davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
An Ir7,provised Army

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The newspapers are devoting space
to thes story of incarcerated soldiers in
France, and laying stress on the brutality
of their treatment at the hands of the off,
GERS in charge of the prisons.
We had an army of three million men.
This army hastily assembled and was
composed of men who had never been SUBJ
jected to the restraints OF discipline; in
fact, many were not amenable to discipline
and had frequently appeared before mags-
trates to answer charges of dsordery con-
duct or worse.
Many of the officers were unfit. Their
knowledge, of the customs of the service was
slight; they had never been instructed that
an officer may not touch an enlisted man,
and that if IL be necessary TO force
other enlisted men must be employed
under the direction Of commissioned or
non commissioned officers.
When one considers that these three million
men were suddenly taken from civil life and
placed under the instruction of officers who
had but lately learned their facings it Is a
matter for astonishment that conditions were
not worse. The sentences of the court martial
may appear severe when compared with the
sentences imposed for corresponding delin-
quencies by civil courts, but it must be
borne in mind that the purpose of a court
martial is to enforce and maintain disci-
pline in all ranks and not 10 administer
justice. The only cases that come before 4
court martial are for infraction Of the rules
and regulations. Some OF the officers who
were found guilty of conduct unbeconiing
officer and a gentleman" IN connection
with this improper prison discipline were
dishonoraby dismissed from the service and
sentenced to prison for varying terms.
ROBERT W. LEONARD.
Mount Kisco, N. Y, July %, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Dark Thoughts
he Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: What's the idea of trying to bolster
up your faith in your stars through the
medium of the public? Of course F. P. A.
and the rest are the whole "meat" of The
Tribune; how can you doubt it or even
think of it?
Why publish such letter as the one in
the other mornings issue criticising YOU
for ever having F. P. A. appear on the
editorial page? Quite possibly you mailed
that letter to yourself, with the sneaking
hope that it would bring forth the opinions
of The Tribune readers.
The Tribune would be like every other
paper published if it didn't have such
brains as F. P. AS, Briggs's, Grantlari
Rice's, etc. I feel as if I were being used
to further your own selfish motives. in that
you want to see just what effect the ab
sence of +. P. AS "colyum" has ON the
public. For one, miss him. The Tribune
seems deserted without him-my tribute to
brains. RICHARD G. NA1rN
Slater Island, New York City. july so.
1879.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Starting Centuries
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In your issue of the first of the
month you have an article headed "Janu.
ary and October Start Same Day of Week"
and in the second paragraph you state
that a century can never begin on
Wednesday, Friday or Saturday.
This is evidently incorrect, for if you
will take the trouble OF comparing your
information with the two calendars I am
nclosing, one reproduced and the other
compiled by Dr. Kendall himself, sou will
find that all the centuries equally dvisble
by 400 begin on Saturday; all those leav-
ing remainder of 100 begin on Friday;
all those leaving remainder Of 300 begin
on Wednesday.
1t seems to me that the writer Of the
article had forgotten the centuries 1900,
100 and 1900, which began Saturday.
Friday and Wednesday, respectively, and
perhaps does not expect to assist in the
Inauguration of the year 1000, which VIII,
like 1000, begin on Saturday; hence the
misstatement.
But I forgive him, as I am sure DR..
Kendall would, whose wonderful demon
straton l had the pleasure OF witnessing
some years ago in Montreal: calculating
from memory any date in any year with
in the 5000 years of the calendar and
naming instantly the 1st OF January Of
any year from the other.
All one needed to remember. Dr. Ken
dali would say, is 1874 key figures, as
follows: 100 for the hundred years IN
the century, 80 each for the thirty CEN
turies in both the old and new style cal
endars, "a for the months Of the two kinds
of years (ordinary and leap years.
Until now l have not heard OF any one
who could duplicate his feat; maybe you
have c. BROWN.
Detroit, Mich. July 25, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Americas Race Problem

