, West Vir-
ginia, Florida, New York.
In the following states there r no
free text books:
Oregon, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Tennessee, Alabama Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia,
Illinois, Indiana.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
SONS WOODEN LEG WON HIN

well, how's the Salvation Army
this mornings" An overseas veteran
greeted the elderly man in the UL-
ion Station today.
"Ffnew The old maj responded.
"How else should a man be who has
been sayed?'
HSay, you fellows did a lot for ns
in France said the soldier.
The Salvation Army man nodded.
YES, so they tell me. You know,
play the tamborine in our band at
st. Joseph. After u music the
other day an old man come up to
me and puts quite a large contrib'i-
tion in my ~tambourine. I'm doing
this kind Of under orders he sass.
How so?' saiys /. Well, I've got a
son in France and when he was car
ried out Of that Argonne fight with
one leg gone the first 10 meet. ard
comfort and care for him was the
S~alvotion Army. He wrote me that
in a letter and at the end Of It be
says. dad. If you don't came across
to the Salvation Army when I get
back, I'm a-going to hit you over
the head with my wooden leg."'"
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
A Sidelight On T. R.

An interesting sidelight on Colonel
Roosevelt's trust in his s~ubordinates
while he was President, is told in q
letter of Regis H. Post, successfully
Auditor, Secretary of State and Gov
ernor Of Porto Rico during the Roosc-
welt Administration, TO the Roose-
welt Permanent Memorial National
Committee which, under the direc-
ton Of William Boyce Thompson, Is
collecting funds for a national memo
rial to Theodore Roosevelt.
In June, 1904" writes Mr.. Post,
"Beekman Winthrop, at that time a
Judge under the Philippine govern
ment, was appointed Governor OF
Porto Rico, and l was transferred
from the position of Auditor to the
position Of Secretary Of State in the
same government. 1t became neces-
sary for Governor Winthrop to define
his attitude on certain questions
which were of very vital Importance
to the island, but wherein his udg-
ment was Numerically opposed to
the policy which had been heretofore
pursued. / was thoroughly IN accord
with Governor Winthrop's opinion;
but we both felt that before taking
the step against which we had been
very seriously warned by our pre-
decess0rs, it would be only proper
to consult the President.
Accordingly we cabled to Wash
requesting an appointment,
arrived a week later in Washington
and to my delight found that | was
to lunch with the family entirely
alone and foresaw at least an hour
uninterrupted by other business.
When we reached the table, however,
| discovered that the President had
upon his right an elderly gentleman,
whom I.took for some foreign am
bassador or other person Of import
ance. The President had just re-
from a hunting trip in the
and to my dismay, instead OF
up the problems OF Porto
Rico, at once, started a long discus
sion with the gentleman on his right
in regard to a new species Of ground
squirrels which he believed he mad
discovered on his trip. The whole
luncheon was devoted to the manners
and customs Of ground-sauirrels.
Il reproaehed him with righteous
Indignation after luncheon on my
lack Of opportunity to talk over mat
ters which / had some 1900 miles to
discuss with him. He turned around
with the sweetest smile and said, !
have put you two men into that place
to run it and as long as you run y
ven l don't want to hear anything
1t. l sincerely hope that !
shall never be called upon to dis
cuss Porto Rico with you.
"Therein l got quite the most satic-
factory answer in the shortest pos
sible time. We carried through the
change in policy with the natural re-
suit that everybody whose toes were
trod upon bombarded the White
House with letters of complaint and
accusation. The presidents only
comment was to have all letters
which came with regard to Porto
Rico simply mailed back to the Coy
ernor. and he never questioned IN
any way the wisdom Of the policy
adopted, probably, / think, because
the policy SO adopted was Just ex'
actly what he would have done MINT
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
The Foundation

Any kind Of a peace based on any
thing less than fundamental justice
will be a mockery.
France has been a burnt offering
for civilization on the altar Of bar
barism. Humanity and Christianity
have been crucified in the person d
France. She has been a vicarious
sacrifice for the peace Of the world:
Only in the complete resurrection OF
France can the cycle of justice com
plete it's revolution. She is the sym
Dol Of all the world has fought for
That symbol must be placed on an
eternal pedestal Of security and
peace. and in protecting her democ-
racy will be protecting all that 1t
fought to gain.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20

