davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
A Lesson for New York

The sad occurrences in Boston, where
men enlisted to protect order have sud-
denly abandoned the city to the ravages
OF the predatory, have their lessons for
New York, though here, happily, the
police and fire forces have shown a fine
spirit by announcing that under no cir
cumstances will they forget their duties.
What is the principle on which public
employees may be justly asked to give up
the right to strike? 1t is that their en-
ployer is non on-commercial-ca on a
cooperative business for the public bene-
fit and not for private profit. With the
prott-making motive removed the pre-
sumption is that the public will deal just
ly with its servants. 1t generally has
done so--a fact sufficiently attested by
the circumstance that when a man has
entered public employment his comrades
in times past, have been disposed to con-
graduate him.
But the presumption Of justice becomes
dead and worthless if not lived up to.
And it is admitted that recently it has
not been. Through a variety Of causes
the dollar has shrunk in purchasing
power, while the increase in compensa-
ton, especially to members of the Police
and Fire departments, has not been pro-
portionately enlarged. No candid person
denies the legitimacy of the demand Of
public employees for higher dollar sal
aries.
The miracle Of perfect adjustment
to the new conditions is, of course, i'm
possibe; the men do not ask or expect
this; but they do ask that their new real
wages be brought nearer to the level of
their old real wages. The city authori-
ties, without shufllng or evasion, must
meet the plain obligation laid on them.
Taxpayers may be asked to give up some
Of the sums that have come to them from
rent increases and the rise in the dollar
value Of property. Owe must not COM
placently say" as Chief Magistrate Nc
Adoo aptly remarks, that what has hap
pened in Boston could never by any
possibility occur here" and consequently
do nothing. 1t will be bad day for
the city il ever our guardians of life
and property reach the settled convc-
ton that they cannot count on the JUS
tce of the pubic-that the principle on
which they have relied is not to be trans
lated into acts.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13

ity to build submarines, and it is un-
likely any could carry on work secretly,
or would seek to If they knew such work
would be deemed casus belu.
Amazing was the torpidity Of our del
egation at Paris. If it had pressed for
an agreement against further submarine
construction the other nations, it may
be assumed, would have consented. But
its preoccupations were with words and
formulas and not with practicalties
now it will be much moro difficult to
secure the universal acceptance of gen
cral self-denying ordinance.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
Loofi1,g the Railroads

(From The Saturday Erening Post)
A TTORNEY PLUMB. representing the
~ railroad brotherhoods, says Wall
Street has looted the railroads, and
cites the we'll known cases of the New
Haven, the Rock Island and the Frisco sys-
tens. What happened in those cases, and
in all others to which Mr. Plumb refers,
was an overissue Of railroad obligations
stock watering, in effect though it did not
always take the classic form of stock
Watering. But the watered roads went into
bankruptcy. The old obligations were called
in and cancelled, the water baled out so far
regards any present claim on their in
come. 1t cannot be shown that the looting
lays any burden whatever on present
freight and passenger rates. 1t was in
vestors in railroad securities who were
looted-not shippers or travellers or rail
road labor.
The present charge against the railroads
on account of the capital invested in them
is about nine hundred million dollars,
which the government guarantees. Even
Mr.. Plumb allows that there has been
honest investment in railroads to the
tent of ten or twelve billion dollars which
should be compensated by government
bonds. Government bonds of the Victory
Liberty loan, bearing Az per cent interest,
sell slightly below par. Applying that In
terest rate to figure half way between
the maximum and the minimum mentioned
by Mr.. Plumb, his plan would involve
charge against the railroads, account Of
the capital invested in them, Of about five
hundred million dollars year. But the
roads to-day are not earning even that five
hundred millions q year. There could be
no decrease in freight and passenger rates.
There could be no increase in wages with
out an ofFsetting increase in freight and
passenger rates or without deficit which
would fall on the public in the shape of
taxes.
If we allow Mr. Plumb's improbable con-
tention that under his plan of mixed political
and labor union management the roads would
be operated moro efficiently than under pri-
vate management it is still clear that long
time would have to clapse before the results
of that more efficient operation could make
any apprecabe impression the cost of
Livingstone years, certainly. And it is cost
Of living as an immediate problem that the
brothcrhoods arc talking about. Meanwhile
railroad labor has presented wage de-
mands which would raise the cost of trans
portation by at least eight hundred millions
a yeara burden at least double that which
attribute to Wall Street loot Subtracting
four and adding eight is an odd method Of
reducing the cost of living.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
Disorderly Conduct
lEro,n Ihn Toledo RlodeA

