davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
A Harveyized Peace Plan

Colonel Harvey, having had some
success in the negative, now impru.
IDENTIFY ventures to take the affirma-
tive. He proposes something with
respect to redeeming the pledge in
the Republican platform for an as.
sociation Of nations for the preserva-
tion Of world peace.
His proposal is that the principal
nations shall agree, before going to
war, to submit the issue to a popu-
lar vote. This is old and shopworn.
It was long a speciality Of William
j. Bryan. Senator Borah gave the
idea a rebirth during the treaty de-
bate. Something like it is embodied
in the covenant, in the article pre-
scribing that members of the league
shall not go to war until after the
expiry of six months, and not even
then until the league makes a re-
port.
This plan ignores potent fact
OF great moment. It proceeds on the
assumption, on which so much
"pacifist" nonsense is based, that
one nation, acting separately, can
determine whether or not it shall 20
to war. A nation can't do this. War
is bilateral, not unilateral. One can
not make quarrel. If assailed a
nation has no option except to resist
unless 1t would surrender in ad-
vance.
A country might have a dozen
plebiscites expressing it's desire to
remain at peace. This would amount
to nothing IL tho plebiscite Of it's
neighbor was the other way, or if
its government, holding the agree
ment was scrap of paper, should
order an attack and it's soldiers
should obey.
In 1914 Serbia begged for
peace. Austria-Hungaria determined
IL should have war. Likewise,
France had no choice but to fight
against the German horde. Nor had
Russia. The Asquith Cabinet of
Great Britain was strongly pacif1st.
and 1t consented to war only after
Germany callously broke tho Belgian
treaty. We are accustomed to hear
Ing muddlcd pacifists talk Of war az
something that a single nation can
determine shall or shall not occur.
But it was supposed Colonel Harvey
had clearer head.
M0rSovsr. seldom II disputs be-
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15

Americanization, greatly stimulated
by the war, clashes to some extent
with the economic demand for fuller
man power. In which direction
lies Americas controlling interest?
There are several regulation and
naturalization measures before the
Senate on which hearings have been
arranged, and it is desirable to de-
velop the public's attitude toward
them. Limitation by selection is
the method most favored by the ad-
vocates of thorough Americanization.
This involves the use of a percentage
formula, allowing admissions in pro-
portion to the size of racial or lam
guage groups of foreign birth al
ready in this country. Another plan
is to give a Federal commission
power to sift out. applicants and fix
ratios.
Pressure for the remodelling Of
our immigration system has become
too strong to be ignored. A new
general law will probably be passed
at the extra session Of the new Con-
gress. The argument which drove
the Johnson bill through the House,
but which may not affect the Senate
to an equal degree, was that a one
year suspension would give Congress
breathing space In which to clarity
it's thought.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
No Cause for Gloom

How serious IS the decrease of en-
ployment which is now played up by
those who have a liking for round
numbers and lurid exaggeration?
The report Of the New York Labor
Bureau for November gives some
actual figures. They do not suggest
that there is an era Of joblessness
and are calculated to allay the pessi-
mistic spirit which is becoming dam
gerously prevalent.
A tabulation of reports from 1 1886
New York manufacturing establish
ments shows that employment is but
8 per cent below the full tide of a
year ago and but 6 per cent below
that of October. From the peak of
employment in March there is a de-
crease of only Ia per cent.
The figures are not agreeable, but
are not alarming. The great army
of factory workers is still busy-at
least more than nine out of ten Of
them. If there were included in the
survey the employments which from
their nature are steady it is probable
that employment would be discovered
to be only 5 or 3 per cent below so
prosperous year as 1919. The
stories Of millions out Of work are
not backed by facts.
The report Of the Labor Bureau
contradicts the gloom makers. But it
is none the Tess welcome on this ac-
count.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
The Immigration Barrape

The johnson bill expressed the
feeling Of the House of Representa-
tives that the bars should be put up
on immigration for at least a wear
lhis IS, OF course, mere expedient,
having no relation to our permanent
immigration policy, which cannot be-
come one of exclusion. The United
States is far from being developed
nation industrially, and our economic
situation is likely to require for
many years some reinforcement Of
native labor by foreign labor.
The Senate is showing a disposi-
ton to look beyond what the House
considered an emergency and to dis
cuss the permanent aspects of the
problem. The demand for conpleter
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
Liquidating Goods Abroad

