davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30

merry and mems neckwear introduces
the high cost element of artistic
workmanship and the economic waste
due to rapidly changing styles. 1t
is desirable in this crisis to get
back to the older idea of the manu-
facturc and sale of shoes as neces-
sary staple. The same reasoning ap-
plies, Of course, to all clothing. The
willingness of the public to buy shoes
and clothes on a luxury basis has
probably had more to do with the
Phenomenal increase Of TT per cent
in the clothing cost than has any
other single factor.
Government rationing is justifi-
able in war time. 1t is equally
justifablc in order to correct eco
nomic abuses arising from war con-
ditions. The community has the re-
serve power to protect itself from
economic oppression. Something can
be done in that line by voluntary
individual effort; but the use of gov
ernmental agencies reinforces and
consolidates individual pressure. The
government has committed itself to
a campaign for the reduction Of in
flated living costs. 1t has a weapon
at hand in the War Industries Board
shoe plan. Why not apply it and
see how it works?
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Shoes

Bernard NJ. Baruch's letter to the
Senate committee which is investi-
eating the high cost of boots, shoes
and leather goods contains some
highly interesting suggestions. For
certain purposes, it appears, the war
didn't last long enough. The War
Industries Board, of which Mr..
Baruch was chairman, had worked
out plan for putting shoe produc-
tion on a war basis. 1t was to 90
into effect in 1919. Unfortunately,
it was assumed in Washington when
the armistice was signed that in the
case of shoes, as we'll as in the case
of sugar, prices would thereafter
"take care of themselves"
They did, but not in the way the
Federal authorities thought they
would. Sugar prices have more than
doubled, and are still kiting. Prices
for footwear and clothing have also
kept on rising. The cost of clothing,
including shoes, increased 17.9 per
cent between November, 1919, and
March, 1920. 1t has increased 1T
Der cent since 1914, although the
average advance in that period of
the cost Of the major nccessaries
has been only 94.8 per cent.
Technically, the war isn't over.
But since November, 1918. the public
has lost the government protection
against profteering which was due
it as matter Of emergency policy.
Mr.. Baruch points out that the gov
ernmcnt's war powers have not
lapsed and that the War Industries
Boards; program, to which the shoe
manufacturers, wholesalers and re-
tailcrs assented in 1918, can still be
carried into effect.
This program provides for the
Standardization Of styles and the
elimination Of footwear fads and
tancics. Three classes of shoes we're
schedulcd for production: One to
retail at from 50 to S12, one to re-
tail at from So to $3.50, and one
- retail at from So TO IS. What
- needed most in the shoe trade is
quantity production within greatly
IcttricteI fash ion i;yoite
A couple Of years ago trade
newspaper congratulated The shoe
manufacturers on the great oppor-
tunity offered them TO elevate foot
wear 10 the status Of an article Of
luxury. Classifying shoes with milli-
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Hearst and Johnson

It is proper, in view Of the promi-
nence Of his candidacy, to ask SEN
ator Hiram Johnson a simple and
direct question.
What political course does he in
tend to pursue if he fails Of sue
cess at the Chicago convention?
This interrogatory, it seems to us,
is not vain or insulting one, but is
amply excused and justified by facts
Of great notoriety.
Senator Johnson's most powerful
supporter and chief political friend
is William Randolph Hearst. Now.
Hearst has made no concealment of
his desire to have a third party in
the approaching campaign. He pro-
fesses not to like either the Demo-
cratic or the Republican organiza-
ton. He seeks a party of his own.
Recently he has been quiet on this
subject, but he has not recanted.
He hates Wilson, he hates Bryan
and the friends of both-and like
wise he hates and would destroy, if
he could, the Republican party.
Is there any agreement or under
standing between Hearst and Sen
ator johnson with respect to what
the latter intends to do? # there is
no express agreement, does Hearst,
with his knowledge of the Senator,
think he is warranted in guessing
that the latter will bolt? Four years
ago Senator johnson was little in
terested in the election of Republi-
can candidate. He cared more about
satisfaction with respect to a matter
Of personal vanity than national
party success. Except for his inde-
fensible course Woodrow Wilson
would not have been reelected Presi-
dent. it is natural thus to inquire
as to whether Senator Johnson's
allegiance to Hearst is stronger OF
weaker than his allegiance to the
party whose nomination he seeks.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Brats VS.. Dignity
G Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your correspondent Eugene S.
Baggcr, who gives three cheers for Sir
Derrick Wernher, evidently has no boys
of his own, or else forgets that he was
once a brat" himself Sir Derrick's
outburst of temper and hasty act show
that his dignity received greater
shock than did his person. 1t was pure
ly an accident that the boy on skates
collidcd with the "6-footer."
Boys with red blood in them must
play. and the city affords SO few places
where they may have an outlet to their
growing energies that roller skating is
one of the few universal amusements
that children can indulge in.
People on New York streets must rot
bumps occasionally, and unless an in
jury or injustice is done, f. S. B. and
others like him would show better
taste to lot such incidents pass un-
noticed. AMOS
Brooklyn, April cs. 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30

