davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

nations having territories lying beyond
the seas maintain q civil ministry to
handle the affairs OF such territories.
Spain itself kept US in the Overseas Min
istry, which had not even semblance
Of the military. and it is a matter too
well known that England does not keep
her dominions and colonies in charge
of a soldier. / do not think there is
any precedent for il even in our own
United States. The Territories have
been under some civil department and
never under the War Department, as
I understand
We are citizens of the United States
now. as much rs YOU gentlemen residing
in New York. We have proved beyond
question that we can take care of our
selves down here with civil officials of
our own choosing. In fact / believe
that we are doing very much better
than could be expected. and we trust
that the first step OF the new Admin
istration soon to be inaugurated at
Washington VIII be to relieve this one
million and quarter of American citi-
zens inhabiting this island from the
guardianship Of the War Department.
LEoPoLDo FELIU,
Member of the Senate of Porto Rico.
SAN JUAN, Porto Rico. December 20.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

plosives monepolies. A special tax on
estates will bring down the price OF
bread TO the poor.
OF the total budget 1862, ,606.o0O
crowns will be used for permanent
improvement, and against this 3,053,-
100000 crowns in long term bonds
will be issued. The number OF bonds
sold will determine the extent of per-
manent improvements, leaving current
receipts free 10 meet current expenses
OF the Government
1t is of course the large resources
in coal, tobacco, sugar, oil, timber and
other raw materials which have en-
ahled Czecho-Slova TO advance so
rapidly toward economic equilibrium
while her neighbor Austria has gone
steadily backward. But the fact that
the new republic knows how to use
these resources is another encourag-
ing indication that the small nations
comprising the Czechs, Slovaks, Bo-
hemians, Hungarians and Jugo-Slavs
may eventually work out their own
destiny.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

together. The score is as a whole how
ever. delightful to listen TO.
Some of the franlSness OF the original
language is retained, but of course more
OF it has probably been elided out of
Difference to the more refined ears of the
present About the playing there was a
general air OF amateurishness, which was
not fatal. however to a piece so simple
Percy Heming as the highwayman had
more authority than some Of his asso-
ciates. but he was not the dashing figure
that would have made his role dominat-
Ing in the action. Alfred Heather, a
barytone, possessed the best voice in the
company and was also an actor of ex-
perience. Miss Sylvia Nels. who had
the historic role of the heroine, was so
nervous during the first act that her
chin trembled to a degree thai is7teyftred
with her singing. But she grew calmer
later, to reveal sympathetic voice and
an altogether agreeable personality.
Miss Lena Maitland might have been n
figure sketched by Hogarth The rest
of the performers were capable in their
rather amateurish style.
1.-THE Beggar's Opera" will provide
very agreeable entertainment to all who
can view 1t in its correct perspective.
But II is very unlike the "Zegfeld Fol-
lies" as musical entertainment
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
The Guardian of the Mayor.

Police Lieutenant KENNEL, whose
service as guardian of the Mayor Of
New York has been interrupted by the
illness which has laid him up for a
while and who consequently has been
transferred TO duty at Police Head
quarters, went to City Hall when
WILLIAM J.. STRONG was Mayor, ASH
BEL p. FITCH Comptroller and JOB e.
HEDGES secretary to the Mayor. That
was while the New York city of to-day
was in the making but before it be-
came fact. Mr.. STRONG was the last
Mayor of the old city.
In 1897 ROBERT A. VAN WICK de-
feated General BENJAMIN L. TRACY
and SETH Low for Mayor of the con-
soidated city, and when he entered
Office he kept BILLY KENNEL by him.
His example was followed by all
his successors-Low in 1902, Nc
CLELLAN in 1904, GAYNoR in 1910,
mitchell in 1914 and HYLAN in 1918.
the Mayors official family by Mr..
Mitchell when he served during Mayor
GAYNoR's period of disability in 1910
or by ARDoLPH Il. KLINE, who filled
out the unexpired term of Mayor
GAYNoE after the Mayors death in
the fall of 1913. So Lieutenant KEN
MEL saw old New York pass and the
city Of to-day come into being; and
in many of the incidents Of its prog
ress he has had part.
The first duty imposed on him by
this Job was to guard the Mayors
person from bores and more dangerous
cranks, and in doing this he displayed
a remarkable gift for recognizing men
and women who should be watched.
Like all other men high in public office
the Mayor of New York attracts the
visitations Of many cranks, who range
in the degree of their undesilability
from talkative pests TO vindictive ma
MACS. To sift them out from among
visitors having good reason to see the
Mayor or his representative is hard
task. Lieutenant KENNEL performed
it with tact and discretion. He was
able TO get Objectionable or potentially
Objectionable men and women out of
City Han without disagreeable scenes,
an Important consideration in the or
dery conduct of public business.
IT is safe to say Lieutenant KENNEL
knows as many men and women as
anybody else in town. He never for
got those he had cause TO identify, and
in n quarter of century at City Hall
he had cause to identify practically
everybody worth while i'm New York
and hundreds from abroad.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

