davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Defending the Panama Canal

When the Governor Of the Canal
Zone told Senator Harding that a
battleship with sixteen-inch guns
could lie beyond the range of our
forts on the Pacific side and destroy
the Mirahores locks he communi-
Gated no new information. Experts
have long been aware that the locks
could be thus destroyed and the
junction Of our two half-manned
fleets prevented, thus enabling an
enemy to Attack each unit sepa-
rately.
The existing condition has been
known to the Administration for
years. Why has it done nothing to
meet the danger? Manifestly, the
army and navy must coordinate in
this matter. A joint board Of army
and navy officers was organized in
Washington years ago for this spe-
ciic purpose-to coordinate all de-
fensive and offensive forces. But the
Senate investigation disclosed the
astounding fact that in 1916 this
important board was forbidden to
meet! The Administration opposed
the consideration Of preparedness
and coordination for war.
The remedy is simple:
1. Mount eighteen-inch guns on
the Pacific side as soon as possible.
2. Establish a strong and perma-
ncnt fiotilla at the canal at once.
3. Station strong and perma-
nent destroyer force in the canal
ports. Destroyers in numbers am
pie for that purpose have been built
4. Organize a permanent air force
of bombing and torpedo planes for
canal service.
5. Unite, permanently, our two
divided anc disorganizcd fleets and
organize one efficient fighting feet,
to be- stationed in the Pacific for
the present.
These measures will meet the
menace permanently. Nothing else
will. The present Administration
has neglected its duty. MIR. Har-
ding's Administration should do its
duty promptly, by a proper use of
existing forces. Only a small appro-
priation is needed for new weapons.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27

maintained its mellowness and
poise, before the war, at anv rate.
It's leadership was definite and GER
tain. Just why New York has now
ongulfed its great men is hard to
say. One. could almost fix the
date Of the ormation-within
q decade, at any rate. TODAY great
rlen are and they are not, and the
city rumbles on as before, with
hardly ripple to mark their with
drawal from a scene toe vast, too
'umultuous, to permit any one fig
ure to stand out.
AS a guess we offer the thought
that this chaos will not ALWAYS be.
New York will never return to the
age Of innocence; but it may well
discover new order, fresh
aristocracy-perhaps of the sort
which Mr.. H. G. Wells has trum-
peted. For order can come only
through leadership; and there car
be no real leaders unless there are
.oise and spaciousness and con-
tinuity to give them elbow-room-
or sea room, let us say, to fit the
late commodore Room Of any
lind may seem fantastic hope to
lredict for New York. We only
suggest it as distant dream which,
If it ever materializes in things of
the mind and spirit, will demand a
leturn to the futuristic equivalent
of exactly that which Commodore
Benedict SO completely was, lead
ing citizen.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
The Garland Million
- - - Trihnre-

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Charles Garland. OF Boston u
declining to accept 81 900 coo, his shs'.
of his fathers estate, IS unique an'
his must be the first recorded instance
of such a declination. lie says, as ''
ported zone man is entitled 70 NOR. e
than another only if he needs more,
A beautiful and CHRISTIAN theory lS'-
and equitable. He also is reported %
"a ing Of the million: 1T is more 'n1'.
any one man needs; it might be ao'"s
poor people lot Of good ins'esa y
accumulating to no purpose
Now, on his own argument. hasn ~ ~
he opportunity to put his theory INV
practice? Why not take the legacy 'ls
hunt out and supply those whose 'ss1s
exceed the needs Of others? In suen .
worthy work he could easily use ".
4O.00O or $4,000 Of annual income ars ~
there need be no accumulation.
would simply be putting the mii''0A !,
work to carry out his own theo.' !.
justice. In refusing the money &c
throwing away an opportunity giser
hut few. A. +. SHERWOOD
Waterbury. Conn, Nov. %. 1ssh' =
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Wild Duck Slaughter