AS early as 1918 Philadelphia pro
vided free textbooks for the child.
rem attending its public schools.
Massachusetts III 1884, passed the
first Statewide mandatory free text
books law. Free textbooks In all pub
lie elementary schools are mandatory
in II states, Is of these are manda-
tory in public secondary schools as
well. In 20 other states local school
districts in the city, townships, or
county ma supply free text books. In
practically all Of the States books are
furnished free to INDECENT children.
1t is generally agreed that the logic
al plan for giving every boy and girl
in the United States an equal oppor-
tunity is for the State to furnish the
textbooks free of charge. 1t is gen
orally recognized that where compul-
sorry educational laws are enacted and
enforced, the textbooks should be
provided for the children who are
brought into school under the provis-
ions Of this law.
Under the general system Of edu-
cation in the United States the three
principal actors are the school. plant,
the teacher and the textbook. The
textbook is undoubtedly emphasized
much more than 1t should be, but it
will hold its position OF importance
ait least as long as the present large
proportion Of unframed teachers are
employed in the public school systems.
The unframed and the partially
trained teachers must lean" Son the
textbook; they must rely upon it for
both subject matter and for method Of
1t is important therefore, that
good books, selected by Compel
ent authority, be in the hands of all
children, rich and poor alike. In no
other way can this requirement be
met except through free books.
The adoption Of free textbooks does
not add greatly to the cost OF the
public schoolsystem. hence the rate
of taxation is not materially In
creased.
From Investigations made by the
Bureau Of Education the total annual
sale of textbooks for each child en-
rolled in the public schools is approx
imately 1873 cents. The total expendi-
ture per child is perhaps 10 or 25
cents more than this amount which
include commissions, local dealers
profit, etc.
The cost Of textbooks will amount
to q trifle more than 2 per cent of
the total cost of maintenance, sup
port. and equipment.
There are many children too poor
to pay for books and yet too proud to
ask charity, and many others to
whom the cost is such an important
item that school authorities hesitate
to change the books in use even when
much better or results might be Oh.
tanned by a change.
The principal arguments advanced
in favor OF free textbooks are:
1. Poor children whose parents
are unable to purchase books, or are
unable to do without great sacrifice
may attend school as we'll equipped
IN this respect as the richer children,
2. Uniformity Of textbooks in each
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
Taxing Movies

Raising revenue is a diilieult Ply
lem. The governor has propaply maus
all the reasonable suggestions Ia
could be made. We hesitate 70 CRU
else any of them but are rather Y,
clsnad 10 agree with the Albuquerque
Warning Journal that we should pc AZ
easv "a possible on the poor mans
showr-the movies which the governor
suggests might pay an adoitlcnat rset
we are not familiar with the exacs
figures on the present tax burden %
III movies. but the Journal says tnat
Il Albuquerque they are taxed forty
per cent.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
No Flouting France
(Kansas city STAR

(hahHaH City STAR
1t Is incredible that there should
be any split in the peace conference
because France, living under the Ger
man guns, desires additional protec.
Etion to that afforded by an untried ex-
pertinent In q League of Nations. II is
impossible that public opinion In Am.
erica would sanction any such dissen-
sion.
Behind the ocean barrier the Unit.
ed States may be able to afford an
experiment In further International Of.
ganization-always provided 1t has an
adequate fleet and that 1t can put a
well equipped and trained army in
the field without undue delay. II she
were attacked a League OF Nations
might come to her aid with adequate
force, but again It might not. Her only
assurance Of safety lies in the meas.
ures taken at the peace conference
to supply her with adequate Goa and
iron and to provide a neutral zone on
the west bank of the Rhine, and in her
own ability to defend herself.
While the American people are hope
full that some sort Of an association Of
nations may come out Of the peace
settlement that will diminish the like
lihood of war, The Star believes the
great majority are in sympathy with
the French insistence on practical
measures to assur the safety OF
France.
1t cannot too often be insisted that
IT. all probability for another genera
ton at least the French frontier is the
American frontier-the frontier Of
freedom" to use President Wilson's
phrase-and that the interests Of civil
lization demand its protection. The
hard sense Of the French people and
their readiness to make the neces-
sary sacrifices In time of peace, saved
the world In the war. The world can
not afford to disregard the well con
sidered views Of France today.
The American public will find il
difficult to believe that there is any
serious intention on the part OF its
delegation to flout the nation whose
magnificent services are everywhere
recognized by proposing to move the
peace conference from Paris.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
A m { i-C Cigarettes mn
May BE NO Joke
Washington Post,

