davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
The Russian Mess %
BY Franz Fl. Sin1onds

1t Is depressing evidence OF the
actual situation in the national capi-
tai that the latest developments in the
Russian "mcss" have failed to excite
even passing attention. SO far as the
official world is concerned. there is in
tense and almost feverish activity in
the prosecution Of "Reds" Of all shades.
in the gathering up and rcdyport of all
varieties Of agents of the Russian an
archy, but not the smallest concern
with any policy designed TO deal with
the source of the contamination.
Nor is it less striking that sensa-
tional change in Allied policy with
respect TO Russia, such as Lloyd George
has just made in the House Of Com
mons, passes well nigh unnoticcd. In
substance, the British Prime Minister
has announced that the nations who
together framed the various peace set
Elements in Paris have washed their
hands of the Russian affair they have
decided to leave it to the Russians to
get out of their own domestic difficult
ties
Now, actually, this means that, after
tie principal aliies-Britain, France
and the United States-have expended
several billions Of dollars and not q
few lives in a vain effort to support
the elements of order in Russia against
Bolshevists, it has been resolved to
give up the struggle and leave the
Russian, Bolshevist and anti Bolshe-
visit. to fight it out
This can mean only one thing, since,
even with outside aid, the opponents
Of the Bolshevists have been unable to
make head, even to continue the strug-
gle-Kolchak, Denikine and Yudenitch
have been beaten, the Baltic provinces
are at the end Of their resources and
discussing peace with the Bolshevists.
who are steadily talking in higher
tones In sum, the West has given up
the fight; it has quit it's fight against
Bolshevsm at the headquarters Of Boil
shevism.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
The Male and His Ra;rner,t

some recent statements by Will
lam M. Wood about mems clothes
II there is anything in then-mark
Il starting reversion in American
psychology. Nh. Wood says that
one reason why mems clothes are
so dear is that people demand the
finest grades of cloth and will ac-
cept no others. If the average man
insists nowadays in having the 'fine.
smooth, soft fabrics" or none at all.
then his mental attitude toward
clothes certainly has been revolu-
tionized.
Male garb in the United States
has been one of the last cltadels of
conservatism and economic SANITY.
We never have believed that dress
made the man. The average Amer
lean has had a healthy CONTEMPT for
showiness in clothes. Any man
whose clothes were noticeable in
style or quality has been regarded
very generally with reserve and sus-
plclon 1t was up to him to show
that he had more sedate and sub
stanual qualities than his wardrobe
indicated. We had the "dude" era
a generation ago. But the dude"
was laughed out of existence.
In fact, the tendency toward So
brety and modesty in dress has
grown much stronger in the last two
or three decades. Fancy waistcoats
have been discarded. All attempts
TO graft variations on standard mas
culine evening dress have failed The
war put an added premium on SIM
plcity. The military services were
Formerly the great stamping ground
for gorgeous effects in mems raj
ment. But the officers old-style
wardrobe has now been greatly re-
duced and simplified. The criticism
Was made of one of our leading gen
erals abroad that he dressed too we'll
to be q real soldier. Real soldiers
don't want to go around looking
like knights Of Pythias on parade.
1t is doubtful whether men here
have ever dressed as plainly and
simply as they do to-day. With the
prevailing prices for clothes, it
seems almost libel on them to say
that they don't want to wear suits
Of medium quality. The suit of
medium quality is a badge of honor.
Only profiteers are unblushing
enough to be seen in the oldtime
sartorial creations.
The average American males
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
German Music

For clear and admirable sense
upon difficult and veXed problem
we commend the utterance of the
American Legion concerning Ger
man music. Good music, whether it
be by Wagner, Strauss Or Sousa
can not and should not be killed "
says the platform adopted by the
executive committee Of this state.
At the same time, "attcmpts to use
music as cloak for German propa-
ganda and as a setting for the plac-
ing Of German kultur before the
public in its most favorable light"
will be opposed.
This is exactly the view urged in
these columns, and we think it is the
view Of Americans generally. The
arrogant propagandism of the late
production of German opera in this
city made its purpose unmistakable
It was rightly stopped. Other
cases lie close to the line and pre-
sent difficulties in the way of a de-
cision. Certainly the playing OF
classic German music by American
orchestras is on the side of propriety
We also think that Mr.. Kreislcr has
been rightly welcomed back to the
concert stage in this city, and we
think that opposition to his appear
ancc elsewhere rests ON lack Of
knowledge of the facts. Those who
are familiar with the dignihed
bearing Of Mn Kreisler during the
war and the utter absence Of ma
tional propaganda in his uttcranccs
or bearing or choice Of music cannot
but feel that he has we'll earned the
right to appear once more before
American audiences. We hope that
this view viii speedily prevail
throughout the country.
We congratulate the Legion on the
intelligence of its example and lead
erShlp
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
A Short Way With prohteers