10 the ENtor Of The Tribune.
Sir: At Loew's New York Tbeater
last week there was exhibited. as part
Of the Pathd News, picture showing
hocks of Wild ducks and geese photo
graphcd from two aeroplanes. These
aeroplanes drove through the Aocks
killing and injuring, as the caption
declared with pride, over 1000 of the
birds. The final picture showed the
pilots picking the dead and injured
birds out Of the various parts of the
aeroplanes.
This is a brutal and ruthless waste
of bird life; which the government ID
so stringently trying to protect by linn
iting the number of birds to be killed
to forty n day for two men in a boat.
Yet, IN few minutes the aero
planes killed as many as hundred
men could shoot if they had miracu-
lous luck. Can you not, through the
influence Of your paper, bring this
matter to the attention Of the proper
authorities so that such cruelty and
unnecessary destruction of birds nav
be stopped? JAXON Iced.
New York, Nov. %, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Joy Is Not in Owning
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. Charles Garland, the son
of the Boston millionaire who has re-
fused his share Of a million dollars be-
cause he prefers manual labor to life
of luxury, must be an interesting and
yet peculiar figure. He evidently be-
'leves that happiness comes through
achievement, and this believe to be
true. But if he derives happiness in a
small way, how much more happiness
ne can have if he put that million dol
lars to work to achieve big things for
him! There may be holowness in
spending wealth, but there is certainly
great Joy in creating wealth, not for the
sake of the wealth but the achieve
ment. Joy is not in arriving, but in
travelling" LOUIS LENGYEr.
Saranac Lake, N. Y, Nov. "a, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Against Free Toll.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t doubtless is the opinion of
many of your readers that the commu-
nication which appeared in The Tribune
of November % from George w. Wicker
sham, protesting against free tolls for
American vessels in using the Panama
Canal, was very timely and patriotic.
May | offer n good reason why such a
free passage suggestion should be-
scrapped as soon as it appears on
paper?
\ We had gentlemen's agreement with
England that there should be no dis
elimination in the fixing OF tolls. OF
course, such n provision was proposed
by England and not by us. We ap-
proved it, and the canal was built And
now If we are true sportsmen we will
not allow hypocritcal and greedy poll
ticians to discover any language what
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Why Milk Goes Down

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; 1t is somewhat surprising that
IN the various press illusions to the
recent reduction in the price of milk. as
recommended by the Dairymcn's
League, the reason for such reduction
is allowed to remain somewhat of mys-
terry. The reduction is made simply be-
cause the cost of feed has declined.
When the cost of producing milk had
advanced and was advancing, the farm
ers demanded and received higher
price for their milk, as was right and
proper.
Now that the cost 81 producing milk
has declined, the farmers reduce the
price, as is also right and proper.
GROVE d. CURTIS, a Farmer.
Orangeburg, n. y, Nov 81, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
The Air Race

Speed, however important, was not
the vital feature in the race for the
Pulitzer trophy. Questions Of ma
tional defense were brought to mind.
The relations of aviation to the War
and Navy Department organizations
and the uses Of airplanes in war
were thrust on the attention of a
great multitude.
The different types exhibited at
Mitchell Field suggested the tactics
of air warfare-the small scout, or
skirmisher; the larger bombing and
fighting plane, or the infantry; the
heavy bombing and torpedo plane, or
the artillery Of the air.
One heavy plane was shown capa-
BILE Of carrying five 1000 pound
bombs. Consider the value of such
plane in attacking a fleet or a
fort. The failure of the puny bomb
ing attacks on the cruiser Goeben
and tbs Turks at the Dardanclles
cannot be cited against the efficiency
Of the present and the future planes.
The bombs used there were small and
many Of them improviscd. Modern
bombs would undoubtedly have de-
stroyed the defending ships and
forts.
1t was also demonstrated at the
Dardanelles, as it had been repeat
edly in former bombardments, that
ships alone cannot reduce forts. But
mortar fre--high-angle fre-is an
other matter; and bombing with
charges Of ton of high explosive
falling inside fort hrs the effect Of
mortar fire. It Is destructive where
the fire Of ships guns is compara-
lively harmless.
The recent air conference in Lon
don, attended by representatives. Of
all branches Of the British govern
ment, decided unanimously that avl-
alton should be 80 developed as to
carry mails, freight and passengers
In time OF peacc---that it should be
nnade a paying businees And then
in time Of war the weight given To
mails and paggengers could be given
70 bornbs and tor2edoes~the planes
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Keeping the Door Open

