davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Worse Than Witchcraft.

Mrs. AUGUSTINE CATAMo of Eli
wood, Pennsylvania, has appealed to
the police FOR protection from some
Of her nelghbors. who think she Is a
witch
These silly persons believe this I'M
fortunate woman---she is T5--causes
the death u pigs, cows and horses.
They hnve taught their children to
fear her and the youngsters run away
when she approaches them on the
street.
It ~ a very sad case, In which ig-
norance and gullibIlity cause their
victims 10 prosecute woman who
has reached an age ut which she
should be treated with the greatest
consideration.
grcnt many persons stu believe
in witchcraft. though the Jolly of such
supcrntitions is known 10 all intelli-
gent men and women. Everybody who
understands this benightedness feels
sorry for these persons.
But, after all, the men and women
who believe in witchcraft and who
persecute women they cau witches are
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

not much more ignorant, and they are
much less dangerous, than persons
who believe and preach that while
eXtortionate wages are paid TO labor
for insufficient service the Industrial
and commercial situation can be per-
manently improved.
They are not much more ignorant,
and they are much less dangerous,
than persons who think Congress or
the State legislatures by simply en-
acting statute can make the country
prosperous.
They are not much more ignorant,
and they are much less dangerous,
than persons who tell US we ought to
shut our doors In the faces of stall
wart workers who want TO come here
from abroad and do the work Amer
lean born and American trained
workers will not do.
Believers in witchcraft are lament
ably ignorant, but If they were the
only ignorant persons in the country
II would be happier than 1t is.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Disarm the Gunner.

To THE New YORK HERALD: Why all
this talk about vigilance committees,
arming citizens and all that sort of
thing in connection with the uncon-
trolled crime wave in this city? The
gunman seems to be genus recognized
by the police, and the known gunner
and thugs should be disarmed at once
and made to suffer the extreme penalty
for violation Of the Sullivan law.
When they have been disposed of,
or simultaneously with that operation,
orders should issue to the police to halt
and search at any time or in any place
any and every man, without distinction,
and in every case in which a weapon
is found concealed apply the extreme
penalty to the toter. The search could
be conducted in an inoffensive way.
and no law abiding man would object
to such search when he realized that
the object was the stamping out of the
crimes of violence with which the city is
cursed.
The men who are INDUCING in the
present orgy of crime are arrant cow
ards, as their brutal assaults on
unarmed men clearly show, and II they
were deprived of their weapons they
would never risk an encounter. a
weeks trial OF this experiment would
probably land hundreds OF thugs behind
the bars, and those remaining at liberty
would not dare to take the chance OF
being picked up and sent to join them
The campaign should be one of disarm-
ing, not of arming G. ,.
New YORK, December 90.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

A New Police Head Demanded to Re
store the Morale of the Force.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: There is
evidently something radically wrong
with our police system. The force APP
pears to be utterly disorganized and de-
moralized under the present regime. A
change of head might prove beneficial
under the circumstances. the substitu-
ton. for instance. of a man of the cali
bre of the late Colonel Roosevelt or of
General Bingham for the present Police
Commissioner.
Judging from the temper of an out
ragged people il would he safe to say
that a million signatures could easily be
obtained TO a petition demanding of the
Mayor the removal of the present po-
lice head. If the Mayor should refuse,
then recourse could be had to the Gov
ernor of the State.
Judge Rosalsky's suggestion to organ
ze a citizens posse independent of the
Police Department to spot and arrest
crooks is In line with the idea of Will
lam T. Coleman. who formed the famous
Vigilance Committee of 1856 to turn
San Francisco from hell into a city fit
for decent. Industrious, law abiding men
to live in" Coleman's methods of deal
ing with crooks were a little more dras-
tic than those advocated by Judge Rosal-
sky. He hanged them.
GEORGE #. SHRADY.
New YoRK, December 20.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 81. 1920.
Menaced by Amateur Gunner.