AS the logical result of the success
Of national prohibition, there is now
a movement under way to abolish
cigaAette smoking. A call recently
issued by an educator of Syracuse,
N. NJ, for a meeting to give impetus
to the movement made the prediction
that within two years a constitution
al amendment would be adopted plac-
ing the ban upon cigarettes. Anti
cigarette leagues have been formed
in several states, among them, Ohio,
and the number Is growing.
The campaign 10 amend the Fed
eral Constitution so that the MANI
facture and sale Of cigarettes will be
abolished may be looked upon rather
as a Joke, and yet 1t should be re-
called that twenty-five years ago a
man who had tho temerity to predict
that in 1919 the manufacture and sale
of Intoxicating liquor would be abol-
ished would have been marked down
as a dreamer. True, the prohibition
movement was well under way a
quarter OF O century ago, but then It
wan CoilHftchtu Il oihlc anu CuhlluuHi-
" Issue, with the fight generally
centering upon local option, and ha
was indeed, a hopeful relormer who
prophesied national prohibition with
in a generation.
Consequently 1t will not do 10
laugh at the anticigarette movement,
for no man can tell what may come
OF It. Perhaps all forms of tobacco
may be included; and there is the
vote to be reckoned with.
This menace, however, might be off
set by including face powder upon
the prohibited list.
We have been told that the world
has been made safe for democracy.
So it seems, but likewise has been
made mighty uncertain. Who can
divine what is coming next?
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
Fate and Lincoln

QFrom the Minneapolis Tribune)
One hundred and thirtyfive years
ago a father working in his field in
a Kentucky clearing was shot ana
killed by indians. His three sons
were with him. The oldest ran to
the house and reached 1t unframed.
The next in age ran in another di
rectfon for the nearest settlement.
The youngest, a boy Of 6, was seized
by one OF the attackers.
When the Oldest boy looked cat,
after barring the door, he saw his
brother in the grasp of an Indian.
He took down the family musket,
aimed through an opening and shot
the Indian dead. The boy, released,
made his way to the house. in a
few hours a rescuing party from the
settlement drove off the raiders.
The 6syear old boy was Thomas
Lincoln. He became the father OF
Abraham Lincoln.
Thirty two years later two boys.
chums, we're standing along Knob
Creek, Hardin County, Kentucky.
The younger, only Z years old, at
tempted to swing himself over the
creek on a sycamore tree. Midway
he lost his hold and fell in. Tae
other rescued him. The r%escurer s
name was Gallaher, and but few mel
have been privileged to perform
equal service to their country.
The boy he rescued was Abraham
Lincoln.
Twice death was cheated that AIM
erica might be saved. II was chance,
or something else. Most Americans
prefer to believe it was something
else.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
Tiger Wanted to
See the Poilus