1t may be that the retail dealers
Of Homestead who find prices tum-
bling about their ears because the
Carnegie Steel Company is selling
food to its employees at cost prices
are themselves the victims of condi-
tons they cannot alter. That is the
plea the butcher or grocer usually
makes when reproached with prof
iteering. 1t is exceedingly hard, in
deed, to find any one in the chain
from producer TO consumer who is
willing to accept the responsibility.
Like the members of the Tweed
gang in Nast's famous cartoon,
each points to the other and says
"'Twa'n't me"
The point in this case is that the
Carnegie Steel Company has brought
down prices with a rush. Of course,
its competition with the dealers is
unfair; they cannot afford to sell at
cost The company defends itself
by saying that it acted only after it
had repeatedly urged the dealers to
moderation. The dealers apparent
iy believed that they would remain
free from outside competition of anv
KIND, even on a basis Of profit.
Attorney General Palmer. who be-
gan Dragging q number of months
ago of what he was about to
do, now says "the peak" in prices
has been reached, and that the de
cline will begin about the first of
March. He may. be right; but as a
foe to prohtcerS he has not 50 far
been very formidable. His plans for
dealing with them have been ex-
ceedlngly difficult to fathom; he has
talked about legal action and house
wives boycotts in the same breath.
The subject Is complicated, it may
be admitted. Still, little straight
forward common sense often goes a
long way. 1t is TO be noted that the
proiteers in England are having
much harder time than they have
been having here But Englishnen
are as notoriously prompt to resent
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
As in the French Revolution

In reality the fight against the Rus
sian Revolution has broken down lust
as did the fight against the French
Revolution. We are abandoning Russia
exactly as Europe abandoned France
The controlling idea of the Continent
in all of its trllees with the French
ReVolutlon was to obtain peace, but the
dominant fact is that none OF these
truces obtained peace, while each of
them actually strengthened the revo-
luton and added new fuel to the fires
which burned within the nation and
from time 10 time swept over all
Europe
The end Of the French Revolution
was Waterloo. Between 1892 and 1915
the opponents of French revolutionary
purposes, which were presently merged
IN the Napoleonic imperialism, made a
score of settlements with France. but
not one Of these settlements led TO
real peace until there had been a
battlefield decision, which disclosed
France as incapable Of imposing her
will on the Continent.
It cannot be different in the case
OF the Russian Revolution. 1t cannot
be different because, far more than
was the French Revolution in its ca rlier
stages, the Russian is in its essence
an attack upon the systems and civil
lzatlon of the world. Lenne and Trot-
Ky from the outset have preached and
practlced in fashion revealing their
determination to conquer the world.
to destroy the civilization and the
governmental system of the West.
To give them Russia now as their
own viii not destroy their purpose.
abolish their larger objectives; rather
1t VIII confirm them, now victorious
at home, in their purpose to conquer
Europe and the world Sending home
few miserable agents of Lenine and
ms ideas and at the same time g.
signing almost quarter of the sur
face of the earth and some $50 OO0 .OOo
OF people to the undisputed control OF
the Bolshevists Is fair sample of
'mpollcy of the governments of the
hour.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30

