davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
A Vision Narrowed by Oppres.
sionS
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In reference to your editorial
in to-day's paper concerning ireland I
want to say this much in her defense
that is, the Sim Fein party.
While I by no means condone the
hagrant disregard of our attitude of
friendship to Great Britain in the
burning Of her ensign at the Capitol
Theater, I think that you levcled un-
just criticism at the Sim Fein party.
l am an American, first, last and all
the time, and as such helped toward
winning the war in the best wav T
could, yet I do not feel that Ireland
land Sim Fein) can be blamed for
their seemingly unpatriotic conduct.
lor IN their own just antipathy to Eng
land and all things English they were
somewhat blinded to the greater sir-
nlficance of the struggle.
In times gone by the Irishman
served with unceasing devotion the
cause he loved, as Lloyd George so re-
Gently said. Burke and Wellington are
inc examples of that Now, not onlv was
their loyalty beyond reproach in the
past, but even to-day they continue to
give their all for that cause thew love.
or this our own Goth Regiment is an
example. Mind you, fighting for that
same cause to which the Sim Fein in
ireland did not show support, but that
they did support nobly over here. Be-
cause to them, whose vision WAS nar-
rowed by centuries of oppression, their
aid seemed but to add another feather
to England's hat
Comparatively speaking, one may use
this example, clear to all: Could YOU
expect assistance from q fellow on
whose neck you have been treadinp
Tor time immcmorial when you YOUR
self are hard pressed? Do Won think
that it. would be according to human
nature for him to aid you or your ad
Yersary? This is Ircland's condition
For years they we're laborng under
those oppressive conditions in regard
to land, religion and politics which
need no mention to the student of her
history IT'S true that lately (under
Gladstone and Salisbury they were
remedied, but let us not forget that
less than fifty years cannot stamp out
a hatred that has existed since the
twelfth century.
AS Americans, lovers Of justice and
brothers to the needy, we should help
by editorial council, rather than con-
denim; encourage in the right. rather
than discourage; pity, rather than flaw.
A CONSTANT READER
New York, Nov. 13, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
s II'|| Ss
Costa Rica Reemerges

Costa Rica has been rediscovcred.
This little state was blotted off our
State Departments Office map some
years ago. 1t had committed the
lndiscretion Of displeasing the
President.
Thereafter Costa Rica ceased to
exist, so far as the Wilson Admin
lstration could make its writ of ex-
termination carry. Afte~ the United
States entered the war Costa Rica
severed diplomatic relations with
Germany. Later she declared war
on Germany. But these manifesta-
tions Of solidarity with the Allied
cause didn't affect Washington's
glaciality. An American Ambassador
III Europe, hearing that Costa Rica
had declared war, absent t-mindedly
wrote a letter of congratulation to
the Costa Rican Minister in the
same capital. He became at once
persona non grota to our govern.
mcnt. Some months later he was
quietly replaced. The official publ
cations of the War Department were
not even permitted to include Costa
Rica in the list of Allied belligerents.
When the peace conference wa..
called our State Department ruled
that Costa Rica must remain in
outer darkness. Minor powers were
Summoned which had never de-
ciared war on Germany. They all
became signatories of the treaty and
original members of the League Of
Nations. Neutral states were also
invited to join the league as original
members. But Costa Rica was left
in limbo. She was taboo.
At last the little Central Aneri-
can republic has reemerged. She
Las turned ND At Cow
Z ''Hi~~ III -~~o~..~ membership, and
I,ev r~~I'o~''~N Nr- ',eo-- t.-,'. 49, :
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
Reconciliation