If Mayor HYLAN's advice to respect
able citizens to arm is followed gen
orally New York city will be the
scene Of a number OF accidents of the
most distressing kind.
The convenient thing for almost
everybody to carry is revolver or
automatic pistol.
There is not a trickier weapon on
the face of the earth than these same
firearms.
They should be handled only by
men who have beenttaught how they
should be treated.
"A man or woman inexperienced
with firearms who undertakes TO use
an automatic or revolver is not
likely to do much injury to the tar
get, but no innocent bystander any
where within range is safe.
A policeman, who is instructed in
the art of using a pistol, shoots in the
street only in the gravest emergency
and even these skilled men have fire.
uuently injured persons other than
those at whom they fired. What
frightened, excitable persons upset by
an attempt to rob them or somebody
else will do when they begin shooting
in the street-well, it does not require
much Imagination TO understand.
The mere fact that the Mayor adj
yises citizens TO arm themselves will
not lead sensible folk to take to carry
Ing weapons they are not trained TO
use. But there are citizens who lack
sense and they are the ones who viii
be first to carry and use guns.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

tiers invariably involved the adjust
ment Of the labor problem.
To reach such settlement il was
necessary in the first place to coun-
teract the effect OF well organized
and active propaganda carried on by
the extreme radicals, who were in CO.
operation with some of the socialistic
groups. II was believed too that the
only effectual way 10 remove the con-
slant menace of strikes was TO settle
permanently the difficulty at Bar
celona. where much Of the industrial
unrest in Spain had its inception. But
here came up a problem which no
Spanish statesman has yet success
fully attacked, how to appease Bar
celona without acceding TO the de-
mands of It's people for autonomy for
the entire region comprising ancient
Catalonia.
The Spanish people are tired Of the
constant strife and the pickering OF
the politicians, and they VIII appar-
emily welcome the advent of man
with tact and a real knowledge of the
situation, who will be able to bring
about.a settlement of their disturbing
internal conditions. With the sup
port which the Government has from
the people there may now be justifica-
ton for the strong measures which
seem imperative. But the question
is, as it has been for the last five
years, Has Spain man strong enough
tn produce and enforce these needed
measures of reforms?
When that man appears he will
save Spain from the grave danger
which menaces her national structure
and which seriously handicaps her in
the industrial and business contest.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

To THE NEW YoRK HERALD: The fact
that q pedestrian could be held up and
shot on Fort George Hill. on thorough
fare connecting Washington Heights
and Inwood, at 6 80 o'clock at night,
without police interference has worried
residents OF these two sections.
The scene OF the holdup is without
police protection Of any kind. Just
why this condition should exist is a
mystery, but some residents say that the
length and grade Of the road cause
patrolmen to avoid 1t as much as pos
sfble. The hill is approximately eight
blocks long and because of the many
bends In its course Is often referred to
as the snake hill.
II is because OF those unusual condi-
lions that proper police protection is
needed on the hill. which is fringed for
almost It's entire length with shrubs
and trees A better place to stage a
holdup cannot be found. a pedestrian
would have little chance TO protect him
self against the attack Of a bandit who
suddenly sprang az him from the shrub
berry. ANXIOUS.
New YoRx, December 20
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Spain Backs Its Government.

The general elections In Spain held
sunday have resulted In a monarchist
or Government victory. Whether the
victory will be. as the early reports
indicate, the most complete obtained
In recent years by a governmental
party can be determined only by an
official count. The significance of the
result lies Ia the fact that Spain has
not been swept of It's feet by the
radical elements which have been max
Ing the larger Spanish cities and
manufacturing towns the centres Of
serious Industrial unrest Spain as
nation has voted for conservatism.
the rural districts and the conserya-
tive urban population Offering a
strong counterbulancc TO the extreme
sociallstlc and communlstic groups
which have for some time been es-
pecially active ana prominent In Span
lsh politics
Spain has been 10 the throes Of an
industrial strife which has como very
near 30 being fierce class war There
have been the strikes at barcelona,
which for more than a year have prnc-
tically paralyzed the towns business,
and the strikes and riots IN the Rio
Tinto region, which have closed some
Of the country's most important mines
and brought about armed clashes be-
tween the soldiers and the workmen.
Many Of the large towns, Zamora. SAL
amanca, Saragossa and even Madrid.
have been struggling with somewhat
similar labor difficulties. This was
the most important question that was
before the country; for although there
was need Of legislation regarding rail
way tariffs and the sale Of paper for
newsprlnt as we'll as action against
syndlcalist excuses II was always
found that the solution OF those mat
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