Both houses of Congress having
strongly indicated a desire for res
direction of the War Finance Board.
It remains to be seen whether the
Administration, in this case person
flied in Secretary Houston, will relax
it's strangle hold. Heretofore the
Secretary has acted on the assump-
ton that he knows better than Con-
gress or the board itself what should
be done, and has never found the ten
seconds which are all the time needed
to put 100000 at the disposal
Of finance experts.
In the mean time the rise in the
nominal value of the American dol
lar in terms of foreign currencies
continues. On January the av-
erage price of the dollar in fourteen
different countries was $1.29. By
July the price had risen to $1.44. 1t
Is now around $1.88. The outsider
must pay nearly So for what is
worth 81. How can he purchase ex-
cept to meet the direst necessity?
The only way to correct this ab-
normal condition is to sell on credit,
and the only way to sell on credit
with any safety is when there is
some agency on this side able to saw
when the buyer is a good risk. The
ordinary small producer can't do
the job, and only to limited extent
can 1t be done by q large corporation
with facilities for examining credit
applications.
The newly organized Foreign
Banking Association shows that
bankers and fnanciers see the YER
tiles Of the situation. But it Is
doubtful II it can sell debentures
sufficient to afford full relief. 1t is
scarcely substitute for, although
valuable supplement to, the War
Finance Board.
1t must be kept steadily in view
that the foreign situation is what
lmperils our own. Our people can
scarcely prosper in any real sense
when our warehouses are packed
with unsold goods. We hear much
talk Of liquidating surpluses. But
the home market, broad as it is. is
hardly wide enough to absorb our
surpluses. The liquidation area
should be extended to cover the
world.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
The Revolt Against Enright

Revolt is an ominous thing to start
in an organization so honeycombed
with distrust and discomfort as is the
New York Police Department to-day.
It spreads-rapidly and widely. The
spirit which prompted Mrs. O'Grady
to throw her shield at the Cor>mis-
sioner and tear the lid off the under
ground politics of the Tammany ad-
ministration is working in countless
policemen.
The amusing episode of the police
hospital is in point. Mr.. Enright or
dered a referendum-and it was
taken in typical Enright fashion.
Each patrolman voting wasSidenti-
fed and negative votes were far be-
tween-the vision of lonely post at
City Island or some equally far hori-
zon Of Mr.. Enright's domain left
very little to the referendum except
the paper it was written on. When
the force got together in open meet
ing yesterday afternoon the vote was
exactly reversed and the hospital
project showed under.
There is no question that the police
force in its rank and file Is sound and
honest and anxious to make good
Its members resent the Enright
Vaccinations, which transfer expert
detectives to foolish tasks like the
solicitation Of hospital funds, fully
as much as the citizen and taxpayer
left unprotected does. If q referen-
dunn, a genuine referendum, we're
taken Of the force to-day Mr.. En-
right would not last in Office an hour.
What does Mr.. Hylan propose to do
in this situation? Mr.. Enright is
his appointee and continues in Office
solely through his will. If Mr.. Hylan
does nothing, in view Of Mrs.
O'Grady's public and responsible
accusations, he assumes full respon-
sibility for the consequences. In both
specific detail and general charge the
police administration stands to-day
under the gravest accusation. The
evidence on which these charges rest
is testimony from the inside, the
declarations Of Hylan appointee in
revolt, an officeholder too honest and
sincere to witness the Tammanyiza-
ton Of the Police Department and
remain part Of it.
The public indictment Of Mr..
Hylan's police administration is now
complete and the Mayors RESPONSE
bility is correspondingly complete.
Is there any spirit Of revolt in Mr.
Hylan. or will he, for reasons known
to himself, elect to stand or fall with
the Enright regime?
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
What Do the People Want?
New York, Dec. 10, 1920.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Much space was given TO the
sermon delivered at the Church of the
Ascension yesterday by the Rev. DR.,
Percy Stickney Grant in to-day's press.
If any church in New York is allowed
by its congregation to wander at its
sweet will from orthodox paths it is
certainly the Church of the Ascension.
Yet the Church, according to DR.. Grant,
II 1t lived up to its opportunities
would become such source of uniyer-
sal helpfulness that the 100000 places
OF worship in the country would not
accommodate the throngs desiring to
enter them" Which prompts one to
wonder why yesterday, despite the beau
tiful weather, the Church of the Ascen-
sion was not one-thrd filled, while such
an orthodox church as St. Thomass. 30
| am informed, was crowded to the
doors.
And, If DR.. Grant is sincere In his
deslre to make his church an umbrella
to cover "the people who stand on the
corner for hours, even in the rain" to
listen to the messages of soap-box ora
tors, does he believe that the soap-box
audiences will really wander into Fifth
Avenues aristocratic precincts7 Whv
not transfer his umbrella to the East
Side, where the soap-box audiences are
more at ease?
1t would seem that Dr.. Grant Is more
Intrigued in framing epigrammatic sem
tences than in weaving his umbrella COW
cring where it would be more appre-
ciated. FRANK f. EVANS,
New York. Dec. 13, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15