vented from incurring financial obi
cations which turn up as bills on the
first of the month. He can return to
his "cozy den" at the days end with
no sickcning dread Of meeting an
unpaid butcher or landlord. He is
scrupulously guarded from book
agents and solicitors for charities.
Wars and strikes may gnaw at our
vitals; to No. 70,763 they are less
than nothing. He would not know
crisis, national or international, if
he met one. He leads an entirely
blameless life, without problems or
vicissitudes that wreck and torment
the free.
AS for creature comforts, he has
a warm room, steam-heated, electric
lighted--and, most important, he has
it all to himself, protected from in
truson and the wiles of the evilly
disposed by guard plus granite
and harveyized steel. He has access
to an extensive library. He reads
the daily papers chiefly to note the
Headlines of havoc and woe, of dis
aster and catastrophe, and pity the
outside world in it's stupendous
struggle for existence" Galleries,
baseball, moving pictures-all the
worthwhile elements of the free
world are his. Yet if he dies he
escapes the ignominy of a panoplied
funeral; if he lives he escapes equal
ly dinner parties and political con-
ventions. No wonder the thought of
some day having to leave (his term
is a meager GIVE to ten years")
makes him exclaim:
"say not to me that must forego
these inside pleasures and be again
compelled to pick up the cudgel and
strike with might and main for q
mere existence in world where self
ishness reigns supreme"
1t is pleasure to know that some
where there is a cheerful, peaceful
home, and in it life so utterly saved
from the ills that everybody is now
bemoaning.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
The One Happy Home

Are you dazed and distraught by
the clashing confusion that is in the
atmosphere of these tangled times?
Does life hardly seem worth the
bother of paying bills and lodging
strikes and cursing revolutions?
If so, we commend to your atten-
ton the message from the one wholly
happy man who has lately crossed
our horizon. His initials are C. s. S.
and his number is 70,763, and he
writes p@an in The Sing Sing Bul-
letin upon "The Joy of the Care-Free
Life of Man in Prison"
Only the other day an astute citi-
zen, when placed under arrest, cam
didly confessed that he had COM
mitted his crime for the exact pur-
pose of getting into Jail and thereby
securing 4 rent-frec home and food
beyond the reach Of any profteer.
After reading this article in The
Bulletin we think any one will con-
ccde much to this point Of view. The
Sing Sing writer (who describes
himself as "Moonlight Harry,
wlelder of the jimmy") is plainly
romanticist, and it might seem at
first thought that he was over
optimistic when he lights his briar
pipe and, watching the smoke curl up
gracefully, sets down these words:
III recount tho joys and splendors
OF restricted life, of the utter free
dom from earthly care, of the simple
life which enhances ones existence
and all but makes one immune to tho
thousand and one ills SO prevalent in
the complicated and needless exist
cncc Of the less unfortunate. Nv re-
sponsiblitcs are reduced to graft
flying minimum, and my cares have
long since been dspcIlcd by pleasant
and enhancing episodes so much In
vogue in Il retired life"
But run over the specifications of
Moonlight Harry's existence as he
recounts tksn. IL is Absolutely pre-
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Begin at the Top

Il has been q current saying in
Washington that the War Depart
meik didn't know that the war was
over, 80 far as it's own special activi-
ties were concerned. At the end of
March the civilian force in the de-
perfment was larger than it was on
the day the armistice was signed.
Secretary Bakers estimates for
1920-'21 have given Congress more
trouble than the estimates for any
other branch of the Federal govern
ment. On top of that he has tried
to retain employees whom Congress
considered superfluous by sending in
deficiency estimates for the current
year. Only the fat refusal of Con-
eress to honor these demands-a
very disagreeable duty-compelled
hiyc to cut down the War Depart
ment's inflated clerical force. There
arc still about $4,000 employees left
three times as many as are needed,
according to the Judgment Of the
House and Senate Military com
n:ittees.
The public is anxious to see the
government get back to a peace basis
OF operation. Congress has wrestlcd
earnestly with the enormous est;-
! mates submitted to it last Decenher
A reduction of 81 900 900 900 is aimed
al. Yet that reduction will not close
the gap between prospective income
ard estimated expenditure. Secretary
Baker asked for an increase Of the
strength Of the regular army fc he-
tween 100000 and 500. me,
Congress has ha.ved that figure n
ii trying TO meet the just demand of
the officers and men in the military
services for an increase Of paw. But
the relief which these services dr..
serve is being obstructed by the fail.
ure Of the War Department to de-
mobilize its civilian contingent.
Other adjustmcnta are made diff.
epIt by the insistcnce Of other de-
partnder'ts on spending al the mones
they can lay their hands on.
The Administration ouurt to set
the example Of economy in operation
Eut 10 far it has merely made re.
trsuehmsnt more difficult. Govern.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
The Hoover Statement

