davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
The Lost Two Billions

Mr.. Gillen's estimate of a $4,000
100000 loss on Shipping Board op-
erations is obtained by adding three
items-shrinkage in values, overpay-
ments Of claims and disappearance
of materials. He thinks that ma
terials worth $5O0,000,000 have van
ished from sight. Excess allow
ances for claims have not been fig
ured up. They probably do not
amount to more than a quarter Of a
billion. The other billion and quar-
ter is charged to depreciation.
Depreciation was inevitable. At
the time the new fleet was projected
all maritime nations we're bidding
for ships. Unlimited construc-
tion was thought to be the only sure
means Of countering the German
submarine attack. The war was to
be won with ships. Hence, cost
ceased to be primary concern. We
built our vessels on an artificial price
scale. An enormous shrinkage in
value was bound to occur after the
war, and would have occurred even
if our construction had been skill
fully handled instead of recklessly.
A large part of the amortization
loss covered by Mr.. Gillen's total Is
therefore genuine war loss. The
money disappeared like powder, the
witness explained. It was, however,
powder fired away. Vast quantities
Of powder and shell were fired away
at the front with very slight results.
But the rest Of the loss was avoid
able, and the Shipping Board will
have to shoulder responsibility for
it. Incompetence is no more ex-
cusable in war than in peace. Per-
haps it IS less excusable. The Ad-
ministration went about an enormous
task with amateurish nonchalance.
The shipping chiefs squabbled and
the rudiments of organization were
neglected. We are now getting the
details Of pitiful episode in our
governmental breakdown. The en-
ergy and heart put into the war
were put into it by the people, not
by those who represented them in
authority. 1t is the same story in
all branches of war activity. Now
the people have to pay for govern
ment shortcomings. Some will say
that they deserve to do so, because
the faults Of government are the
faults of the people. But from our
varied war experiences it is easy
enough for the masses who fought
the war to demonstrate that they
didn't have government made in
their image.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

erality than the casual citizen. The
museum needs their money now as
never before; but 1t needs their in
terest and attendance and moral SUD-
port even more. There are varying
grades Of membership, from the $40
annual member up. The sum is
a fuctuating amount proportionate
to the means Of the. donor. The re-
lationship established is the same
whatever the contribution. The
member receives tickets for himself
and his family to receptions and lee
lures and for admission upon the
pay days, Monday and Friday; he
also receives the publications of the
museum, in particular the illus
trated Monthly Bulletin, describing
accessions. This latter publication
is Of the greatest interest to every
art lover. 1t is the beginning of an
art education in itself.
But the relationship is the main
thing, the interest and responsibility
which the members Of the museum
should and do feel. There are at
present $500 members Of the vary
ing classes. This number should be
greatly enlarged-doubled at least.
1t is a pleasure to urge every Trib-
une reader who is interested to lend
his aid, according to his means, to
this noble and beautiful cause.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
To Every Lover of Art

The hard times which beset the
metropolitan Museum of Art should
be turned into an occasion for
strengthening the bonds between art
lovers and this greatest of all our
city's artistic glories.
The city pays a share Of the ex-
pense Of the museum. The rest is
made up, and rightly, by the friends
of beautiful things. This double
support of public institution is 2
common American practice, and has
strong basis in fitness and practi-
cal utility. The service of the
museum is to every one-to the thou
sands of children who yearly drink
IN its lessons Of beauty which can
last lifetime, to the students and
artists and artisans who take from
Its halls and walls designs and in
splration, to the general public that
nocks to see In ever-increasing num-
bers. The museum, however, has
an especial place in the affections of
those who love these visible works of
art with especial knowledge and ap-
probation, the lovers of SCULPTURE
and painting and the other arts rem
resented at the museum.
These friends of art have
greater interest in the museum, and
it is fitting and right that they
should sunrort n Will ,:,.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Drive Carefully To-day

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: According to an official Of the
National Safety Council one person Is
killed every thirty minutes in the
United States as result Of an auto
mobile accident. OF course, tho rate
Is higher In New York State.
Let's make 1t less. I am urging
leading editors everywhere in the state
to cooperate with me. Urge your
city, your nearby towns, your automo-
bile clubs to erect signs reading:
Drive carefully to-day!"
Most any one is willing to drive
carefully for one day at time. That
is the way to educate the people. Most
any one is willing to respond to such
an appeal. Now is a good time to
get ready for 1921. VIII you help save
life? Thank you.
ALFRED j. WESTENDORF.
Springville, N. Y, Nov Is. 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Enemies Of Any League

