davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Percy Grants Forum


The vestrymcn Of the Church of
the Ascension, although sympathetic
to their rector, DR.. Grant, and to the
idea which led to the organization of
his Forum, seem to perceive what is
the defect Of the institution.
1t was established as an instru-
mentality Of free speech. Earnest
men and women were to have a
place where they could consider
soberly and seriously socialzed oues-
tions which are to be solved right
eously if the Church is to fulfil It's
mission. Such was the thought Of
DR.. Grant.
But, alas; the Forum has not been
an instrumentality Of free speech.
1t has not functioned per plan. It's
speciality has been the suppression
of free speech. It's attendants did
not meet to take counsel together
gathered in no spirit of charity and
humility to instruct, and, mayhap,
to be instructed. They were there
to "spout' and to howl down any one
who presumed to express ideas that
did not precisely suit them. The
arena was one for the display Of
savage intolerance. Your profes-
sional radical praises the beauties Of
free speech, but free speech for him
self alone.
New York has presented few
sadder .spectacles than DR.. Grant
laborlng to preserve free speech in
his parish house. Progressively he
has been compelled to adopt more
and more stringent rules against the
excesses OF din-raising disturbers.
Car Reed of the House Of Repre-
sentatlves was not more stonily Sc
lectlve in granting and Withholding
recognition. Questioners are re-
quired to submit written questions,
because experience has shown an
49,
lnterrogator's conception of a ques-
ton is a long, yelling speech.
The Forum is place where gavels
are splintered to subdue orators
whose notion of free debate is to
let no one else talk.
DR.. Grant, as a man not lacking
in humor, is aware of what has hap
Eened to his original idealistic pro-
gram. He is acquainted with the
difficulties incident to upholding free
speech in company which abomi-
mates it. He needs not be told that
OF all the elements Of the population
2 bunch of heated radicals seems the
most inclined to stamp on the guar
antees Of the First Amendment Of
the Constitution.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
The High Price of Gasoline

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Under the heading OF "Modern
Economies" you published an article
credited to "The Detroit Journal" in
the January 81 issue of your paper.
This article had to do with the rise in
price of gasoline and kerosene, and
stated that "Under the old-fashioned
law Of supply and demand a very large
quantity, or surplus of any commod-
lty, brought about falling prices" It
further stated: "The stocks of petroleum
nave been increased, more oil has been
refined in the last year than in any
previous year, more has been imported.
and the Standard Oil Company has
raised the price of gasoline and kero-
sene'
We are producing more and more
pleasure cars, trucks, tractors and oil
burning engines each year, and it is up
to the producers of gasoline to keep
their production ahead of the produc-
ton OF the product which consumes it
The capital necessary to increase pro-
duction must be paid for--stockholders
Will not reinvest in losing concern.
Picture the curtailed production of
motor cars, trucks, tractors and gas en-
gines If the supply of gasoline fell
off; think of the effect on the tire in
dustry and the manufacture of acces-
sories. See the merchandise piled high
awaiting transportation. Hear the walls
of people who have invested their saw
ings in these industries.
You have quoted the theory of supply
and demand, but you have failed to con-
slider another theory which explains the
situation, namely, If the market alb
serbs the product in spite of the in
creased supply, the price will continue to
rise. 0. C. BROWN.
Brooklyn, N. Y, Jan. %. 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Credit and Reparat;ons

AS Secretary Glass pointed out
the other day, the indefnitencss of
Germanys reparation obligations
has been an important factor in the
shaking Of European credit. So long
as it is uncertain how much Ger
many can or will repay her pledges
IN bonds to France, Great Britain
and Belgium will not greatly bolster
up the credit Of these nations.
France cannot realize on the Ger
man bonds to do the work Of repara-
ton. She will have to pay the cost
herself or look for reimbursement
when the bonds become salable or
are liquidated.
Arthur Won Gwinner, the prcsi-
dent of the Deutsche Bark. said the
other day: Germany is simply head
ing to economic ruin, and, as na-
tlons are economically interdepend-
ent, her ruin would involve that Of
Europe generally" His suggestion
OF remedy doesn't differ mate
rally from that Of Secretary Glass
The latter said:
There is no more logical or prac
tical step toward solving their own
reconstruction problems than for the
Allies to give value to their iudem-
nifty claims against GERMANY by 20
oucihg those claims to a determinate
amount which Germany may reason
anly be expected to pay, and then for
Germany to issue obligations for such
amount and be set free to work Il
out. This would increase Germanys
capacity to pay. restore confidence
and improve the trade and commerce
OF the world. The maintenance of
claims which cannot be paid causes
apprehension and serves no useful
purpose"
Won Gwinner SAYS:
VI course, we could never pay and
no sane British or French hnancier
eNpoe's us so pay the huge lndemnl
ties OF which there still is talk. But
II you give us breathing space and
grant 'us credit TO import raw mate
rails and foodstuffs we shall be able
TO pay very large sum indeed. The
greatest and most tragic aspect of the
German industrial situation Is that
the will to work on the part Of the
German working classes is stronger
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
to-day than at any time since the
Revolution"