are getting the upper hand in the
combat. Service is one side of trans
portation and credit is another. They
might almost be designated as synony-
nous, for efficient service is contin-
gent on plentiful credit. which itself
depends on railroad efficiency AM
consequent earning power. Another
collapse like the one in 1918 would be
only a matter of time il the roads
were not able to bring down their
maintenance and other charges and
retain out of enlarged gross earnings
surplus on which to base their
borrowing power.
Even the favorable provisions OF
the transportation act appeared in
September and October to have been
insufliciently applied to give the
roads the necessary margin Of net in
come. The more favorable evidence
I'm the November returns therefore is
extremely important. Three Glass /
roads, the Delaware and Hudson, the
Norfolk and Western and the Seaboard
Air Line, report aggregate gross OF
$17 ,0O0, 900 for November, and out of
this they conserved 100000 net In
come. In November, 1919, these roads
reported deficits in net income with
the exception of the Norfolk and West
ern, which had net Of $4,000
compared now with 81, ,414000.
Other reports show like trend.
The Baltimore and Ohio increased its
gross by 1888, $50 TO total of S23,-
2S0,351. Its net shows S2,029,0G as
against $S11,S52 last year-a gain Of
more than million and a quarter.
Reading, st. Paul, Missouri Pacific,
even the Boston and Maine tells more
or less the same story.
These, even though general busi-
hess is not booming to make heavier
traffic, are the first streaks Of the
dawn of the long awaited, long
delayed better day for the railroads.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 80, 1920.


Representative WooD of Indiana
wants Congress 10 set up a central
purchasing agency TO do all the Gov
ernment's buying. If Congress puts
such an institution into existence and
if il can be made to function under
Government management as such or
ganizations function for successful
corporations like the Standard Oil
Company it will save the taxpayers
of the United States millions Of dol
lars a year. If such thing had been
in efficient operation from the begin
ming of the war it could have saved
the American people, first and last,
billions of dollars.
There isn't q front rank industrial
plant there isn't first class merchan-
dising house. there isn't medium sized
shop winning success in the hot COM
peiitive contest Of this country that
does. not maintain closely coordi-
mated. well concentrated, ably directed
purchasing force as the very founda-
tion of sound and safe business. This
Is supreme factor in competitive
business, for there can be no right
selling against competent rivals with
out right production. and there can
be no right production without right
buying Of the materials and supplies
that 90 to make the articles or the
service offered in the public markets.
Yet the United States Government
which always is a bigger buyer than
any other single organization in the
country. and was bigger buyer during
The war than hundreds of the coun-
try's greatest private concerns put to-
eether, has not seemed to regard this
All important factor of successful op-
Grafton as Of much more consequence
than string of fish.
We have seen the seventy-odd diff
ferent and conflicting purchasing bu-
reaus Of the various Government de-
partments rushing into markets and
bidding one another up TO fabulous
prices, adding to the national bills by
the tens of millions. We have had
abundant testimony Of one Govern
ment department being so overstocked
with supplies that It was selling them
TO private individuals at far below
cost, was virtually giving them away
and throwing them away, while an
other department needing the same
articles was out in the open market
buying them at the top. We have
seen the Government. because Of lack
Of common purpose and efficient team
work. buying at rate and in way
that would wreck any business from a
peanut stand TO United States Steel
Corporation.
This Is largely why the taxes of
the American people went soaring into
the skies. 1t is why in very consider
able measure the American peoples
cost Of living was lacked up TO pre-
posterous lcveis-because their Gov
ernment. wildly bidding up prices of
coal, prices Of food. prices of clothes,
prices of labor against itself. was at
the same time bidding up prices of
everything against the public.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
'Beggars Opera Sung by English Co.
John Gays Eighteenth Century Stage Brc-a-Brac
Shown at the Greenwich Village Theatre.