scoundrels. The consequences were
inevitable.
Later the President yielded with
respect to the acceptance of unre-
pentant Germany as charter men,
Der of the peace league (his pro-
posal was against common sense),
and still later agreed Germany
must pay part of ner damage bill;
but the damage was done-there
was break which became patent
when Italy was attacked
The Presidents diplomacy CEN
tered in the idea of "peace without
victory" which, OF course, means
peace without justice" He steadily
refused to call our partners "allies,"
insisting that they should be styled
associates. His original policy, as
the Germans understood it and his
friends advertised it, was as popu-
lar in Berlin as it was unpopular in
Paris. There is no claim that the
President deliberately sought to
spread this cult of hate. But dis
trust was the natural consequence of
his course. Europe was eager to
trust us, but our representative
showed little answering confidence,
and SO on our representative lodges
the chief responsibility for the pres
ent lamentable lack of faith.
The tragedy of the war settlement
is that now there Is slender faith
that a similar calamity will never
occur again. A great hope weakened
when the spokesman for this coun-
try, instead of building on the har-
mony which was, deemed it better
to raze it to make way for. another
foundation. Fatal was the day when
theorists who were determined to
please Germany first were received
into counsel and demanded peace
with justice left out-who assailed
as war-making imperialists All those
who said that the best way to secure
a wider union was to cement the
union which already existed.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
A Hint for New Year S Eve.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Read this notice carefully. Ii
may save your life to-day To avoid
being poisoned by wood alcohol carry
gulnea-pig in your pocket. Before
touching a drink allow the animal to
lap UP a few drops of the precious
fluid Watch the rodent carefully for
about fifteen minucs. If pleased ex-
presslon or smile comes over its face
you may take the drink without fear.
If the animal dies do not take the
drink. Leave it alone.
Each guincap pig should only be used
IN testing three drinks. After that it
is almost impossible to tell if the ami
nal IS dead or dead drunk
In testing cocktails the cherry should
first he removed; otherwise, the beast
will eat the cherry and will not con
sumo any Of the beverage.
There is for sale at a smart shop on
the avenue a case so constructed as to
have ample room for four rodents. II
Is made to fit the pocket Of evening
Clothes, or can be carried by ladies. like
vanity case.
MARCEL STElNBRUGGE.
New York, Dec. %, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
Whose Right Comes First?

Mr.. Goinpers has gathered the
labor union leaders to Washington
to put pressure on the conferees
now considering the railroad bill. In
1916 Congress surrendered to the
four railroad brotherhoods, whose
representatives sat in the galleries
Of the House and Senate with stop
watches in their hands.
The Senate recently passed the
Cummins bill, which forbids railroad
employees or others who decline
arbitration to interfere with the
operation of interstate commerce.
Mr.. Gompcrs and his friends say
that this provision must not become
law. because it might interfere with
strikes. The bill does not forbid a
railroad mans quitting his employ
ment. He may resign as an in
dlvldual. 1t is the concert of en-
ployees to resign in a body, with the
intention of returning as a body on
their own terms, and their combined
efforts to interrupt railroad service
while they are out, which constitute
the offense aimed at in the so-called
Cummlns "anti-strike" provisions.
The right of the unions to strike
collectively and to enforce rein
statement on other terms by tying
up transportation conflicts abso-
lutely with the public's right to
continuous railroad service and with
the governments right to exercise
fuIl protective control over inter
state commerce. The greater right
must prevail over the lesser. if we
are to live up to true democratic
principles.
Senator PoiNdeXter, who is a
member of the conference commit
tee, has done a service bv pointing
out that the Cummins bill doesn't
con5lgn any one TO involuntary
labor. 1t is directed only at strikes
which are the result of conspiracies
to deny the governments regulatory
power over interstate traffic. Saws
the Senator from Washington:
"l'he issue involved comes down to
the very vital principle whether
controversies over wages or work
ING hours. or over conditions Of
labor, are to be settled by violence
or settled by law and order 1t in
voives the question as to whether
the government is to be, and remain,
supreme or whether organizations
OF private individuals are to be SUI
preme in this country. 1t involves
the very fundamentals of govern
mcnt,'
VIII the government, represcnting
the vast majority Of the people.
have the grit this time to assert its
supremacy against the claims Of a
small, &elf-seekinp' minority?
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
JOHN CROSBY BROWN.
New York, Dec. 90. 1919.
AS Every Eighth Grade Pupi
Knows