tween nations so simple and single
that fat~yes" or "no" can be re-
turned, The issue commonly shifts
from day to day. One side or the
other may remove the cause over
night. Nimble indeed must be the
plebiscite method to keep abreast of
events.
The Harvey plan provides no
force or machinery to compel par
ticular nation to hold a plebiscite, or
abide the result of one held, or
for submission of the identical
question to the two peoples, or to
cover the contingency that would
arise should the two verdicts differ.
True, it may be said that the unor-
ganized public opinion Of the world
might have some weight; it has
weight now, but not enough. Instead
of plunging into an area Of fog, the
editor Of Harper's Weekly might
profitably go to Elihu Root for in
struction, and have him elucidate
that there are but two ways to
travel toward peace; that one is to
develop, as the common law de-
veloped, through courts and prac-
tices, common conception Of right as
right; that the other is an alliance,
with force in it's hands able to en-
force it's conceptions of right or it's
conceptions of what is politically
desirable and justihable.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
Open Door Not Free Trade
Mr.. Culbcrtson Corrects Mism7der-
standing of His Plea for Protection

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: You will permit mo, am sure,
to correct an unintentional mistake
made by your paper to-day in report
ing my address on Tariff Preferences
and Discrimination in Trade" before
the Academy of Political Science. The
report states that 1 said that "free
trade" is the way to avert business
wars, and in other ways implies that
| advocated the removal of customs
tariffs. This view is not only Diff
ferent from the one which I expressed
yesterday but has always been and
is now contrary to my position on the
tariff.
My address dealt with some inter
national aspects Of commercial policy
and suggested the general adoption of
"the principle of equality of treat
mcnt," or, as it is called, the "open
door," Apparently it was the phrase
"open door" which misled. 1t does
not mean "free trade" 1t means
equality Of treatment in tariff and
other commercial matters. 1t Is COM
mon in international discussions, and,
at least since Secretary Of State Hay
secured pledges for the open door in
China, it has been understood general
ly in the United States. None of the
open door treaties and understandings
which l mentioned yesterday provide
for free trade. They provide simply
that whatever customs duties, port
charges and the like are levied shall
apply equally to the commerce Of all
nations.
believe that the highness or low
ness of our tariff is primarily a do
mestic question and should always be
determined in accordance with our own
fiscal and industrial needs. I feel,
however, that tariff preferences by
which some nations are seeking to Sc
cure exclusive privileges in markets
and in supplies Of raw materials are
contrary to our interests and threaten
the world with business wars. Ex-
perience shows that the interest of all
nations in the long run lies in having
tariffs, both national and colonial, ap-
ply to the goods Of each country alike.
Each nation should have, 1 believe, an
equal chance to win in commercial COM
petition. Just as we properly grant pro-
lection to domestic industry where nee
essary to equalze conditions of compe-
tition between this and foreign coun-
tries, so we should frame our interna-
tional commercial policy so that we
may protect American interests from
unfair and discriminatory treatment In
the markets Of the world.
WILLIAM S. CULBERTSON.
Member United States Tariff Com
mission.
New York, Dec. 10, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
How Sharper Than a Serpent's
Tooth!

