davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
One Foreign Oil Gun Unmasked.

Some time ago Secretary Colby in
vited the attention of the. Mexican
Government to the chip on our shout
der with a firm lntimation that for
all encroachments on the rights of
American citizens and investments in
Mexico that Government would be
held to strict accountability, or words
to that effect. A little later France,
England and Italy were advised by
Mr.. CoLBY that this Government did
not relish the San Reno arrangement
partltionlng Turkey.
AS most Americans are aware, the
main Issue In both cases Is oil In
Mexico it ls oil already prospected
for, found and staked Off with the
claims duly accredited to certain own
ers In Mesopotamia IL Is oil not yet
prospected for, and which, II the plans
OF those In control are carried out,
will not be prospected for, mined or
marketed except by others than Amer
leans, and probably by no one until
the supplies in the Western Henri
sphere either are withheld from the
Old World or are exhausted.
The first overt act in what shows
oil the scoring points Of becoming Mt
the least n warm diplomatic battle is
the action or the Mexican Eagle Oil
Company in Withdrawing from the
Association Of OIL Producers in Mex
leo. This association has resisted
strenuously all Illegal or encroaching
oil concessions issued by Mexican Gov
ernments. II is assumed the with.
drawal Of the Mexican Eagle OIL
Company means that company has
been favored with some Of the ell
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Children Study Civics.
Blunders Attributed to Methods, Not
TO the Teacher.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: 1t Is a
of the public schools are instructed in
civics, more especially in view of the
fact that our mother tongue is fast be-
coming dead language. Here Is q
lesson in civics as it occurred in class
of first year pupils:
Now who can tell me who is Mayor
OF Mount Vermont"
Several hands we're raised. Johnny's
contortions indicated that he was moro
than anxious to impart the information.
You may answer. Johnny" said the
teacher.
"Jawdge washuntoni" roared Johnny
proudly.
Incidentally there are no Georges"
for "r" is no longer a sound in modern
school practice.
Not wishing to hurt Johnny's feelings
the teacher again propounded the cues-
tion. "You may answer. Susie,' she
said.
"Gawd," answered Susie reverently.
Susie's answer put to shame the
charge that Mount Vernon has been
forgotten in the distribution of divinity
Popular opinion might blame the grade
teacher for the ignorance of her pupils
Such charge, however. is not well
founded. The real trouble lies in the
methods employed in teaching the mo-
tivation of political economy in the kin
dergarten. The kindergarten teacher
probably had slipped a norm.
FORMER SCHOOL TRUSTEE.
MOUNT VERNON. December 10.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

Mischa Levitzki. pianist, paid his
some OF the masters works, In Carnegie
Hall last evening. He was to have
played the programme some time ago,
but had the misfortune to injure a
thumb and was compelled to postpone
the entertainment.
The list Of compositions which he
presented consisted of the thirty-two
variations in c minor the "waldstein"
sonata, the sonata, opus 1o1, and the
"Appassionata."
The music was well chosen for a dis
closure of Beethoven's methods of
piano composition, though larger
the inclusion of opus JOG, or opus Ill.
But Mr.. Levitzki doubtless expected
that one or both of these would be
heard often in these days OF Beethoven
celebration. The "Waldstein" and the
"Appasionata" are played SO often in
the ordinary course of concerts that
he probably thought they would be
given an opportunity for rest. How
ever. they have not been silent this
season.
The G minor varia lions are not played
as often as the sonatas above men
toned, nor are they likely to make as
strong an appeal to the typical con-
cert audience. Bat they are an example
of Beethoven's fecundity of invention
and of his more massive piano style.
Mr.. Levitzki played them with style
and assurance. His audience was of
fair size.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Open Door and Open Shop.
Conversion of Physician After His
Rent Had Been Raised.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD Why
should we object to paying our poor
plumbers s11 a day. our starving car
penters S12, our suffering plasterers $40
and the neglected laborer Sc? 1 take
these figures from a bill i have just
paid for some repairs on one Of the
houses 1 was fool enough to purchase
many years ago.
Being allied to the family OF your
correspondent, Ina Wurm. also turned
on my tenants and made them share
the enthusiasm with which 1 paid these
citizens of the great Republic. One Of
these. physician, protested that al
though he had q college degree and had
expended $4,000 to obtain a license to
practise medicine he could not earn as
much as a plumber, and he had the
temerity to add that there were several
thousand doctors in New York city who
were earning less than plumbers. plas-
terers and carpenters. I overruled his
objection and raised his rent.
He threatened to go to court and tell
on me and thence to Albany and have
my taxes raised until the Socialists
would take everything l had spent fifty
years in winning. Having cooled down
the next day he wrote me he would
stand the raise. that he was convinced
these exactions come at last from the
pockets Of the renters. that the only
hope for general betterment was in the
open door to working immigrants and
the open shop to all laborers
But he added. and It sounds like sar-
casm TO me. what hope have we that
our legislators will not continue to bow
to the unions IN the light of Samuel
Gomporss delivery of the labor vote to
the Demoeratin candidate. the Snly thing
that can explain Mr.. Cox's overwhelm-
ing election as President OF the United
Statcs7 ANOTHER WURM.
NEW YORK, December 10.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

