davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

railway interests, as they are called,
bought out the small company just to
make Plumb lose his Job. This is all
part of the story as Mr.. Plumb's
friends tell 1t. They say that it was to
get even" with Plumb that the move
was made, and that this practically
forced Plumb into his present line OF
work. Anyway, he devoted years to
studies Of valuation and railway prob
lens. He claims to have discovered
that there Is In law no clear definition
OF where private rights end and where
public rights begin in public utilities
corporations. His stand now is that
there is no clearly defined law as to
where the rights of the workingmen
end, and hence his bill to democratize
the railroads.
Now Has 100000 Clients.
In his statement before the Inter-
state Commerce Committee Mr.. Plumb
says he represents as general counsel
the organized railway employees of
America, consisting of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Firemen and En-
Guctors, the International Brotherhood
o. Blacksmiths and Helpers Of Amer
fca. the brotherhood of Railway Train
men ana a score or more Of other
unions and brotherhoods. He says the
organizations number upward Of g.
100000 men employed in railway trans
portation.
Voluminous data on labor's plan for
Government ownership and democracy
In the operation of the railroads is
being provided by Mr.. Plumb-for the
committee. 1t seems very probable
that the Plumb plan will not get a
single vote on the committee. The
proposal that labor. the public and
the management shall control and
share in the profits Of railroad opera
ton has a distinctly Bolshevik tinge
In the eyes of so many citizens that
wholesale criticism Is being directed at
the new plan.
The consensus is that the plan Is 60
radical that the whole Industrial
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
His Plan High Favor With His Clients the Railway
Others "Boshestc but He Would Be Open Chang
H-Began His Career Breaker Boy in Coal Mines
Tackled the Law-Fond of Golf and Speedy Car

without thinking 1t over. My mind is
so wrapped up in this hearing that
find difficulty In collecting my thoughts
for other matters"
At that moment young man who
had precipitated himself into the room
interrupted, to my address:
Say. IL you're going to write any
thing about this, get OF that mare s
nest you had IN this mornings paper!
The theory that"
Mr.. Plumb raised a restraining hand
and checked his overenthusiastic as
sistant. With a scarcely perceptible
shake of the head he suggested that
nothing bored him more than these
fiery outbursts of argument. The con-
trast between Mr.. Plumb, the silent
brains Of the organization, and the
fiery young assistant who advertises
the product was. unmistakable. Mr..
Plumb himself had not had time to
read any of the comment or criticism
in the newspapers, but his assistant
had read every line in every available
paper and apparently knew It all by
heart.
1t soon becomes apparent in talking
with Mr.. Plumb that his is dis
tinctly legal turn OF mind. He Is a
lawyer first, and the plan for which
he is responsible has been built up as
a result OF his legal studies and prac-
tical experience in the railroad line.
The whole thing represents case
which he has worked up and perfected
to his own satisfaction after years Of
persistent and untiring effort What
ever flaws there may be in It and
whatever his ultimate fate will be
there will always remain the inter-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

prisons. telling them OF the soft snap"
she had and giving them information
about the house and its various en-
frances and exits which would have
made 1t comparatively easy for them
to rob the place.
The surety company and the police
have also found in many instances
that the employment agencies and the
servants work hand in hand TO de-
fraud the employer. 1t is not at all
unusual for a housewife to pay a fee
to an employment agency for securing
her a servant. and then the servant
will remain just day or so in excess
Of the period allowed by law before the
agency can retain the fee of the en-
p!oyer, then leave the place and return
TO the agency for another position. A
great deal of circumstantial evidence
tending to show that such a system
was being practised was obtained more
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