Premier Clemenceau of France
made many visits to the battle front
while head of the government. Gen
eral Gordonnier, writing Of one Of
those visits in the Paris magazine,
Je Sais Tont, quotes a dialogue be.
tween the premier and a division
commander.
Il suggest, M. Premier, that we go
to the heights of Sampizny; from
there we can see the entire bend %
the Mouse, a little Of Saint Mihiel
and the Forest of Ally"
General" the premier interrupted.
Il am not a tourist; | am not look
ing for a fine view. l want to see
the poilus out there where they are
close to the boches."
Well. it's an easy matter In this
sector to get a close view Of the
boches. For six kilometers our
trenches are within a grenade throw
of the German trenches, and at Post
5 only four meters separates tho
lines"
"All right, / want to go to Post
Mr.. Priemer, that will be very dan.
serous. Several days shells, grena
Ges and mine have been used inces-
sanity. The German we're repulsed
there in a big attack and they will
mot accept the check without another
attack. It's a big risk to go there
and 1t Is my duty to war; you"
II am IS years old. my. dear gen
eral," the premier said firmly. what
could happen TO me than
death on the field Of battle?"
And SO the premier visited Post 5.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
ARE YOU supERsrIrIousa

Those who are superstitious should
remember that throughout history
some very important events have
happened on Friday. They are as fol
Lee surrendered.
Moscow was burned.
Washington was born.
Shakespeare was born.
America was discovered.
Richmond was evacuated.
The Bastile was destroyed.
The Mayflower was landed.
Queen Victoria was married.
King Charles |. was beheaded.
Fort Sumter was bombarded.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born.
Julius Caesar was as~sassinated,
The battle of Marengo was fought.
The battle 0f Waterloo was fought
The battle or Bunker Hill was
fought,
Joan of Arc was burned at the
The battle Of New orleans was
The Declaration OF Independence
was signed.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
Turks Still Savages
(yincount James Bryce in the New
Armenian.J
(By Or. S. N. johnson, Washington
D. C.l

(Vincount James Bryce in the new
Armenian.)
One fact stand out clearly. Turkish
rule over populations Of a different
faith must cease forever 70 exist.
Turkish government has been the
very worst which has afflicted MI
manity during the last fifteen centu-
.rfes. The Turks have always been
what a distinguished European his.
|torian Of the last generation called
them-"nothing better than a band
OF robbers eneamped in territories
which they have conquered and de-
yastated.p They have become
civilized, they have imbibed or
tried to apply any Of the principles
on which civilized government must
be conducted.
SO far from progressing with tne
progress Of the years, they have gone
from bad to worse. Savages theS
we're when they descended into West
ern Asia from the plains Of Turkes'
tan, savages they we're when Ed
mund Burke so described them $50
years ago, and their government
still retains its savage and merciless
character.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-02-20
self-Pity

The whining OF the Hun has beer
almost as disgusting as his arrogance
But while he wines. let us not forget
Louvain, nor Edith Cavell, nor all the
thousand horrors Germany let loose
ON the world. In this connection the
New York Tribune says:
rChancellor Ebert, at the opening OF
the German national assembly pro
tested against the ~'unheard-of and
ruthless armistice terms imposed
upon Germany. We warn our oppon-
ents not to drive us to the uttermost,'
he exclaimed. Hunger Is preferable
to disgrace and deep privation is to
be preferred to dishonor.'
professor Hans Delbruck is equally
~vociferous. 1t is proposed, he says,
to impose upon Germany a burden
which would make the country the
wage slave Of its enemies for decades.
There can not be any doubt that Ger
many would rise against such slavery
at the first opportunity and the world
would again be plunged into war
"The German is recovering his eff
frontery. The Hun is unique In HIS
psychology. He never can see him
self as others see him Or dream Of APP
plying to himself the fules which he
applies in his conduct toward others.
Would Germany have imposed
ruthless terms and wage slavery
on the allied nations II she had won
the war? The answer Is to be found
IN the peace conditions which she
forced on the two entente powers
which she did conquer-Russia and
Rumania.
Ebert, n OF the majority socialist
leaders in the reichstag, Joined with
Scheidemann and the rest in applaud
ing the Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest
treaties. Delbruck was one of the in
tellectualg who justified the Pan
German programme of conquest. They
had no heart and no computations
when Germany bestrode Central Eu-
rope and was bending the peoples of
Russia and the Balkans to her will.
"Self-pity is obnoxious. 1t becomes
.nauseating in the mouths of those who
never had any pity for others and in
whining there is no confession
of error or guilt" 4