could not have done better than study
district leadership as represented by
AHEARN, who was at once his districts
boss and its slave. There Is no harder
mental work than patiently listening
to the troubles OF other people, YET
that IS exactly what district leader
ship means in a region of the poor.
Men who wanted any job, or wanted
some other fellows job, or wanted a
rise Of salary from the city, or wanted
to be transferred from one city post
TO another-all who belonged 10 the
John f. Ahearn Association called on
"the Senator" Everybody who went
to see him wanted something; all
AHEARN asked in return was allie
glance to "the organization"
Tammany was hard TO beat in the
old days when it had large number
of leaders who, like AHEARN, put
their whole lives into the game. But
time has changed the character of the
leaders. Men who have the quality of
leadership find more reward in bust
ness than in local politics. AHEARN
who died In the house where he was
born on East Broadway, had genu-
inc affection for his neighborhood and
for the political organization he
served; so far as money was con
cerned he could have quit years ago.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Senatorial Oversight.

Rising to speak on the Senate bill
TO create a Federal live stock commits
sion Senator SMooT looked about him
and discovering only eight other mem
hers present said: "The able address
of the Senator from New York, Mr..
WApswonTH, has been listened to by
only five members. Nine Senators are
in the chamber" when "a bill is be-
fore the Senate that if enacted may
mean the death of one of the largest
businesses in the country
Senator TOWNSEND, one of the faith
full eight prepared TO listen, was SYM
pathetic ana asked: "Would the Sen
ator like TO have an invitation ex-
tended to other Senators TO come In"
Senator SMocT was also sympathetic,
not with himself but with the eighty
and eight absentees, and responded
mot ut all. II will do no good; II
will simply disturb those who can hear
the bell. Those who are out on the
golf links VIII not hear IL, and we
should not get them here
The matter with the Senate, then,
Is its failure to install an electrical de-
vice which would announce each roll
call by bell at each putting green on
the Chevy Chase golf course. 4 fast
car can make the run from the golf
course to Capitol Hill while roll
call proceeds. 1t has been done.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Morning Concert.

Albert Morris Bagbys third musical
morning of the season, held yesterday
in the main ballroom of the Waldorf
Astoria, brought out another large
audience. The artists were Nine. Fran
ces Aida and Mario Chamlee of the
Metropolitan Opera, and Gutia Casini,
'cellist. At the piano We're Richard
Hageman. Frank La Forge and Vito
Carnevali. Owing to hoarseness Benz
amino Gigli of the opera, who had
been announced, was unable to sing
and his place was taken by Mr.. Cham
lee, who amiably appeared at a very
short notice. Nine. Aida sang an aria
from "Mefistofele," the "Vissi d Arte"
from "Tosca," with cello obligato by
Mr.. Casini a group of English songs,
and with Mr.. Chamlee the duo from
Madame Butterfly" In addition to
songs in English and Italian, Mr.. Cham
lee sang the Flower Song" from Gar
men," Mr.. Casinps numbers included
compositions by Schumann, Piatti.
Chopin and Sarasate.
tiOn
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
EVENTS TODAY.