fallings off. There are two reasons
for them. One is the refusal OF Dem.
ocrats TO go to the polls for candi'
date whom they dislike or whom they
believe is certain to he defeated. The
other reason is the cocksureness Of a
few Republicans.
AS it was when MCKINLEY opposed
BRYAN in 1900, as it was when RoosE-
WELT opposed PARKER in 1904, so 1t
was when HARDING opposed Cox.
What would have happened TO
the Democratic candidate If all the
Disguised Democrats and all the
cocksure Republicans had turned out
and voted according to their con-
sciences? HARD1Ne's plurality, we
fancy, would have cqualled Cox's
total vote.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

croaching concessions on lands al
ready the property of Americans.
But it is extremely important at
this stage to note that il is not the
Mexican Government but the British
interests in the Mexican Eagle that
have fiicked the chip from Secretary
CoLBY's shoulder.
BY simply withdrawing from the
oil producers protective group the
Mexican Eagle does not of course
validate the claims that company may
have obtained from DE LA HuERTA.
President OREGON has not been
heard from regarding these Illegal
concessions granted by his predeces-
sor. SO far as the ruling power In
Mexico is concerned the action Of
the Mexican Eagle may mean nothing
except to show that somebody in
tends to build up a trading issue if
possible to prevent further pressure
from us regarding Mesopotamia.
President OREGON not only once
but many times has declared he would
protect the legal claims Of all foreign
Investors in Mexico, and this cannot
be interpreted to mean anything other
than a Reputation Of Article XXVII.
Of the Mexican Constitution Of 1917,
with the confscatory and retroactive
provisions 1t contains.
But whatever the attitude Of OBRE-
CON, in the end the United States will
not accept anything but the cancelling
Of concessions Illegally held in Mexico.
Whether we shall be compelled to
trade off our claims in Mesopotamia
t., get other claims in Mexico re-
linqulshed depends on the energy and
skill of our State Department.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1920.
The Crux of the Matter.

THE NEW York HERALD is in hearty
sympathy with Senator BoRAH's pur-
pose to save money for the Govern
ment, but his resolution to cut our
naval construction to one-half Of the
present rate of expenditure, providing
England and Japan will make sim
ilar cut, involves much more than
appears on the surface.
The crux Of the matter lies In
the proper balance of strength be.
tween our navy and that of Japan
rather than in their actual strength
And this balance Of strength must be
determined by the relative vulnerable
ity of the two countries with their
colonial dependencies and by the
value and extent of the commerce
Of each.
Japan in her comparatively com
pact position is much more favorably
situated for defence than the United
States. Moreover, our wealth Is in
comparably greater and our popula-
ton Is approximately double that of
Japan.
What, then, should be the balance
Of strength between the naval forces
Of the United States and Japan? II
1t should be proportionate to the in
terests our nation Is called upon to
protect, as compared with the inter
ests Japan is called upon to protect,
1t is clear that we cannot wisely enter
into an agreement to limit our new
construction of naval tonnage to any
thing like the measure of Japan's new
construction.
In connection with Senator BoRAI s
resolution THE New YORK HERALD
would say that Great Britain hardly
comes in for consideration, as her
naval strength is already something
like double our own. Hence the real
question lies between Japan and our
selves and must be so considered.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Personalities and Plays.