From Tho Toledo Bladc)
In an attempt to do a third loon an
aviator in Kentucky lost control Of his ma
chine, and in the wreck which followed he
and his passengers were killed.
Performing "stunts" may have hcen
good practice for war work, since it was
OF benefit to know how to disconcert the
am OF an enemy and how to get out Of
tight pnches when pilot is pursued. But
1t is not clear that any of these tricks holm
along the promotion of aerial navigation in
time OF peace. Rather we would say thew
interfere with that promotion by making
people think that aeropanes belong rather
to the outfit of a circus than to the busi-
ness OF cargo carrying and Transporting
passengers.
1t is within the means of states and
municipalities to regulate flying, and the
time is right for putting penalty on all
attempts to cut aerial capers
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
TO the Editor of The Tribune.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
CIR: Thank you for the fight your paper
is making for salary increase for
the police and firemen. I am police
man, appointed just before the war broke
out | am married and have two children.
My salary for the first three years is 500
month. Next year, after three years of
service l shall be raised to $3.50.
| had to borrow $1OO from the Morris
Plan. l paying $40 per month on that
loan; 500 month rent; 81 to the pension
fund; So bed money; 81 shoe shine; So in
surance, and about SO gas bill. That leaves
me with about $50 a month to support my
self. my wife and two children.
The fact that am policeman didn't stop
the landlord from raising my rent SIS
month.
1t has been argued that policemen save
money because they do not have to pay car
fares. Motormen and other transportation
employees do not have to pay carfares either.
Here is a table showing the difference be-
tween motormen's wages and patromen's
wages during tho past five years:
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The Minority Report

The report OF the minority of the Sem
ate Foreign Relations Committee is
notable for curious gngerly reserve
"Aen it discusses the reservations. They
are opposed as objectionable, but there
IS avoidance Of specific criticism. 1t is
said they would result in the defeat of
the treaty-but why? We have been as
sured again and again by the President
that the reservations merely set forth in
treaty. AS reservations, he has told us,
they are mere surplusage
The minority members of the Foreign
Relations Committee refrain from echo
ing that view. Yet they are equally un-
willing to express the contrary view
that the reservations wreck the treaty
because they weaken its vigor and dilute
its meaning. 1t would be interesting to
know whether Mr.. Hitchcock and his five
associates really believe that the heart
is cut out of Article x by statement
that the United States will perform no
Obligations under that article except
after authorization by Congress. Do
they think that the covenant is ruined
by a provision that the United States
will allow no questions Of domestic pol
icy and no questions affecting the inter
probation of the Monroe Doctrine to be
passed on by the league Of nations?
The minority gives no hint of its opin-
ion on these matters. It leaves the pub
lie to infer that it opposes any modif-
cations, verbal or otherwise, of the text
of the treaty and the covenant merely
because they are alterations, either
technical or actual. Such a frame Of
mind harmonizes with the anxiety mani
Tested in the report lest the United
States by adding a word in the compact
may offend the other powers represented
in the peace conference and be dis
ciplined by them by being left out in the
cold IN the final settlement Such an
attitude might be excused in a third
class power, eager to gather few
crumbs from the peace table But the
United States has said that it would ask
no spOlls from the conference. 1t is less
concerned about what it is getting than
about what it is giving. If it enters the
league it will be to confer benefits rather
than to receive them.
Hoy poor-spirited, then, is the minor
ity's insistence on the unwisdom of sac
rticing by notifications of the treaty.
"all Of the concessions secured from
Germany BY dictated peace. President
Wilson has said many times that the
other powers look upon the United
States as the cornerstone of future So
ciety Of nations He has announced that
the worlds heart would be broken if
America did not enter the league. Why
should the world break it's own heart,
then, by sticking over few concessions
in the covenant which the United States
may require?
The fear that Europe will leave US out
in the cold if we alter the covenant is
born Of ludicrous miscmception Of the
world situation. The little which we may
ask or will ask Of other nations they will
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The Unlimited Su1rr1arine

A world hope was disappointed at
Paris wh1n there was failure to agree
on submarine limitation. 1t was un-
fortunate that the American delegation
was so occupied with barren localities
that it had no time to consider practl-
calities.
What is to be done? At present the
various adniralties seem devoting their
energies to multiplying submarines.
Great Britain has the X type, vessel
Of 1900 tons, with speed of q knots.
1t can carry supplies to stay at sea for
three months and can travel 1900
miles. Living on the stores Of destroyed
merchantmen, it can cruise for a year
and circumnayigatc the globe.
Our Navy Department follows the
British lead The naval appropriation
act provides for an enlarged submarine
programme, and Secretary Daniels
clamors for more money. France, Japan,
italy, Greece and other nations, when
their finances permit, may be counted on
TO equip Themselves. Argentina, Chile
and Brazil are seeking to place orders.
Ihe policy is dubious one. 1t is adj
mltted by naval experts that the subma-
rinc is not failure Submarines sank
100000 tons Of merchant shipping and
Were responsible for l&lf the Allied loss
IN wars rs It is also admitted that
relatively they give an advantage to the
lTn-c'fe'ec crcial and backward nations
over taose That have world contacts
Tie submarine tends to negative sea
power and strengthens the practically
disposed. Strange it is that the obvious
conclusion is drawn by so few in both
Great Britain and the United States.
We seem not only to go against world
interests, but against our own.
Sooner or later the embargo on Ger
man construction VIII be lifted. Russia
will have a fleet OF undcrsea craft. as will
also Japan. Is the consequence uncer-
tain? Is any one willing to trust a
mere paper agreement to use the sublna-
rine legally? Let us not deceive our
selves Ii wolf packs exist, and all have
them, they will be ferociously used.
The argument that bad nation will
badly use any weapon, and that the sub
marine IS no worse than others, is fall
lacious. Evil is exceptionally inherent
IN the Submarine.
The other stock argument against sub
marine limitation is that general espion-
age would be necessary. Granted, but
such espionage seems feasible. Only a
few nations now have The technical abil-
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
For Free Business

