davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
EASY MONEY

TT MAY be that the plan of awarding
war contracts on the basis of cost plus
a profit of 10 per cent for the contractor
was the best that could be devised under
the circumstances, but it was certainly
not economical. 1t gave to every con-
tractor an inducement to make the work
cost as much as possible, in order to get
a profit of ten cents on every dollar that
he spent.
How it wol ked is illustrated in the case
of the shell-loading plant at Fort Della
ware, which is still incompleted. 1t was
estimated that the plant would cost
S1,500,000 at the outside. Already $14,-
100000 has been spent on it. 1t is as
sumed that this money was used in build
ing larger plant than was contemplated
in the original estimate, for with all
the waste no one supposes that there can
be SO great difference between esti-
mates and expenditures.
The salaries of the officers of the COM
pany building the plant were reckoned as
part of the cost. So the company set
about raising salaries. Its manager had
been receiving $4,000 a year. This was
made $4,000, which carried with it a
profit for the company of 10 per cent, or
an extra $500 on this item. Other lesser
increases were made for other officials,
each carrying the 10 per cent of profit
named in the contract.
There was no inducement to seek labor
in the lowest market, for the higher the
wages the bigger the profit. If carpen-
ters could be hired for $3.50 day and
the contractor paid them $40 he would
make twenty-five cents more a day on
every man hired. And the same rule
applied to all material bought.
If the government had tried to devise
a plan to make the work cost as much as
possible it could not have developed a
more perfect one.
When Congress gets through exhibiting
how the plan worked it will be long
time before any public official will again
indorse any such scheme for putting easy
money in the pockets of contractors.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

party has never polled votes enough to
have any effect on presidential election.
Its first candidate was named in 1872
and $500 earnest citizens voted for him.
1t reached high-water mark in 1904 when
Silas G. Swallow, of this state, received
25S,500 votes.
The party cannot even claim credit for
the passage of the prohibition constitu-
tional amendment, for that was sup
ported in Congress by Republicans and
Democrats and was ratified by Demo-
cratic and Republican state Legislatures
containing men who never voted the pro-
hibtion ticket in their lives.
Of course, it may be said that the agi-
tation of the question for nearly two
generations by the prohibitionists may
have educated public sentiment, but it is
doubtful if the political prohibitionists
had so much to do with the matter as the
people who believed that the best way to
bring about reforms was through the
existing parties.
Whether the party lives or dies is of
little consequence. 1t has never been
alive enough to convince even its men,
bers of its vitality.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

THE registration yesterday was un-
= doubtedly partial index of the enter
prise of Philadelphians week ago. The
turnout on the first of the three days was
so extraordinary that some falling off on
the middle date was to have been eX-
pected.
But only the most optimistic antici-
pated any such unprecedented second day
turnout as occurred More than $4,000
citizens qualified to vote yesterday. This
is 10000 more than registered on the
second day preceding the last mayoralty
election, and it raises the total for the
two days to 100000.
The voters are evidently awake and
giving heed to what is going on. And
the unprecedentedly large number of
them registering indicates, beyond ques-
tion, that the men who have stayed at
home in previous elections are planning
to go to the polls this year. The rule is
that when this sort of thing happens the
political machine in power is doomed
We shall soon know whether the rule is
working or not in this city this year.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
WORSE AND MORE OF 1T

THE second arrest of Charles A. Amber
= is on charges of much more serious
offense than the first. He was first ac-
cIsed of conspiracy and misdemeanor in
public office. Now he is accused of en-
bezzling public moneys while public
official. He may be able to explain the
transactions which have a bad look. All
those interested in the good name of the
state hope he will be. But, as was said on
this page the other day, this is the kind
of thing that must be expected when men
are appointed to Office because the poiti-
clans think they must be taken care of.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
WHO'S MAYOR ANYHOW?