10 the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: have Just read "The Question
Of Whom " in your issue OF Dccem-
Der %. Perhaps [ shouldn't mention it.
but it is hard to let this gcnteman's 3
observations 60 unchallenged.
The following sentences, as quoted in
the article as being erroneous in con
struction, are absolutely right. as every
eighth grade pupil should know:
"llc whom next thyself of all the
world | loved
He whom l serve is eternal
He whom you seek
"Alfred, than whom a greater king
mover relgned. deserves to be held up
as model to all future sovereiens."
Whom God would destroy lie first
makes mad"
And oil tho other than whoms''
quoted.
don't know who this Mr. Vizetelley
may be; but he is certainly In the dark
on English construction.
English grammar is not different
from gramVar Of other languages; it
changes, but not SO violently as Mr.. Y
would have us think.
GEORGE WRIGHTMAN.
Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. 26, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30

shcvists must be the border states,
must be the lands of the Poles, the
Rumanians, the Lithuanians and the
races of the Baltic shores. They have
sufficient warrant for such a course
in the double fact that much of the
territory of these states was recently
Russian and under the impulsion Of
the Western nations these races and
tribes have been fighting against the
Bolshevists for several wears.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
The Cult Of Hate
An Admrer of The President En-
ters a Protest

tCIS TOtPS[
To tho Editor of The Tribue
Sir: Will you kindly explain what
on earth you mean by your statement
in your first editorial this morning
that President Wilson, when abroad,
busily occupied himself ain spreading
the cult of hate? "Only by getting
together can VIC cooperate for the COM
mon good say you. Amenl And for
what other purpose did the President
work day and night for six months {?
Was any greater example of coming to-
gether. Of reconciling irreconciables,
ever seen than the signing of the peace
treaty at Versailles? Were French and
British and American relations ever
better than when the United States
Senate began its work upon the treaty
and the covenant? Who has been
working to pledge the cooperation Of
the United States to Europe, to gener-
ously give out Of her abundance the as
slstance so desperately needed? And
what has stopped him except callous
seihshness on the part of those who
give mp worship TO our allies, but when
1T comes to delivering essential aid at
their time of need stop to think. eyes.
but what do get out Of all this ?" and
turn the other way
Hate and distrust have been seen
pretty literally Of late. The Tribune
has distributed a good deal of both
against the man who induced the rep
rcsentativcs of the leading nations of
the world to show enough confidence in
each other to enter the greatest practi-
cal compact for international coopera-
ton which the world has yet seen.
The Tribune has a right to question
the practical value of this scheme. But
when 1t stigmatzes a gallant and dis
interested attempt to substitute har-
mony for suspicion and organized co
operation for clashing self-interests in
international relations as "spreadine
the cult Of hate" it betrays an animus
and an ohsession unworthy of so fine a
newspaper
JOHN CROSBY BROWN.
New York, Dec. %. 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
Petrograd, Vienna, Dublin

Pctrograd, two years ago city of
100000 population, now has little
more than one-quarter of the num-
her. Vienna now has 100000, but
is threatened with an enormous
shrinkage.
Cities are effects, not causes. They
are congerics of manufacturer and
traders dependent on a hinterland
and intimate connection Herewith
Bolshevism has dried up Russian
portation, has reduced the
standard of living among the Rus
sian masses, has forced thousands of
villages to get along without city
made goods and to live in primitive
way on what they produce at home.
} But the urban workingman, where
Bolshevism rules, finds himself with
out employment. He is driven back
to the land and to clothe himself in
skins and homespuns.
Communism of the Lcnine brand
plays true to prediction. Develop
ing amid an industrial population,
IS first victims are its first dupes.
The peasant can get along some way
under any system, but not so the
city specialist, who makes to sell
rather than to consume his own
YORK. In an ccstacy of madness in
The Dark Ages the cult of the fla
gelants arose. Men whipped them
selves with thongs and in self-in-
i,icted misery filled the highways.
Bolshevlsm, its false prophets hav-
ing been able to induce their devo-
tees TO become hungry wanderers,
will be remembered as similar
strange psychic phenomenon.
The doom Vienna fears is a com
pound of Bolshevism and a closing
# the areas with which Vienna once
traded. Bolshcvism, although con
tracted IN mild form in Vienna, has
aid TO the food raisors of the re
manning Austrian provinces that it
does not recognize the validity Of
private property, and would not pay
The fruit of equivalent work for food
from the interior. The Austrian
peasant has refused to ship ON such
terms. Is 1t surprising?
And new national frontiers have
been traced almost to the Vienna
suburbs. The borders of Bohemia,
of Hungary and of Jugo-Slavia
press close. When there is no en-
barge there are restrictions. The
new nations, on the theory of keep
ing work for their own people, are
protective and jealous and forget
that trade is good not merely for
one, but for two.
Self determination is q glorious
principle, but its application all at
once to populations adjusted to ex-
tended trade relations means, for
time at least, disorganization. No
wonder there are those in ireland.
now exceptionally prosperous, who
darkly foresee what may happen if
Irish products are denied access to
the British market. Thus on eco
nomlc grounds, as well as the old
'nes of race and religion, there is
opposition to Irish independence
even though Britain We're willing to
concede it, Dublin must not become
1t is said, candidate for sympathy
IN some respects like Petrograd and
Vienna,
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
Justice to Railroads
A Protest Against Curnrlips
Bill Restricting Profits


