davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09
STRIKE OF RAILWAY SHOP MEN

Without the sanction of the grand Off
cials of the unions effected, nationwide
strike of railroad shopmen was called on
August l. Officials of the railroad admin
istration asserted that the strike was not
only unauthorized by the union chiefs, but
was in direct violation of contract, and was
an insurgent movement which proceeded
without respecting the labor agreement be-
tween the railroads and the men.
Latest reports indicate that the strike is
spreading despite efforts of union officials to
hold the men at work until an authorized
strike vote is taken. Already more than
/ 100000 cars are reported to be out of COM
mission and unless rolling stock can be kept
in order, grave results will follow to the
country at large.
On August. 4, 100000 members of the
Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Sta
ton Employees, joined with other railway
workers in demanding that, unless some
thing be done materially to reduce the cost
of living, their wages must be raised to give
immediate relief That the strike may
spread to members of all railroad brother
hoods and completely tie up all railway
traffic, is feared, and President Wilson and
Director General w. D. Hines, realizing
the extreme gravity of the situation, are
taking prompt and heroic measures to fore
stall calamity of this kind, the far-reaching
effects of which can hardly be estimated.
Representatives of fourteen different rail-
road unions have joined in communication
to Director General Hines, asking immedi-
ate increase in wages. So far as is known,
this is the first instance on record in which
all the railroad unions, representing 2,OOO,-
600 employees, have acted as a unit.
The National Brotherhood of Conduc-
tors already have announced a strike on
October |, if their wage demands are not
met.
All railroad officials in Washington were
asked by Director General Hines, on August
A. to meet with him for conference on the
high cost of living. The statement is made
by the railroad men that in comparison with
pre-war prices, S. is today worth only Sis.
Through the urgent demands of President
Wilson, the House of Representatives was
forced to forego recess of five weeks,
which was to have begun on August 2, the
President defining the situation as growing
so critical every hour that it demanded def
mite action by Congress. 1t is claimed, how
ever, that Congress has manifested an un-
willingness to accept responsibility, and GER
tain members have declared in strong Ian
guage that the President and the director
general of the railway have full authority
to adjust the matter, without additional leg
islation.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09
ORGANIZED LABOR DEMANDS
THAT PRIVATE CAPITAL BE.
RETIRED FROM RAILROADS
Recognized as Step to Force Nationalist
ton of All Industry

Organized labor came out, on August 4,
with the unequivocal formal demand that
private capital be retired from the railroads
and tripartite control, composed of the
public, the operating management and the
employees, be instituted instead.
Addressed to the American public, and
signed by the Engineers and Firemen, the
Conductors and the American Federation
of Labor, the formal demand was carried
before Congress- "This marks" said the
statement, "the step by which organized la
Dor passes from demands for wage increases
to demands that the system of profits in
industry be overhau1ed."
The demands, characterized as "labor's
BILL are outlined as follows:
''That private capital be eliminated from
the railroads.
I "That the private owners receive for them
government bonds with fixed interest re-
turn for every honest dollar that they have
invested
"That the tripartite control, heretofore
referred to, be established in corporations
which shall lease the roads and in which the
public, the operating arrangements and labor
shall be represented equally.
That the public, the operators and wage
earners share equally all revenue in excess
Of the guarantee to private capital, by grant
ing to the operators and the employees one
half of the savings which are expected to
be made by such perfected organization,
and to the public the other half as con-
sumers, either by increasing service without
adding costs or by reducing costs.
"This role originates with labor, because
labor happens to have firm organizations
through which it may become articulate"
Everywhere in official Washington the de-
rnand is recognized as the most serious and
farreaching proposition the country has
been called upon to face.
1t is seen that naturalization of all es-
sential industries in the United States is
the objective of the American Federation
| of Labor. While the proposal of organized
labor is confined, for the present, to the con-
troll and operation of the railroads, it is not
! the intention that it shall end there.
"On the contrary, the support of the
American Federation for the Plumb plan
] to have the railroads owned by the govern
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09