Mr.. Hoover's response to the re-
quest Of The Tribune for the state
ment of his views on public ques-
tions is the most extended utterance
which has come from him since he
became candidate for the Presi-
dcncy. AS The Eveming Post re-
marks, the declaration will be given
the widest possible circulation and
will meet the expectations of Mr..
Hoover's friends and supporters.
It does not seem necessary to re-
peat or summarize what the docu-
ment contains. 1t speaks for itself.
Mr.. Hoover's mind is an inclusive
one, and he writes concerning many
topics with admirable candor, good
sense and an absence of the spirit
of demagogy. 1t is plain that those
have made no mistake who have
classified Mr.. Hoover as progress
sive Republican and of the practical
Roosevelt sort and see the great
truth that all great public issues
are at bottom moral ones.
One striking feature of the letter
is the disclosure that residence
abroad has not been at the expense
of Mr.. Hoover's knowledge of and
sympathy with America. We have
before us no echo from other lands.
The Americanism Of California is
noted as of a peculiarly robust and
durable kind, and in Mr.. Hoover's
case there is no departure from
type. The attempt to manufacture
prejudice against Mr.. Hoover be-
cause he has been a missionary of
American foreign business, and
later, when the call of war came, a
missionary Of American altruism,
reflects no credit on those who in
dulge in it. Mr.. Hoover may not
be nominated, but let him not be
set aside by feelings stimulated by
false and mean attacks on the
validity Of his Americanism.
The Tribune, as it's readers are
aware, has been Of the opinion that
the interests Of the country would
be best advanced by the selection of
Leonard Wood. 1t has not altered
this judgment. But this is no reason
for Withholding testimony to the
effect that if Mr.. Hoover is chosen
and should go to Washington the
White House would be occupied by
a man lacking neither in ability nor
desire to serve the Republic in the
broadest possible way.
In one respect, however, the Hoover
letter may be regarded as incom-
plete. He might have entered with
more detail into the vital Industrial
labor issue. He is committed to
what is called the shop council
plan for the reconciliation of en-
ployers and employed. This in many
ways is the most interesting con-
structive proposal which has yet
been brought forward, and deserves
elucidation and emphasis. Perhaps
it is reserved for future and more
single discussion.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
The Subway Monster
4 Plea for Safety Ratings TO Pre-
vent Disaster

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; | remember reading with horror
in my young days the story of the seven
beautiful maidens and the seven beauti-
full youths who were sent off to Crete
each year to satisfy the hunger of the
dreadful Minotaur. There was an cx-
cuse for that sacrifice of life, even
though it took place in Greek myth, for
the death of those boys and girls each
year saved their beloved city of Athens.
Is there any excuse for the waste of
life which our subway system demands :?
Must we have more tragedies like the
one at the Canal Street station last
week before anything is done to prevent
the possibility of accident? Must we
wait until some distinguished or in
fluential person is manned or killed be-
fore there are safety ratings in the
subway stations?
Four weeks ago, l got out of local
train of the subway at Fifty-ninth
Street and Lexington Avenue. The
train was crowded beyond its capacity.
Another crowd pushed and fought to
get into the train. The guards could
not see the center doors of their cars.
AS the train started woman who was
in the act of entering the train by a
center door was caught in the door,
thrown and dragged ten feet before the
train was stopped.
At Times Square it is necessary to
fight. actually fight am not using
lyperbole-to get out of the express
trains during the rush hours, and it is
necessary to fight just as hard to board
& train.
But every one forced to ride in the
subway knows that he is literally TAX
ing his life in his hands when he steps
upon the platform during rush hours.
Is there any reason why there could
not be railings along the platforms, with
gates which open only when the train is
in the station? 1t is surely possible fol-
the motorman to stop his train at the
same place each time.
system of entering trains and a system
for allowing passengers to leave trains
without using their fists? Such things
are possible in London. Is human life
so much more valuable there than
| here?
Whether or not the young woman
killed last week at Canal Street Jumped
is beside the point. Every one who has
ever ridden in the subway knows that il
was possible for her to have beer
pushed. That such accidents do no,
occur at almost every station every
night and every morning is because of 6
miracle, not because Of the efficiency o1
our present system.
There are times when l am obliged
to ride in the subway, and I have nc
wish to be pushed to horrible deatl
in the attempt to reach my work. NJ
doubt there are others in New York wht
feel as I do. ROWE WRIGHT.
New York, April 80, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
by
Heywood Broun