to-day than at any time since the
Rcvolution.'
Gcrmany's ability to pay and the
capitalization Of that ability arc fac
tors Of prime Importance in any
restoration of the economic situation
in Europe. But Germany will have
great difficulty in paying unless she
first receives credit Nor can
France and Great Britain give her
credit and at the same time sustain
commercial relations with the
United States unless we give them
credit.
We arc cntangled in the European
economic situation, whether we like
to admit it or not. And American
credit must be extended to Europe
in some way, as a matter Of self
protection If from no other motive.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
The Bergdoll Case

The Secretary of War informs an
exasperated public that the extreme
penalty which can be visited on Berg
doll, if he does not escape altogether
on an insanity plea, is eighteen
months Imprisonment, which is
less than that which minor offenders
who visited their homes without
official permission have suffered
Yet this rich young man was
allowed for two years to evade the
draft, sending insulting messages
to his board as he travelled about,
and was not arrested until pulled
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Useless Luxuries
fFsom The Indianapolis News)

Those Congressman who cannot be re-
elected without the assistance Of "pork"
had better not be reelected. They are
not worth their cost TO the country, or
even TO their constituents who might
profit somewhat by public building OF
river and harbor appropriations. The
Congressional pork" getter is too ex-
pensive vice to be tolerated. If he can't
convince his constituents that he Is
earning his salary by actually serving
the country the sooner he Is removed
from public place and forced to take m
some productive occupation the better.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02

"Heywood Broun 3d." writes a corre-
spondent who signs no name, ais. for
tunately for him, a very younp son.
Haywood Broun is very young father
both will grow up. May the bow
grow in grace free from 'Jurgen's' in
fiuence and may the father find his
materinlism Dead Sea fruit in time to
set such an example that II. B. Sd will
act upon the Fifth Commandment. 1t
cant be done on smutty fiction or
carnal knowledge"
1t may be, as the writer suggests.
that we shall grow in grace. However.
that is beside the point, for. in the
words of the beautiful christening
service, child takes his father "for
better or worse" Even now we are of
the opinion that all the Commandments
should be observed In decent modera-
ton. We think we are correct in as
suming that the Fifth is, "Honor thy
rather and thy mother, that thy days
may be long upon the land which the
N'J N'ON Si'Vtii tlleS we ll1CcNu
to serve notice on II. Sd not TO make
this his favorite Commandment. If he
must break one Of them, by all means
let it be the Fifth. Even though we
become much better than we are now.
1T is going to make Us distinctly un-
comfortable if he goes about the house
honoring us. 1t will seem too ridicu-
lous, and we doubt very much if he
can do it with straight face. When
ever he feels that he simply must
honor his parents we hope that he will
DO 1t IN an underhand way behind our
backs. Although we hope never to
spank him, he will be running a great
risk if he makes his honoring frank
and fragrant.
And, anyway, why should he want to i?
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
A Matter Of Form
'f'rom The Kansas Citu stay)

TOM INC KANSAS City .Star)
it appears that Carranza is going to
make his people hold another election,
which he will boss himself, and conse-
quen1iy win himself. No doubt the Mex
lean people get awfully tired Of Car
ranza's elections, as Kiplings coolies did
OF the railroad contractor who raffied
on the bejeweled sedan chair everv nav
oay' but like the coolies, the Mexicans
can do nothing about it except step up
and draw
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Germany Protects Guilt

