davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-02-22
SAFETY FOR FRANCE.
A Training Camp Of the Nations OF
the Rhine Proposed.

To THE EDITOR or THE suN-sir: Some
Of the correspondents inform us that
Mr.. Wilson Is ''nettled" at tho reception
he has met In France. This is not un-
likely. as his experiences hitherto have
accustomed him TO subservlonce rather
than opposition. The French are q prac-
teal nation, and II he had lived some
time In France, as I have, he would
realize the nightmare of a sudden Az
gression under which they have lived
for the last fifty years. and would un-
derstand their desire for some protec-
ton more solid than n 'scrap Of paper"
venture to offer suggestion which
would probably meet the French views
or abroad.
Nations each send a military contingent
to n training camp to be established
along the left bank Of the Rhine or some
part Of II situated in the devastated
regions OF France. Let these be re-
placed from time TO time. say every year.
20 that practically the whole armies
still maintained by the various signato-
ries would pass through this camp peri
odically. This wotld cost no more than
sending an equal number OF American
troops to Honolulu or the Philippines.
or English troops to India, or French
troops to Morocco.
Tho men of tho various contingents
would fraternize and learn to under
stand each other. especially II Olympic
games, rife matches, &C.. were encour-
aged. It would make for efficiency and
| smartness as no ono contingent would
like to be considered inferior to another.
The officers would exchange ideas on the
latest wrinkles In methods and tactics,
while the commanders would learn to
handle large bodies of troops, as some
arrangement could probably be made
whereby each General commanding ma
n9uvred the whole mass from time Ia
time. The French hesitation would be
overcome, because there would alwaye
be near the frontier very considerable
body OF trained troops ready to move
on twenty-four hours notice from then
homo Governments in case of sudden
aggression.
Meanwhile. the establishment OF sucf
q camp would involve tho individua
spending Of quite considerable sum OF
money. which would go far toward help
regions OF France. And last but moi
least. there could be no question OF run
ming foul OF the Constitution.
]. ACTON LoMAx.
NEW YoRK, February 81.
The sun., 1919-02-22