Arthur Hopkins brought an interest
ing specimen OF musical bric-a-brac to
this country from England and last night
set it up in the Greenwich Village Thea
tire. This was the first of the musical
comedies-mother of "Erminie" and
Florodora," think OF it-which occupies
historic place in the English theatre.
'olumes nave been written about the
piece which even broke a record as far
back as 1878 by running for sixty-three
nights. II was beloved by audiences in
our own Colonial theatre Ballad"
opera, a completely English school, was
what the scientific students OF music
called the piece. and some of them said
u paved the way for such works as
balfes The bohemian Girl" But lots
OF theorien, historical and otherwise.
have resviie from "The Beggars
Opara- Az sFY have amounted to a
pterature o. As own.
but the enent report Is concerned
WIN facts. not theories. and the facts are
chiery as 20 the occurrence at the thea
tire In Sheridan square last night. John
Gay. the eighteenth century wit, is said
TO nave written the text at the sugges-
ton or Dean Swift and fitted the words
ne wrote to old English melodies. Life
IN Newgate Prison was a live topic in
English life when the piece was acted
first and the satire of the Ministers of
George IL, which the text contains, did
not make it any less timely. The public
was ripe for satire on the existence of
the rich prisoners in Newgate and Gay
painted his picture with such truth and
withai so humorously that the pece be-
came immensely popular on account of
C
The first performances did not ex-
haust its hold on the public. 1t was re-
vfved from time to time, brought over to
our own theatre and liked here just as
much as 1t had been abroad, although
the original beauties who, like the ia
nous sextet of "Florodora," helped to
spread its vogue, were of course thing
of the past by that time. In one way
or another the hearty fun. the good old
tunes and the recognizable characters
kept the work vital until it finally
seemed to go the way of all stage crea-
tions. Last summer Arnold Bennett and
Nigel Playfair put the old piece on the
stage Of their London theatre. 1t bios
somed anew and thousands OF Londoners
of our own day delighted In making its
acquaintance at this late day.
SLUG AZ
The production last night was in
many ways interesting. 1t took all of
the first act to get the listeners into the
mood of musical work so unlike any
they are accustomed to. The freshness
of the fun. the simple expedients OF the
librettist and the pretty tunes after a
while began to work their SPELL TIE
second act was productive of some real
hilarity. The folk songs were, of course.
sophisticated to a considerable degree
by the efforts of DR.. Pepusch, and but
for the skilful elaboration of the original
orchestration might have become monot-
onous. A more experienced musician
than Gay when he wrote "The Beggars
Opera would have alternated his sem
timental and vivacious melodies. but he
often strings several of the love songs
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
Chemicals Under the Tariff.