That among the victims Of the
three hundred and fifty hold-ups,
robberies and thefts that have oc-
CURED in New York since the begin
ming Of the year should be numbered
William Randolph Hearst is, we sub
NIT, severe reflection not only upon
Commissioner Enright's competence
but upon his gratitude.
II an evening contemporary Is cor
rect in It's assertion that Mr..
Hearst's downtown Office was robbed
not merely once, but three times, the
Commissioner ought to be over
whelmed by profound sensa Of his
own unworthiness.
1t was natural that in a succession
OF three hundred and fifty hold-ups,
robberies and thefts losses should be
sustained by some Of those malign
interests and their still more malign
lawyers who have been harassing
Mr.. Enright's superior, Mr.. Hylan.
That might be borne philosophically.
We do not believe that Mr.. Enright
would rejoice. or even approve, II
burglars should enter the law Offices
Of Mr. Samuel Untermyer and ab-
straet therefrom money or valuable
property. Still, he might say with
tho poet that into every life some
rain must fall.
But that such calamity should be
visited on Mr.. Hearst Is an entirely
different matter. For while the
venal and corpora tion-controlIes,
press has been insisting that these
three hundred and fifty hold-ups,
robberies and thcfts were TO some
extent supererogatory Mr.. Hearst
has flown to the defense Of Mr.. En-.
right and Mr. Enright's chief, denied
the allegations and defied the ale
gators.
One would think that II = dead
Itns existed nowhere else It would
have been drawn like a magic circle
around the person and property of
Mr. Hearst. One would think that
II Mr.. Enright In the terror to Grim.
anaas shat IN hentsnds h 10 h. would
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
Blocking Tax Reduction

In examining Secretary Houston's
report the House Ways and Means
Committee has run up against a
fixed idea. 1t might be described as
an Administration post-electipn
idea. 1t is,s in substance. that the
country ought to be made to realize
the consequences Of the mistake it
made when it voted as it did last
November.
All the Cabinet chiefs are busy
unloading gloom on the taxpayer.
Mr.. Daniels says that since the
country rejected the Wilson league
even a reluctant prophet of pre-
paredness like himself is forced to
ask 1858, 100000 for the support Of
the navy and to recommend the
adoption of a second enormous
three-year building program. Mr..
Baker intimates that for the same
reason the army must be at once
recruited up to the 100000 limit
and that the War Department must
have $700,000,00O to spend in the
next fiscal year. Now Mr.. Houston
comes along and says that although
taxes may be changed in form they
cannot be reduced in amount and
that for three years government
revenues must average at least
$4,000,00O,000. To make matters
worse, the Treasury insists not only
that the present floating indebted
ness of about $3,1O0,OOO,O0O must
be paid off out of tax receipts, but
that the Victory loan of $4,250,-
100000 must be taken up on or be-
fore May 20, 1923.
There is no reason why Congress
should help along this game of mag
nifying the obstacles to retrench-
ment and peace readjustment. The
Republican party promised reduc-
tion Of Federal expenditure and
taxation. This Congress was able
to cut $939,ooo,00O out of the ap-
preparation bills of the preceding
Congress which failed of passage on
March 4, 1919. 1t cut last years
estimates s1,474,000,00O. 1t can
go on cutting this years estimates,
which include S1,358,O00,O0O for
the army and navy, although the
current appropriations for the two
services are only $s25,o00,00O. The
cost Of the civil establishment can
also be greatly reduced.
If the government is put prompt
ly on peace basis taxes may be
lessened in amount as we'll as
changed in form. The floating debt
is burden. But it can be disposed
Of gradually. There is no impera.
tive obligation to liquidate the Vic
tory loan in 1923. The public
would probably rather have it re-
funded and part Of the outstand-
ing certificates Of indebtedness
turned into longtime loans than to
see the evil effects Of high expendi-
ture and of ill-adjusted, hampering
taxation continued for the next
three years.
The outgoing Administration
wouldn't be displeased to keep the
country "paying till it hurts" But
the new Administration has a diff
ferent view Of its responsibilities
and duties.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15

have shooed them away from Mr..
Hearst at least.
That such thing has befallen Mr..
Hylan's one friend among a swarm
of caviling editors and reporters
seems to us the highest proof that
Mr.. Enright Is either base migrate
Or an inspired incompetent.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
The Deadliest Weapon
(From Tho Los Anocre. r..u..>