Since the Presidential election
few signs have appeared that the
political elements responsible for
the absence of the United States
from Geneva have learned much.
They are still treating, as The
Weekly Review notes, all objectors
to their plan of fiat ratification as
stupid and malignant. They show no
more respect for the popular will
than they did for the Senate
majority.
Our neighbor The World, chief
organ of the Administration is at
the old business Of disappearing
Senator Harding. He said the other
day that "the league is dead
plainly meaning that the league Of
which an unmodified Article X Is the
heart is dead so far as concerns
American participation. The World
pretends that this cancels a long
series of pro-league declarations
by him. 1t also tries to make out
that Senator Harding does not
read the newspapers and is thus un-
aware that the league is now hold
ing a meeting at Geneva. The
World trifles with a great matter.
1t stirs up bad blood. 1t keeps
the league question in the mire Of
narrow-minded partisanship and be-
devilment, and adds to the difficulty
of entry into any kind Of league
Has not sufficient harm been done
by prior persistence in course
which inevitably provokes resent
ment? Why be helpful to Messrs.
Borah and Johnson?
AT any time during twelve
months the treaty could have been
ratified with reservations had the
President been willing to nod his
Willingness. He would not. He pre-
ferred to have nothing rather than
TO have a single item of his demands
return to him void. Governor Cox
was driven practically to admit
where lodged the blame for nom
entry. He finally conceded the res
arvation principle and more than
limited he would accept the Lodge
reservations. To keep up the old
ciatter is to show that pride of opin-
ion is stronger than the desire to
contribute to practical results.
The Democratic league campaign
was based on the assumption that
the people were unintelligent. 1t
was believed they would not dis
criminate between league and the
league-between the Article X
league and one without it. Wilson
polled their readers,
submitting the irrelevant question,
do you favor league of nations?"
When the response WIS in the af-
this was impudently adver-
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
that oe. is still eating with great

Jnat ne. IS Stlll eating with great
gustt
These complaints show, it seems to
us, lack Of possession of one of our
most valued national traits. 1t is
the American habit to allow the fool
ish to go about as far as their folly
dictates. Regularly in Philadelphia,
never interfered with by the police,
meets a society which holds that the
deposition Of James II in 1888 was
an illegal act and that the true King
Of England to-day is an obscure
prince who resides in Paris when not
lodging his creditors. Humor leads
us to smile wholesomely at the .agita-
tions of agitators, especially those
who seek to embroil US in foreign
quarrels. AS President Wilson might
have said, we are too proud to be-
come angry.
OF course, severe strain was put
on American patience when De
Valera boasted last spring, when q
question was put to him, that "the
Irish people wished and hoped that
Germany would win the war" But
If men of Irish descent can endure
the insult thus given to the Irish
people others can afford to.ignore it
and to allow the professor to con-
tinue without molestation to pass
the hat.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Balconies in Movie Taeaters

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The recent appalling cata astrophe
that has occurred in one of New York's
East Side motion picture theaters has
brought home to us the urgent neces-
slty OF an Immediate amendment to the
section in New York's building ordi-
nance, which permits gallery in build
ings that are not of Class A tireproof
construction and that do not have open
exterior courts, as required in the sec
tion covering tirst-class theaters.
The Motion Picture Theatrical Asso-
citation Of the World, acting at the re-
quest OF its members and supporters,
wishes to make an appeal to the au-
thorties in charge to immediately
cause an amendment Of the present
section permitting balconies in build
lngs that do not strictly conform with
the requirements Of Class A theater
buildings, and to have this amendment
prohibit the further use Of all exist
ing balconies in theaters that are not
fireproof and Class A and that do not
have open exterior courts and proper
fire exits. ss required by hrst-class
theaters.
The Motion Picture Theatrical Asso-
citation Of the World, which has been
IN the course Of organization for sew
eral months, is starting in a few days
a nationwide "housecleaning cam
paign" In the motion picture business.
1t will vigorously launch a crusade
against Objectionable films and OBJ
Jectionable posters, and its duties will
be to protect the interests Of the pub
lie, as we'll as the conscientious people
engaged in the industry.
The M. P. T. is backed by over fifty
OF the most prominent civic, social and
business organizations, and by a large
number of the countrys most active
and most prominent individuals.
1t also has the pledged support of all
the leading people in the motion pic
ture industry and more than 100 of the
foremost newspaper and magazine ed
itors. JOHN A. OTrINN
President M. P. T. Association.
New York, Nov. IT, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Coal and Greed
. Editor of The Tribune.

TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; Can any one who reflects be 50
dense regarding the evolutions OF the
coal business as seriously to consider
that owing to recent shortage in sup
ply due to uncomfortable causes crisis
has arrived needing, perhaps, govern
ment intervention? Is it not true and
does it not become increasingly clear
that ever since the great strike the
whole industry has been piped and honey
combed by an assortment of subterra-
mean greedy combinations, whose aim is
to create and keep alive condition Of
suffering, need, sickness and death every
winter, out Of which they may exact q
toll OF lucre controlled only by their
ever-growing criminal greed and selfish
ness? Why wait any longer for govern
ment control? Could any control be
worse than that we have now? Imagine,
If Nature had not been kind to US, the
sort Of protection this bunch. who have
suddenly become busy, would give US
against the elements
short time ago party circulating
Communist tracts was turned over to
the police; justly so. Could any tract
or comment on conditions be worse
than the statement Of our own Senators:
I'VE are strongly opposed to any form
of government control, but the practical
sdmissions Of prominent coal men show
there is guilt among the men somewhere
who have the power to regulate the
price Of coal"
Then, why not smoke them out and
punish them? If there is not a law to
punish this type Of humanity because it
is not comprehended or supposed to
exist, why not pass one7 Shall we ex-
pose ourselves any longer to their ten
der mercies? God forbid!
WILLIAM N. TOSHACH.
Brooklyn, Nov. 16, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
The Blessings of Dryness

Tc the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I have noticed In a number Of
the New York papers q news item from
Chicago claiming that since prohibition
husbands have become surly and unkind
to their wives and children.
This Is \ very strange statement in-
deed, and 1t does not seem credible that
such q condition should exist, because
social workers are almost unanimous In
telling us that since prohibition homs
conditions have greatly improved in
places where it has been enforced and
wives and children have profted by the
absence of alcohol.
l should like TO call your readers
attention to the November 6 number Of
The Survey Magazine, which contains
study Of prohibition in Grand Rapids,
Mich, where it has been in effect for
two years. In this study the following
statement is found dealing with the ei'
fects of prohibition on the home:
Families spend more time together
The front porch and the garden have
come up as the corner saloon has gene
down. Children are better cared for'
Mothers know, some of them for the
first time, what it is not to be on the
grocer's books. Fathers take notice o.
shabby furnishings and help save up 70
replace them. The whole town is better
dressed"
This does not look as if prohiDitios
made surly husbands.
In another part of the magazine WIZ
throp D. Lane reports the case OF
woman who said of her life since ns'
husband stopped drinking:
"Now we really live. You bet every
thing is different. When folks ask me
how long l have been married | se"
them three years'-the other years af'
bygones, just as if they hadn't nap
pened. And now we go out togethei
and have got our debts paid"
The same writer says that Catnoiis
priest told him that the pericdiea'
drunkard had ceased TO exist. inD
priest said
"He used to be a problem. women
would come to me and pour out tae"
hearts about the drinking of their hsS
bands. Now it is a very rare thing
The article is filled with instances
which prove that prohibition makes osv
ter and happier homes. a phk
New York. Nov. II, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

tised as an Endorsement Of the
Wilson league.
The Republican leaders discrim-
mated and went into the campaign
with confidence that the voters
would also discriminate. They did
by an overwhelming majority.
Yet in another form the old trick
question is again asked. The re-
vival is not in the interest of either
league or the league.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Empty Jobs on the Farm
So a Day in the Country and No
Takcrs