1t is said by Berlin newspa pers
that no German can be found to lay
hand on fellow German who is
asked to meet the accusation that he
grossly violated the laws of war.
The German feeling on this SUBJ
jcct is symptomatic. The Germans
agreed to give up their war Grim
inals, but what of that? No innocent
man is in danger of conviction, but
what of that? The Germans take no
effective steps to punish the guilty
themselves, but what of that? 1t
satisfies the Germans and their apol-
ogists to turn the debate in the direc-
ton Of the legalism that citizen of
a country is not responsive to an out
side jurisdiction, no matter what he
las done.
The world longs for Germany to
6ecome civilized-not merely civi-
lized in the sense of possessing intel
llgence enough to make and use ma
Chimes, but morally civilized. It
needs no argument to establish that
the world will not be safe while in
the heart of Europe is a people num-
berlng 60,000,000 which is devoted to
the creed of Beelzebub. It was
hoped that when the Kaiser crew was
expelled Germany would display a
different spirit. But can it be said
there is a change when all Germany
IS IN conspiracy to protect those no.
toriously guilty Of systematic atroci-
ties? Yet those Of pro-German bias
throughout the world are spreading
the propaganda that in some way it
is wicked for the Entente govern
ments to insist on the delivery of
war criminals.
In less sophisticated days, when
one tribe or gems or village suffered
great wrong at the hand of another.
the group that included an offender
was required to give him up. The
lawyers had not then invented the
rule that if a marauder but ESCAPES
to the shelter of protecting friends
and accomplices his person is sacred.
Ihls artificiality is contrary to natu
raj justice. The provision of the
peace treaty which Germany pro-
poses to hout is not an innovation.
but reapplies a most ancient prin-
ciple. But the bad and soft of head
90 not care to recall this.
Let not those who labor to save
the war criminals think they sue
ccssfully screen their conduct. Their
excuses are chaff. They are protect
ing criminals, and thus are accom-,
pllces to crime. Even on the legal
side their case is weak, for while
laws to compel the surrender of
criminals may be lacking there are
no laws which forbid the delivery Of
such. Holland, for example, has
full discretion with respect to the ex-
pulsion Of the Kaiser, and even
though the Versailles treaty did not
mention them Germany may, if she
VIII, push her war criminals beyond
her borders or otherwise deal with
them.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
a ribu7e Reservation
)r. Von Dyke Suggests a Brief
Reservation for Article X

To the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir; If tho delay OF the Senate to
ratiy the peace treaty were due to
caution and a scrupulous desire to act
with wisdom aud prudence in such an
important matter no reasonable
American could find fault with it. 1t
would be tho tribute paid by CON
science to responsibility. But evi-
dently that is not tho explanation OF
tho present procrastination and in
tolerable tardiness in meeting a great
emergency in which vital interests OF
our country and of the whole world
arc involved.
Weeks ago-nay months ago-all
the various aspects of the treaty had
been considered, examined, and fully
discussed Tho most urgent neces.
sites Of the more oratorcally minded
Senators had been fully satisfied N
The copious outpouring OF words
Nothing necdful, nothing natural, in
the way of self-cxamination and SELF
relief, was left undone 1t was evident
that more than two-thrds of the
Senators wanted the treaty ratified in
some way which would not imply nor
involve it's resubmission to the Paris
conference. Yet nothing has been
done in tho direction of practical fu.-
tilment of an acknowledged duty. The
debate still continues, though now it
has run down into repetition Of ex-
haustcd recriminations and the futile
issuances OF footless "ultimata,' none
of which appears to be really ultimate
How long is the "mountain in
travail" to persist in bringing forth
this ridiculus mus? Already about a
dozen forms of words have been de
vised and presented by way of COM
promise, almost any one of which
ought to satisfy both the men who are
anxious that our national sovereignty
and our constitutional government
should be explicitly safe-guardcd
and the men who are desirous that
America should not miss or refuse her
international opportunity and duty.
Nothing better has been brought
out in the whole controversy than the
last sentence Of the editorial In this
mornings Tribune, referring to
Article X of the league covenant
"Thc reservation, rid of surplusagc,
merely is that obligations to 90 to apa,
ere not assumed unless Congress con-
scnts.'
This is admirable, tcrse, clear,
polite, and firm. No one can mistake
its meaning or object to its contents
Why should MIR. Lodges passionate
attachment to what The Tribune de-
scribcs as "surplusage" stand in tho
way Of letting the Senate have voto
on this short and sufficient reserva-
tion? Mr.. Lodge might weep and
lament for his not very beautiful ver-
biage and for his not very tactful
phraseology of defiance, but few would
join him in his lamentations Most
people would regard the loss as a good
riddance
The adoption of the words Of The
Tribune, which ] have ventured to
italicize, as the reservation on Article
K Of the covenant. would solve that
difficulty. Here is key with which
the deadlock can. be opened. Why not
use 1t? No reasonable Senator In
either party could object, Nor would
the President refuse to sanction an
Interpretation which he says (and
rightly, l think) is already implied IN
the covenant.
HENRY VAN DYKE.
New York, Jan. so, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Flu and Filth
o the Editor of The Tribune.