Great Britain's exclusion of imports
Of certain dyestuffs and other chemi-
calls is frankly designed to keep all
Important war machinery in existence,
operation and readiness during peace
times for any emergency that might
arise. Not merely high explosives but
poison gas, both cardinal instruments
of war, are dependent upon these
chemical plants and processes. The
British thought is that the ban upon
foreign products viii assure TO the
military establishment an abundant
supply from home sources under what
ever circumstances.
For the United States of course an
assured supply OF such indispensable
war material is as imperative as for
any other country liable to attack.
Yet an outright prohibition on or Gus
toms duties so high as TO be prohibi-
tive of imports would be far from the
perfect way or even the better way to
achieve the very object in view.
For peace purposes or for war pur-
poses using inferior articles is a dis
advantage second only to having none
at all to use. If we are going to es-
tablish permanently the dyestuff and
other chemical processes which, when
the war cut off the German supply,
we were driven to improvise we must
he sure that they are as good as the
best of any other man or country.
Nothing less win do for us in peace
nothing less could do for US in war.
A duty equalizing labor and other
costs abroad with our own and giving
besides a slight differential in favor
of our manufacturers would not only
justify production but stimulate i'm
provement. Otherwise, If our own in
dustries failed to give the quality, the
foreign articles would come in and
capture the business. But prohibi-
tive system equivalent to the mainte-
nance of monopoly, whether giving
good service or bad, would tend TO
dull initiative and paralyze progress.
And what is true OF the chemical
industry under our American policy
of fostering home production is true Of
any industry subject to foreign rivalry.
The very essence of the protective
tariff principle rs advocated and
practised by enlightened American
brains and energy, is to bring our own
industry into healthy being but per-
mitting it to live only if it deserves
to live by doing its work up to the
highest standards Of the world and
selling at the right price
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
A Sky Giant Measured.

The magnificence of the constella.
ton Orion was a matter of wonder
with JOE and AMOS, and they ex.
claimed over it. But If jon could gel
Professor A. A. MIcHELsog's figures
on Orion he would be more aston
ished than ever. Mr.. NICHOLSON,
one of the foremost American astron-
omers and the winner Of the Nobel
Prize for Physics in 1907, has per-
fected device for measuring exactly
the size of stars. He has put the tape
ON Alpha Orion, alias Betelgeux, the
first of the four stars in the great
bright rectangle.
This Alpha star proves to be 300.-
100000 miles in diameter; our sun is
only million miles thick. AS for vol
ume, Alpha is about two dozen billion
times the size Of the earth.
If the theory of Or. SvASTE AR.
RHENrUs is correct and these great
distant suns like Betelgeux and Rigel
and Aldebaran have inhabited satel-
lites, even as the sun has our own lit
tie ball of mud TO swim around it, are
the people of the Orion planets as
much bigger, relatively to us. as Betel.
geux is bigger than our sun?
1t is comforting TO think of some
far earth with crime wave 800
times as big as ours. And the sub
ways OF the planet of Betelgeux-do
they carry 300 times as many passen-
gers as the Interborough in the rush
hour? And what causes a rush hour
in the Orionian system? Out there
are there 300 times as many bargains
in the post holiday white goods and
furniture sales? Do the natives
swear off 500 times as earnestly AS
New Workers will swear next Satur-
day? II seems impossible. but every
astronomer knows that impossibility
is almost impossible.
A thought to make proud man hum
Bile is that although he has spent
years trying to discover the size and
habits of stars like Betelgeux, that
star has never seen, probably has
never heard of this planet. 1t knows
not of prohibition, jazz, Monk EAST
MAN or any OF the other live topics Of
the mundane day
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
A Friendless Stranger.

An endearing classic must be slightly
altered to be made to read ''What is
the Constitution between members OF
Congress as this brief colloquy in
the House reveals:
"Mr. HUppLEsroN-wil the gentle
man tell us what constitutional war
rant there is for this kind OF legis-
lation?
Mr.. GARRETT do not think there
is any. But it has become rather
academic. perhaps one might say
obsolete, to raise constitutional
questions"
After Mr.. HUpDLEs1oS had pondered
the reply of the minority parliamen-
tary and constitutional expert he was
moved sadly to remark 1T would
seem that the Constitution not only
has no friends in the House but no
acquaintance either"
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