Sir: We glory in America IS ths
land Of opportunity for achievement.
by brain and brawn, q land where the
rewards OF thought and toll. however
great, may be held secure by The in
dividual. No man who pursues
legitimate business with uprightness
is limited by law as to the pecuniaYy
results which he may gain, not even
Mr. Rockefeller Nor is it enacted
that an inventor can secure only
certain number OF patents on his
inventions. Mr. Edison can secure
them by tho hundred if his genius
does The creative work
And what is the freedom Of the N
dividual should also be the freedom
Of a corporation which formed sr
ccrding to law and not inmicsl, bat
beneficial. to society and which IS con
Quoted on just principles IF James
B. Iliil or any ore else mas the So
gacity and foresight to devise and
build a great railroad, 1skng his
resources in the enterprise, he and his
successors should reap the fruits Of
risk and endeavor Ii persons invest
their funds. perhaps scanty and Sc
cured by severe economy in one rail
road stock rather than In another
after careful investigation they should
have the benefit of wise choice
But the Cummins bill, now before
the Senate, proposes that for the frat
time in the history of this countr7
Congress shall declare that rsilronl
owners shall not be entitled % The
earnings tbey may be able to save
out of rates which the government 1t
self prescribes Hitherto 1t was sun
posed that the duty and power Of the
government were 10 determine the
rates which the carrier should be en
titled 10 charge and the shipper re
quired to pay. With the rates once
fixed by the government it was SUP
posed that all carriers in the district
could seek the business and eacn
would be entitled to all that 1t could
make and save through ability, en-
terprise, efficiency, economy and other
wise. But the Cummins bill make
move and radical departure by pro
viding that no railroad companv
shall retain out OF the earnings j.
may save moro than "a reasonable re
turn on It's property investment"
Any business man will say mat "a
reasonable return in his business is
all that he can make. proeaed no
conducts has business honesty.
We sec to. day largo earnings hs
well managed banks. manufacturing
industries, commercial institutions ami
enterprises OF various. kinds oat or
prices and rates fixed by themselves
free from regulation by the govern
ment; aud shall not some railrooa
companies by wisc fores ight and good
management be able to make out
OF rates made, not by themselves,
but prescribed by the government It.
self, a pr,.it like that commonly
made in other lines Of businessg
The eyes Of the writer and those
of many other stockholders s.e upon
Congress, and We ask our representa-
tivos to do US justice, that if good
judgment has been used in making
our. perhaps, meagre investment, VA
may not lose tho fruit thereof
S4oCKHOLDER.
Metuchen, y. J., Dec. Is. 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30
No Single Track Question
CFyon 7he Providence Journon

'fTo'n TITS Prorsdenoe JonrnuN
1t is now reported that the President
has an open mind on the railroad
question This is better than a one
track mind for the solution of the
pressing problems of cur transporta-
ton companies, most of which emerged
from the one-track stage Vat least a
generation ago,
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30

"Speakine as writer of poetry"
Miss Lowell said, 81 do not care for
a number Of readers, personally" !"
Writing as "a reader of poetry, We
don't believe it. Nobody who person
ally doesn't care for number OF
readers would 90 around the country
leaving one of the pleasantest homes
in Brookline,- to address clubs and
societies aud to read from her own
published works
New-York tribune., 1919-12-30

"No American newspaper should
dare to discuss literature" said Miss
Lowell. Well, our notion is that no
American newspaper should dare not
to discuss it; and that it is owing
largely to the newspaper discussion Of
literature that Miss Lowell is known
beyond the boundaries Of - 1t Newton
and Coolidge's Corner