Secretary Colby's note to Lord
Curzon lays down the sound prin-
>iple Of the open door in mandate
territory. The open-door policy
karmonizes with American feeling
and policy. 1t is this country's be-
lief that in regions not self-gov-
erned or subject to some form Of
international supervision, either
economic or political, the fair thing
to do is to put all nations on an
equality.
We have tried to hold the door
open in China, which remains at
least economically dependent on
other states. There is still more
reason for our insisting on equal
privileges in the territories taken
from the Central Powers and put
under the guardianship of manda-
taries named by the peace con-
ference.
Germany transferred her over
seas possessions to the five princi-
pal Allied and associated powers
The United States is one Of these
Its consent is necessary to dispo-
.ition of the German territories.
We haven't yet given it. AS to the
territories taken from Turkey, our
interest in them was recognized by
our European associates when they
invited our government to particI-
rate in the Turkish settlement. We
are still being urged to accept the
mandate for Armenia. Our status
as one Of the victorious Allied COM
bination has never been questioned.
The fact that we haven't joined
the League Of Nations should not
be used to disqualify us from full
consideration in the arrangements
made for administering mandates.
The league is not complete. 1t can
not have sole and exclusive juris-
diction Of the mandate question so
.ong as the United States remains
out Of it. The mandate theory was
devised in order to prevent monopo-
)ization OF trade and resources of
transferred territory by any one
of the belligcrents. The old eco
Homic rivalry was to be suspended
SO far as those undeyelODnd ropiOns
were concerned. We gladly accept
that theory because it is in agree
ment With our own earlier open
door program. We are entitled to
90 what we can to maintain our
r privilege Of equal treatment in the
mandatory states.
Such a policy is enlightened and
just. twill help in regions under
tutelage and it will be of undoubteG
benefit to the world at large.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
thanksgiving at Fox Hills

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you kindly allow me, through
your paper, to thank publicly the men
and women who so generously responded
to the appeal, Thanksgiving at Fox
Hills" which appeared on November 20 ?
Before spending the money l made a
special visit to Fox Hills to consult
with Colonel Cobb, medical director in
charge, and the Red Cross director. and
1t was decided to give the boys in two
OF the wards, where they are bedNdden
phonograph and records. They were
purchased to-day and will be presented
to them Thanksgiving Day. These are
the things they need, and I hope we
may be able to give phonograph to
each ward.
They are we'll taken care Of and
have plenty of good food, but tobacco,
candy, fruit and books are welcome.
What they need most of all is entertain
ment, boxing, vaudeville, etc, and vol
unteers to loan their automobiles to
transport the convalescent boys from,
the hospital to places of amusement.
Let us get together and interest our
selves in our wounded and disabled bows.
We do care, and we cant forget their
sacrifice
MRS. r. DE MILE BROWN,
President Veteran Association OF
Women War Workers.
Brooklyn, Nov. 90, 1920
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
To the American Who Throws
Stones
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: We all agree with Mr.. Ayre, who
writes in this mornings Tribune that
this country is the purest, clcancst ond
most virtuous the world ever saw, and
that such terrible creature as Bakla-
noff should not be permitted to remain
here to contaminate the dear, sweet
American atmosphere. Nevertheless
the following are ndisputable facts:
That no country has so many divorces
or regards the marriage tie so lightly as
this.
That no country has such dirty or
corrupt politics as the United States.
That crookedness and corruption per-
meate the business world and even that
of sport.
That there is more lawlcssness here
than anywhere else.
That there are more crimes of vio.
lence in the United States in month
than in any other country in year,
and that there are fewer brought to
to justice Of those who commit the
crimes.
In view Of the above facts, wonder
now Baklanof dares to remain in This
pious, holy country. DISGUSTED.
New York, Nov. "a, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
A Leading Citizen