earlier than his habit was, because
his customers, adjusting themselves
to the new time, were on hand earlier.
But the farmer had been getting up
at daybreak or before, anyway, and
the extra hour OF daylight after noon
was Of no real advantage to him.
Similarly, when the railroads con-
formed to the new time, the farmers
who shipped produce on morning
trains had to get to the freight sta
tione an hour earlier than before.
Under ordinary conditions many Of
them had to leave their farms before
the sun was up, and the change in
time put an added burden Of early
rising on them.
Such changes In life on the farm. 1t
is asserted, put back the routine Of
summer work considerably. The In.
reference with the normal course Of
performance Of daily duties Is repre-
scented as having caused inconvenl-
ence to all farmers and real hardship
to many. Consequently. the farmers
are opposed to another change In clock
time, and the Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry has added
an amendment to the agricultural up
Precipitation bill which would repeal
the daylight saving act.
Daylight saving proved popular In
cities and larger towns last year, and
effected a worth while saving in fuel
and In transportation. It gave great
many persons employed In factories
! and Offices opportunity to work war
f, gardens. 1t provided time for numer.
Gus games Of golf that might not have
been played except for setting the
hands Of the clock ahead. 1t Is be
yond doubt, however. that most Amer.
leans looked on It as a war measure
and II the farmers complaints agains,
1t are well founded they deserve a re
spectful hearing.
The sun., 1919-02-22
ENFORCING PROHIBITION.
Fear That Some Advocates Of DRY.
moss May Balk.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sk: 1t
seems impossible to follow the operations
OF the prohibition mind. Recently Rep
resentative Klair of New Castle county,
Delaware, in which IL situated the large
Industrial city Of Wilmington. which has
successfully defeated prohibition by
large majorities, offered n statewide
prohibition bill. The measure made
provisions for search and seisure. and
It contained other drastic remedies for
putting John Barleycorn completely out
OF business in every manner In which
that worthy has been known to beat
the law.
According to the press OF Delaware
tho measure was ominously received by
the dry brethren Of the House and
their supporters throughout the State.
Even the Anti-Saloon League, which IA
supposed to be the one implacable enc
my Of booze In all its forms. objected
to the drastic features OF Mr.. Klair's
suggested law. Tho predicament OF
over having their cellars raided, caused
hilarity in the camp of the vets. The
objections Of the prohibitionists carried
the day, however. and Mr.. Klair, al
though q prohibitionist himself, capitu.
lated to the calamitous bowls of the dry
forces.
Az coming events cast their shadow,
before. It can safely be predicted thai
the Blue Hen State will not give abso'
Lutte concurrent action nor shall It make
appropriate legislation within the mean
ing OF the Eighteenth Amendment. The
action Of tho Delaware prohibitionists
and they are not dissimilar to prohibi.
tionists the country over. may show
that tho Eighteenth Amendment, owe
which tho drys made such jubilation
may not be such a fearful thing aftei
all.
Obnoxious indeed is prohibition wher
II actually prohibits. Take the drys
| word for II. THOMAS B. FORREST.
NEWARK. N. J.. February Fl.
The sun., 1919-02-22
THE TASK MONROE SET.
Plenty for America TO Do In Regu.
latlng Matters Over Here.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Pat
rick Henry associated liberty and life,
and made his choice II he could have but
one. That choice has been echoed and
reechoed by our school boys ever since.
DO We think II good one?
Jefferson in the greatest instrument
ever penned. except possibly Magma
Charta, associated both with indepen-
dence, In fact. treated the two former as
mere acce ssores to the latter. Arc W
to surrender this greatest of ali?
II was foreign alliances" not foreign
wars" that Washington warned III
against. Paul Jones went as far from
hone as did Pershing and Sims. An
we to heed that warning?
Monroe outlined n good sized Job In
the way OF experimenting outside of on,
borders This continent is more compli.
Gated than It was then. and Just as large
Its populations. our immediate objective
have spread to its remote corners. Ar
We to jeopardize our efficiency in operat.
ing this trust by extending II alarmingiy
unnecessarily and certainly not under,
standingly7
Pershlng has made II clear" to oul
enemies, our allies. and the whole neu.
trail world as spectators, as he did 4
Carranza and the dattos of Mindanat
and the Sulu Archipelago before, that he
and incidentally the rest OF us. when W,
get our "freeborn toes" trodden on suf
flciently TO make US try. are likely e
march in any direction our own Govern
ment Is willing we should. Shall we
The sun., 1919-02-22
IN, AND NOT OUT.
A League Of Nations American Citi'
sens Should Study.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: TO
the inquiry In the letter headed TN ana
Then How out7' as to whether a nation
Joining the League OF Nations can hon
orably withdraw therefrom. THE suN
this morning answers, 1T would depend
on the form OF the treaty engagement"
VIII It not in fact depend rather on
the construction which any nation or
nations may see At TO put on their
treaty engagements at any time wheh
they may feel strong enough to main
tain their alleged rightsf
Certainly that was our experience
with a most binding treaty made be-
tween thirteen English and English
speaking colonies. The Constitution OF
the United States begins by saying that
II was ordained. ''in order to form
more perfect Union, establish Justice. In
sure domestic tranquility. provide for
the common defence. promote the gen
eral welfare and secure the blessings OF
liberty to ourselves and our posterity.''
This in 1857. In 1851 about one-third
Of the States in the Union, asserting
that they had the constitutional right to
withdraw therefrom. seeded. Tho other
States not seeing II In that light, rour
years OF civil war ensued.
srurvEsArf FISH.
NEW YoHx, February 81.
The sun., 1919-02-22
Victor Berger's False Claim.

The five Socialists, with vIcToR BIER
GER Of Milwaukee at their head, who
have been convicted Of violation OF the
espionage act and sentenced to twenty
years Imprisonment protest that they
were prosecuted and convicted because
OF their political beliefs.
Actually nothing of the kind hap
pcned. They were prosecuted for VIC
lating a statute Of the United States
enacted to protect the United State,
from the public enemy. That statut,
was binding on every individual in tn,
United States, no matter what religion
he proftssod. what party he affiliate,
with, or what his opinion was of tn
attitude taken by the United State
IN the war.
To assert that because a man was
The sun., 1919-02-22
Return to tho Convention System,