esting personality OF the man who
lished himself as leader in new line,
and thereby finds himself suddenly the
most talked Of reformer in America.
Indications are that Mr.. Plumb win
be a shooting star, but he will be an
unusual form OF meteor while he lasts.
And when the glow fades he win
doubtless resume his law work at the
same old stand. disappointed, perhaps.
hut taking on his next work with the
same quiet, philosophical spirit that
characterizes his work now.
disappointment Won't Crush Him.
To illustrate this philosophical spirit
an incident in the life OF Mr.. Plumb
may serve. He used to drive an auto
mobile and got great deal OF salts
faction out OF It. One day he and a
fast passenger train on the Wabash
Railroad tried to use the crossing at
the same time, with the result that
the automobile was demolished and the
train went along as IL nothing had
happened. Mr.. Plumb is still fond of
automobilins and has bought new
car OF another make--but he let's his
son do most Of the driving. His pres
ent plan to change the order of indus
try may be run down by the National
Express. In which case he will accept
the inevitable and devoSe his time to
some other plan. He is not OF the kind
to cry over spilled milk or waste time
in vain regrets.
Mr.. Plumb was born In Clay. Wash
ington county, Iowa, fifty-three years
ago. He began work on q farm. and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
lousehoders Warned Against Growing Criminals Servants Gu

r E seemed to- be an excep-
uonally good man, and when
he applied for the position of
gardener on the Long Island estate
of Mrs. Smith-Jones he presented ref
erences that were irreproachable. They
purported to be signed by Mrs. Jones'
Smith. and set forth that the applicant
had worked for her as gardener for
many years, that he was trustworthy.
that he knew his business to an I'M
usual degree OF excellence and that
he vas absolutely dependable in every
way. And when Mrs. Smith-Jones had
read these references and when she
had questioned him and heard him
tell about the two girls he was put
ting through boarding school from his
earnings as a servant, she felt that
II was hardly necessary to investigate
the man. 1t was fairly certain that
he was all right.
Still. she felt that she ought to
make sure about employing a man
who would have pretty much the run
or her entire estate. So she tele-
phoned to Mrs. Jones-Smith, but I'M
fortunately Mrs. Jones-Smi was out
OF the city. and it was a great deal
or bother to get her on the phone at
her country home. So Mrs. Smith
Jones decided to hire the new man as
gardener and wait until Mrs. Jones'
Smith returned before she asked about
his references, The new man went to
work. and he did very fine work in
deed for about a week. And then he
vanished.
- And so did some $4,000 worth of
5swelry and silver plate.
what tho Detective Learned.
Mrs. Smith Jones called In the de-
tectives then. and OF course they in
vestigated the gardeners record and
found out about him. They learned
that ne had been in the county Jail at
Freeport, L. l., for burglary and rob-
berry and that he had served five years
) In Sing Sing prison for a similar Of
fence. They also traced to him sew
eral thefts In houses where he had
gained employment as a servant and
departed after a week or so with a
considerable quantity of booty And
his method was the same in virtually
!. every case-he applied for a vacant
job. presenting good references, but
always they were references signed by
some one that happened TO be away at
the time. SO an immediate investiga-
ton could not be made. And then, too,
he was so smooth, and told his story
about trying to educate his two
daughters SO very we'll, that he never
aroused the least bit OF suspicion.
This Is an actual case which oc-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
Many Burgar Due Laxy Tracing Applicants
SeyceFraudulent
Question Stringent Measures Urged to Evils

ways considerable danger that lasting
influences may be exerted on children.
The records of the surety company
are replete with incidents which prove
that every person who has references
does not necessarily possess q good
character. In most of these cases the
investigation has been made after the
servant had stolen jewelry or other
valuables and vanished, but there are
also records OF many cases where the
investigation has shown that a servant
supposed to be trustworthy was in
reality an ex-convict, who had gained
entrance to the house only to commit
a robbery. A number OF robberies have
been prevented through these investi-
cations. and in quite few cases ser
wants have been detected supplying
information to accomplices who would
have done the actual thieving.
One Of the interesting cases which
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