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: AS founder of the reconciliation
movement, was interested in "a. D 81"
letter in The Tribune of November 90,
entitled ais the Melting Pot a Fail
ure 7" / was interested because the
movement I represent is striving to
bring about the reconciliation of the
various races in America and the recon-
ciliation of labor and capital.
"A. D." uses the difference in race,
language and religion as the basis of
his contention that the various elements
IN America cannot be reconciled Cor
"ama!gamated," as he says. and leans
upon the crutch Of biology somewhat as
starving musician leans upon the
triads and the fexibilities of the scale
1or bread. The human race cannot be
tested successfully by biology, because
all men and all women are born with
eyes, ears, nose mouth, teeth, hair
growth, torso, heart, liver, stomach,
limbs, feet and the power of speech and
deduction. One animal may be superior
to the other, but the Creator has
marked superiority and inferiority
through physical differences, and | have
never been able to learn of any marks
OF that type in the human family.
Americas accomplishments have been
due, and are still due, to the various
races within her confines working to-
gether to increase her greatness. If
"A. DIS" "original stock" were to be
left alone in this country America would
be fifth rate nation in comparison with
Mexico or any of the Latin republics
CT the China Of the imperialsts. "a. D."
apparently q scientist, does not take in
account the physical nature Of America,
and probably conceives our country to
be physically the size of England or
even Wales
The United States physically is not
fully developed, and no race on earth
could develop the 5000 miles of ter
rltory, stretching from ocean to ocean,
without the aid Of other races. The
Indians, with the superior civilization of
'HN @A"'0S9, 1aiicu W ucNelOp even
small strip OF the North American con-
-tinent, and it is certain tnat if we were
to give this country, competing with
the other great nations of the earth. to
one race alone America would be in
bankruptcy inside of twenty-four hours.
Mans nature is Influenced by his en-
vironment and not by any physical in
heritance. The European races bring to
America the richness of their environ
ment, the African races the richness Of
their environment, and the prehistoric
race of America the richness of its en-
vironment and the memory of primeval
forces. All that is necessary is that
these races should realize that they be-
long to the great American race, and
after shaking hands one with the other
they should strive for the perpetuity OF
the American race and the triumph of
the American nation over all the nations
of all ages.
Let us get down to brass tacks and
make America a better place to live in
instead of trying to determine any clc-
ment of superiority, else we will be
with Babylon, Rome, Austria and Prus-
sia. FENTON JOHNSON.
New York, Nov. 26, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
';s.' 6
George Mcleod Smith

Of that stalwart and inccryupti-
Bile strain which is the highest type
of American wss George Mcleod
Smith, managing editor of The
Tribune.
1t was privilege to know and
work with this man. He possessed
in rare degree that interest in
other men, their abilities, their limi-
tations, their possible development,
which Is the essence Of executive
ability. He was widely read, con-
noisseur of many things, an expert
upon many topics. Yet his primary
interest was always in human nature
and the days work. His death in
the prime of life, at the peak of his
professional career, is a tragedy
which strikes the hearts Of his fel-
low workers first, but which is equal
ly tragic loss to every Tribune
reader.
If hasty critics of American
newspapers could have known the
American newspaper man as typi-
fled in George Smith their conf
dence in the press would have been
enlarged. The most ccnsorious
could not question his sincerity, his
honor, his rugged independence. 1t
was inconceivable that this man
should do a dishonest deed or print
a dishonorable word Or serve anv
leadership that seemed to him false
or unworthy. A higher standard
than his of good faith, of fair play,
: of loyalty to every noble impulse in
his nature, can scarcely be imag-
1ned; or Of calmer poisc and more
spontaneous devotion to public cdu-
cation through impartial and unsul-
lied publication of the facts which
form the raw material Of opinion.
In one sense no newspaper work
er leaves any monument behind him.
1t is commonly his fate, and, let as
say, his glory, to work anonymously,
free of the dangers incident to per-
sonal advertisement. But in an
other sense such leader of mon
as George Smith is perpetually
commemorated in the paper which
he helped to build. His example, his
loyalty, his ideals, will not be for
gotten in the Tribune office. In
SO far as The Tribune succeeds in
living up to its ideals it will be car
rying on the cause to which he gave
his unstinted labor.
In its achievement will stand his
memorial. 1t is duty and a privi-
lege to record, for every Tribune
reader to mark, the service of this
strong, true man.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
4 Shipping Mans Ploo
4 Definite Proposal for Sayic, a.
Merchant Marine W
TO the Editor of The Tribpn.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: We are all impressed w;.,
appears to be dangerous situa.io. >, i.
our merchant marine. We need q ,.,.,
Shipping Board, preferably upd.,
other name. 1t should be compos.s =.
seven practical men. as follows. A,
orator Of ships, freight man
rine engineer, practical all s,.
man familiar with world-wId. .hipDi,-
Il believe we have them here). An =.
sanizer, a high class accountant an,
bulldog that will not hesitat. ;.
as committee Of one to carry out a.,
c'lsions Of the board tha. all -.
want to dodge.
Ihere must also DO a policy ,...
three shipping men familiar w,.s nav =.
problem can probably frame IN -. ,.'
time. 'A
This will be good starter r,.-
mate about so to rs per cent 40
ent operators, regardless of their D.
resentatives or Senators or eve, ~.
President. Then, with all sails 80. nv .s
square yards, fairly favorable vov..
might reasonably be predicted f., e.
merchant marine.
One man put upon the board BY 70,
son Of politics would be ru;nor, !,
would pay the three men meptio,..
$4,000 each, and in addition to d.r;.
ing the policy they could select -.
board Of seven from practical shi,
ping men at a salary of $4,000 escs
This probably is as impossible Of h.
ing accomplished as many other tb;,..
are. In order to set matters r;,t.
however, it does no harm "a ..,L
about it. STEAMSHIP OPERATOR
New York, Nov 12, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
What Fox Hills Need,
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Reference is mads TO tn. AZ,
peal in to-day's Tribune b..sss
Thanksgiving at Fox Hillss and n
request immediate publication Of u.
statement that the patients a. F.,
Hills have had their menu card r.adv
for weeks. All patients in all Un;tsd
States Public Health Service hospits,.
everywhere have always had all II.
turkey they could eat on Thanksgiy;sr
and Christmas days. Donations of .u,.
keys and vegetables will not b. A..
cepted at Fox Hills.
We shall be very glad, however. "a
have all the assistance possible through
Mrs. Browns volunteers to help enter.
tain the men on Thanksgiving and
Christmas. All visitors are welcom,
and personal donations Of CANDY
flowers, fruit and things OF this kind
vii! be very acceptable, but food, as
such, will not be accepted.
1t is to be hoped that this letter q;
explanation is interpreted as approx.
'rg the spirit of Mrs. Browns appeal
but the impression carried in her LET.
ter that the men do not have the ye,y
best food that money can buy mus. ot
corrected. These good women can SUP
ply the home spirit by furnishing ths
minor donations, as stated above.
J. 0. COBB,
Medical Director in Charge.
New York, Nov. 20, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