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Day after day I read In The
Tribune of the unemployed in the city.
Day after day we farmers hope against
hope that somewhere We may be able to
get labor.
I personally need four men; other
farmers of my acquaintance over a
radius Of twenty-five miles need men TO
get them.
Last week / employed man at 40
cents an hour. He worked two days and
refused to work longer because / paid
a woman 20 cents an hour. The woman
did just twice the work Of ths man by
measure, yet the man would not work
alongside Of "lady" unless would
pay him moro than l paid the "lady."
Such is the independence of farm labor
ers when we can get them at all.
I pay man $12O month and his
wife and another WOMAN 40 cents an
hour, and am eager for four men or
women or boys. None to be had, yet the
cities seem to house thousands of un-
employed.
have travelled miles and miles the
last two weeks trying to get help, with
out man, woman or boy to be had,
and should the winter start in early
will lose heavily with crops in the
ground, as will other farmers.
It's the same old question: Does the
city man prefer the city without labor
to the country at 81 day?
A FARMER.
Rivcrhead, N. Y, Nov. Is, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
A Sim Fein Dictionary?

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Perhaps. your Irish correspon-
dent, who is so anxious to learn why
you called Ireland domestic" prob
lem of Great Britain's consulted a Sim
rem dictionary. l consulted Funk &
Wagnalls and learned what I already
knew to be fact-that Ireland Is one
Of the British Isles.
ELIZABETH CARTER.
"a Virginian.)
New York, Nov. IS. 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
"A Christian Spirit
New York, Nov. IS, 1920.
(From The Kansas Csty Times

Some persons have been heard to
marvel that those United States Sena-
tors who opposed woman suffrage were
nevertheless reelected. They conclude
those Senators must have put up q
great fight to win. Not Mt ALL If
they had fought they would have been
licked What they did was to get down
on their knees and ask forgiveness,
just as other men do. And the women
1orgave them. just as they generally
do. That's all there Is to that election
mystery.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
A Veto on Constantine


nounces that France and Great Brit
ain will not recognize the new Greek
government if it recalls Constantine
to the throne. France and Great
Britain are guarantors of the Greek
state, which they created, in con-
junction with Russia. They are
pledged to maintain constitutional
government in Greece, and they
elected Constantine because, in their
opinion, he had put his royal prerog-
atives above the constitution.
That wasn't the only reason for
Constantine's expulsion. He pre-
tended to be a friend of the Entente
and entered into various engage
ments with it, which he broke when
ever he could. Correspondence which
he and Queen Sophia had with the
Germans shows that he was planning
to cooperate with q German drive
for Salonica by attacking Sarrail's
armies in the rear. France and
Great Britain couldn't have tolerated
that, even if they hadn't been
Greece's guardians. They were COM
PEELED, for purely military reasons, to
safeguard their Salonica base.
Constantine's war policy was thor
Oughly lnsincere and treachnrons
from the Entente point of view. His
postwar policy, if he returns, will
probably be equally hostile to France
and Great Britain. These two
powers greatly enlarged Greek terri
tory and offered Greece a conspicu
Gus role in the reorganization of the
Near East. The Greek army has
helped materially to check Mustapha
Pasha in western Asia Minor. Greek
forces hold the region east of the
Dardanelles and also the district of
Smyrna. Great Britain apparently
intended to lean heavily on Greece in
lnternationalizing the straits and
setting up the new regime in Con-
stantinople.
With Constantine back in Athens all
these arrangements would be balked.
The eX-King has shown himself to be
stubborn and vindictive. Neither
France nor Great Britain could de-
pend on him to support their policies
in the eastern Mediterranean. Were
Rhallls and Gounaris to reseat him
III the face of French and British
protests, Venizelos's great work
would quickly crumble. Against
such opposition Constantine could
not reap the benefits of the Sevres
treaty. Greece is dependent on her
sea trade, which France and Great
Britain can easily tie up. Since the
new Greek government represents
the farmers and the merchants Of
the mainland even more than the
pro- German royalists, it would risk
another political reaction by invit-
ing a blockade. Probably a COM
promise will be sought and a clash
with the Western Entente powers
avoided. But Greece, under the
new dispensation, will be thrown
back again on her own narrow re-
sources. She cannot hope to realize
in any adequate measure the nation
alistic aspirations which Venizelos's
craftsmanship had brought within
reach.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
A Tough Outfit
(From The Portland Press,

tIFrofn The Portland Press}
The Democratic leaders are now oc-
cupied for the most part in earnestly
protesting that the Democratic party
is not dead. Of course it is not dead.
A party that could survive slavery,
reputation and Bryanism won't be de-
stroyed by an dld-fashioned licking.
even il it was the worst on record.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
MR.. FREDERIC HARRISON 49, O,