has been investigated was that OF a
Westminster county woman who ad-
vertised for a mother and daughter to
do housework. She engaged pair who
appeared to be exactly what she
wanted. They seemed to be we'll edu-
Gated, and they told a pathetic tale of
their former standing and ruin in the
stock market, which had compelled
them to go into service. But after a
short time pieces OF jewelry and plate
began to disappear, and the woman
who had employed them had an inves-
tigation made. 1t was found that the
supposed mother had once been ex-
posed as an accomplice OF a man who
went about the country posing as an
evangelist, and that both she and the
daughter" worked with him in rob-
bling homes In which they obtained
admission as servants. Their system
was to take various articles and mail
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

them to him. and he disposed Of them
to fences in New York city and in
other places.
Another interesting case was that of
maid who was recommended by a
settlement worker to a Westminster
county woman who was interested in
settlement and social reform work. The
maid had a criminal record. but she said
she had reformed, and from what the
settlement. worker knew OF her record
she believed her story to be true. o
she did not tell the prospective en-
ployer that she was hiring an ex-con-
Wet, and the maid took the place But
after time she began sending pack
ages away very mystsriously and jew
elry began TO be missed. The maid
was watched, and not only was she
caught stealing, but several of her let
tiers were Intercepted and showed that
she was writing to convicts in various
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

AS matter of fact, ones lack OF
knowledge Concerning Mr.. Plumb IL
accentuated when one visits his Of
fees The address given for the
Plumb headquarters is room 410, Mum
sey Building, but on the way down
the corridor Il is noted that Offices
being passed are labelled In gilt letters
Plumb Lecture Bureau" BY the time
the entrance room, 40s, is reached one
is In the midst of an organization.
cordial reception Is granted wish
tors, there being two or three wide
awake young men on their toes to
make themselves useful On the occa-
sion of my first visit I found Mr.
Plumb himself at his desk in the al
Joining room, and one of the secre-
taries. without inquiring as to my iden-
dty or mission, directed me to the M
ner office.
He Has n Strong Grip.
Mr.. Plumb arose in O tired sort of
way, took hold of my hand with q grip
of steel and indicated a chair beside
his desk. In appearance Mr.. Plumb
Illustrated the average American bust
way or the other. Rather short of
stature. but with fine physique and
a rugged, sunburned countenance. he
might be taken for a lawyer or a
broker or a professional man or a
shopkeeper. but never for an orator or
an agitator. His manner is quiet in
the extreme and the tired look about
his eyes-he had been reading manu-
scripts prepared for the Interstate
Commerce Commission-sugge the
student or bookvorm. s.
. Socialism and certain brands of
labor agitation are known to 20 hand
In hand with extreme craving for pub
icity, but in Mr.. Plumb's case the
rule seemed reversed. He was SYM
pathetic with the idea of having his
lie story outlined, but he vas at loss
to know what to say about himself or
how to begin. 1t was not affectation,
but genuine embarrassment.
This is all so new to me that
don't believe I can do myself justice
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
B, ALBERT WHITING FOX.

yvTHo Is Glenn e. Plumb, au-
/, Nv thor OF the so-callcd labor
plan to democratize the rail-
roads?
This is the question of the hour, In
the homes, at The clubs In the hotel
Hobbies and on street corners. 1t is
asked in varying ways and under vary
ing conditions. For example, hubby is
interrupted while eating his cantaloupe
At the breakfast table.
who is this Prune the papers keep
talking about?"
Not Prune. Plumb, my dear" is
the reply. tits not a person; it's a
I plan. a system Labor leaders think
the time has come when they should
get some Of the plumbs earned by
the railroads. They have called strikes
1 until they get the plumbs. That's why
they call it the Plumb plan"
/ Or perhaps the question is popped in
this way: You meet an acquaintance
!, with look OF desperation, who but
{ tonholes you. Another touch, you
suspect to meet the high cost Of
living. But instead of being asked for
a ten spot you are asked to impart a
little current information.
: who is this Plumb person, do you
know"
Hes an American BoIshevik," YOU
answer offhand, without knowing ANY
thing about 1t. Hes made a life study
OF Socialism and the Soviet and all
that sort of thing and wants to apply
Russian methods to the American rail-
roads. Just another dreamer in our
midst"
Another form OF inquiry comes when
Chateau Thierry marines meet.
Who the helrs Plumb?'' bursts
from under one OF the shrapnel he'll
NETS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