4 meeting of the Western Counc!
~ of the American Association Of Ad'
vertising Agencies, held at Chicago
the following resolution was unanimously
adopted:
"Resolved, That the continued happi'
ness and prosperity of the American
people so utterly depend upon the suc-
cess and prosperity of American business
that public opinion should be aroused ID
opposition to legislation now being urgea
in Congress regulating the conduct o.
business by license. this opposition OelAS
based on these ground:
"(1) That the licensing principle can can
not be introduced except IN such genera
terms that it could soon DE interpreted ~
include all lines Of business, even INV
press and advertising.
"(2) That such power over bus s'ness anS
the freedom of the press IS too vas. 80 90
dangerous 10 trust in the hands OF az
man or set Of men, and IS contrary :"
American institutions -.
"(3) That increased production IS .ns
sure, sane and economical way TO reos''
costs OF goods of every nature.
"i4 That increased production IA IA
only come from free and untram-ne....,' .,'
competition between individual manu-
facturers and producers. seeking IN eve.
legitimate way io develop new and e@'s'
ing markets.
"(5) That any legislation, state OF .'nn ~,
tlonal, that lends to restrict com
or reduce production, through icens.ns ics.os
or otherwise, Is adverse 90 the co"''
good"
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
Laughing at Death
(Frooa Tie Harford courantl

tNTOm me AUrfforG Loufdntl
Maine newspapers tell OF a resident Of
Lewiston, in that state, who, on Tuesday
last, while suffering from a violent thirst,
drank quart of spirits OF ntre and
pint of Jamaica ginger. Several things oc-
CURED Immediately thereafter, but the
death of the Lewiston man was not one
of these things He became very i'll, and
his skin turned green, but he recovered
and is now in condition to continue his
experiments with drugs
The story suggests that physicians have
not yet learned the possibilities of the hui
man body, which they study so carefully
nor do they know to what strange things
1t may accustom itself, but they may
realize that if the Lewiston man mad spen.
SIX months in preparing for this internal
bath of nitre and alcohol he mig ght have
swallowed larger quantity without grea:
inconvenience. Given due notice as to
what is expected of il, the human interior
wlll adapt itself to many drugs which
introduced TO It suddenly, prove fatal
We may assume that man learned to
use opium 10 excess shortly after he dis
covered that bitter gum oozed from the
stalk of the poppy, and since then he has
taken other liberties with his table q
contents and has been not much the wora
for it. Nicotine is poison, by all the
rules Of toxicology, but many a man thor
oughly enjoys this form of poison. Arsenlc
is lethal, yet there are arsenic eaters.
few acids, sulphuric, nitric, muriatic and
carbollc, are as yet not classed among the
habit forming drugs, and the man who
swallows even small quantity Of any one
of these will not call for more in this
world, but there are many poisons TO which
man may render himself indifferent There
may be scientists who study this subject, but
they have not covered the field as yet.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13

The S21S4 paid to motormen is for a
straight ten-hour day, with time and half
for overtime. The polceman's day is 1912
hours, counting patrol and reserve, and TAX
ing no count of strikes, parades and other
extra duty.
A motorman's uniform costs S28; a police
mans overcoat costs SIT.
A patrolman's pension costs him SO per
month. A motorman's pension costs him so
cents month. was a motorman before
l came into the Police Department and
understand both jobs.
| do not believe that policeman should
belong to a labor union, but if the city does
not treat US fairly you will find that the young
patrolmen will drop out and go to other Jobs,
which they can easily get.
A HARD-PRESSED COP
New York, Sept. 10, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The RuEIitt Evidence