ACCORDING to law Thomas B. Smith
is Mayor until next January, charged
with the duty of making recommends
tions to Councils.
Yet Judge Patterson is going about
the city announcing that he is in CORE
spondence with the leaders of Councils
about public business and that he intends,
las soon as he gets the information he
seeks, to secure such legislation as will
bring about needed reforms in the con-
duct of public business and the Inaugural
tion OF such public work as has been de-
layed for one reason or another.
He is not waiting even until he is nomi-
mated, but is apparently assuming that
he is already Mayor of the city.
1t really looks as if the amiable Judge
were taking too much for granted.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
"a PERFECT ORGANIZATION

THEY are telling us that Judge Patter-
= SON will be nominated by handsome
majority because he has a perfect or
ganization behind him.
And then Coroner Knight gets up on
the platform and denounces the new
charter which the judge helped to draft.
The judge was on the committee which
prepared the bill that the Legislature
passed.
And when the coroner has finished
talking the judge gets up in the same
meeting and says that he shared in the
work of making the charter and that he
will enforce its provisions in letter and
In spirit.
II this be the way perfect organiza-
ton runs its speakers bureau then the
Judge must be wishing he We're backed
BY one not quite so perfect.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
STILL ON THE JOB

THE old firm of Supply and Demand is
on the job in Chicago taking charge
of the prices of meat, in spite of the
fact that we have been told it had been
liquidated long ago and had gone out of
business.
The people are buying less meat be-
cause the prices are too high, and the
cattle raisers are shipping their cattle
to market in order to sell them before
the price goes down any lower.
The increase in the supply and the
falling, off in the demand produced the
inevitable result. Prices went down. It
always happens. The packers cannot
prevent it, neither can Congress perma-
nently interfere with it by any law which
it can pass.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
The Cg1oeist

TIP SHINING rivers deep and wide,
~ And shady silver creeks ] glide;
Across blue lakes, in which the high,
White clouds like water lilies lie.
My tireess paddles dip and drip
And through the crystal currents slip.
Enchanted water vistas new 1hJjo| $50
Unfold before my swift canoe. ''' 20
When dropping down the azure arc
The sun foretells the coming dark
I hug the shore to find cove,
sandy beach or sheltering grove,
Where can make little camp,
All snug against the dew and damp,
And in my blankets warmly rolled
Sleep till the mornings gray or gold.
Into the stream cast line
And catch a string of fishes fine;
/ build fire of broken sticks,
My coffee boil, my corn cakes mix;
Then fry the fnny beauties brown,
And to a sumptuous meal sit down,
While all around from bush and tree
The feathered minstrels sing to me.
/ laze along the Hudson's flow
And up the winding Mohawk go;
Lake Champlain calls across the walls,
Up purple. peaks and waterfalls.
Slave of no timetable am I,
My hostelry's the starry sky,
And l am passenger and crew
And captain of my light canoe.
-Alinna Irving, in the New York Herald.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

A womans foot caught
God Given Impulses in frog on railroad
track in Chicago as a
train bore down upon her. Her husband
vainly tried to free her and then, IN stay
with you, Mary" he said. Both were killed
and their three children are Orphans. Now,
some will say he should have saved himself
for the sake of his children. 1t may have
been that had he had time to think he would
have taken the common sense course. But
he acted on impuse--and it may be he has
left his children a greater legacy than if he
had lived and worked for them!
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
Answers to Yesterdays Quiz

Answers to Yesterdays Quiz
/. The Jolly Roger is the black flag of a
pirate ship.
2. Rome became the capital Of united Italy
in 1870.
3. Hilo is the second largest city of the
Hawaiian Islands.
"a Roland for an Oliver" means tit for
tat. Roland and Oliver were two pala
dins df Charlemagnc whose exploits are
SO similar that it is difficult to keep
them distinct.
4. A spaniel was originally a Spanish dog.
The name comes through the French
from the Spanish "Espanol," mean
ing "Spanish."
g. Legend and tradition assign the outlaw
Robin Hood to the twelfth century,
A. d.
7. The correct title of the Shakespearean
comedy is Loves Labour's Lost"
s. The two cities which figure most prom
inently in the tales of the Arabian
Nights" are Bagdad and Cairo.
0. Sir Anthony Van Dyck painted the
famous portrait Of Charles / Of Eng
land.
i0 The actors strike has CONTINUED for
tseatp sesen DAYS.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
BETTER BURY 1T