ment and operated by the railway workers
on profit sharing basis" SAYS Justin Nc
Grath, in an editorial "was secured upon
the pledge that if the plan should achieve
success through the support of all organ
lied labor, the railway workers would stand
with the railroads in other essential indus
tries in bringing about naturalization of
new industries under similar conditions"
There is gigantic struggle in Congress
over the issue, as opposition in both Houses
to the workers plan is developing. Sena-
tor Cummins, conceded to be the leading
railroad authority in Congress, says that
he has given the proposal thorough study.
and is convinced that its adoption would
mean the establishment of working mems
government of the railroads. "Such stride
toward socialism," he added, could not
be taken without promoting an immediate
movement to extend naturalization to all
other branches of industry"
While bitter opposition to the plan has
developed, it is expected that the railroad
workers will be equally unrelenting in their
determination to force their proposal upon
Congress.
Senator Thomas, of Colorado in referr-
ing to the proposal of the railroads, is quoted
as saying:
I'VE are facing, demand, not request,
on the part of something like 100000 en-
ployes that we give them $8OO,OOOOOO at
once, which confessedly will not help them
at all, and they propose to suspend the op-
Grafton of our great transportation systems
until we do: and, second, we are faced with
the demand that we pass the so-called
: Plumb plan and by that means confiscate
S2OOOO,OOO,OOO worth of property and turn
1t over to the workers and others whom they
name for private exploitation
The railroad employees are employees of
the government and those on strike are
guilty of little less than treason. Less than
| per cent of our population proposes to
take this mighty nation by the throat and
starve it into submission"
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09
LOCAL ITEMS
&c. B. wy
,1R57525151s752575751E

Attention is drawn to an ordinance passed
by the city council on June Is, regulating
traffic. 1t requires that every automobile
or other vehicle, whether propelled by
mechanical or animal power, shall approach
the curb at right angles, and shall not draw
up sideways to the curb, except to receive
or discharge passengers, and must not re-
main in the sideways position to the curb
for longer time than one minute. Sec
ton 2 of the ordinance says: In street
intersections, where turning pillars or sill
ent policemen are placed all vehicles, in
cluding motorcycles and bicycles, and all
animals ridden, led or driven without being
attached to vehicles, shall pass or turn
around said pillar or Silent policeman al
ways to the right hand side thereof.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09
HIGH COST OF LIVING CAUSE OF
GENERAL SOCIAL UNREST
Need Of Prompt Action If Industrial Up
heaval is To Be Avoided

The high cost of living is said to be the
all abiding topic at the American capital.
President Wilson is giving very deep and
thoughtful consideration to the problems
presented to him by the railroad Brother
hoods, who represent that either prices will
have to come down, or wages 90 up. if
social unrest does not develop into uphea-
VAL
Compelled by the acuteness Of the stu
ation,' says Universal Service dispatch,
which admittedly is one of the most seri-
Gus IN the history of the nation. the admin
stration will take definite steps to reduce the
high cost of living 1t is realized there can
be no delay in formulating a program"
Three main plans of action are under
consideration. They are:
institution of a drastic policy toward
all profteers
2Government acquisition of the entire
wheat crop, paying the farmer the basic
price of $40 a bushel, and selling to the
American public at much lower price, the
difference to be cared for out of the
81 600 100000 fund appropriated in the last
session by Congress.
3-Adoption or recommendation of meas
ures which will attempt to put the country's
currency on basis approximating the level
of 1914 or 1915"
The new commission in Chicago, appoint
ed by Mayor Thompson to advise the city
bureau of foods, markets, and farm pro-
ducts, has outlined seven causes of high
food prices, to which Congressional atten-
ton is directed:
"Exportation of food stuffs to foreign
countries far IN Of +Io 1a,,,oetso
plus, thus creating a shortage at home.
Profteering by spectators, who handle
foods by means of money only and are
not essential in the line of travel from pro-
ducer to customer.
Hoarders who withdraw foodstuffs from
consumption during the producing season
in excess of normal requirments. Bv such
withdrawal, prices are increased during the
producing season. and by placing the hoard
ed foods on the market "at greatly exorbi-
tant prices in the nonproducing season,
prices are kept up the year around.
Resales within the same trade during in
terstate commerce.
Fictitious sales to enhance prices while
foods are in interstate commerce.
/ Wasteful practices by common carriers
during transportation
Illegal monopolistic combinations.
Henry NJ Hvde in special cable dis
patch to The Chicago Tribune, from Lon
don, says that however high the cost of
living may be in the United States. it is
| certainly much higher and more alarming in
Great Britain. He quotes great London
newspaper as saying: "Life is becoming
almost too costly to live. It is equally ex-
pensive to die"
Spearman Lewis, in special cable dis
patch to The Tribune, from Paris says:
eff the United States government has no
better success fighting the high cost of liv-
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09