The Christmas exercises of the Italian Day
School Of the Children's Aid Society VIII be
ter and Elizabeth streets, at r. NJ.
Admiral w S. Benson. Robert T.. Amin
Marine at a dinner OF the Municipal Club
OF Brooklyn which will be held at the Law
yers' Club, 1i5 Broadway. Manhattan. $3.50
j. IL. Tregoe will speak at a meeting of
the Purchasing. Agents Association OF New
York at the Builders Exchange Club. "a West
Arthur T. Vance Miss Hazel H.. Adler.
Miss Elizabeth Sears and others win speak
Women at the Advertising Club. AZ East
Twenty-ffth street, p. NJ
Earl Barnes ,5ss win s spsss f On osF I
The Mount Holyoke College choir will give
a concert in Aeolian Hail. "a West Forty
third street, this evening.
Congressman julius Kahn OF California and
Rabbi Abba Hllel Silver OF Cleveland VIII
speak at a Jewish revival and mass meeting
A' Francis Si I'll HaeRett and Scott Nearing win
fl Lark - at Bryant Half. Sixth avenue and
Forty -second street,. F. M.
Prof Louis A. L soo rh wiil spSfk tS On
Ages" at the French Institute 500 Fifth
DR.. Alexander Hamilton Rice will speak on
! 1.-THE Rio Negor, the Casiquiare Canal and
| the Upper orinoco' before the american
Geographical Society AT the Ensineering SO
|
| 8 80 i. NJ.
Edith II. Abbott viii lecture before high
| school teachers on principles Of Pictorial
Composition" at tho Metropolitan Museum OF
| Art, +. NJ. s.
The Ridgewood Heights Improvement As
| ISOLATION will hold a special meeting at the
| headquarters OF the association, Kussiuss
| Hall. Blocker street and Woodward avenue.
| Queens. $3.50 =. M
| The section OF medicine OF the New York
| Academy of Medicine will hold a meetina ~
/ II West Forty-third street, $50 r. NJ.
| Or. VIII Durant will lecture on Health
| al the Park View Palace, Fifth avenue and
| fiOth street, 80 l.. NJ.
| Iisey Boone will give an illustrated lee lee
ture on Records and Romance of the Ply
| mouth Pilgrims" at Public School 81, 16sth
street, Findlay and Teller avenues. The
/ Bronx, s:15 L. NJ.
The New York City Teachers Association
will meet at the Waldorf-Astoris. Z. NJ.
| Womens Law Club, meeting, Hotel Mo
Alpin. L. M.
the Navy Club win hold ball at the
| Hotel Commodore this evening.
| The National Garment Retailers Associa-
| ton, luncheon, waldorf-Astoria, IL 80 +. NJ.
Grand Street Boys, meeting, Hotel Pennsyl-
| vania, 3 p. NJ. 49,
| The United Cloak and Suit Designers will
| hold a meeting at the Hotel McAlpin. p. NJ
Beleau Woods Post, ". #. W., meeting.
Hotel Pennsylvania. p. NJ.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21

Defence of Government Expenditures
for Natural History Purposes.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: II was
with much amusement that l read your
editorial article on the Life History OF
tho Blue Crab" The subject was treated
In very humorous vein and IL was
really unfortunate that you did not know
that there had been a similar publica-
tlon issued called 1.-THE Life of the Fresh
Water Mussel," which would have been
even better material.
am writing this letter, however, 20
call TO your attention the fact that the
Life History OF the Blue Crab deals
with an animal that Is only second to
the lobster as n food article in that line.
and Il Is through the knowledge of these
life histories that not only their propa-
CATION Is carried out by the departments
OF the Government and the various
States but that proper conservation and
closed seasons In different parts OF the
country can be lntelligently established.
II was In the working out and writing
OF the life of the fresh water mussel
mentioned above and its application that
the continuance of the pearl button in
dustry OF the United States has been
maintained. an Industry which, together
with that OF the lobster and the crab,
runs into very large figures In value and
gives occupation 10 many people. The
whole problem OF the future of our food
products from salt and fresh water
sources is based upon these life histories
They are not to be rldiculed. and the
amount spent on them is in the hundreds
ms against the results represented in
millions. w p.
NEW YoRR, December 20.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
The Gliding Peril.
Two Plans to Protect People From
Recklessly Driven Automobiles.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: The news
papers give us monthly reports OF the
fatal accidents of one kind and another
naused by automobiles. But that is not
the whole story.
The report OF a battle, in enumerating
the casualties, includes not only the dead
but the wounded. Likewise the automo-
biles besides killing some injure many
others-some only little, others great
deal--whom they do not touch. One cam
not venture to cross street where these
sombre and sullen shuttles are gliding to
and fro without an unusual strain on
his---and especially her--nerves. And TO
some n ride in an automobile causes n
varying nerve strain, the tension being
greatest when some pedestrian narrowly
escapes being run over by IT,
Chauffeurs have n bad habit OF assum-
ing that their time and the cars Is worth
a fabulous sum a minute. This causes
them, where there happens to DO mo-
mentary collection of moving vehicles,
10 drive like furious flying wedge at
any opening that appears to be barely
wide enough for them in order that they
may pass ahead OF the others. And when
the traffic officer bids them stop they
crowd up TO tho very last inch against
the space barely wide enough for the
pedestrians to cross, thus putting an un-
necessary nerve strain upon the infantry
who know the dangers of that peculiar
artillery which will be fred Mt them
recklessly the very instant that the
officer gives leave.
Plainly, there should be a conspicuous
line across the pavement far enough
from the crossing to give the crossers
plenty Of room, and the cars should be
required to toe that mark. And when
a pedestrian approaches a corner around
which at any instant n car may whirl
without n note OF warning he may be
reminded OF that peculiar exclamation
In Macbeth" Is it?---"Here where our
fate. hid in an auger hole, may rush and
seize uH."
For enlightenment on the transporta-
ton problem stand for little while at
q congested crossing and look into the
automobiles that go by in endless pro-
cession. How many passengers In each?
One, none, two, one, none. none, three.
none. ono, none, and 30 on. And every
one OF those cars occupies nearly or
quite, half as much space on our limited
pavemcnts as trolley car that carries
scores OF passengers
There II probably not spot on Man
haitian Island that cannot be>reached by
more than one route. Then why this
persistent tanning into certain streets
and avenues7 II Is almost as much as
your life Is worth TO attempt crossing
broadway In some sections.
But II tho ohauffour's time Is as VAL
liable 90 he thinks II. and yours has no
value. OF course you can walt for a wide
gap In the line. II might be we'll 10 bring
a camp stool with you. And n you are
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
fond of poetry you could hum over Mere