When does character become his
torical? The question is suggested by
the dramas Of the past year, which
have dealt with some Of the famous
men in history who are looked upon
as significant for all time. Then there
have been dramas that dealt with
men and women still in the public eye,
although of course the counterfeit
presentment has not been without its
elements of disguise.
These abstract and brief chronicles
of the time dealt in one comedy with
well known English actress and In an
other with a potential ruler of foreign
country. All who knew just who the
heroine was supposed to be were de-
lighted with the humor of the study.
Perhaps those not in the secret found
the proceedings confusing. Probably
they were in the majority, since the
play in spite of its entertaining repre-
sentation did not seem to remain long
OH view.
In another drama which delights
the young especially there is but
thinly disguised portrait Of a travel
ling heir apparent. Undoubtedly the
picture adds to the enjoyment Of the
drama. 1t imparts piquancy to the
story to know that such adventures
Of the heart may have befallen a liv-
ing prince in this country. Rarely
I!ave any recent dramas drawn their
types so frankly from life as these
two. Do they represent new ten
dency among the playwrights of this
country? Do they intend to hold the
mirror up to contemporaneous nature
so promptly? They may add a new
terror to renown.
OF course the plan Of work is not
altogether new. w. s. GILBERT satir-
lied OscAE WILDE in Grosrenor of
patience" when the aesthetic was still
at the height of his London vogue.
But he was part Of movement, not
solitary figure selected to make holt
day for the playwright. The former
Emperor Of Germany furnished the
theatre of his country with several
more or less thinly disguised dramatic
studies which had to be kept in the
limits that the censorship allowed.
Visiting foreign potentates, especially
one who came from England, have
more than once inspired the writer's
Of boulevard comedy to the creation of
plays for Paris. So 1t may be that
our own dramatists are finally turning
to the same method Of finding their
characters.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

James A. Emery will speak on ''Transpor-
tation and the Public Interest at the second
annual dinner Of the New York Railroad
Club In the Hotel Commodore @ 80 p. NJ
The unemployment situation will be dis
cussed by Commissioners Frederick A. Wallis.
John Shillady and Henry Bruere at a dinner
conference In the Hotel Pennsylvania, Z p. NJ.
Samuel Gompers will speak at mass
meeting OF firernen. engineers and oilers in
Mrs. Ellen oGrady. the Rev. Howard E.
Clark and Augustus Thomas will speak at
a mass meeting under the auspices OF the
Apollo Theatre. r. NJ.
Sheriff David II. Knott will discuss Capt
tai Punishment at n meeting OF the womens
Democratic Political League In the Hotel
Aston 8 80 =. NJ.
The National Association of United States
Civil Service Employees at Navy Yards and
Stations Will hold their second annual enter
tainment and ball at Palm Garden. Fifty
eighth street between Lexington and Third
avenues. 9 p. NJ.
Air Service Post OF the American Legion
will hold a meeting and dinner al the Aero
Club of America, II Fast Thirty-elghtlr
street ra.. beginning g,s at p , n sno,, -
Business Outlook before the Greensboro
Chamber Of COMMERCE In the club room.
Long Island City p. NJ.
Rabbi stephen s. Wise and Miss Irna MAY
viii speak at mass meeting in the COM
mons. University Hall. Columbia University.
sity Jewish wiz Reef Council. s:iS p NJ '''
Dr. Wllfred T. Grenfell viii speak on Life
on the North Atlantic Seaboard" at ths
Rotary Club luncheon. Hotel McAlpin. IL 80
+. NJ.
New York Academy Of Medicine. stated
meeting. IT West Forty-thlrd street, $50
= NJ.
Magistrate Morris xoenig and Commits
sioner Martin Save will speak az meeting
Of the League OF Foreign Born Citizens. %
Second avenue S:15 =. NJ.
Alfred w. Martin will lecture on ''Psychl-
cal Research and It's Results 70 Date before
the League for Political Education in Park
Theatre II A. NJ.
DR.. Horace NJ. Kallen WIFI speak on IAN
Interna tionalism of distractions" at the
Manhattan Trade School, Twenty second
street and Lexington avenue. p. NJ.
Associated Motion Picture Advertisers
luncheon, Cafe Boulevard. ?. NJ.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
dinner, Waldorf-Astoria, Z p. NJ.
complimentary dinner will be rendered
10 Supreme Court Justice-clect Francis Mar
tn IN tho Hotel Astor. $40 p. NJ.
National Association OF Engine and Boat
Manufacturers. meeting. Grand Central Pal
Marine transportation Association. dinner
Hotel Aston, Z r. NJ,
New York Credit Mems Association, meet
ing. Hotel Astor, =. NJ.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Sale of Women's Work.