MIR. FREDERIC HARRISON at 80
observes: MAY my end be early
speedy, and peaceful! | regret nothinp
done or said in my long and busy life,
| withdraw nothing. and, as / said be-
lore, am not conscious of any change
IN mind. In youth | was called reyo
iotlonary; in old age | am called re-
actlonary; both names alike untrue.
ask nothing. | seek nothing. fear
nothing. | have done and said all that
| ever could have done and said There
the call" "''4 " CIV
A VERY good prose version OF Hen
ley's well known poem. AS for regret
ting nothing, man at forty wouid he
giad to unsay and undo MANY things
AT seventy, and decidedly at eighty
nine, these things have so diminished
Ii Importance that it is not worth wh;le
withdrawing them.-B. L. T. in The
Chicago Tribune.
Even at an age younger than fortv
q man may feel that the foolish thinqs
ne has said and done aren't worth while
erasing from the record, especially as
the record probably is made of the
aimsiest paper and written with ex-
tremely delible ink.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEMBER OF TIRE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ths Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the
ass for republication OF all nsrs dispatches
eysdtsd to Il otherwise credited In this parsr
and also the local news Of 'Detsnseus origin pub
uahed herein
All rtxhu Of republication Of all ssher matter
Asfein also are reserved.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

wrinkles Removed While You
Wait" tho sign in a Broadway beau
torium reads. And, as L. H. observes,
it Is cheering to the ladies' to learn
that no longer will they have to leave
their countenances and call for them q
day or two later.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

Ysu purchsss merchandise advsrflssd Ia THE
gRiBUNE with absolute safsty--fsr = 6issstisfss-
fisa rssuIts Ia ANY case THE TRIBUNE guarantee
b eas your money hack upsn request. No rcd taBc.
Nc su,bbIIns. W. make sosd srsrety u the
Adaaftisar daaa not
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

"Tommy Gray" writes Mr.. Karl H.
Kitchen, "and not Haywood Broun is
the originator of the open coverlets
openly arrived at" Well, our reply
Is that we doubt it. 1t appeared un-
der Mr. Broun's signature many months
ago; and if Mr.. Gray can prove that
he said or wrote it. before the publi-
cation of it by Mr.. Broun we'll apollo
gize to Mr.. Gray. And Mr. Broun will
apologize to Us daily and Sunday for
ten years.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Prohibition Mother Gooss

pSt-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Brewers Man.
make us some beer as fast as you can:
MATT 1t and Hop it and Key it with giee
ana hlue IL IN the Cellar for Tommy and Me.
WINS WMLIsroN WILSON
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

Entsrsd At the Postohacs at Nsw YerS a gsssna
Clas Mail Matter.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
The Coming 7 ower

Songs Of tho Stock Exchange-u.
Oh, have some Oil and some Pere
Marquette,
Some Hupp and some B. r. T.,
Some B. & 0. and some Pullman Co.,
And some C. r. I. & P.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

The esteemed Marion, O., Board Of
Education, at the meeting when it
voted to change the name of the
Marion High School to Harding High
School, adopted the policy that "parti-
san activity on the part of teachers in
future political campaigns would be
cause for suspension or dismissal"
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Or, thus:

The Anti-Mortem Statement Of
Wise Man
I've said and done an awful lot
And most of it was mistake,
Unsay? Undo? Well, guess not!
What difference did it make?
F. p. A.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

Owned and published daily by New York Tribune
yae. New York Corporation. Ogden Reid. Presi-
asnt; @. vernor Rogers Vice President; Helen
asesr RAID Secretary; R. r. Maxneid. Treasurer.
AAdfsss. Tribune Building. 1s4 Nassau Strsst, New
xs<k. Telephone. Beeknan 3eos
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

Representatives of the army, navy,
and diplomatic corps, and men promi-
nent in the professional and business
life of the country sat in the boxes
beautifully gowned and resplendent in
jewels.-The Globe.
Dear! dear! that's how Rome began
slipping!
New-York tribune., 1920-11-19

Well say it's some novel.