Tho New York Republican County
Committee voted four to one at Its
February meeting In favor Of aban-
doning the system Of direct nominal
ton for party candidates and return
Ing to the convention system.
While this political body was TAX
Ing this action. the Association Of the
Bar of the City Of New York, an or
ganization as non-partisan as can
easily be conceived, recorded itself in
favor of the same reform, so far rs
candidates to be voted for by all the
electors Of the State and for Judi
cial office are concerned.
Thus two important and representa-
tive societies, whose members are
peculiarly qualified to pass judgment
on the effectiveness Of laws regulat-
Ing the selection Of candidates for
office. simultaneously recorded them
selves against direct nominations and
for conventions. The political work
ers in the County Committee and the
legal authorities in the Bar Associa.
tion, experienced in the practical
! workings Of the primary law at the
polls and in the courts, oppose its re-
tention and unite in the demand for
Its repeal.
They express the conviction Of every
man who has intelligently observed
the operation Of the direct nomina
ton system. They record the senti
ment Of every individual who has
watched 1t demoralize parties and fol
the will Of the enrolled voters. Theil
voices should be heard and needed by
the lawmakers at Albany and by Gov
ernor SMITH, who asserts that giving
the people the simple. workable mean,
Of naming their candidates for offic,
is matter Of comparatively small
consequence in the settlement O.
State affaira
The sun., 1919-02-22
WHAT GOODS A CONTRACT?
A Telephone User Finds His Docu.
ment Burlesonlxed.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: On
September 8. 1918. made application to
the New York Telephone Company for
the removal of my telephone to my new
address, to take effect on November /.
Wy application was accepted and n
contract was signed by which the tele-
phone company agreed to change the
service to the new location for SO.
now receive a bill dated February /,
1919, for $40. with the explanation that
the United States Government had or
dered all contracts void and the IS
charge raised to $40. Upon my refusal
to pay the $40. instead of SO as per
signed contract. service would be dis
continued.
Tho Public Service Commission. to
which appealed, advised mo that l
would be compelled to pay the charge al
though the Government had no right TO
make the change.
What right has the United States
Government TO consider my contract with
the telephone company a scrap OF pa
PERI Or Is the Government also going
into tho holdup game and Bolshevism7
ANOTHER SCRAP OF PAPER.
BROOKLYN, February q.
The sun., 1919-02-22
EVENTS TO-DAY.
This I. washinston's Birthday.

Literary exercises in. connection With
the James Russell Lowell Centenary. Ritz
'' washn mSts ri IT celebrate, and
dinner to 1900 boys OF New York and
Brooklyn. given by Mrs: Eliza Gussen,
nn address S"v A arass MemoT. n N.waSoys
House. PA william street, P. NJ
washington's Birthday celebration oths
les, Kismet Temple, Brooklyn, ,7"t5 p
Miss Janet Richards will talk on our-
rent events to the memhers OF the Ely
Club TS. pslm n1sIo II A. A; NJ n, w
$40 Lenox avenue. will hold specis
reereational evening beginning at o'clock
cf9:Tf nss SIP f2r MSs'. Street ss the w
informal dance TO officers and nurses IN
national service. $50 10 IL p. NJ.
Memorial mass by tho Councils Of n.
thedral. 10 A. NJ.
Solemn high military mass for the safe
return OF Federal employees and all Amer;
their lives In the defence Of their county,
ST Peters Roman Catholic Church. ss''
CLAW and Church streets. 1850 A. "
Alumni Association OF the Law School q
the New York University. Pennsylvsn''
Dinner by the Lo.os Club to John Gals.
P NJ N. " " '' SO '1 ~
ANNUAL dinner of N. Ulster cosn.y g.
Pigelow will speak, Hotel Riltmors. :
P. NJ.
Lectur. on "ven.tian Painting b, A..
thur Pope, Metropolitan Museum OF AZ
wsshinston's Birthday ,osi.sr..,on tn
the straus Auditorium Of tho Educsticnal
Alliance, 1877 East Broadway, P NJ
Twentieth annual dinner OF the Aesrt
Lucas Religious Glasses. Hotel Savoy.
washinston's birthday csl.s-at,onot IN.
Sons of the Revolution Deimonieo''' So
Breaking OF ground for monument 90
be erected by Local Exemption Board No
| 2 OF The Bronx. Third and Morris ave
| nuea and issth street. 2 p. NJ,
:;..s, viii preside East Fifteenth
Victory service conducted by ths Re-
| Joseph Patton McComas, under ths avs
pices of the SulErave Institution, 81. pau :
chapel. 1880 A. NJ,
| the James Russell Lowell centenary a.
dress Music Hall. p. NJ, s3rook'yn n
| stitute.
Merchandise Show. Commodore Hotel Al
| day.
The transportation Division. 4 = =
will conduct a dansant and mid winter re-
union at the Lackawanna Concours". =.
| l.. and W Passenger Station, Hobntf7
=. ". Arnlx and naval officers - 80
| port have been invited to attend.
:, True Craf,sman's Lodge dinner. VIC"
irving League. dinner ana danes. H."
| McAlpin, I p. NJ
Thirteenth annual dinner OF ~. POTTS
| Iheutenants Association. Waldorf A. o. r.
$40 p. NJ.
| Celebration OF washinEtou's Blrthtay q
| Washington Headquarters, ls0'h s'-"'
| near Amsterdam avenue, 3 r NJ
The sun., 1919-02-22
.CROPSEY HALTS BIG
CITY STOCK ISSUE
Citizens Union Gets Injunc-
ton Against Hylan Ad-
ministration.
CRAIG PLANS TO APPEAL
Court Rules Legal Acts Of Pre-
vious Officials May Not Be
Overturned.