private wealth. 1t is believed how
ever, that President ALEssANDRI viii
not allow himself to be led to adopt
any measure contrary to the interests
of the country as whole Conse-
quently unwise or unjust class legis-
lation is not probable. With ma
jority Of his supporters in Congress
he Is in an excellent r. sitlon to carry
out reforms which he believes to be
essential to progress in Chile.
Assurances have been given that
legitimate domestic and foreign bust
ness interests have nothing to fear
from the new Administration On the
contrary, sound economic reforms are
prominent In the legislative and exec
utive programme which has been
prepared. The creation of a ma
tional banking system to relieve bust
ness transactions Of the perils Of a
constantly fuctuating currency is one
CT the matters now receiving Presi-
dent ALEssANDRI's attention.
President ALEssANDBI begins his
five year term Of Office with the good
Will Of all patriotic Chileans and with
the best wishes of foreign Govern
ments. The people of the United
States are heartily in sympathy with
the message of congratulation sent 10
him by President WILSON and will
watch with neighborly interest what
promises to be an Administration of
unusually constructive achievement.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30
Long Lived Pioneers.
Seekers of Adventure Before the
Civil War Still i'm Good Health.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: With re-
gard to your editorial article on the
Passing Of Famous Riders of the West
ern Plains: While OF course all those
connected with any form of transporta-
ton in the sos or thereabouts are well
along in years. 1 have personally been
surprised to see how many of them are
still alive and in good health. My OBJ
servation is confined largely to surviv-
ors of the stage coach and freight wagon
era still living in the Eastern States.
/ can name several examples. David
Eby, now 30 years of age. drove a
Pittsburg pike from 1S49 TO 1853. Mr..
Eby Is still living in good health at
Chambersburg Pa. and in March, 1920.
went to a photograph studio to have his
photograph taken.
T.. Il. Downham OF Alexandria, Va,
aged So, from whom have received a
letter within the last few days, drove
Colorado in the days OF the gold excite
ment, and when disappointed with his
luck and dead broke retraced his way
to the Missouri River where he helped
build boat and fioated down to st.
Louis en- route back home.
At Grantsville, Md, there lives to-
day Jonas L. Beachy, aged SO. and at
Somerset, Pa, in neighboring county
in Pennsylvania is Captain William NJ
Schrock, aged 81. AS adventurous
youths Beachy ard SehroclS drove to-
gether from western Pennsylvania across
the central West TO Nebraska, where
they turned back east on encountering
large numbers returning disappointed
from the supposed I'll Dorado An inter-
esting thing about these two men is that
they have both been spared to this day
and last fall had a reunion at Grants
VILE, where they had their pictures
taken.
Some idea OF the change In geograph-
ical terms within the lifetime OF llv-
ing men Is evidenced by the natural way
in which those who went across the
plains in the days of the pioneers refer
10 returning ito the States" This sounds
strange to one of this generation, to
whom that term means everything from
Maine to oregon.
Tho pioneer life seemed to increase
longevity. as witness also Ezra MeeSer.
one OF the original Oregon trailers, who
several years ago drove an OK team
from the State of Washington to New
York and then TO Washington city, and
later I believe. repeated the trip in an
automobile. SO far as know Mr..
Meeker is still living. Il would be In
teresting TO know OF any other men in
the class with those mentioned.
ROBERT BRUCE.
CLINTON. Oneida County, December 90.
The New York herald., 1920-12-30

Czecho-Slovakia has pointed the
way to other nations OF Europe, large
and small. by beginning the third year
OF the republics existence with a
balanced budget. DIR. ESo1Is, the
Czecho-Slovakian Minister Of Finance,
is justly proud Of the achievement
which enables BIN TO announce that
estimated expenditures Of 14.104.374,-
$50 crowns during the fiscal year 1921
viii be covered by revenues totalling
14,10T, ,o79, 800 crowns.
The new republic has made won
derful strides toward sound finance.
1t has adopted the principle OF limit
ing permanent fixed improvements 20
the amount of long term loans it can
raise This tends to make Govern
ment finances weigh less heavily on
The money market, the resources of
which are needed for reconstruction
Of trade and industry.
Taxes Of almost every known Kind
arc assessed. There arc taxes on land.
houses, general profits. Joint stock
profits. unearned incomes. ordinary
incomes. Increased salaries and direc-
tors fees, a special property tax. Gus
toms duties, taxes on spirits, sugar,
oil, matches. coal, meat, transportation,
lururies and general sales, with a spe-
cinl war tax. Besides these, the Gov
srnmcnt win draw large revenues
from tobacco, salt, saccharin and ex-