10 t1Ie EUltOT OF I tie 1flDune.
Sir: After quite an extensive tour
through the streets Of this city it seems
to me that very much of the extensive
prevalence Of the flu can be attributed
to the horribly filthy condition Of the
sidewalks and roadways throughout the
whole town. We once had model
Street Cleaning Commissioner, Colonel
Warlng, but he was promptly retired
by Mayor Van Wyck, q man Just about
as devoid Of brains az our present
Mayor.
In addition to their horribly filthy
condition, the roadways and sidewalks
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02

are in terrible condition Of disrepair.
Perfect sanitary conditions in the
streets tend to the healthfulness Of q
city, and at the present time this, the
greatest and wealthiest city on the west
ern continent, does not come under
these conditions. MEDICUS
New York, Jan. 20, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Books

II seems to be the belief Of nun
bcr Of young writers, mostly men,
that rouge is not only immoral but
disfigurng. They hold that discretion
is the better part Of pallor. We re-
member that the heroine Of the late
lamentcd "Madelene" declared in
ringing fashion that, though she might
sacrifice body and soul, her complexion
was her own.
In "Tho Blower Of Bubbles" by
Arthur Beverly Baxter, we find a
description of Il young girl "who
would have been pretty if she hadn t
rouged" Now, without wishing to ap-
pear In any sense as All expert on
such matters, we have it on reliable
authority that little rouge hero and
there may produce a highly artistic
effect. In fact, we are informed that
if applied with some medium other
than whitewash brush the chances
are that any mere man will be able
to perceive only tho effect and remain
entirely ignorant Of the cause. How
ever that may be, whenever book be-
gins with swinging denunciation Of
rouge in one Of its early chapters we
are invariably prepared for a good
deal Of sentimental observation to fol-
low. Thus, in "The Blower of
Bubbles" on the same page as the
condemnation Of rouge, man is asked
how he learned to play the violin so
we'll, and replies: "My dear old boy,
music must be loved, not learned"
And, "the girl who would have been
pretty if she hadn't rouged looked
straight into my eyes and said some
thing that sounded like a blessing
L hope it was: she made me think of
a little sister once had"
Concerning the morality or immoral
ity Of rouge we have no opinion cx-
cept that it is certainly wicked to
use too much of it, On the other
hand, authors who allow their hcroines
Just dab or two invariably write
better than those who compel all the
women characters to be total alb
stainers.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
The Declaration Up to Date

tfrom The st. Louis Globe DcmoeraD
a fhiladelphian points out that since
we have SO many movements to uplft
you Tor your own good" the Declara-
tlon OF Independence should have said
'nat men are created equal and inalien-
ably entitled to life. liberty and the
pursuit OF other Cscpls's happiness,
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
EcgardinG the Ross EntrY4

Sic; Wallace lrwins "On to the Next"
in th' 5atevopost is good yarn. but what's 3
the old idea in causing Christine, on Paga
l0S, to touch friend husband for twenty-five
berries to pay losing bet on The W. k.
race hoss Billy Kelly? 1t ia related in the
story that Sir Barton and Billy Kelly are
the Derby entries from the Ross stable and
That Sir Barton wins The race Naturally
the two would be COUPLED in the betting. and
If either Won a bettor on either horse would
win his bet. | fear w. !. is not Regular.
AMBRosE GLuT2.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
The Coming 7'ower
TIME OUT

TIME OUT
Through tho nineteenth story window
Floats the steady vibration OF an en-
gine somewhere below.
Down there it is shrill,
Like the biting of drill into solid
rock
But on the way up to my window
The everlasting undercurrent OF the
city's breathing
Softens it,
And the winter haze wraps it In gray
velvet.
turn from tho chatter Of my type
writer
To grassy place under tree near
y lake,
A lake of lovelincss worthy Of its
name,
Laurel;
And | lie down,
Staring restfully at the lattice work
of green and blue above,
And listening to the humming Of the
reaper N the nearby field.
Or Is it the drill In the quarry down
tho valley?
Or the bee circling the flower near
Whichever 1t is, one thing I know:
1t is the sound,
The blessed, blssful sound,
OF some one else at work
Not me. AL.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Gotham Gleanings
~ III III l-i1 1l LII S,ss & GiI7 7SiT mn n
i his is Groundhog Day.

