davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
The Automobile Death Toll

10 tne Edltor or The Tribune.
Sir: Allow me to call your attention
to a certain incorrect statement ap-
pearing in this mornings Tribune. in
an article captioned autos Kill 3,SOs in
Year in U. S.; 7SO in New York" The
number Of deaths from automobiles $
and the automobile death rates men,
toned in the article do not refer to the
entire United States, but apply onlv
to siXty-six cities in the United States
of over 100000 population.
Data on file in this office show that
the death rate from automobile acci-
dents for the entire United States for
the year 1919 was approximately 9
per 100000 population, and that in 1918
the rate was approximately 6 per 100
600 population. Competent authoritie.
have estimated that the number ~
deaths caused by automobiles throurh-
out the country last year was o.642.
II. ?. STELLWAGEN
New York, Dec. 6, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18

part Of the cost of the building. HI
pays his Office rent and in most cases {
couple of stenographers, and perhaps
one or two assistants. He receives from
the architect full worked-out plans
specifications and details and instruc
tions-e everything, in fact, to guide hin
through the erection of the building.
| have just completed piece of work
that amounted TO about 100000. At {
per cent my commission would have
been $4,000. The absolute cost of pro
luction, without n cent of profit, was
over $4,000, and if I had charged only
-he 6 per cent ! would have been in I.
hole for the balance
l have in mind another case Of a
$4,000 building on which l charged 6
per cent, which took one and half
ears to complete. My fee was $4,000 for
one and a half years work, out of
which | had to pay myself, rent, Office
expenses, for supplies, etc. The cost of
production was obviously far in excess of
the commission received On the other
hand, it so happened that l had a gen.
eral contractor, who received commits
sion of $4,000, with an allowance of $500
in addition for firms time and expenses.
Out of this $500 the expenses, as ex-
planned, were stenographer, bookkeeper
and Office rent, and the firms time and
expenses, according to his own state
ment, were $500. At the minimum their
net profit on this piece of work must
have been close to $4,000 over and above
he cost of production. They did not
invest any money, for they received the
full amount of their acquisitions each
month and it was financed by the
owner
They did not pay for any individual
superintendent, for this was charged
against the cost of the building. They
assumed no responsibility for the build
ing in structural strength, for this was
all worked out in my Office. 1t WAS IN
to me to see constantly that nothing but
the terms Of the specification were full
filled and the owner protected.
HOBART B. UPJOHN.
New York, Dec. 10, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Pressing

Wilhelm Mayer Won Kaufbeuren,
he German Ambassador to France,
pparently is not properly apprecia-
i've Of the wisdom of the golf maxim
Don't press!" Nor does he ade-
Euately realize that there are penal
les for playing ahead of the ball.
So at an official dinner at Paris,
hoting that Mr.. Wallace, the Ameri-
an Ambassador, was present, the
German asked to be introduced. It
aid not occur to him to remember
hat Germany and the United States
ire still nominally at war and that
diplomatic etiquette requires the Off
fial representatives. of belligerents,
when in neutral surroundings, to
gnore each other. His Teutonic ex-
fellency thought he saw a chance to
.ngratiate himself and seized it. He
hoped to establish a useful relation
fhip, and forgot-formal intercourse
being impossible-that private asso-
fiation must be mutually agreeable.
go Mr.. Wallace was under the pain
Full necessity of declining to meet his
bvereager fellow guest.
The incident is typical Of the spirit
Pf Germany since hostilties ceased.
Arrogant in days when German
Rrmies were butchering and ma
Fauding, the German began to fawn
when he lost power to destroy. He
IS as Indifferent to rebuffs as he
8 incapable of repentance. The
German Ambassador perceived no
reason why he should get the smell
bf blood from his garments before
be pushed to enlarge his acouaint-
hnceship. Indeed, Hans blubbers and
whines Of cruel discrimination when
be finds himself looked at askance as
be intrudes into decent company.
Behind his thick hide he seems hon
estly to feel it is narrow and mean
pot to fall joyously about his neck
hnd kiss both Of his cheeks.
1t is manifestation of impotence
hnd moral denseness exceeded in re-
narkableness only by the curious
Failure on the part Of some Ameri-
pans, who should know better, to fail
70 understand what led Ambassador
Wallace to withhold his hand.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Colombian Cordialitv
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Several of yesterday mornings
New York dailies, including The Trib
une, gave attention to the anti-Ameri-
can feeling in Colombia, particularly
the port of Cartagena, as expressed by
various passengers arriving in New
York by the United States Fruit Com
pany steamship Carrillo.
The writer recently spent almost
a year In Bocota and other Colombian
cities, including Cartagena, and feels
convinced that the passengers quoted in
yesterdays newspaper articles here re-
ferred to evidently were misinformed. or
not sufficiently familiar with the circum-
stances to which they referred to form
an accurate and unbiased opinion. The
writer is further convinced absolutely
as to the error referring to the Amer
lcan Consul of Cartagena having ad-
vlsed passengers of the Carrillo of
any local unfriendly feeling. The
writer's familiarity and actual knowl-
edge of the sentiment and feeling of
that | am thoroughly convinced of the
error that any merchants Of Cartagena
ever gave any evidence whatever of
anti-American feeling, or pleasure that
the United States cruiser Cleveland
had run ashore in Cartagena harbor.
No one can deny that at the present
time the Colombians have n more or
less strained feeling toward the United
States as nation, and not without
cause. on account of the unfortunate
Panama incident and in the absence of
any final arrangement Of the treaty
that has now been pending between the
United States and Colombia for the
last fourteen years; but so far as the
individual feeling of the Colombians
toward citizens of this country is con-
cerned, it could not be more pleasant,
courteous or generous.
J. w. FLANAGAN.
New York, Nov, 27. 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Another Rent Law Victory