The negro question, with it's many
grave complexities, will hardly be solved
by approaches from a political or sec
tional viewpoint or by lively memories
of past events or keen appreciation
of old wrongs. What is, rather than
what has been, is the proper subject of
concern.
The negroes in the United States num-
ber 100000 and each decade shows a
normal increase. Counted with them are
persons of mixed blood, and gradually
whitening black race is developing men
and women indisposed to submit to dis
elimination. Slowly but steadily the
negroes are becoming educated, are ac-
quiring property, are forcing their way
upward.
The negro meets and suffers from
strongly intrenched prejudice. The priv
lege of averting conditions that may lead
to serious dissensions is still with the
white. May the providence that hereto
fore has watched over this country in
terpose to prevent it hearing the words
''Too late!" The best way to avoid race
collisions, it would seem, is to give
negro hope food to subsist on-by keep
ing alive the belief that a people which
armed 100000 to free the negro has
no desire to Cypress him and will ulti-
mately subdue race prejudice.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
The Burned FLAGS
(FrOm The Trtbunc's Paris Buredu)

fFrom The Trtbunc's Paris Bureau
PARIS, July TO- Germany's government
was behind the destruction at Berlin of capt
ured French flags, according to evidence
accumulated by II. CALI one of the repre-
sentatives of Paris, in the french Chamber
Of Deputies. In statement given out to-
day Mr.. CALI definitely accuses the. admins
tration of the empire-republic of agreeing
to the burning Of the cmblems taken in 1870,
which, under the terms of the treaty of
peace, to be returned to France.
He states that ten soldiers of the cavalry
of the Guard were introduced into the Berlin
arsenal by Herr Binder, the conservator of
the museum, and that these men, under the
orders of Lieutenant Simon, seized fifteen
French flags, carried them off and burned
them before the statue of Frederick the
Great in the presence of crowd of officers
and students.
Lieutenant Simon, according to Mr.. CALI,
delivered speech in which he swore that
"no trophy should ever be returned to
France" which was greeted with immense
enthusiasm. The fifteen flags burned included
two that had been captured. in 1914 after
the battle of Charleroi and which had been
placed at the head of the stairway in the
arsenal which leads to the "Hall Of Glory"
So far as is at present known, the flags
Of Metz, which have long hung in the garr-
son church at Potsdam, still untouched,
as are the flags of the French Revolution,
and a number of others (Belgian as we'll
as French) captured during the World
War.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
The BrowneUs
1T Happens in the Best
Regulated Families"
Friend sWife

FriendsWife
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
CIR: 1 cannot, simply cannot, permit
~ the name Of John C. Browneu to re-
main any longer under the cloud which
at present hangs over It'll
You see, it is like this-it is also my name'
inasmuch as l am his wife. And feel
must set him straight with your readers
even though I shall fear his wrath when
he finds he is so betrayed.
Firstly and foremostly - he is most
ardent admirer of Mr. Briggs. He Is un-
able to eat his breakfast each morning until
he has chuckled with much relish over thu
daily cartoon.
And upon the occasion of the "bathtub
cartoon" his joy knew no bounds inasmuch
ms my name is Agnes (the name the pictured
man called so frantically in his dilemma)
He told me that morning that he intended
to write letter Of appreciation to your
paper. but 1 never dreamed he would take
such tone! I read his letter with constcr-
nation! l told him there would be people
who would believe he was in earnest, but he
only said: ooh, no one could be mistaken
there isn't such an antediuvian ass alive
who could write that letter seriously"
Now he is enjoying the discussion, while
I am distressed that our name should stand
for such medieval rot as some of your read
ers believe!
Won't you undeceivc them just as quickly
as possible? He will do so when he thinks
the fun is over, but can't endure the strain
So please advertise the fact that John c.
Brownel is a lover of Briggs and steady
subscriber to The Tribune, and is merely
playing the role of the village cutup.
AGNES BROWNELL.
New York, July 81, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02