The obituary notices of that mel
low and outstanding figure of the
past, the late Commodore e. c.
Benedict, have stressed his ad-
mirable adventures as host and
yachtsman without throwing into
relief what was the unique flavor
Of his position. He was, in brief,
"a leading citizen" of the town. Of
type then conspicuous and con-
trolling in every activity from poll
'ics to religion. and now. alas. as
dcfunct as the stage coach.
Mrs. Edith Wharton has, in ;1er
Age Of Innocence, summed up for
all time the era Of which Comm0-
nore Benedict was an ornament
It was a New York of unity and
Ioise, small enough to he led Lv one
group Of conspicuous folk, socially.
financially, in its sports, in its
arts. 1t was provincial and ah.
'urd in many aspects, as Mrs
Wharton makes clear. Yet there is
no denying to those years a certain
dignity and quiet comfort which
'ater New York can lay no claim to
The relation between size and
these matters is not Inevitable.
London. larger than New York.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
The Mayors THANKSGIVING

On the glad Thanksgiving Day,
while thousands Of happy New York
families were helping themselves to
turkey and cranberry sauce, and per-
haps tossing off something from the
family closet, where was their chief
executive?
Where indeed but in his bleak and
barren Office in the City Hall dictat-
ing in grief reply to the con-
scienceless scoundrels who by insinu-
alton and innuendo dare to intimate
that things have happened during
his administration that reflected no
glory upon the city.
Bereft Of his Bushwick, torn from
his turkey, while the powerful inter-
ests and their lawyers were culling
out holiday, it is not surprising
that the Mayor so phrased his state
ment that the very stenographer
must have set it down between sobs.
1t appears that the wicked Unter-
myer actually sought to create the
impression, while Mr. Hylan was on
the stand, that he was a lawyer
when he said he was an engineer, or
an engineer when he said he was a
lawyer. After only TWO readings we
are not clear which.
1t also appears that Nj. Inter
myer did Mr. Hylan cruel wrong
when he intimated that permitting
the courthouse excavation to be filled
with ashes which must be taken out
again at great expense wa5 not a
wholly statesmanlikc thing to do.
In his detection the Mayor does
not mention the fact that the ques-
tions about dates were to develop
the fact that the Mayor knew Mr..
Hettrck, who was a stenographer at
the courthouse where he practised
law, whereas he>had stated on the
stand that he wouldn't know Het-
trick If he should see him.
Nor did he, amid his lamentations,
dwell on the fact that his former
secretary and present Commissioner
Of Plant and Structures was once a
member Of one Of the firms which
got rid Of it's ashes cheaply and ex-
peditiously by dumping them into the
courthouse excavation.
But these things do not matter
Mr.. Hylan has sworn that he never
knew Hettrick, the lawyer for the
stone contractors, and that ought to
bc enough. Further, the very fact
that he appointed Mr.. Whalen ought
to put Mr.. Whaler beyond the reach
Of caVilers.
What matters enormously is the
cruelty Of city which by lending a
too crcdulous ear to the voice Of cal
unny forced its Mayor to drop his
knlfe and fork on Il great national
holiday and dictate two thousand
words Of rcfutation.
But sorrow endrrcth for a night.
joy comcth In the morning. Perhaps
not this morning or tomorrow
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
MONEYS New Trial
Further Details and Earnest Support
From One Who Know.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: \That was an excellent editorial
in your issue Of November "a on the
subject Of "Mooney's New Trial" In
one particular you convey a wrong i'm
preston Of tho facts. I refer to your
statement that Mooney could be put
on trial on one OF the many untried
indictments returned against him." thus
intimating that there are many indict-
ments still pending.
The fact is-and it is one Of the most
damnable incidents of the entire case
that one of the last official acts of the
district attorney who framed Billings
and Mooney was to move the dismissal
Of all the indictments at that time re-
manning against them. This was SIM
ply move to throw away the key Of
the pententiary. The motion was Wig
orously and successfully opposed by
Maxwell McNutt, attorney for the two
men. In compliance with McNutt's
eloquent plea, Judge Griffin dismissed d
all the indictments save one against
each man. The idea here involved was.
OF course, that some day there might
be found different type of Governor
at Sacramento-a man sufficiently big
and alert and courageous and fine
grained to see justice done in this no
torious case
The present Governor is q man of
probity and personal worth. But at
the same time he is q grocer. He ha,
what might be called the "pennyworth
of parsley" habit of mind. Until there
is loud, persistent and irresistible
clamor for a new trial Governor
Stephens will do nothing.
San Francisco Is a long way from
New York, and The Tribune can be ex-
cused for taking but passing interest
IN the fate Of Mooney and Billings.
1t would be fine thing if it would 90
into the facts and tell the full story to
the people of the East, as Fremont
Older, Of The San Francisco Call, has
told it in the West. 1t is q story worth
telling. JUSTICE.
Washington, D. c., Nov. "a, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Backing Up the Rent Laws