tanned that on one day he caused the pipes
of 10000 young men of Paris to be destroy
ed. 1t is time for the appointment of a
commission in America to ascertain the in
fuence of the present prevalent use of
cigarettes upon her national life. When
this is done we shall be startled at the revela
tions that will be made and the traffic in
this habitforming drug will meet with the
same fate that opium has in China.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09

ust 8, the Chicago public began 10 pay lhe
following increased traction fares:
SURFACE LINES
Adults ............... IL SClllo
Children, to II. a cents
Transfers are issued without charge and
children less than 7 years old may ride free,
if accompanied by an adult.
ELEVATED ROADS
Adult fare in Chicago. ..... 8 cents
Chicago to Evanston. ...... IA cents
Chicago to Oak Park and other
western suburbs .......... cents
Adult fare in Evanston. .... cents
The former regulations concerning chill
dren are continued.
The new fares made necessary by the
wage increase of II cents an hour, granted
to both surface and elevated employees uf1-
der Governor Lowden's compromise, were
authorized by the public utilities commits
sion late on Wednesday.
The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-09
NEW CAR FARE FOR CHICAGO

At 1901 o'clock Friday morning, Aug
ust 8, the Chicago public began to pay the
following increased traction fares:
The Washington times., 1919-10-24

+ tutes the rub" And then he hustled
out to buy a porterhouse or so. Said
porterhouse is rather high, because
it's hard to grow. But Mrs. Spender
cannot eat a steak of low degree
costly cute, you see. And few indeed
and far between are. days the
7spenders try to cultivate the lowly
bean in place of chicken pie. They
will not swap their garb of silk for
one of calico, for folks like Spend
ers and their ilk. don't care for
going slow. They choose to move
with chaps of class whose pace Is
very swift; they claim they have
not met, alas, that useful word
the Spenders fail to hook up with
the cash, why. some day they will
give up quail and dine on spuds
and hash. They, cannot see the
surest way to get little lift is
put the brakes on every day and
. try a touch of thrift. Now, many
millionaires whose luck's theme
of world renown, claim every man
who earns a buck should salt por-
tion down. They say, these crafty
financiers, that saving is an art, al
though their words awake no
cheers upon the Spenders' part In
fact, the Spenders seem to feel their
cue is to be miffed when any fell
low makes a spiel that lauds this
good old thrift Nor can they ever
figure out how soon their load
would lift. if they would only right
about and try a little thrift.
The Washington times., 1919-10-24

long hour to wait before his ar
rival.
In this hour David wrote on a
sheet of paper statement which
he submitted to Henry Andrews,
when, at last, that gentleman en-
tered his office.
There's no use in arguing about
1t. Mr.. Andrews" David burst
forth when the lawyer raised his
eyebrows and shook his head. Il
will not touch one cent of my
aunts money"
But, my dear man, can't you
comprehend that you cannot give
away thing that does not belong
to you?-and this property will not
be yours for almost two years, any
way-and then only if you comply
with the terms set forth in the will.
l may promise to give you my watcn
at the end of year. You cannot
take it this morning and make a
present of it to my office boy-or
Nto anyone else"
Il know that" David sprang to
his feet and strode up and down
the floor. But l will not remain
under the Implication that my
aunt's money will ever be mine.
A P0SI0ye ASSerl0n.>
Even rad I.been SO fortunate as
to know she honored my unworthy
self by her regard (pray forgive me
for suggesting the possibility of
such thingD-I would never have
accepted that legacy. And / must
insist that you have this paper
properly drawn up and let me sign
il If = certainly
thing to demand" - -
But it is not legal" Andrews
protested.
Il do not care whether it is or
not! 1t will give me satisfaction to
sign 1T. Even if you just stick il
away in your safe, and, at the end
of the period of probation destroy
ii, 1t will be some balm to my
wounded pride to know that it has
been written"
Andrews read the paper again.
1t was brief declaration to the ef-
feet that David Smith DeLaine here
and now renounce any claim to any
part of the property of his aunt, the
late Miss Jeanne DeLaine. and that
under no circumstances-whe he
were to marry or remain single
would he touch a cent of it.
Andrews smiled whimsically. you
may never meet Miss Leighton" he
ventured, but if You did-stranger
things have happened-and were so
fortunate as to marry her-What
about this document""
The young man flushed crimson.
1T would hold good more than
everw
Andrews shrugged his shoulders,
How could you escape accepting
what would belong to you?" he
questioned.
II would either prove that my
aunt was of unsound mind, or fail
ing that, would give the entire
property to her favorite charities"
was the vehement reply.
To he Continued.
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
TUice- Told Tales
The Ghost Robber.