1F ANY old-time prohibitionists are
= alive who used to look forward with
hope to the prospect of their party re-
peating the success of the Republican
arty they cannot be contemplating with
ltisfaction the spectacle of the national
Smmittee considering the dissolution of
|, ie party organization.
The old-timers thought that the re-
Nrietion Of the sale of liquor was as
eat moral and political issue as the
solition qf human slavery, The false
lalpsy lssy fhcm on for years but the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Newspaper advertising increased the
city's revenue from curb and shed markets
500 week during the last year, Director
Datesman says. There 10 nothing surprising
in this. The surprising thing is that the
fact should occasion surprise.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
Any Day You Want, II. G.
Knoxville, Tennessee

~. Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dear Socrates: Since all the boys in the
Office go in and make Clitcrary) meal out
of The Chatting Dish it is only fair for us to
let you see what you may see in Tennessee
Mote: blue print plan of home made still
enclosed. Socrdtes). We have been dry for
ten years, but in our mountains we still have
places for many still.
/ should love to be editor of the Dish for
one day-and believe Gas an old Philadel-
phian) we could draw on our memory for
enough material. ~
You would then see our idea of humor:
Everybody's huntor
The Chess Player's Humor
I'D make Dave Mitchell
sit up and take notice y
The Editors humor
The Doctors humor IT,. s..
The Dominie's humor
The Conductors humor a.'..
Then we would ramble Editors ramble)
and we'd try Delaware county via Swarth-
more. What tales lurk in the confines of
the Furness home! Agnes Repplier lost her
pet cat and buried it there. As Mr.. Furness
said, "When in the future folks read the
inscription on the stone:
Aggrippina aged two years
and her son Nero
they will exclaim What race of women
they had in those days."
H.G. CoE.
Dear Socrates: Craven in the stone par-
apet of the Detroit News building are about
half mile of earnest inscriptions expressing
the aims and ideals of the newspaper pro-
fession Mirror Of the Public Mind, Troubler
Of the Public Conscience, all that sort of
thing. But what are the ideals of Chatting
Dish-what inscription is to be craven in
tha stone Darapet- to be around your daak
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

ground. Doubtless they gave the great
man some concern. But the laws remain.
Life wouldn't he complete without
hard-boled minority with stimulating
suspicious and talent for noise.
What we ought to admit is what his
tory will say in many volumes-that Mr..
Wilson is a very great man, with mag
niicent purpose that he is trying to serve
against overwhelming odds. His own ex
pressed aims were so high that they were
almost beyond the scope of possible
things. Yet it is for his failure to achieve
the ultimate that he is now being criti-
cized. Had he made no promises, ex
pressed no hope, described no plans, he
might have been applauded for achieving
as much as he achieved at Paris. He,
himself sharpened the critical faculties
of the country and he is to put his cause
at last in the hands of jury which has
been trained in discernment by following
him in the past. He has to win back a
vast mass of dissatisfied opinion before
he can be sure Of the reaction that will
force favorable action on the league cove
nant and the treaty of peace in the Sem
ate. But he will have to get little
closer to the ground. He will have to
analyze and describe and expose and ex-
plain,s detail by detail, the processes by
which he was seemingly diverted at right
angles from some of the purposes that
took him to Paris.
1t will be said that the Presidents tour
is intended to serve political purpose.
1t is, if we consider the term in its larger
meaning.
Mr.. Wilson has a right to tour the
country and to seek such support as he
may need, whether it be expressed at the
polls or more subtly in what we know as
public sentiment. Any man has that
privilege. We are governed, fortunately,
not by men, but by popular opinion. An
intelligent appeal to that opinion is a
method of procedure without which free
government could not last. 1t is the very
basis of the democratic theory.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
What Do You KnotU?
QUIZ