Bargain possibilities for the Christ
mas shoppers were extended yesterday
with the ope~lrg of rummage sale
shop at 1874 East Forty-ffth street for
the benefit of the New York Exchange
for Womans Work. The sale is to be
continued through to-day and to-mor-
row. The merchandise includes many
examples of fine needlework from the
deft fingers of exchange workers. Mrs.
Henry HOLSTER Pease is director of the
shop, with Mrs. John Seely Ward presi-
dent of the exchange, Mrs. Carl A. de
Gersdorff, Mrs Clinton Gilbert, Miss
Mary X. Choate, Mrs. John I. Terry,
Mrs. w. Gilman Thompson, Mrs. George
L. Brewer. Mrs. John A. Mitchell. Mrs.
George #. Baker, Jr., Mrs. F. M.
Doubleday. Mrs. Lyman f. Gibson, Mrs.
Samuel II. Ordway. Mrs. Norman G.
Ream, Mrs. Robert G. Ream, Mrs.
Charles s. Smith. Mrs. Charles G. Tay-
Tor and Miss Eulalie Van Lennep among
her aids.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

pay 3 per cent. interest on principal,
5 per cent. depreciation and 2i5 per
cent. sinking fund, total of 1919 per
cent. a capital sum of 81, $3.50, 900, 600
earning at the rate of 1216 per cent.
would produce the $192,O00,00o SO
the actual book value of the 100000
tons of Government ships might be
about half the $3,000,000,0 it cost
to build them. This book value based
on current earning capacity is con-
firmed by the open market, where ton
mage can be had at from $50 to $50 as
against n price of S170 ton asked
by the Shipping Board for vessels it
has for sale.
To the buyer who takes Govern
ment ships at S170 a ton in the hope
of operating them in competition with
ships costing half that much, only
financial disaster can come. And for
the future Of the American merchant
marine it would be better to tax the
people openly to pay war loss which
can by no stretch of the imagination
be charged up as a legitimate obliga-
ton Of peace time merchant feet
than ii is TO levy a tax anyhow for
this same war loss but to hide 1t under
another name.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Gambling Gains for City Poor.