by Shaw Desmond. His novel "Democ-
racy," published about year ago, was
an interesting study of the labor move
nent in England. The new book is de-
scribed by the publisher as being "a
novel of the struggle between idealism
and commercialism, art and the power
of gold, purity Of mind and the sex pas
sion. democracy and big business the
doctrine of Nietzsche and the doctrine
Of Christ" 1t is, we understand,
novel Of the conventional length
We are decidedly for the heroine of
Samuel Merwin's Hills of Han" At no
point in the book is she described as
"well rounded
"And he dwelt for hours at time"
writes Merwin of one of his missionary
characters, "on the ethical basis of all
this missionary activity. 1t was what
he came around to all night. There was
an assumption-it was, really, the as
sumption on which his present life was
based-that the so-caled Christian civil
lzation, Western Europe and America
owed its superiority to what he thought
of as the Christian consciousness. That
superiority was always implied. 1t was
the motive power back OF this persis-
tent proselytizing. But tonight, as in
creasingly of late years, he found him
self whiting away the Implications of
spiritual and even ethical quality in
that superiority Of the White over the
Yellow. More and more clearly it
seemed to come down to the physical.
1t was the amazing discoveries in what
men call modern science, and the wide
application in industry of these discov-
cries, that made much of the difference
Then there were the accidents of eli
mate and Of soil and of certain happy
mixtures of blood through conquests
these things made people
great or weak. And lesser accidents,
such as simple alphabet, making it easy
and cheap to print ideas; the Chinese al
phabet and the lack Of easy transporta-
tion had held China back, he believed
Back of all these things lay, OF
course, more powerful determinant
the genius that might be waxing o,
waning in people. The genius OF
America was waxing, clearly, and the
genius of China had been waning for
six hundred years. But in her turr
China had waxed as had Rome, ana
Greece and Egypt. None of these hac
known the Christian consciousness, yet
each had run her course. And Greece
and Rome. without it, had risen high
Rome, indeed, whatever the reason, hac
begun to wane from the very dawn OF
Christianity, and had finally sue
cumbed not to that but to barbarians
who had in them crude physical health
and enterprise"
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30
Whalcn as a transportation
Whale

Grover A. Whalen, Mayor Hylan's s
Nrmer private secretary, who is now
the city administrations transporta-
tion chief, may or may not be sue
cess as a busman. He has not been
long enough on the job to make it
possible to give judgment. Sus-
picions exist that his jitney service
is largely at the expense of the city
treasury, and there is belief that the
fact will disagreeably appear when
the next budget is prepared.
But whatever his merits as a bus
man, Mr. Whalen is a wonder as a
meeter of emergencies. He delights
in emergencies. He so loves them
that he labors to create them. Then
he has the joy Of eating them up.
His idea of good time apparently is
to drive trolley line into quitting
and then to provide about quarter
as good service by improvised means.
Mr.. Whalel. thus brings to mind
the medical practitioner who had a
remedy for fits, and when called in
dosed the patient into fits, which he
then treated. In Staten Island Mr..
Whalen discovered a trolley line still
going. "Aha! I'll soon stop that" he
said, and did. Now, finding that
Richmond County feet grow tired
from walking, he purposes to seize
the line on the ground that it's fran
chise has lapsed.
Perhaps lapse has occurred and
perhaps the city may enter into pos
session. But possession will not op-
crate cars. 1t is necessary to hire
motormen and conductors and to buy
coal and manufacture electric cur
rent. Can it be done on a nickel
fare? The lapsing of franchise
does not deprive the owners of tracks
and cars Of their property. 1t will
be necessary to pay rent on the pr-
vate property appropriated for pub
lie USE. Can all the charges be met
with five-cent fare? Mr.. Whalen
does not say they can. So what he
really must nave in mind, therefore
is to make a reach for the contents
of the public treasury.
Mr.. Whalen denounces the old
management in Staten Island as bad
The idea that it was widely prevails
Will his be better? He implies that
it will be, but he is without expert
ence, and k. him not boast until he
ayeth his armor off. Every one viii
hope MI Whalen will demonstrate
that he is an unrecognized traction
genius, but there will be skepticisn
concerning the greatness of his gifts
especially by those who have beer
jolted in his packed buses or com.
PEELED to wait in the rain for the
vehicle that did not come.
New-York tribune., 1920-04-30

ment extravaganza reacts injuriously
all the way down the line. 1t pre-
vents reduction Of the public debt.
1t prevents def7ation. 1t destroys
the moral effect of the Department
Of Justices warfare on wasters and
profteers. Let retrenchment begin
at the source. Until the govern
ment RECEIVERS from the war fever it
cannot effectively rebuke the lavish
ness Of other spenders or the eager
ness of individuals to get what they
can while the getting is good.