/. Who is the present Turkish sultan?
2. What is the original meaning of the word
archipelago?
8. Who said "We easily forget crimes that
are known only to ourselves?
4. What is the second largest state in the
Union?
5. What is the "Pater Noster'?
6! What town is said to bear the longest
geographical name in the world?
Z. Whatwa the nationality of Queen Vic
toria's husband?
s. What is the pronunciation in England,
of the word clerk?
0. Where did Grover Cleveland live after
his last presidential term?
10. On what vessel is General Pershing re-
turning to America?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

1t used to be said in
The Ruin Is Being Washington that the
Whitewashed government of the
United States was ad-
ministered through three Houses-Congress,
White and Colonel. Since the Presidents s
chief aide drifted into trouble in Europe it
may be said that the government now consists
of two Houses and half.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Every man alive has
The FoOlishness all the time in the
Of Short Cuts world. He is wise
who spends it wisely.
He often wastes it who tries to save it. A
Paterson, n. j., teacher tried to save it by
crossing the tracks in front of locomotive.
He lost it entirely and found eternity.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
Too Much TerrapIn, PerhapsY

Dear Socrates: 1 am visitor In Phia-
delphia, and the other day was sitting in a
sightseeing car waiting for It TO fill up, end
reading the Chatting Dish to pass away the
lapguid Interval, noted paragraph about
that same sight -seeiug bus on Chestnut
sttses, and that you said you wished YOU
coE6 oirut like Philadtlphlsp 10 show Is
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
Mr.. IIooyer's exnIa
BIOckades

in the United States de-
scribes neutral markets in Europe bulging
with stored food shipped in by spectators
in this country and elsewhere who hoped to
get famine prices from Russia and Ger
many when the allied blockades were re-
moved. But it appears that the hungry
people in the east of Europe cannot pay and
the food is going to waste. 1t has always
appeared that a restriction in the home
countries to limit exports and prevent just
this condition would have been wiser and
more humane than the blockade maintained
against Germany and Russia.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
June

THERE'S Annie of the golden hair, there's
L Jennie of the smile;
There's Frances of the tinkling laugh, or
Mary and her guile;
There's Patsy with her Irish eyes-with her
like to spoon
But the one that's nearest to my heart is
gentle, timid June!
There's Maybelle of the tender heart; there's
Nellie of the sighs;
There's Lena of the accent, and there's
Bessie of the eyes;
There's Bertha from the sunny South, with
gentle, drawing Groom
But the one that's nearest to my heart is
gentle, timid June!
There's Daisy of the Hollands, with a trace
of Scouand's burr;
There's Tess from Carolina-say you'd fall
in love with her! .E
There's Billie of the chorus, always lovely,
night or noon
But the one that's nearest to my heart IL
gentle, timid June!
ROBERT LESLIE BELLEM.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Governor Hobby, of Texas, doesn't in .
tend to let anybody ride him. a.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
THE CHAFFLNG DISH

visitors what it looks like. Well, Socrates,
what L want to say is l have been watching
Philadelphians, and l don't believe they
strut. More than that, don't see why they
should. Now in my home town of Gaze
novia, n. Y, we have far more reason for
strutting. However, did see one thing in
your city that I have never observed else
where. l saw n very stout man sitting in
the front window of club, and as went
by he made very supercilious gesture. He
shrugged his stomach. He really did. Now
what | want to know is, is that Philadel-
,phlas attitude toward the stranger within
her gates? CASPER WINCH.
1t IS dreadful thing to suppose-but,
anyway, just suppose all those small bows
should grow up without ever once asking
Daddy, what did you do in the great warp
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Sober second thought has it that cost
plus basis is cost plus gouge.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

"Oust Burleson!' cry
They're Busy Men the letter carriers. Is
that the worst they
would do to him?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
When a FeiIer Needs a Friend