it a regional arrangement or by CIV
ing to a council OF whatever makeup the
right to determine whether it has been
lnfringed or is jeopardized. 1t is not an
Arrangement" 1t is uniateral. 1t is
serted by the United States against all
the world, notably against the very powers
whose representatives would be majority
of such Council" 1t needs no treaty
recognition. 1t has been .acquiesced in
whenever asserted The United States is
the only nation to decide if it is in danger.
Similarly as to a reservation of "short
notice. right to withdraw from the league of
nations.
Senate Represents People
If any signatory of the treaty fail to
object seasonably to the modified ratifca
tion, the treaty continues obligatory as
thus limited upon all.
Unless the Senate's power in this re-
spcct be conceded, The words of Article II
of the Constitution are meaningless.
Moreover, it is fundamental that the right
be asserted. Peace commissions are rep
resentatives of an administration The Sem
ate represents the people Of the nation.
The treaty with Prussia, in 1914, was
rejected report by Mr.. Rufus Choate
on the single ground that it engaged the
faith of the. nation to do what Congress
alone had power to do.
Finally, is the time to interpret
the treaty to safeguard American
interests. In the case of Fourteen Dia-
mond Rings VS.. United States, the Su-
preme Court held that a resolution Of the
Snr0fo 0f IF 4bo NV
with Spain, declaring what it intended or
did not intend, had no legal significance
or effect. (See opinion, Fuller, Ch. j., 1873
U. s.. 179 ct seq.)
Regardless Of CIanaor
implicitly it can be argued that if the
ratification was consented to on the ground
that certain clause of the treaty meant
a particular thing or the contrary, and this
had been expressed, the court would have
SO construed the treaty in its operation.
Regardless of public clamor the Sena-
tors who have injected into the making
of the Versailles treaty the element of
safeguarding few purely American rights
should have the support of the thinking
public and not be accused of delaying the
peace.
For the war is at an end 1t could be
resumed, of course-but on what ground
and by whom? Would any of these
reservations put a German or Austrian
army corps in motion? The President
himself proclaimed in the address laying
the proposed treaty before the Senate
Chat war is at an end" The terms
of the treaty are executory; they look to
future relations and obligations We ask
no return of our billions; we seize no
territory; but we ask that our national
rights heretofore asserted be not
deemed iessened by our generous crusade
and that as to future assistance and CO.
operation we have a right to withdraw
from the league if in our judgment it
is not functionng as we hope it will
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
The Senate Clear Power
By Henry W. Jessup, of the New York Bar

TT rs contendcd that no reservations by
the Senate in ratifying the peace treaty
would be effectual. An argument by
analogy has bees made from the de-
csion Of the United States Supreme Court
in Texas VS.. White, 7 Wallace, 700, when
the court denied validity to reservations
by Virginia, New York and Rhode Island
to their ratihcations of the United States
Constitution.
The analogy fails. In the law of treaties
it has been generally recognized that the
contracting states are deemed to negotiate
with notice of the limitations of the treaty
making power Of their respective govern
mcnts.
Nations Must Take Notice
Article H. Section 2, OF the Constitution
declares:
"That the President shall have power,
by and with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, to make treaties, provided
two-thirds of the Senators present
concur"
In repeated debates in the House and in
the Senate, however, the question has been
asserted and settled that when a treaty
of the United States affects u matter COM
mitted by the Constitution to Congress it
cannot be operative until Congress enacts
a law in execution thereof. In 1903, in the
debates on the Cuban treaty, Senator j ohm
G. Spooner analyzed the matter concisely,
showing, in effect, that either such treaty
expressly provides for the enabling action
by Congress or, if silent, remains execu-
tory until the legislation which the Con-
sttution gives Congress sole power to en-
act is in force; that the Constitution is
written into every treaty "If it cannot
take effect under the organic law without
affirmative action by Congress that is In
the body of the treaty" G. e., by implica-
tion), the nations must take notice of
the limitations on the treaty making power:
Wheaton says that treaty dealing with
matter requiring "auxiliary legislative
measures" is imperfect in its obligation
until the national assent has been given
in the forms required by the municipal
constitution" Mr. Story and John Mar
shall were cited in support of this rule.
against AU the World
Much more, then, do the nations have
to take notice Of the "advice and consent
Of the Senate" clause. No treaty nego-
tiated with commissioners of the United
States is fixed in it's terms until the Sem
ate has given its aduice and registered it's
consent.
If, then, the Senate deliberating upon
the Treaty of Versailles, advises, for ex-
ample, that it be ratified except "that
nothing herein contained or covenanted
shall be deemed to affect impair the
operation of the Monroe Doctrine, as here
tofore asserted by the United States of
America" the treaty is none the less
operative as between the signatory powers,
save that they have notice that the United
States declines to be bound by the limita-
tion of that doctrine, whether by defining
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Concurrent Prohibition