i his is Grounding Day.
Miss Lola Fisher went to At
lantic City Fri.
1t is runored that everybody has
lots Of money these days,
-Rollin Kirby had the la grippe
last wk, but is back to work.
R. c. Benchley has accepted a
position with Ralph Pulitzer.
Joe Wise went on bus. trip last
night, selling red and blue hdkfs.
Ed Thomas Of Seattle was a
pleasant caller one day last week.
Herb Swope gave ye scribe two
ducks which he shot, and they were
o. k.
A. NJ. Palmer the Atty. Gcn1
was here a few minutes Thursday
eveg.
Mrs. Julia Fcrbcr and daugbte,
got back from Atlantic CITY last
night
w ell there will be six wks more
OF winter, the most reprchensiblc Of
all seasons.
Miss Harrictte Underhill who
was i'll last week is some better at
this writing.
George Schneider Bklyn's popu-
lar insurance man sends us hand
some calendar for the current yr
l920). Thanks, Geo.
Do musical comedy librettists, we
wonder, in making out their income
tax reports, allow for depreciation on
prohibition wheezes?
Paradise Regained
lFrom the Lancaster (Pa) Examinerl
Isaac Rutt has bought the Paradise store
from William Pfoutz. who is going back to
the shoe business.
We don't mind the term Federal
Prohibition Agent, but it girds us when
the Chicago Herald-Examiner refers to
women F. P. A s."
Speaking Of DR.. Baeg's influence, the
Cook Laundry Co, of Worcester, ad-
vlses the homekeeper to "be a Pail
with Your Children"
Thls department has had nothing TO
say about the Bryan boom.
Boy, get down the f1gss.
F.. PA.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
MEMBER OF TIE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Assoc; stcd Press II exclusively entled tho
for republication OF al dispatches credited
10 II not otherwise credited IN this paper, ard
also the local news spontaneous origin Published
herein.
All right. OF republication OF all othsr matter
herein also reserved
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
The Supreme Law
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In his motion asking tho
Supreme Court of tho United States to
dismiss the suit brought by the State
Of Rhode Island to test the validity of
the Eighteenth Amendment Solicitor
General King takes the position that
the question whether. that measure CON
ficts with the existing Federal Constr
tuition is purely political and not JUS
ticiable. If this contention is sus~
{; med by the court there is no limit
to the radical and revolutionary
changes in our form of government
that may be made by Congress and the
state legislatures without consulting
the American people
For instance, the Constitution pro
vides that Congress shall make no law
prohibiting the free exercise of re-
lgion. If MIR. Kings position is sound
an amendment that prohibited the ex-
ercise of the Christian religion would
he that an amendment that does not
specifically repeal a provision of the
existing Constitution with which it di-
rectly conflicts prevails over such pro-
vision. WHJDDFN GRAHAM
New York City, Jan. 80, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02

You purchase merchandise advertised In TIL
TRIBUNE with absolute ssfoty-for u dlssatlsfac-
tIea result. in any case THE TRtBuNe guarantees
to pay your money back upon r7ausst No red tape.
No Qulablina. We make good promptly II the
advertiser does net
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
t Coupled In the betting.

1t appears that Nh. Ring W. Lard
ner's Jack Keefe is writing the copy
for the Montgomery, Alabama, insur-
nnce concern. which advortises: every
person who recognizes my advertise
ment at the bottom of this notice anc
who either phones my Office to-day or
calls by and leave their name and ad-
dress it will be placed in a box, and
the person whose name is drawn out
Wall be given $40 gold piece free"
New-York tribune., 1920-02-02

The 650,000 contribs who have asked
us, in the last two and half years, to
reprint Mr., A. A. Mines "Trom a
Full Heart" will rejoice that Mr..
Mines first play, "Mr. PIN Passes
By is ono of London's great sue
cesses.
In the Now Statesman Mr.. Desmond
MacCarthy, discussing Mr.. Mines
originality, says: TT should be en-
couraging, but it is also humilating,
20 observe what a slight variation in
unimportant directions may cntitle
any one to be considered original" "
Nothing is more obvious. Originality
varies only a thousandth Of an inch
from commonplaceness; q single hair
divides the genius from the dub.