Speaking to the American Association
on September concerning his Paris ox-
perience, Mr. Lansing>said
"With this experience wildly in mind
cannot too strongly assert that interna-
tional justice. interpreted and applied by
an impartial court, can do more to pre-
vent future wars than any agency, single
or collective, operating in the field Of
diplomacy"
Mr.. Lansing had previously identified
the covenant as operating in the field Of
diplomacy and had strongly condemned
the pseudo-internationa which he
called "mundanism" Chat is, the sup
preston of nationalism), whose spirit he
saw in the covenant. The phraseology
was difficult for the ordinary person to
understand, and thus his declaration at
ttacted little attention, but he obviously
struck at the very roots Of the covenant.
ae showed himself in sympathy with
The ideas Of Mr.. Root, who is willing to
l9ify the covenant provided its anti
liati0nalism, or mundanism, is removed,
but who sees world order coming by
development Of definitions of right
agreed to am ported by Independent
nations.
Aside from the revelation of Mr.. Lam
sings views, the Bullitt statement throws
light on the rapid changes of the Presi-
deat.ai mind. 1t would seem as if the
Prc-ilent often did not comprehend the
issues and that he had no matured poll
e-os. Tne defeat Of the proposal that
lsaguc delegates should be chosen by the
various national legislative bodies,
scheme that would have secured greater
popular control, was due, it appears, to
itin, although urged by Cecil, SHUTS and
House. 1t was rot known his prejudice
Il favor Of executive control went thus
far
The American people. as Mr.. Lansing
foaraa, do not fully understand the
treaty. But one point they have graspea
---nameiy, that tie covenant as written
Is opposed TO sound nationalism. Hence
the demand, steadily growing stronger,
for its merieanization--that is, for an
open reeogait.5n n Of the principle that we
DO not waive our sovereignty.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The Cost of Coat

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
GlR: | am seventeen years in the Police
~ Department and this is the first year
that l could not afford to go into the coun-
try with my wife.
was ordered to get a new winter overcoat,
but the tailor refused to take my order be-
cause was unable to deposit $40. the bal
ance of the $75 to be paid before taking
the coat out of the shop. Formally this coat
could be purchased for SIS
l have no children and am therefore bet
ter OH than many policemen and firemen 7
know with families. Some of then, are in
debt for all they can get
Unless there is a substantial increase in
the salary of policemen there will be different
material on the force in the future at least
of the young men Of the department. as a
great many of them are about to quit.
There is also the matter of reserve dutv
winch compels patrolman to do eight hours
reserve every third day, in addition to his
daily eight hours patrol. Not once in +he
eight years l have been in the department
have | seen an occasion when the reserves
were of any use.
In the event of any emergency arising.
by the time they got there the emergency
had passed. The fashlight and signal boxes
nave removed the necessity for the reserve
yet the authorities continue to put the men
and their families to this unnecessary incon-
venience and hardship. cop
New York, Sept. 9, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
A Citizen Remember,

TO the Editor of The Tribune.
\'R; Your editorial on the firemen,s
- pay reminds me that at the time Of the
Equitable fire these men endured terrible
hardshlps, and all sorts of promises were
made regarding the betterment of their
conditions These promises apparently
were never kept, and the whole matter
seems to have been forgotten.
burlng the war the fremen worked dav
and night and had only one day off in ten.
'et '"ey never received any extra compen-
satlon for their vigilance. Their families
have been subjected to the same increases
IN the cost of living as have the rest Of
the people, and honestly think that the
least which be done to express the
publlc's appreciation of their untiring eff
forts is to grant them their demands for
more pay. A CITIZEN.
New York, Sept. 10, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The Pay Of q Recruit
To the Editor of The T'r1

TO the Editor of The Tribune
CIR: One Of the most important features
about the patrolmen's pay is the fact
that for the first three years a patrolman
is in the Police Department he gets only
$1,000 year. After that he must work two
more years before he receives the maximum
rate Of $3.50. Yet any mistakes he makes
during that first five years, when he is paid
as recruit, he must answer for just the
same as the man who is getting the salary
of full fedged patrolman.
receive $40 on payday. An eighteen-yea
old boy, who lives in the same house, gets
S28 week. Do you wonder that he gives
me the laugh?
ONE OF THE FINEST.
BUT PAID THE POOREST.
New York, Sept. 9, 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
The W0rst Paid

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
SlR: >The cost of a patrolman's equipment
has more than doubled in the past three
years The patrolman must pay the increased
prices for everything - foodstuffs, rent and
ciothes-as must every one else But the
patrolman's pay has remained practically at
q standstll.
In the last drive the police sold about
Sl5l'ooo,ooO of Victory bonds In the rail-
way strike we worked night and day to
protect the lives of the citizens who took
chance riding on the cars One patrolman
lost his life doing this, only few weeks AGO
IN brooklyn We are not kicking about what
we have to do, but we do feel that we are
not Delng paid for what We are doing. We
are called "the finest" but we are paid tina
worst. a pATpOr,,.~
New York, Sept 8, 1919.