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The word Concurrent" in connec-
tion with the enforcement of prohibition
will have to be interpreted in It's legsla-
tive sense. When a concurrent resolution
is offered in Congress the identical measure
must be passed by both the Senate and the
House of Representatives before il becomes
effective. Therefore concurrence is not
complete, and prohibition is not enforceable
in any state until such time the Legislat-
ure of that state enacts the Identical meas
ure passed by Congress; and in those states
where the legislatures fail TO enact such
identical measure there is no concurrence
and can be no enforcement.
J. c. FINCH.
Albany, N. Y, July 81, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Universal Service

The identical Chamberlain and Kahn
bills, introduced into the Senate and the
House, bring the contest for universal
military training where it belongs-that
is, into the open. There is to be roll
call in both houses, and dodgers are to
have a trying time.
The War Department has apparently
no definite policy-is largely in the state
of mind which possessed it when con-
scription was in the balance. It's chiefs
are seemingly persuaded that universal
service provides the only just and demo-
cratic basis for an army. But they are
terrorized by the assumption that the
people at large are not intelligent
enough and unselfish enough to want the
equal sharing Of q common RESPONSE
bility.
But Senator Chamberlain and Repre-
sentative Kahn have more confidence in
the people. With their feet firmly plant
ed on the principle that a common duty
should be equally borne they make their
appeal. If the issue is fairly presented
there is little doubt of the result Few
want to be soldiers, but fewer, let us
hope, want to compel others to assume
obligations they would shirk.
Like other good things, universal SER
vice has it's byproducts of incidental
good. 1t means that the youth of Amer
ica will get six months of kind of edu-
cation such as is obtanable in 10 school
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
That Dry Month
To the Editor of the Tribune.

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: In interviews published in Tho
Tribune (Friday) about the effect Of the
first dry month in New York City. while
some social improvements are noted. vet
the statement is oft repeated by those who
were interviewed that no difference has
been noticed under prohibition, even bv
societies taking care Of drunks or needy
cases where the cause is drinking.
We need not expect under an incomplete
law, and that only partially enforced. to
cure within the space of one month the lis
of system which has been in vogue for
generations.
things. First, there is meagre enforcement
of the dry law in New York City, else i
would be impossible for the offenders %
continue spending their money for hquor.
Second, there is no full -fedged prohibition
law in operation here, and the slight soc,.l
improvement that has been noticed is only
a prophecy of what would happen if we had
full prohibition we'll enforced by both ma
tional and city officials.
In the other dry cities Of New York State.
as in cities of other states where prohibi-
ton has been in effect for considerable
time, the benefcent social effects are IN
disputable. ANDREW B. WOOD,
Of the Anti-Saloon League
New York Aug. l, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
The [shii Agreement
To the Editor Of The Tribune


Sir: You are rendering public service Of
the greatest Importance to the nation IN
bringing into the lmelght the actual fac+s
IN regard to the relations of Japan to China
and to the United States. These facts bave
been distorted by the japanese propaganda
IN this country without contradiction. until
recently, and public opinion has been
shrewdly mised by it,
write more particularly to invite vour
attention to official document bearing ON
the Japanese Interpretation of the LANSING.
isnh agreement. l write entirely from
memory, but l feel confident that | am cor
rect. This document was a report, made bv
the Russian Minister at Toxic to the Russian
government, and was one of the documents
winch the revolutionary government made
pubhc after it came into control
1t was in substance to the effect that the
Russian Minister or Ambassador asked ona
o. the Cabinet officers at Toxic what Tok,o-s
Interpretation OF special interests" in the
Aahslng-lshll agreement was, whether it was
equivalent to paramount interest" The
cabinet Minister answered in the affirmative.
Then the Ambassador asked: "Will not that
Interpretation ultimately create trouble with
the United States?" His answer was: "When
that time comes we think we can enforce orr
OWE Interpretation"
THOMAS NJ. BALLET.
New York, July 80, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
The Erzberger Revelations