"The irIegality OF tho proposed act
seems 30 clear that It 10 the duty Of the
court to grant the Injunction sought"
wrote Justice Cropsey In the Brooklyn
Supreme Court yesterday In granting
the restraining order asked by the Citi-
Gems Union to prevent the Hylan admin
istration from issuing s4,6oo.ooo in cor
porate stock to pay past expenses OF the
Public Service Commission.
The city will take an appeal, a. the
administration wishes to put $500 900
OF the money raised by the bond issue
In 20 the general fund for the reduction
OF taxation. It calls It "refunding" Of
expenses that have been met by revenue
bonds already paid out Of budget charges.
Tho other $1,000. 900 It is proposed 10 use
to pay or revenue bonds still outstand-
ing.
The claim IL made by the city Of
hcials that under the dual subway con-
tracts no moneys can be placed to dts con-
struction account by the city unless they
have been raised by corporate stock.
Justice Cropsey punctures this contention
and declares that II 10 a matter OF judy
ment with an administration whether II
Issues corporate stock or special revenue
bonds
However, tho Justice holds that IL ID
not permissible that one administration
should overturn an absolutely legal act
Of another. In regard to the $500, 900
for "refunding' purposes Justice Crop
sey says:
THE city has no general power In the
absence of express statute N issu" o~"-
porate stock or bonds to reimburse III
| treasury for payments made from 1t,
Now a now administration seeks to up
set and undo all that has been done by
prior administrations.
ITO permit such course to be fol-
lowed would work havoc. 1t would make
conditions chaotic. There would be nc
nnality in any action, for each succeed
ing administration would undo what any
of its predecessors had done, or could
even reverse itself. When an admins
tration or one OF its boards or depart
ments has lawfully adopted a policy OF
| has resolved to proceed in a certain way
and the action or policy has been carried
out. It cannot be rescinded or changed
| through a different policy or action tina,
originally might have been valid"
| The plea that prior administration
once refunded" expenses of the Public
Service Commission by an issue Of cor
porate stock for the general fund has nc
bearing on the case.
| In regard to the proposal to use ST.
00o, 900 of the new corporate stock tc
replace revenue bonds Justice Cropsey
points to tho city's statement that such
a transaction is necessary because cor
porate stock should have been issued ir
the first place.
| But, as has been shown" Justice
Cropsey adds, "the issue OF special reve
nue. bonds was not illegal 1t was on,
OF the two authorized methods OF paying
these expenses. and there is no provision
OF law for issuing special revenue bonds
| pending an issue of corporate stock
The charter expressly provides for thu
Issuance of corporate stock notes In an
ticlpatton OF or pending the issuance o.
| corporate stock"
The sun., 1919-02-22
TOBACCO IN. THE WAR.
Reasons From the Trenches why Its
Use Should Not BE Prohibited.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUE-Sr: I
was greatly pleased to see your editorial
article of February II on the recent agi-
tation concerning the use OF tobacco. II
certainly hits the nail on the head. Why
should the great majority OF men DO de-
prived of their tobacco because OF a few
who believe It is n menace TO the nation ?
One OF the greatest comforts OF the
soldier in the trenches was his smokes"
which also were large factor in keep
ing UP the morale OF our troops. Evil
dence OF this is seen In the popularity
OF THE SIN Tobacco Fund. which Is do
Ing a great work over there" Each
day brings In letters OF thanks TO the
contributors 10 the fund from the boys
showing that they appreciate the work
OF the fund and are thankful for IL
NEW York, February 81. T. ]. NJ.
The sun., 1919-02-22

The acreage figures used in the So
called mineral land leasing bill are
astonishing TO tho people Of States not
familiar with the vast expanses of land
yet under Government ownership or
control. Here are various kinds Of
reserves measuring in total about
TOO, 000,0 acres In many parts of
which II IL known that there are
valuable minerals. These include
coal, iron. copper. gold, silver. oil.
phosphate and rarer minerals now
much in demand In industries. arts and
scientific work. 1t IL difficult to under
stand the convictions on public policy
OF so large a number as 100 Repre-
sentatives who voted against agree
ment to the conference report on the
bill. The only reasonable explanation
IL that offered by Senator SMITH OF
Arizona: They are in favor OF con-
servation for eternity"
The sun., 1919-02-22
THE MUSICAL PITCH.
why Substitute the German for the
Paris Standard?