Two more test rent cases have
been decided in favor Of the validity
of the new laws. One came before
Justice Wagner and the other before
Justice McAvoy. In each instance
the court went to the heart Of the
question, which is whether the Leg
islature was making legitimate use
CT the police power when it tried to
rect the housing emergency by re-
stricting the landlords remedy Of
dispossession.
The landlords claim that their
property rights have been invaded
without constitutional warrant. But
the two justices hold that the emer-
eency declared by the Legislature
justified limiting for time the land
lords freedom of action.
Concerning the emergency police
power Of the state Justice Wagner
is explicit, saying:
For century and half our con-
stitutional restraints have received
Interpretation benefting every emcr-
gency and public need. The statutes
in question we've enacted to avert q
crisis. No constitutional right of
the owner Of property was trans
creased"
In the case before Justice Nc
Avoy the plaintiff sought to over
throw the laws by indirection. He
didn't challenge their constitution
ality, but pleaded that, although the
Legislature had abolished the legal
power to remove a hold-over tenant,
a remedy in equity remained. He
therefore asked the court to aid him
in getting rid Of MS tenant, because
without such aid he would suffer
wrong.
Justice McAvoy declined to grant
any equity remedy on the ground
that such action would nullify the
laws without any finding to the eff
feet that they were unconstitu-
tional. On the main issue ne said:
The Legislature, without question,
lad power to abolish the remedy
which it granted to recover real
property by summary proceedings
and would, if an emergency existed,
under the police power, be entitled to
suspend the action Of ejectment for
q prescribed period
The courts thus seem to uphold
the doctrine that legislature is
competent to declare when an emer-
gency eXists-that declaration to
this effect is political act that the
judicial department will not set
aside. But concerning the major
feature Of the housing problem the
decisions give no help. They do not
add an apartment to the city's sup
ply. On the contrary, they rather
tend to lessen the supply.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27

ever in the agreement which would
give American vessels free passage. We
know there is no such meaning honest
decent men and women of America will
acknowledge, and we know they are not
willing to be disgraced as proposed
If there was to be an exception in our
favor, the honorable men of the com
mission would have had it plainly stated
in the treaty, whose language forbids
discrimination.
LET US BE RIGHT.
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. "a, 1920.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. "a, 1920.
England's Right to Ireland
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Almost unanimously your recent
correspondents on the Irish troubles
seem to fail to get to the fundamental
cause Of the present difficulties. II is
historical. Eight hundred years ago Eng
land attempted to conquer Ireland. For
the following five hundred years there
was constant war, Ireland always as
serting her sovereignty and in occupa-
tion of all but a limited area of coast
hne. During the subsequent two hun
dred years England gained more terri
tory by conquest. Then came the union,
which the Irish have always held to have
been brought about by corruption and
fraud. Gladstone said that it was
brought about by fraud and was without
moral sanction.
Therefore England's right, whatever
it is, can only be established upon par
tial conquest, united with fraud. Ire
lands claim to sovereignty is based on
the principle of international law that
sovereignty is not lost unless conquest
has been justifable and occupation COM
plete and with the conquest of the
people.
The existing situation, I believe, is the
result of the clash between English self
interest and Irish incorrgibility, which
in turn is result of the long struggle.
Il is the only thing by which they have
survived. It is hard to understand the
unsympathetic attitude of many Ameri-
cans for Ireland, in view OF her history.
JOHN B. LAWLOR.
Providence, r. l., Nov. 25. 1920,
New-York tribune., 1920-11-27

morning, but sooner or later a time
will come when Mr.. Hylan will not
be compelled to spend a part Of
Thanksgiving Day. or part of any
other day, in the City Hall. Then,
doubtless, his heart will no longer be
bowed down with the weight of woe
that now burdens it. Incidentally,
considerable woe will be lifted from
the hearts Of some of his fellow
citizens.