with those Of the new Baltic states,
Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
Finland. Thus an assembly COM
mission has fixed her armament as
1000 troops and the present sea
forces" She reenters the world as
a creation Of the war. although she
was actually participant in it on
the side of the victors.
Thus the Cinderella of Mr.. Will
sons stern glances is still a. Gin
derella.~ Fairy tales don't always
run true to form when they clash
with the foibles of those who dis
pense world justice.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
NJ. Daudek Declines

Challenged to a duel by N. Paul
Denise, N. Leon Daudet declines.
"Dueling is a foolish practice,7 he
says. NJ. Daudet has been a noted
duelist. As editor of L'Action
Francaise, an organ of Frenca roy
alism, his existence has been per-
petual challenge to republican pa
triots. 1t was an utterance Of his
newspaper which led to N. Denise's
invitation to the field of honor.
To decline a duel where dueling
is the fashion is to subject ones self
IN '--'-''--9 tion Of lack Of courage.
But no one N. Daudet op
score. there is no
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
What Ais the Schools?

1t is not for us to deplore the ad-
dition Of an eminent educator to the
faculty Of the greatest cf univer-
sities-which is to say the news
paper press. If DR.. John II. Finley
feels that there will be wider op-
portunity for his talents and train
ing in journalism than at the head
of the State Department of Educa-
ton, journalism is the gamer.
It's business is to educate. 1t is
perfectly willing to educate delib-
erately and scientifically, if it can
enlist the services Of such deliberate
and scientific educators as DR..
Finley.
But while as a newspaper we re-
joice at the doctors decision, our
duty as guardian of a palladium
is something else again. And we
are constrained to inquire what is
the matter with the State Depart
ment Of Education, if there is no
adequate opportunity at the very
head of it for an able and finely
equipped man to dc the best work
that is in him?
AS matter Of fact there is a
great deal the matter with the State
Department of Education, and in
consequence q great deal The matter
with the public schools.
Our ancient beast that these are
cur rock and our foundation, and
that nowhere else in the world can
they be equalled, is not based on any
complete knowledge Of them
They are taught, Tor the greater
part, either by young men and
women who are earning money to
study other professions. or by eld-
erly men and women who have gigen
up hope Of ever being anything else
but school teachers, and in whom
ambition and inspiration pulsate
feebly.
There are, of course, many excep-
tions. Bat the man or woman with
real talent for character building
soon becomes dissatisfied with the
narrowness of public school teach
ing and, like. DR.. Finley, hunts a
Job in some more preferable line q
cndeavor
The public schools ought to be
better than the private schools. Are
they? They ought to attract talent
to their teaching STATS. They tco
much attract only mediocrity. A
brilliant child can get coed educa-
ton in the public schools. But q
brilliant child can get good cslu-
cation without any school at all.
The reason the schools only partly
perform the tremendously important
work for which they are intended is
that most of us imagine that they
are far better than they are, with
cNT ever taking the trouble to learn
the truth.
When the parents whose chill
dren's future may be made or
marred by the schools really take
an interest in them they will begin
to be what they ought to be, and
men like DR.. Finley will not need
to leave them, even for the op-
p0rtunities which are offered by
journalism.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
A Voice From the Erie