Opponents Of the rent laws have
centered their hopes on the Federal
courts, but now the first decision by
one of them is a victory for the laws
more sweeping than any from a
state court.
There is, Of course, an issue over
which the Federal courts have iur;s-
diction. The Federal Constitution
forbids state to pass laws impair
ing the obligation Of contracts, and
also guarantees that no state shall
deprive any person Of life, liberty or
property without due process of
law. Assuming jurisdiction, there
fore, the three Federal judges in this
district, Messrs. Hough, Mayer and
Augustus N. Hand, find the rent
laws are not obnoxious to the Fed
eral Constitution.
The judges reject the view that
the Federal Constitution imposes an
absolute bar on self protective state
action. They remark:
1T cannot be too often said that p
constitution is not a code nor stat-
ute, and that It declares only funda-
mental principles, and is not to bo
interpreted With the strictncss Of a
private contract. TO this doctrine
VIC owe the rulings that even the
contract clause OF tho Constitution
does not override the power of the
state 10 establish rcgulationg rca
sonsbly necessary TO secure the
health, comfort or general welfare Of
the community-that is, 10 exercise
the police power Of the state"
The state courts have passed pri-
marlly on the question whether or
not tho Legislature is competent to
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Ten Million RevolutionistsE

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial argument that the
cause of socialism is losing ground be-
cause only about 100000 people voted
for Eugene " Debs is quite wrong and
shows that you do not understand the
situation.
Those who voted for Debs this year
represent only what are called "yellow"
Socialists, i. e., moderate or constitu-
tlonal Socialists, belonging to the Social
ist party group CT Extreme Right. The
Communist Socialists did not vote. as a
matter of tactics. The industrial radi-
Gals, including members of the I. w. W..
likewise avoided the polls, as did the
paclfists, -resistants and Tolstoyans
Add to these the unorganized radicals,
like the readers of The Nation and The
New Republic, who voted for Harding as
a way to punish Wilson, or who did not
vote at all; also the great number of
alien radicals who have no vote, and Won
Will see that your idea that radicalism
is on the decline is erroneous.
The number Of men and women in the
United States who would support a
social revolution is about 10000 600:
some put the figure higher. I am con-
servative. There are also those stoid
citizens who obey the law, no matter
what it is or by whom it is made. the
sheep who do as they are told no matter
who COmrnrda
The situation now in America ;s verv
much like the situation in January, 1917.
IN Russia. The radicals are Sup
pressed" only the "beginners" vote;
you cannot tell how numerous the con-
scientious objectors to capitalism are
any more than the Car could know his
tate in advance. However, in Gods own
time we shall see what we shall see
Meanwhile, wise sailors will prepare for
the storm, and fools will do what fools
always do in emergencies-hidei in the
gravel pit with the burglar and Boss
Mangan. 7. w T.
New York, Dec. II, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18