1VNtG8y
War is quite a dangerous rame and
Its fatalities have been frHghtful, but,
barring the scrap with Germany, there
have been few wars In the world's
history that present SO great a toll Of
death and disability Ms comes through
the development and use Of the motor.
Saul has slain his thousands and David
his ten thousnpds, but wait till you
get the full sc4f on Hsnryl
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15

zone Of the curses Of the Park, and
indeed Of nearly all the theaters now,
is the star system"
So wrote Walt Whitman on February
8, 1S47, In The Brooklyn Eagle, in the
course Of an article which bore the
headline, miserable State of the Stage
Why Can't We Have Something Worth
the Name Of American Drama?" Whit
mans newspaper writings on The Eagle,
which appeared during 184e and 1847,
have been gathered together by Cleve-
land Rodgers and John Black and pub
lished in an unusually handsome two
volume edition by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
The volumes reveal Walt as q vigorous
and interesting editorial writer .and
critic, although there is little sugges-
ton Of the authentic quality Of inspira-
ton which later descended upon him.
For some reason or other this is a gift
which seldom attempts landing direct
ly upon a newspaper Office. Perhaps,
from on high, Pegasus views the array
OF typewriters as rather sharp pasture
for soft hoofs, and after he has cir
cled city room once or twice he flies
away to greener fields. And yet the
two volumes Of Waits writings, which
are published under the title, The Gath
ering Of the Forces, should be precious
to all lovers of Whitman, since they give
full promise of the courage and excel
lent good sense Of the man, even if there
is small hint of his fire.
Still there is a crusading fervor in
"Of all low Places" he writes upon one
occasion, "where vulgarity (not only on
the stage, but in front of it, is in the
ascendant, and bad taste carries the day
with hardly a pleasant point to miti.
gate its coarsencss, the New York thea
ters, except the Park, may be put down
Gas an Emeralder might say at the
top Of the heap! We don't like to make
but the habit Of such places as the Bow
cry, the Chatham and the Olympic thea
ters is really beyond all liberation; and
if the New York prints who give dra-
matte notices were not the slaves of the
paid puff system, they surely would
sooner or later be down on those miser-
able burlesques of the histrionic art.
Yet not one single independent dramatic
talented writer's for the New York press.
Or rather, we should say, not one sin
gle upright critic is permitted to utter
candidly his opinion of the theatricals
of the metropolis, for we would not in
suit the good taste of the intelligent
literary men connected with the press
over the river so much as to suppose
that their eyes and ears do not make
the same complaint to them as ours
make to us in the matter alluded to-"
OF course. all that is changed now,
and we must admit certain regret for
the good old days described by Whitman,
in which he asserts all favorable notices
are paid for in Greats, suppers or gifts
to the critics." Now and then a modern
note is sounded, as when Walt COM
plains, somewhat in the manner of
member Of the insurgent faction of the
Lambs, that the American thoater is
given over TO "the unengnged players Of
Great Britain"
Seemingly Whitman's campaign met
with rcprisals. On October z, 1847, he
scored heavily with an article entitled
"As Very Average Proof" in which
ho wrote:
"Of the method in which fve-sixths
Of the theatrical criticism VI thu New
New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
ThcConning Tower
Ballade Of . Conspicuous Omission
From "The Book of Humorous Verse;

Ballade Of . Conspicuous Omission
From "The Book of Humorous Verse;
Yes, admit I've made book,
A book of many humorous laysl
put In stuff by Hood and Hook,
put in bits Of Knights and Days.
And gems of Guiterman's and Gays;
And lines by Cary, Carryl, Caylcy;
Yet critics all this question raise,
Why did leave out T. A. Daly7
Over my Indices look
(They are enough my brain to faze),
When critics heads at me are shook,
feel that I must mend my ways.
This Parthian shaft of F. P. AS
I read-no longer laughing gayly-
For, though he favors, he inveighs-
Why did l leave out T. A. Daily?
Christopher Morley then partook
In the discriminating praise;
He said, omit Eliza Cook,
Or leave out Rabelais or Blaize;
Cut out that elegy of Gray's
Or evidences Of old Paley;
But-he inquired-in caustic phrase,
Why did I leave out T. A. Daly2
L'ENvO1:
Colyumists, thanks for your bouquetsJ
And yet I'm sad. Oh, willow waly.
When I crowned many bards with bays,
Why did l leave out T. A. DAILY?
G. W.
Until Mr.. H. G. Wells writes poetry
and composes music, we shall 60 on
| believing that his versatility is an
Overpraised Institution. And until Mr..
George AIDE writes the novel that he
says, in The American Magazine, he
was about to write eighteen or twenty
years ago, we shall think Of him as q
golf player who has shirked his duty
to the public and to himself.
Our idea Of erudition Is being able
to say, "Wells is all wrong about this"