THE story OF the ghost robber"
occupies a prominent posi-
L ton in the history OF Wash
ington.
The ghost robber" operated ex-
tensively in Washington. much on
the order of the noted "Jack the
Slasher," during the greater part OF
the year 1887. He was feared by all
persons OF the District, and was
noted for his viciousness when in
tight place Often his arrest was
imminent, but the robber always
held his pursuers at bay while he
effected an escape. Substantial
recompense was promised any po-
lceman or civilian who could bring
him within the reach OF the law,
dead or alive"
The Inability OF the police to
suppress his activities created a state
of unusual excitement in the city.
He persistently entered houses, cut
ting up furniture. clothing and car
pets, destroying valuable premises
and practicing the most wanton and
exasperating tricks upon his VIC
Tins.
The climax in the hunt for the
vandal came when he entered more
than fifteen houses one after an
other. He would slit a couch cover
to near its border and then turn his
cutting into the form OF a circle.
He broke bottles Of milk as they
stood at the door. substituted
babies shoes for those of a man,
filled patches OF bread and biscuit
dough with filth. and destroyed ar
The Washington times., 1919-10-24

ticles of art and products OF labor.
He scattered lingerie and chins
about the floors and devastated fur
nlshings in any way he could.
The whole police force turned out
to hunt him down.
In the meantime the name Ghost
Roboer' and "Slasher" had been
given him, and children lived in
fear OF the specter of the ghost I"
Mothers Quieted their children BY
threatening to call the robber.
sometimes put them in their bess at
night with a warning: BE good.
and the ghost robber will leave you
alone"
At that time he had never been
seen by his victims. but on a cold
night in 1887 he was surprised at
his work by Private Sheehsn. The
burglar fed and the officer gave
chase.
Sheehan gained, and the fugitive
turning. fired at the policeman. whe
fell seriously wounded.
The groin was pierced by large
caliber bullet, which had attached
to IL a loaded brass she'll
Privates George w Boyd and
Brice were attracted by the firing.
They entered the chase as the
ghost robber" seemed TO have once
more escaped arrest. But they
caught him aud took him 10 police
headquarters.
He proved to be- JohRs Jackson,
and was tried shortly sfter~aro'
A sentence of tweuty years in the
penitentiary was handed down ~
the court
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
Country and
TOUn Health

TINE records Of the medical de-
partment of the United
L States army show that the
camps made up of rural dwellers
had at least % per cent more cases
or influenza, 10 per cent more pneu-
O. monia, 10 per cent more deaths, and
80 per cent ,higher admission rate
for all sickness than the camps
made up of city men. Troops drawn
from rural communities, in other
words, suffered more than troops
recruited in cities.
The vast bodies of men mobilized
in the army camps, where they
were subject to systematized med
ical supervision for two years, fur
-nished unique opportunities for
gathering statistics on an unpre-
dented scale with respect to Ger
tain forms of disease, and the con-
clusions drawn are more reliable
than those based upon previous
small-scale studies.
Love and Davenport, who gath
cred statistics, believe that recruits
coming from large cities or other
densely populated areas have ac-
QulreQ a general lHlIuunlly 10 IN
fictitious or communicable disease.
They think that any one of the
communicable diseases leaves the
body in a state of heightened re-
sistance to all germs, possibly be-
cause the increase in the number
Of white cells (the policemen" of
the blood) which takes place in the
course of such an. infection \per-
sists.
Since more city than country
children experience such infections,
the general immunity of the former
shows up better in adult life.
In other words. the country is
healthier than the city. in the sense
that there are less infectious dis
ease in childhood, but on the other
hand there are advantages in grow
ing up in the city and being able
TO bid defiance in adult life to dis
eases to which country folk would
succumb because of their lesser
resistance.
Take your choice.
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
Hints For The
Household