Cured on Long Island, the facts con-
corning 1t having been taken from the
records OF a big surety company. This
company. owing to the enormous
growth Of the practice of thieves gain
ing place in homes as servants and
then either stealing Jewelry and other
valuables themselves or making II
possible for their accomplices to enter
the premises, recently announced that
1t had inaugurated a new department
for the purpose OF bonding domestic
servants. This is an entirely new de-
parture. In surety and bonding busi-
ness and is a direct outgrowth of the
situation that resulted from the high
wages paid in factories and all sorts of
industrial occupations during the war
and thus created a great shortage of
servants. The surety company has
bonded clerks and office employees for
number OF years and is prepared to
handle the servant problem In the
same manner as it proceeds in those
cases.
Laxity of Employers.
I'VE are confident that our plan
will work out we'll" said the head of
the new department, "and we believe
that present day conditions warrant
such a service more than ever. AS a
matter Of fact, 1t is really remarkable
how little attention the average man
or woman pays to determining the
character and previous life OF a mar
or woman whom they employ as a
servant. In spite OF the fact that a
domestic servant has practically the
run OF the house. and that he or she
has extraordinary opportunities to
steal, little or no effort is made usu-
ally even TO investigate the references
presented by the applicant. Yet any
business man who hires a clerk who is
TO have anything like the same oppor-
tunities to be near and handle valuable
property has that same clerk inves-
tigated and bonded within an inch OF
his life"
The plan OF the surety company is
to proceed Just the same as II the
servant was an Office employee. The
servant is investigated either before
or after he enters the employ OF the
person desiring the investigation his
references are looked UP and checked,
his standing and character will be
looked into In quite the same way that
the standing OF a bank clerk Is in
vestigated. And the need OF such a
system certainly appears to be even
greater In a home than in a financial
or business house. because in a home.
the servant comes In contact with the
members Of the family and In touch
with the family's most valuable pos
sessions. and not only does he have
an opportunity to steal, but there is al
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
A Personal Question

HD ERSON" in tho dictionaries IS
described as IAN individual
human being" But It is not
SO In England from a legal standpoint
as women do not come within tho
class. This was revealed recently
when the Royal Astronomical Society
OF London decided to admit women as
fellows OF the council. The plan was
found TO be impossible until the society
had its charter altered.
Elisibles for election in the eoc,ety-s.
bylaws were described as "persons"
and when legal opinion was obtained
II was decided that a person" was
strictly OF the masculine sex Tho
change was made In the charter ana
the clever women who had distln-
sulshed themselves in star gazing
were admitted to the society.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17

.yvTHo ia Glenn e. Plumb. au-
Nv thor OF the so-called labor
plan to democratize the rail-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-10
STORE WINDOW
 VS. NEWSPAPER

A merchant, speaking about adver- Using the other day, said his store window gave him all he needed and was the best kind of advertising.
 Yet the proportion of the people who ever look much at store win dow, Is small compared to the whole population. Street loafers may gaze long and intently into the windows, yet lack money to buy the goods. The people who are busy as they hustle around town on their errands, don't stop and gaze thoughtfully into win dows.
 The merchant can't win such peo- pie by any appeal to their intelligence that he places in his display. If he showed a placard telling his story in too much of a hurry to read it. About the only impression sucn peo- pie form of a store window, is that 1t may be a pretty display tastefully arranged. But it takes more than prcttiness and taste to sell goods, The cheapest kind of material can be made to look very attractive when all dolled up with ribbons and electric lights. People thoroughly realize that, and are not captured by appeals made merely to the eye.
 To persuade people to buy your goods, you must appeal to their req son. and address them when they are at leisure and in a mood to consider your arguments.
 TIIe true psychological moment is the half hour of leisure when people sit oown to real the homo paper T is d time when people ara no. pressed by ork and engagem sats They null over the news and advertising, and the things that are said sink into ti-eir minds and are considered on thelr merits. It IS under these cir curnstances that successful selling ap- peass are made This is where the enterprising mer chant drops hls hints that result in crowd of people al his store.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-10
LUTHERANs PLAN TO FIGHT
 BOLSHEVISM IN EUROPE