New York, Nov. 27, 1920.
Give the People Some Fun

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: l noticed few days ago in The
Tribune that the Mayor has authorized
the Police Department to spend con-
siderable amount Of money to buy mo-
torcycles with side cars attached TO
scoot up and down streets to frighten
thieves and highwaymen away from
prospective customers.
When the snow is foot deep. as
1T was last winyer, wonder how the
poor policemen will be able to "joy
ride"
l personally think it is selfish for
only tho police and the burglars to
nave all the fun, and, as a suggestion,
why not let all Of US have some fun
too' as we have to pay the bills?
Now, as most every person likes to
see the fire engines and other fire ap
raratus shooting along, why not have
tho Fire Commissioner instructed to
send the apparatuscs out several times
during the night; then all of us can
have the fun. AS we all are used to
motorcycles, they will only keen the
crooks away while we are sleepinp.
but II the engines 60 out, they will
Keep us all awake, so we won't need the
cops on motorcycles; then the people
VIII save $4,000 and have lots OF
amusement into the bargain.
THOMAS W. CUMMINGS.
New York, Dec. 10, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Banning Railway Strikes

Government control Of railroads
rests on the theory that the railroad
business is one, as the courts phrase
it, affected with public interest.
Any one investing in railroad prop
erty does so with knowledge of this.
His private ownership is qualified.
He can't do exactly as he pleases
with his own. He can't suspend op-
erations, for an essential feature of
service is continuity.
In similar way the railway en-
ployees when they accept employ
ment do so with knowledge Of the
popularity Of the railway business.
They also cannot do exactly as they
please; are also tethered by the de-
mand for continuity. They also may
not quit, at least not when it means
interruption Of service. Hence the
reasonableness of forbidding, as the
PoindeXter bill does, abandonment of
ulCduS
cessation of railway operation.
The great threat to continuity of
operation is the strike, which can
easily spread over vast area-and
possibly over the entire country. So
the PoindeXter bill forbids general
striking, and in lieu provides Fed
eral board to settle wage disputes.
The system of normal balance be-
tween the power Of labor and the
power Of ownership which exists in
other industries has disappeared
from the railroad industry. Owner
ship is nominal, since the govern
ment regulates charges, income,
wages, working hours and other con-
ditions of labor. The companies
being public agents, the unions have
lost their old significance as checks
on the selfishness of railroad staffs
and directorates. Carrying out the
principle of government control to
its logical conclusion, railway en-
ployees have become public en-
ployees.
In this capacity they are entitled
to an exceptional status-to govern
ment protection in their compensa
tion and tenure. In exchange for
this the Poindexter bill would abol
ish the right to strike. individuals
may stop working at any time, but
any combined action to obstruct
transportation would constitute q
misdemeanor.
Such legislation may seem a radi-
cal departure from American notions
of the relations Of employees to the
industry in which they are engaged.
But that is only because so many
people fail to realize that the rela-
tions of the railroads to the gov
ernment have also been radically
changed.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Lady AstoY's Disbursement

Lady Astor is discouraged. Though
feminist and member of the
British Parliament, she charges that
her sex does not measure up to the
standards Of men, now that the op
portunity is theirs. Women, she
says, are still foolish in the matter
Of dress and, worst of all, they re-
fuse to vote for feminine candidates,
whereas men do not change the
length Of their trousers, in season
and out, and they never let the
charge Of masculinity influence their
votes.
Lady Astor should be more pa
tlcnt. 1t is not so many years since
woman braved the tradition Of cen.
turlcs and entered the business
world, and the franchise is new. AS
class women are in much the
same position to-day as were the
powder box gentlemen of an older
day, when they cast aside leisure
and entered the world Of commerce
and business. Knee brceches and
rulllcs gave place to sober, ]onr
trousercd garments when the need
arose for simple and practical
clothes.
because much Of the industry in
highly civilized countries depends on
tho constant chnroo orJ ,,.,L.4;<
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
MIR. Coolidge in the Cabinet