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sr: In
THE SUN OF February IS q correspondent
who signs himself merely "E" calls at
tention to the unfortunate situation in
this country whereby a certain group OF
musicians have undertaken to discredii
the best recognized standard pitch
namely, the international pitch with A
at 435 vibrations, and substitute for this
a slightly higher pitch with A at 440
vibrations.
AS no good argument has been ad
vanced for discarding the international
pitch. the use OF which has been steadily
increasing since It's establishment a
Paris in 1859. have come to the con-
ciusson that the EFFORT to give prominence
to a pitch slightly higher than th'
standard Is being carried on by thost
who have either selnshly or ignorantl,
allowed themselves to depart from thu
recognised standard Rather than &C
knowledge their error and back up. the,
have sought to discredit the interna
tIonal pitch to Justify the construction
OF instruments or performances n
higher than the recognized standard.
Though I have heard some musician
OF German predictions attempt e
Justify the A-4%o as having been estab
llshed in Germany some years prior Il
the Paris diapason normal of 1859
later known as the international-I can
not find that the Scheibler. Stuttgart o
German pitch OF 440 ever had any ap
probable following in Germany. Prob
ably this was because the figure wa
advocated not by a group OF musician
but by a society OF physicists. MAXIM
reference at this time TO the Stuttgar
A ut 44o is merely hauling out some
! thing which had been long forgotten be
| cause II gives a plausible argument.
As the present situation is unfortu
| nate and in many ways detrimental Z
the advancement OF music in this coun
try, an honest effort should be made +
clarity It before 1t becomes worse.
believe this can best be done by a cam
paign of education, and II your CORE
spondent e. or any others are inter
ested in working toward this end.
suggest that they make themselves. a
we'll as their opinions known. II
equally important TO hear from thos
who feel that there Is justification 70
departing from the standard A-t35
they can give any clear argument fo
the actor Of the Federation. which wer
on record as against the estabiishe
standard. JOHN p. TAYLOR.
SCHENECTADY, February 81.
The sun., 1919-02-22
MAKE STATUES OF THEM
German warshlps Might Decorate an
Oyster Bay Coliseum.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--S,r: In
place OF the wasteful demolition OF the
surrendered German navy, tho plan
which still seems to prevail In some
minds, why not use some OF tho ships
in a Roosevelt memorial. a coliseum at
oyster Bay. with appropriate statues
and has reliefs to commemorate 100 per
cent Americanlsm7
The rest could be devoted to . super
colossal statue q Peace. which might
throw its shadow over the American
Field OF Honor which France gives 10
our dead who fell In the night to free the
world. ANNE T. ScRAPPr.
NEW YORK. February 81.
The sun., 1919-02-22
MANS WORKING SPEECH.
Should the Spoken Language Be
Studied More In the Schoolsi

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: When
we consider that more than 80 per cent.
OF the worlds daily work is transacted
in the oral way, any proper study OF
English in the schools II would appear,
would contemplate the short business
route. Much less than per cent. OF the
worlds daily work Is done by language
in written form. and yet in face OF this
fact the extended study OF long written
models takes up much of the time On
school.
Oral English. all suspicious 10 the
contrary. eHcels written EKyllsh at~al-
most every point 1t is alive and keeps
moving, and, best OF all, does It's trick
quickly.
For most purposes the best style OF
writing in the world is the oral. the
style, as We say. that talks.
Herbert l. WILBUR
HAcKxNsAcK. February 81
The sun., 1919-02-22

So confused and fragmentary is the
news from the interior of Germany
that the assassination OF KURT FISHER.
Premier of Bavaria. remains at this
time a mystery. His killing will nat
urally be attributed to the disturbed
political and social conditions In his
country. His political course has been
erratic from the beginning. He OPP
posed the Majority Socialists as vio-
lently as he did the kingly regime from
whose overthrow he profited, and de-
nounced as virulently Bolshevism; yet
he went to the Bern conference in all
the magniflcence OF a royal visitor. He
was overwhelmingly defeated in the
elections Of delegates to the German
National Assembly. to membership in
which he aspired in spite Of the fact
that he advocated independence for
Bavaria His slayer is an aristocrat
one of the military caste" whose pun
ishment for bringing on the war Els
NEH demanded. His life and death are
a romance of revolutionary Germany