When FeiIer Needs a Friend
Scene: A hay teper sufferer, snorting his
hfs aody. To him, enter Mr.. Kindly Well
meaning.
MIR. X. W.: So you have hay fever, have
you?
SUFFERER: mpmp-gnng-splshshs
aaarrrhashoo!
MIR. X. W.: It's a queer thing isn't it?
Have you done anything for it?
SUFFERER: fzfzfz-nffn--rrrr-w I
' MIR. X. W.: 1t must be awfully annoy
ing.
SUFFERER: pfffsnzzhgrh-snqqqzr
pooffff
MIR. X. w: Have you tried that vac
cine treatment?
! SUFFERER: blaff-grrzznBsn-gd gddmhl
-schpoof!
MIR. X. w: You know I've never seen
any one in the actual spasm before.
SUFFERER: Comes to and glares diz-
zily at his interlocutor) Umph g..
MIR. X. w: It's really very curious. Is
there any scientific explanation?
(CGrtain)
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

The wind still blows through the Car.
rama whiskers.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Uncle Sam is doing his best to give old
II. C. of L. beans.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

September II will be "T- told you SO :
Day"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

The North Penn Bank drama i NOT too
rapidly moving to It's climax
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

Ccroper knight would probably have a
better epinion Of the charter Hiit were q.
dead one.>
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
WTE OFTEN wonder whether Charley
w Chaplin bruises easily.


One of the most congenial jobs we can
think of just now would be that of dramatic
critic. $500, .e,... ,..
Speaking of Charley Chaplin, there is one
bit of low comedy stuff that he has neglected.
We would like to see film version of one
hay fever victim telling another II have it
worse than you do" The rage and fury
of the latter, the bitter argument, and the
joint fit of sneezing and putting and wheez-
ing brought on by the excitement-all this
would make strong bid for our sense of
the ridiculous.
We would like to congratulate the man
who had the good sense to translate lit
orally Marshal Foch's good to Pershing.
A lesser creature would have CLOSED it over
into time trodden English phrases. But this
guy, whoever he was, had the wit to see
the power and vivacty of the Frenchman's
own language. Il am struck hard in the
heart" said Foch, and the words leap out
at us. 1t is such phrases that make per-
fectly reasonable men sometimes wish they
had been born French.
The most unpopular character in any Of
flee nowadays is the man who hasn't taken
his vacation yet, and who insists daily on
theirs) that September is the best MONTH"
1t is a customary error to think a man
sagacious just because ne happens to know
the things you don't know.
It's wise employer that can recognize
his own stenographcr when he meets her in
her Sunday hat.
There are men who cannot read any book
requiring speculation and ratiocination with
out putting smoke at the page. Yet this
doesn't prove that thinking power is inherent
in tobacco.
These letter carriers that have been in
town don't know what good friend of theirs
we are. We would like to have shown them
our pile of unanswered mail. Just think of
all the burdens we might have inflicted upon
them, and haven't.
When Pershing got to France he said
Lafayette, we're here" When he left,
Marshal Foch said Tin effect), "Pershing,
you're there"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

n c. RAMSDELL is taking more than a
VI passing interest in the mayoralty con-
test in Philadelphia. He is the son of J. G.
Ramsdell, who came down from New Eng
land years ago and started piano business
in Philadelphia. The elder Ramsdell had a
penchant for yachts and sailed in the same'
class with Francis Skunk Brown, who after
ward became attorney general. At one fine
the elder ltamsdell made a stab for Com
gress in the Third district against Con-
gresham Moore.
uENRY s. BORNEMAN, of Frankford,
IL has returned from his vacation. After
the death of Wv. Foulkrod, who repre-
sented the Fifth district in Congress. the
Republicans selected Borneman as their
candidate. He made a fine showing but
was defeated, owing to factonal differences
in the district at that time. The Fifth dis
trict is now represented by Peter E. Co.'S
tello, who was director of public works under
Mayor John Weaver. And Peter is hustlinp
some right now to hold the district in the
mayOralty contest.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

One of the most congenial jobs we can
think Of just now would be that of dramatic
critic. $3.50, ...,.. &c..
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03

When Pershing got to France he said
Lafayette, we're here" When he left,
Marshal Foch said lin effect), "Pershing,
you're there"