Not sensational change in the
customs of cur government but a
we'll considered and highly construc-
tive measure is Mr.. Harding's in
sistence that Mr.. Coolidge sit in his
Cabinet, without portfolio, and bring
his full ability to bear upon the
broad problems of the executive de-
partment.
The wish of the whole country
that Mr.. Coolidge sit in the Cabinet
is fit compliment to him. 1t was
one Of the greatest strengths of the
Republican ticket that it contained
so stalwart candidate for Vice
President. The way, moreover, to
secure continuance of this policy
and end for all time the naming of a
Vice-President Of mediocre talents is
precisely by giving Mr.. Coolidge
room for his ability. If Mr.. Har-
ding's plan succeeds the Vice Presi-
dency will become so vital factor
IN the national government that the
ablest men will be glad to be named
therefor and no party will dare offer
a second-rate figure for it.
All such changes must have time
to develop, and prediction with re-
gard to them is unsafe. But Mr..
Harding has shown sensitive un-
derstanding Of an American system
IN his proposal, and it is safe to
trust in his large powers Of coopera-
ton to make the most of Mr..
Coolidge's presence.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Speeding Martens


ton of Martens, the Bolshevist cam
bassador," Secretary Wilson of the
Department of Labor is at pains to
say the operation shall be at the ex-
pease of American taxpayers, and
that the depor.ed shall be treated
with the utmost courtesy and given
the best available accommodations
in transit"
The law Of the United States ex-
plicitly requires the immediate de-
portation of all aliens found here
who belong to an organization ad-
vocating the forcible overthrow of
the government of the United States.
1t is silent about making the out
ward trip one of special comfort and
luxury. 1t is assumed that unwel-
come intruders are to be treated
alike, in the good old democratic way
of not having respect to persons.
That Martens should be the recipi-
ent Of distinguished consideration is
apparently an idea which is Secre-
tary Wilson's own. 1t is an adden-
dun to the law scarcely in accord
with its spirit.
Moreover, the addendum is as con-
trary to Bolshevism as to American
ism. Lenine denies that prior enjoy
ment of soft living creates valid
title for its continuance. His doc
trine is the exact opposite. Because
the bourgeoisie in the past have
truff1es, he holds, is sufficient rea-
SOD why they should have only saw
Gust bread now. AS a good Boil
shevist, Martens should refuse the
first cabin and ask for dark place
in the steerage. Too long has he
been corrupted by the feshpots of
America.
That Martens is a member of an
organization which advocates the
overthrow Of Americas government
and her democratic institutions is, of
course, not open to question. He
favors the new czarism called the
dictatorship of the proletariat-a
system whose essential is that one
man or a small group may seize
power over millions by force, and
to keep it may exclude from politi-
cal weight all persons who do not in
advance concede the dictatorship's
divine right to rule. Even the most
muddled parlor Bolshevist will admit
that Martens, both by his activities
and associations, has neglected no
opportunity to lay foundations for
such dictatorship here. Recently
he has been quiet, but his quiescence
fas been due more to prudence than
to desire. Every one knows what is
his mission here and to what ends
ne has spent the treasure trans
mltted to him from looted Russia.
There is curiosity as tS how large a
part of his funds has gone to sustain
organs of propaganda.
AS usual, the Administration, when
doing the right thing does it late.
The time to have deported Martens
was Immediately following his arri-
val. The prolonged dilly-dallying
that marked consideration of his case
has not been to public advantage. 1t
has tended to cloud the fact that
Bolshevism and Americanism cannot
be made to mix, and has introduced
into many minds a doubt concerning
an issue as to which doubt has no
place.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18

declare an emergency exists, and
practically all the state decisions
at@ that it is and that hence the
Legislatures action was justifiable.
The two sets of decisions, taken to-
gether, create a situation that wise
landlords, it would seem, should ac-
cept with all the philosophy they can
command. sa "a
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
A Costly Entertainment
(From The Provtdenoa Lournon

tFrom The Provtdence Jour4,oN
secretary OF State Colby is Off on
his South American trip--a joy ride
that will be Of about as much beneat
to the United States or anybody else
as If Mr.. Colby sang comic song on
the steps of the Capitol. The MANY
thousands Of dollars that will be snen,
on this junket age to be provided. we
understand, by that eccentric philan-
thropist, Mr.. Common People.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
4 Plea From St. Dunstan,
The Needs of the British Soldicr
Blinded in The Wor