The Lutherans of America believe they can go Congress one better in lighting the Bolshevism of Europe. Instead of fighting 1t with bodily food. they propose to fight it with spiritual food
 The National Lutheran Council has been organized, representative of l. 500,000 Lutherans for Reconstruction Work. Its main objective Is over seas, in the countries in which Lu- theranism is strong, from France eastward to the Baltic and the Black Sea provinces.
 The Lutheran Church Is in severe straits in all those countries. It's difficulties are many Since 1t was state church the collapse of the au- tocratic states has removed its SUD- port and backhold. Experience Is lacking to reorganize on an indepen- dent basis, and if such experience were at hand the chaotic condition prevailing would make it of little use.
 The danger Hes not only in the col lapse of the church as an organiza- ton. For many years past the con fdence of great number of the peo- ple in religion has been shaken. In Germany, especially liberalism has played havoc with faith. Recent fig ures indicate that at the leading uni versailles out of 19S theological pro- fessors III were avowed liberals. | It is felt here in America that if : substantial help can be offered to the Lutheran Church in Europe to re- establish herself on a solid and sound basis, it will be the strongest bull wark against the continuance and further spread of Bolshevism.
 This conviction is based on the fact that there are fully sixty million Lutherans in the affected countries If they stand together on program of orderly progress and liberty with res raint they can control the situa- ton.
 Other Protestant bodies are plan ming to come to the assistance of Flu rope. The Lutherans feel that they have the grea est obligation, because the Protestantism of Europe is Lu- theran.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-10
TRADED GIRL FOR
 COW AND MONEY

Marietta. Ga., Feb 1O-Investiga- ton of charges that Mrs. Naomi " Campbell, head of an orphans home here, had traded a girl inmate for S30 and 8 COW, was begun today by Sorci- tor General Dorsey. The charge de- veloped after the arrest of the wom- an in connection with a general in- quiry relating to the treatment of children in the institution.
 Hazel Rankins, a little girl who had been placed in the home, was missing when relatives went to take her away. An investigation +~o family alleged, showed that the child had been given to a woman a. Toe coa, who wanted to adopt her and who gave Mrs. Campbell the money and the COW to bind the trade. Mrs. Campbell denied all charges as to dis position of the orphan and ill-treat- -ment of others under her care.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-10
THE SETTLEMENT OF BUFALO.

The first settlement on the site of the city of Buffalo was made in 1901 by the Holland Land Company, but it was not until Feb. 10, 1910, that the town of Buffalo was created by the legislature. At that time 119 years ago today the place had only 'abo'7t a hundred houses. Buffalo had a population of about 1,70o in 1874. when 1t was burned by the British in retaliation for the destruction of the Canadian village of Newark by the Americans. The town was laid out by Joseph Ellicott, upon plan which has been greatly ad- nired, the streets being wide and straight, without the monotony incl dent to a rigid adherence to a rec tangular plan. In the first decade of it's existence as an incorporated town Buffalo made little progress, but after that it began to grow rapidly having population of 5000 in 1880 18.00O in 184O. 35,0O0 in 1s45, 50,00O in 1850 and 100000 in 1860. It be- came a city in 1892. The construc- ton of the Erie Canal, of which it is the western terminus. gave Buffalo it's first great impetus toward great 1 ness