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The "commuter" from Bloom
field, N. j.. should not blame the coll
lector who made him pay full fare,
No matter if he had known him q
thousand years, said collector was act
ing on orders from the company. In
the first place "Commuter" should not
forget his ticket. In the second place,
"Commuter" has no business having
two suits OF clothes, which was the
Cause Of all the trouble. A. BLAIR.
Honesdalc, Pa, Nov. 18, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
Papers on the Streets

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: While xe hear on every s'o'
of paper shortage. never nave Wv
streets been so Uttered with paper -
in the last few years. Can nothing %
done to prevent the dropping OF news,
papers on the streets or in the patA'
Bryant Square was covered with 'A''
this morning, while empty cans s''''
close at hand.
Would not signs help, calling a.ND,
ton to the cans and threatening hh'.
for infringement Of the law. for l =.
sure there is such law. just as 'ne'.
tsed to be such signs? Ii the paps'.
were placed in cans they m'gn' =
used arsin to help out the paper snS'e
w.
~. <-,,- ~. - 100
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
Captain U.

There are three important points
in connection with this letter: l.
The battleship may fight off or defy
the present types of airplane and
torpedo; but how about a future
torpedo carrying a ton of INT?
2. The writer advocates enormous
appropriations at this time. 3. He
admits that the Panama Canal could
be blocked, thus preventing the con-
centration Of our two fleets.-Ed.l
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
Is the Melting Pot a Falzacy9
Tribune Readers Contend That Psychological Union Has
Been Achieved

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The heading ais the Melting Pot
Fallacy7" which appears in your issue
OF the Goth, raises an important ques-
tion for one who is interested in immi-
grafton and our country's future.
No phrase has been more glbly used
than the melting pot" nor has one
been more misleading. The words sug-
gest to the imagination boiling cal
dron, but while boiling is a rapid
process, the welding of racial stocks is
necessarily slow one.
Neither Of the books to which your
correspondent refers admits the exist
enoe of an American race other than
the red man. All Of US are from Euro
pean stock more or less welded and the
source Is not forgotten. Even Roose-
velt, with his anti-hyphen campaign, did
not allow the Dutch strain in his blood
to be forgotten.
Tourists have been known to visit
Switzerland to see the glaciers move,
but who came away disgusted at the
"fallacy of q glacier movement" Never
theless, the glaciers do move, but not
as CONCEALED Niagaras sliding down the
mountains as pictured in an unframed
imagination.
1t took three or four hundred years
at least for the pot to melt together
the Saxons and the Normans of Eng
land, or to produce from their ingre-
dents the modern Greeks, Rumanians or
Italians. Personally, know one Italian
who has married Pole It is an ex-
ceptional case. For the forty or fifty
years remaining to the parents they
will be no more melted" than at
present, nor will their children have
melted" with other children of similar
pairs for many years thereafter. Yet
both. father and mother are distinctly
American.
The fallacy to be avoided is not in
the pot, but rather in the idea that
there is, or can be, an american race"
with pure blood and single line Of
tradition, as in the case of Danes or
Japanese.
America differs from all countries in
being place where people are united
by an idea rather than by blood. 1t is
psychological tie that binds us, not a
physical one. Whatever man is pos
sessed Of the American idea is an Amer
lean, wherever he may have been born,
while without it, even bred in Massa-
chusetts, he is out Of sympathy with
his country.
1t is true, without doubt, as stated by
your correspondent, that crime and
immigration have both increased in re-
cent years, but the fallacy of assuming
that one is the cause Of the other is too
obvious to be discussed.
Whatever arguments are deduced
from laws Of biology assume that Amer
lcanism is matter Of breeding-of
producing type of human animal. Our
immediate concern is that there may be
bred into the country a new and anti
American idea that shall destroy the
principles on which the country was
founded, and the breeding of ideas is
quite a different and more speedy
process.
One Of the traditions Of the country
has been that it is place Of refuge for
the oppressed and discouraged of all
lands, and the founders. give in the
Declaration of Independence as one of
the reasons for the separation from the
mother country the fact that the
crown did not allow proper immigra-
ton to the colonies.
The "melting pot" is delusion and
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
A Small Reward