Most persons have been unaware of
the existence of the statute under
which Commissioner Golfer OF the De-
partment Of Public Welfare of New
York city has brought suit against
LOUIS KRoHNBERG for 1881 800, or five
times KRoHNBERG' alleged winnings
ut stud poker, but the law is an old
one which has merely been overlooked
In various efforts heretofore made tc
suppress gambling.
This penalty Is in addition to any
fine which may be imposed on a man
for violation Of the laws for the pun
ishment of gamblers. The fact that
the State has prosecuted a man in the
criminal courts does not debar an
official entrusted with the duties of
Commissioner CoLER from bringing
him into the civil court in an action
like the present suit.
Money received by the city as the
result of success in q suit against a
winning gambler must go directly to
the care and support of the poor.
Mayor HYLAN could not use it. for ex-
ample, to help the public schools out
Of the financial hole in which they
now are. But If Mr.. Golfer can get
1881, 800 from KRoHNBERG he will be
able TO return to the city treasury an
equal amount Of taxpayers money now
apportioned to his department, anG
this the Board of Estimate may hse
as 1t sees fit.
Should this suit bring a good fat
sum into the city strong box the pres
ent system Of supporting New York
charity wards might be abandoned
and n new one substituted for it. In
stead of appealing to the Board of
Estimate for appropriations the Com
missioner might spend some of his
time in those resorts where big win
nings at gambling games are known
and discussed, hale some of the most
conspicuous conyersationalists to the
civil courts and let them take care of
the unfortunate from the proceeds of
their skill and luck.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
Footprints of Babies.
AS Means of Identification They
Are Better Than Necklaces.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: A Brook
lyn hospital proposes to make the iden-
tification of new born babies "as nearly
fool proof as any system can be" by
means of strings of blue or pink beads,
according to sex. with the child's name
spelled out upon the beads.
Is it possible that the hospital au-
thorities have never heard of finger
prints? Admitting the difficulty of OBJ
tanning baby's fingerprints, footprints
for this particular purpose would serve,
as the skin of the sole of the foot is
covered by ridges which are just as
characteristic and distinctive,
Why use makeshft method, how
ever ingenious. when a perfect system Of
Identification Is available?
ROBERT C. DE Voc.
BROOKLYN, December Is.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
No Ban on Farm Labor.
The Right Kind of immigration Nee
essary TO Agriculture.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: Your edl-
torial article of December on immigra-
ton should be sent to every member of
Congress. Labor on farms must be
available: IL not available production viii
be lessened to our serious detriment
1t was a vital defect OF administration
during the war that Chinese and Japa-
riese laborers were not brought In to in
crease the crop acreage. 1t viii be
mistake if Congress fails to enact an
immigration law which while safeguard
ing us from dangerous foreigners shall
admit those whose labor is necessary to
produce food.
Is 1t possible that Congress feels that
the easiest way to postpone the decision
of the Japanese question is to exclude
all foreigners in the hope that thereby
this issue may be deferred? The dis
elimination against the Japanese Is
illogical and unjust. For years we have
admitted Immigrants with revolutionary
and anarchistic tendencies. The Japa-
nese laborer is law abiding, appreciative
and intelligent His only fault is that
his accomplishment Is greater than that
of his competitors therefore the ineffi-
cient competitor demands his exclusion
The utterances of Mr.. Kahn of Cali
fornia, chairman of the Military Commit
tee In the House, are un-American, The
effect in Toxic of such diatribe is dis
tressing to contemplate. In the endeavor
to obscure his hostility Mr.. Kahn says
that 1.-THE objection is purely an economic
one." In other words, the objection Is
that the Japanese laborer produces more
than other laborers whom we admit.
The time has come, as Robert f. Reyn-
olds says, when Americans must pro-
duce or Americans must let foreign
laborers produce" Idle acres mean idla
capital Great Industries in the United
States have been permitted to import the
kind of labor that is of peculiar use
to them. Most Of this labor is useless to
the farmer.
Agriculture is the basis of our wealth.
No barrier should be reared against
farm labor Let it be recruited from its
most efficient source, be 1t from Japan
or Jericho, under proper restrictions as
to the character of the individual immi-
grant. SANBoRN G. TENNEY.
WILLIAMsTowN, Mass, December Is.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
PUBLIC LECTURES TONIGHT.
MANHATTAN AND THE pr,ox~

MANHATTAN AND THE Br,oE<.
"Dance Music as Seen by Musician" by
Giuseppe A. Randeeger. AZ washington Irving
High School. Irving place and Sixteenth
street.
'''rhe wit and Humor OF Adam Bede." by
Mrs Mary Phelps. at Public School 70.
broadway. Academy street and vermilyea
avenue.
Famous free concerts under the direction Of
Charles u. 1saacson. director. Globe Music
Department. at Public School 80. 22s East
Fifty-seventh street.
1.-THE Industrial Housing Problem" by Ell
Benedict, at Public School ". Hester and
Essex streets.
void az Public School 1f5, f77th street near
Audubon avenue. - -. %.
'"The Foremost Living American Novelist
by Frederick Paulding. at Public School 100.
225 West 1uSth street. a.
Heath Education for Garment WorkerH.
NV Mrs. Grace NJ. Bernheirn, AT Labor
Temple. Fourteenth street ana Second ave-
nue. - &C.,.
Opportunity" by the Hon. John Barrett
Formerly dlrcctor-generRl OF the Pan-Amer-
ican Union, Mt Manhattan Trade School Tor
Girls 1871 East Twenty-second street Illus
Edgar Allan Poe" by Prof. J. O.. Carter
T,oon, pm D., at Young Wonens Hebrew
Association, 81 West 10th street Illus
T !.t,,avs a, the Hour" by Miss Ada ster-
,t,y 81 Ivander Childs Hlgh School 1Sita
street and Field place. The Bf-.ss