fond of poetry you could hum over More
dths lines:
o Horace the rustic still rests by tho
river,
But the river flows on and flows past
him forever.
May I offer our authorities n hint of
an expedlent that perhaps would be
worth trying? AT the most congested
crossings instead of an observatory on
stills set up a constructive toll gate.
Along comes the usual procession. The
toll man peers into the first car and says
"Um-m-----no passenger. One dollar toll
please" Again, zone passenger. Fifty
cents, please" Again. 1.-TWO passengers
A quarter. please" Again, Several pas
sengers Pass on" The principle being
that the fewer passengers one carries the
less right 1t has to occupy that space on
the pavement
II Nathaniel Hawthorne could observe
the scene for a little while perhaps he
would go home and rewrite his Toll
gatherer's Day" wherein he says: Me
thinks, for person whose instinct bids
him rather to pore over the current OF
life than TO plunge into its tumultuous
waves, no undesirable retreat were a toll
house beside some thronged thorough
fare OF the land" His pretty sketch
might gain some new features; but per.
haps he would hear n few words not
handsome for print.
RossIrER JOHNSON.
NEW YORK, December 20.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Voting by Electricity.

Once more the Legislature Is urged
TO install an electrical device by which
the votes of It's members may be re-
corded and the time occupied in call
ing the roll saved.
In Iowa and in Wisconsin such ma
chimes have been installed, each mem
hers desk having buttons controlling
lights on large board on which the
names of the lawmakers are displayed.
A red light shows for Yea" a blue
light for NAY" and a white light
for present, not voting" a photo
graph of the board after each vote
becomes part Of the official record of
the house.
Roll call Is a dreary and tircsome
business. but it has one great virtue.
1t makes man stand up and be
counted in the face Of his colleagues,
and it prevents anybody else from
casting his vote on important or bit
terly contested measures. Undoubt-
edly the buttons at the members
desks controlling the lights on the
board are properly safeguarded: yet
in bitter and long drawn out contests
there would always De opportunities
for Unauthorized individuals to get at
them
There will be cynlcs to say that
time spent calling the roll Of most
legislative bodies Is time well spent
because the lawmakers are not think
ing up fool bills while the clerk reads.
We do not hold with such. but we do
believe the old fashioned roll call will
not be entirely done away with for
years to come. 10 is too familiar to
be dropped without a struggle by CON
sentative men, who compose most Of
our lawmaklng bodies
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
Three Remedies.

To THE New YORK HERALD: Repeal
at once the fool pistol law and little
boy will not be able to hold up church
congregation of n thousand men.
IL we have any owners of automobiles
with civic pride let them lend their
cars to policemen who are off duty and
who will be willing to ride all over the
city at night and thus may be able TO
succor some victim OF u gangster
Also let the patrol system be changed.
AZ It Is now any gunman knows
to a minute when a policeman Will APP
pear This should not be-
Now terror reigns. and with Satanic
glee
Frights rich and poor. The Slogan OF
tho Free CD
No more Is heard. Instead. It's noised
abroad
Unsafe the town for our Democracy
r. Is.
New YORK, December 30.