'frons lhe Cisreland Plain Dea1er)
Bolshevlsts offer million rubles
for the capture of Major Fauntlerov.
commander of the Polish air forces.
In Boishevist money. of course. which
Will hardly amount to an attractive
sum.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled tho
use for republication o. nl news dispatches
credited to II otherwise credited in this paper
and also the local OF spontaneous origin pub
lshed herein
All rights OF republication OF all other matter
herein also are reserved.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
The Main Essential
1r1on rh, Ch.ccno Luslu Y

fr.om rhr Ch'ccoo Do.ly ve-cs)
l. OF. er to lcceed in noitics it
seems - ne necessary 10 b. wis'. nod
est, far-si. .a.ed, svr pathetic, f-ve a
arge grasp of a.f,-s md to belong
the Republican paaty. Or, at least,
10 belong to the Republican party.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

According to Mr.. Kelcey Allen, Mr..
Walter J. Kingsley pulled the open
coverlets' wheeze last March, and then
was so credited to him long before
Haywood Broun or Tommy Gray used
it, Prof. Broun first used it wear
or more ago, during a. poker game, and
shortly thereafter printed it in The
Tribune
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
A Permanent Position

prom The Washington Evening Starr
While his modesty about being dis
cussed personally in the news is ad-
mlrable, MIR. Harding will probably find
1t as difficult to stay off the front page
las it was to stay on the front porch
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

fallacy to all who look to the physical
side, but its speed is magical in welding
q true American spirit. Didn't the war
prove at least that much? II. B.
Hartford, Conn, Nov. 20, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
The Coming 7 ower
RUBICONs

RUBICONS
I'm man of infallible Judgment;
Decisions come quick to MY mind;
MY taste is the best, and I'm never
oppressed
BY doubt as to style, shape, or kind.
In glutton for matters sartorial,
pick my cravats without aid;
But I'm thrown for loss when the
clerk puts across:
Some gartcrs? OF course, sir, what
shade ?"
Not an .infinitcsimal detail
Escapes me. 1 note in fash
The points meritorious in the CEN
serious
Epics Of brother Beaunash.
But l quake in an impotent fury,
Uncertain as bark in the night,
When Joe stays his haste with the
russell shoe paste
And says: How you want? Dark or
light 2" II. G.,
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

Persons dcspondent over the low
state of novel writing in the United
States and depressed regarding the al
legged shackles that bind American
writers give US throbbing. and in
creasing pain. Let them read con-
Secutively, as we CHANGED to have done,
"Main Street" "The Age of Innocence"
"Poor White" and youth and the
Bright Medusa, with "Miss Lulu
Bett" thrown in. And let them then
throw away their Inferiority Complex,
which causes them to apologize for
American writer's to every English
writer Of ninth -and-up ability they
happen to meet.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23
Anacreon on Prohibition $500 r. c.

Anacreon on Prohibition 600 3. CD
On myrtle bed rcclined at ease,
| wish to drink whene'er I please.
Come, Love, in tunc, without speck.
lied with a rush about your neck,
Pour out for me the fragrant wine,
Fair~offspring of the well-pruned vine.
The wheel Of life goes rolling fast
And bears US to our end at last
And you and tomorrow may
Be only clods and Jumps Of clay.
Why rear tomb, and on it pour
Sacred libations by the store?
The unavailing wine doth bring
NO JOY to any lifeless thing.
Nay, rather, while l still am here.
| much prefer to take my cheer
Crowned thick with myrtle; by my side
A maiden fit for Zeus's bride.
Before go below to prance
In the mazes of old Pluto's dance
wish, for many gladstone day.
10 drink and drive dull care away
n. S. P
New-York tribune., 1920-11-23

1t is Gilbert Thornelay's notion that
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles B. Falls passed
up good chance when they named
their new daughter Bedelia Jane. GAS
she will no doubt develop her fathers
robust S. of h. and jolly disposition, ;"
he suggests, "why not name her Minnie
Haha?'