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: This is the season OF greeting
and gifts. May send to your reader
greetings and ask them to send to %,
gifts?
These greetings will, hope, give real
pleasure. They convey the erattud.
of the soldiers blinded in the war fog
the sympathy and help which have com.
to them from all parts of the vorli
They carry the news that all we hopel
for from the training given at S.
Dunstan's is being justified by rhes
blinded men in the very wonderfy
success they are making of their live
l do not think that any one wouE
say it gets easier to be. bravely bliut
as the years go on. 1t becomes caste
to do things in the dark, but the de-
mand on the will to keep pace wiz
normal life grows greater rather thw
essens. Constant effort is extrsor
1inarily exacting, and it is really soler
did how the men meet this demand o.
themselves, keep up their interest b
everything and maintain their notabt
record as workers; some in otsca
some practlclng as masseurs, some q
poultry farmers and others as exper
craftsmen.
There are still more than five hun
dred blind men learning in our clsm
rooms and workshops.
Besides those actually blinded on th
battlefields, $4,000 men were dischsrrss
from the army with seriously damagsi
slght, and, unfortunately, many d
these are finding it necessary % con,
% st. Dunstan's. We are dealing. to-
with a number CT men whose hesEt
does not enable them to max. susl
qulck progress as others. At the SAM
eame 1t becomes increasingly dihicus
to ind for the men who are ready t.
start on their new life suitable homs
we have also now to meet the e.
pense OF moving our headquarters-
inc offices for the organization required
10 look after nearly 1000 men, sp
also the classrooms and workshops
Inc house, with its beautiful ground
so generously lent by Mr.. Otto Ksbs
as hostel is no longer available;
fortunately, however, we have been aNs
70 hnd for our new quarters anotbsE
Rouse IN Regents Park place whisi
lot several generations has been tie
london home of tho Marquesses d
bute. The interior has been adsptsi
LOT offices, and in tho gardens tAs
ciassrooms and workshops have bees
reerected. The place is near the lah
on which the blinded soldiers hsss
taken so much pleasure in rowing snd
ooth from the point of view Of fresl
air and Of opportunities for unimpedA
exercise the situation Is ideal.
The blinded soldiers have created
magnlhcent record; the plans for help
ing them back to- normal life havs
worked out better, I think, than any
one dreamed would bs possible. J
think, too, there is no one who resllsss
what the gift Of sight means, and chs
blindness must mean. who would M
WISH to help on this work which s.
Dunstan's has undertaken.
trust that any of your resdsr
who are so generous as to respond y
this appeal will forward their contfi |
buttons to me at ST. Dunstan's head
quarters, Regents Park, London. n
W. /. ARTHUR PEARSON, |
Chairman Blinded Soldiers and Sail
ors' Care Committee.
london ENGLAND Oa. toon
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Literary Critiques
~

| guess it was Nat Goodwin
Some one was giving an
imitation of him
and he said
Zone of US is rotten"
Anyway,
it was something like
that.
That's the way | feeY
When | read Carl
Sandburg's poetry:
l say to myself:
"Either this is too good
for me,
Or I'm too good for It,"
I don't know.
! don't know anything
about poetry,
but know what
| don't like.
New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Tho Diary of Our Own Samuel pepvs

ITO D'a'y OF OuF own samuel Pepys
December l5-Early up, and to the
Office, where | essayed to write some
verses, but the thought in them so
tenuous | threw them away. To H.
Harrison's to tea, and found a lady
there named Miss Lee who, seeing a
rent in my coat, told me | should be
married.; but | told her there were
those who disagreed with her. With
Miss Zona Gale to the Playhouse, to
see Mr. Ervine's mixed Marriage"
less good play than "Jane Clegg," but
we'll acted, especially by Miss Wycher-
ly, the best acting ever l saw her do.
Walked with Miss Gale to her inn,
and find my worship Of her not to de-
crease upon meeting her. So home,
and read "Amys Story" in The Smart
Set, by Thyra Samter Winsow, whom
[ never had heard of before, but who
hath great power Of writing. Yet
do we grovel at the feet of British
authors, and wear an apologetic air,
as though there were nobody in this
country to compare with tho lowest
o. the English writer's.
16-All day at my stint, and much
talking, too; and. in the evening with
my wife to Mistress Bertha Cases for
dinner, and Mistress Ruth Hale comes
in, too, and her hus band, and much
talk and comment; and home late, my
wife having SO pleasant a time I could
not make her leave. SO home by cab,
costing me S1.70.
17-Up early, and walked our Marie,
who cannot hear the alarum- clock, and
then cooked breakfast, and so to the
dentists, where for an hour, and so
to the Office, where all day till late,
at my scrivening and other pleasant
LOST-Pocketbook containing own
er's name.-Return to News-S Sum-
kendallville, Ind, News-Sun.