A small quantity of saltpeter or
carbonate of soda added to the water
m which flowers are left standing
will keep them comparatively fresh
for more than two weeks. flowers
that have wilted can be revived for
a time If the stems be inserted In
solution of weak camphor water.
Old. stocking legs covered with
part of An old kid glove make ex-
ceilent iron holders.
Red rust on any part OF the CRATE
can be easily covered with black
lead if raw onion is first rubbed
over ii.
When pouring boiling water into
an empty glass, put, spoon In the
glass first. This will prevent 1t
from cracking.
After frying onions, pour little
vinegar into the frying pan. let II
get hot, and it will remove all smell
from the pain.
To remove grass stains, wash the
stained article in alcohol or am
monia and water; IL the colors are
not delicate use paste made OF
soap and cooking soda.
The fber of the African boabab
tree is said to contain very nne
paper making material.
Over q per cent of the worlds
supplies OF nickel is mined In the
British empire.
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
B o OK S

ONLY HENRIETTA. BY Leila II. Rich
ards. Boston: The Page Company.
1t requires 392 pages TO get rid
Of the prefix "only" which an un-
feeling community tackled on to this
charming person. Henrietta is a
Cinderella sort of person, and
though the reader is never in doubt
that she will eventually attain q
place in the sun, the chronicle OF
her struggle will prove highly en-
tertaininr,
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
ST. PAID FOR EVERY
ST SAVED
How I Saved a Dollar.

Here is a chance for every
one to earn a dollar by telling
how they have saved a dollar
by economizing. 1t may be a
dollar or more. II may have
been saved in a day or a week.
However, all that matters is by
what economy it was saved.
For every dollar-ssving ex-
perience which | print, will
pay one dollar in return.
81 saved and 81 earned by the
telling of the saving makes 81.
How about it? Be brief and
write only on one side of paper.
ELIZABETH LATTIMER.
The Washington times., 1919-10-24
Date or Coeoanut Bread.

cups -four teaspoon salt
! cup dates. teaspoon sugar
yeast cake teaspoons tepid
a cup milk. water.
y cup water
Dissolve the yeast in 4 table
spoons of tepid water and add it to
the other ingredients, omitting the
dates. Knead to a smooth dough
and allow IL to rise to double the
bulk. Add the stoned dates TO the
dough. shape into a loaf and place
in a creased pan. Allow il to rise
again, brush the top with milk and
bake in hot oven about three
quarters OF an hour. Cocoanut
may be substituted for the dates.
A young university student is
the winner of today's Economy
prize with a program of such self
denial that I'm sure he will finish
his school course with flying coIors
and come out ahead in life's strug-
gle. He doesn't want his name and
address used for fear he would be
guyed to death by boys who don't
have "to make their own way
Therefore I shall just give only mis-
initials because his efforts are al
together too praiseworthy to be
ended by the snobbish attitude
which is altogether too common
in our schools and colleges
The boys letter follows:
DEAR ELIZABETH LATTIMER:
am college student and have
many uses for my money. de-
termined to cut down expenses and
did so in the following manner:
First-Shined my own shoes Seven
cents saved.
seeond-waIked seven blocks.
back and forth, to meals. Thirty
cents saved.
Third-Went without "srtrz'
lunches between meals. Twenty-Five
cents saved.
Fourth-Invested in q secondhand
book instead OF new one. Thirty
cents saved.
Pifth--0aye mp smoking and saved
one-hah package Of cigarettes Ten
cents saved.
Thus by little thought and self