That Germany, with the Kaiser's con-
sent if not with his urging, began the
war was long ago established by authen-
tic documents. 1t now appears, from the
flood of letters and statements brought
out by the Erzberger revelations, that
as late as August, 1917 official Ger
many was determined to continue the
war until Belgium became practically
German province.
Germany, of course, could not have
secured peace in 1917 by bare evacua-
ton of Belgium. 1t is clear Great Brit
ain and France never offered to quit
on this basis. The war would have
been lost if nothing except the freeing of
Belgium had been secured. No ministry
in Great Britain or France would have
endured an hour after it became known
it had committed itself to such a policy.
But it develops that Germany thought
the prospect of peace was sufficiently
good to warrant her in reaching a dec-
sion as to what she would demand with
respect to Belgium. A formal crown
council, under the Kaiser's presidency.
was held, and the decision arrived at
was that Belgium must become Ger
man dependency. Antwerp was to be
practically German port, Belgium was
to be forced within the German customs
union, and strong points were to be held
TO guarantee the conquest.
What Germany would have done if her
power had held out is thus revealed. She
would have retained not only the Brest-
Litovsk boundaries, but have traced a
new frontier in the west The Brey
Basin is not reported as considered by
the council, but it is probably certain
cession from France would have been
demanded
The German people would have sup
ported such a peace-supported it with
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Criticism VS.. Creeling

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: For some time I've been experiencinp
the same sensation as Messrs. Cowee and
Farnsworth when reading your editorials.
etc, but thought it might be my imagination.
I am sure I am the last of your readers
to demand constant carping criticism, but.
surely, now that war is over, support of the
Administration should not be desideratum
at all times.
1t is we'll for any country that there be
an opposition. There should be something
besides tumultyous creeling. G.P.R.
Wilmington, Del, July 81, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
Vouched For
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Sometimes there are sudden circum-
stances that bring to light in dsgraceful
manner the appalling frivolity of mankind
The recent letters published on your editorial
page upholding the fatulent wit of F., P. A.
and doubling the sincerity of John C. Brown
ellis earnest, clean minded statements in re-
gard to the vulgarity of Mr.. Briggs cartoons
do just that.
Are there no Puritan principles left? Has
the world turned to a contemplation of
shmmy dancers and frothy humor and COM
pletely away from the good old lines of
rigorous thought and modification of the
flesh?
AS for Mr.. Brownell-he is a high-m minded
gentleman of the old school, brought up in
the mountain Businesses of Vermont. l know
him. JOHN C. FARRAR
New York City, July 80, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02

enthusiasm. Whatever Erzberger may
now say, his sole virtue is that he saw
little sooner than the Kaiser that Ger
many could not get what she sought.
This is creditable to his intelligence but
not to his morals. So far as the Kaiser
crew is concerned, their crimina1ity was
equalled by their folly. What set of
stupid incapables they were to begin the
war. and how their stupidity persisted!
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02

vsu purchase merchandise advertised In THE
TRIBUNE with absolute saetyfor II dssatlstactlen
suits In THE TRIBUNE guarantees to pay
money back upon request. No red taps. No quibhins.
W. make scod promptly II the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
MEMBER OF THE Assoc1ArEp Press

The Associated Press exclusively entitled to the
for REPUBLICATION OF all dispatches credited to
not otherwise credited IN this and also tho local
Of spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights OF republication Of all other matter herein
also reserved.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02

Owned and published daily by New York Tribune lnc
a New York Corporation. Ogden Reid. President: O.
Vernon Rogers Vice President: Helen Rogers Reid
tery r. A. Suter. Treasurer Address Tribune Building
isa Nassau Street. New York. Telephone Beekman sooo
New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
sgnscfroN S r. RATEs-By MAIL Including Postage
GUARANTEE

Entered the Pcstonice at New York Glass
Mail Matter
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-23

600; sheep, 100; cars, 156. Steers,
$7.50@18.50; COWS, $7.50611.50; hogs,
$20.25@20.30; calves, $S@14.50; sheep
and lambs, $T@13.50.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-23

South st. Paul Live Stock.
South st. Paul, May 22.-Estimated
receipts at the Union Stock Yards:
Cattle, 4 500; calves, 1900; hogs, g.