davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
The School Board Bill

A particular center of chaos in the
New York City government of, by
and for Hylanism is the school sys-
tenn. The resignation Of Mr.. Wilsey,
an old member of the board, bears
timely testimony to the mess of
things educational. The blame CEN
ters upon the Mayor, whose inter-
ference has kept the Board Of Edu-
cation in state of incompetency
and confusion.
How end this situation? BY oust-
ing Mayor Hylan next November,
for one method. But the grave in
Jury done to our educational system
in these years of Hylanism urges
safeguards for the future. Such
safeguards seem admirably designed
in the bill introduced by Senator
Robinson and now pending at AL
bany. This bill ends the Mayors
single-handed power to appoint the
Board of Education and places this
power in commission composed of
the Mayor and the four members of
the Board of Regents resident In
New York City.
This proposal is frank compro-
mise between complete home rule
and state CONTROL. Considering the
high character Of the membership of
the Board Of Regents, it offers a
most promising betterment upon the
present system. Local men would
still have the appointing power, but
they would be chosen, four out of
five Of them, by the state Legisla-
ture instead Of by the voters of the
city. Any system must be tested by
In view of the appalling
failure Of the existing plan under a
Mayor Of tho Hylan type it would
certainly seem wise to give this new
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

So "Sh-sh," whisper the little ver-
min Of the City Hall as they dodge
the light. The humors Of the mu-
nicipal campaign show themselves
carly.
But does exhortation go far
enough? Silence, after all, is merely
silver. Why should not something
be said or done on the positive side?
Why not an admiration week fol-
lowing hush week and an adulation
week a little later and worship
week along toward November? All
citizens could wear Hylan hatbands
and wave Hylan banners; cantatas
could be sung in the public schools
and prayers of thanksgiving be said
for the great blessings of his reign.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

measures which have been taks, :.
press it. Aen 10 re-
Inc government generally
'nelf antagonists in Ireland cop,;s. s. :. s.Ss
relatively small number Of ag,r, y . :
oy whom the population ara ts,.a seh
and that, if these can be ,era.' 0,l@ec'
ifisn people will spontaneously rsss.. s' 'a'
the friendly attitude maintained sN =, = %
tionaiist leaders throughout t,s - Va
There could be no greater nis.ass s sa'' "a
expert "gunmen" do exist. and !. lhs
opinion are supported by foreign Mn. =, ny
But every Irishman knows that 49, ,,'4es' 's
mate demands Of his country ara ~ ,,.al viii
1erable' and that the gunner sxs ',s'- ,
an incident, If dreadful one 'a'
A lasting settlement IN rr.,
come only when the normal demand =, -
the Irish people is satisfied. n ~
mind, that demand is for comn,a.s "s
tonomy within the Four Seas Of S 1rs,.- aa'
The demand for a republic seen, S'4'
unreal. Ireland does not wish - A'
tam an army, still less a feet. -,
Ulster Is problem disregard Of Will
mas snipwrecked many well-meant =.
'empts at general settlement s.', ~
that problem is by no means 50 e,a.' '
as it was. e'sa'
Thinking men, Ulster Unionist. -.
Slnn Feiners alike, must now r.sr.N
that ireland cannot remain permsna..s'.
divided, and that the question :. .s
ceptlble Of solution, though it NAV \.
delayed, by Irishmen and in rrel.rs
Nay, a solution is inevitable once rr,..--
men have realized and are prensrea :.
confess their own dependence uuon ~
rest of Ireland and once the rest os
ireland has realized, as it has m, -.
the strength Of Ulster and its v.,r.
an integral part of the Irish nation
Fiscal Autonomy
1t is said, but cannot think ser;o,.,-
that the grant of fiscal autor,,,, -
ireland will prove menace IN tss -.
nomic position of this country ~.
lrishman is not fool; he realizes tbs,
Great Britain is the natural market for
MS goods, and one for which no eop;v,-
lent alternative could be found els.
where. Ii the right of Ireland to CON-
troll her purse be once recognized 4,
not believe that she will prove slow -
understand the importance of adiust;oy
her own desires to the inevitable facts
of her environment.
But these may seem no more tb,r
vain speculations at time when, ops
| after another, every interest in southern
;, Ireland is being alienated from This
country by policy of repression which
! involves in its destruction of life and
property the whole socj-i and economic
fabric of the country. No settlement
can now, fear, be reached except
through truce, the necessity for which
becomes hourly more apparent.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
Teachers Loyalty
Pledge of Allegiance Required in
Rhode Island Schools

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your readers may be interested
in the following pledge of allegiance
required of all teachers certified by
the State of Rhode Island. l know Of
only one teacher who refused 10 sign it,
! and | understand she was dismissed
from the schools of Newport during
the war.
Il, as a teacher and citizen, pledge
allegiance to the United States Of
America, to the State of Rhode Island
and to the American public school sys-
tenn.
II solemnly promise to support the
Constitution and laws of nation and
state, to acquant myself with the laws
of state relating to public education
and the regulations and instructions OF
my official superiors, and faithfully TO
carry them out.
Il further promise to protect the
school rights of my pupils, to conserve
the democracy Of school citizenship, to
honor public education as a principle
OF free government. to respect the pro-
fesslon Of education as public service
and to observe its ethical principles
and rules Of professional conduct.
Il pledge myself to neglect no oppor-
tunity to teach the children committed
to my care loyalty to nation and state.
honor to flag. obedience to law and
government, respect for public sery-
ants intrusted for the time being with
the functions of government, faith IN
government by the people, fealty to the
civic principles Of freedom, equal
rights and human brotherhood. and the
duty of every citizen to render service
for the common welfare.
Il shall endeavor to exemplify in ms
own life and conduct in and out OF
school the social virtues Of fairness,
kindness and service as ideals of good
citizenship.
81 affirm, in recognition Of my oficiaf
obligation, that, though as citizen
have the right of personal opinion, as
a teacher of the public's children
have no right, either in school hours
or in the presence of my pupils out
of school hours, to express opinions
that conflict with honor TO country
loyalty to American ideals and obedi-
ence to and respect for the laws OF
nation and state.
sin al this pledge my sacred honor
and subscribe to a solemn oath that
will faithfully perform to the best OF
my ability all the duties Of the ofhcs
of teacher in the public schools"
ETA V. LEIGHTON, i
Civic Secretary, National Security
League.
New York, April 13, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
Large "Scotsmen"
(Froms Tho London Post)

Professor Keith, lecturing on the way
man is built, dubbed him the sky
scraper of the animal world, since he
is built on sky-scraper pattern; and
referred to the extraordinary number
of high cranes to be seen just now in
London. An architect, speaking of the
same thing, somewhat vaystifed group
of clubmen by remarking, 81 never saw
SO many large Scotsmen in London in
my life. One in the city has an arm
so feet in length, and can lift seven
tons at a radius Of 65 feet at 40 feet q
minute" 1t turned out that "Scots-
men" is the trade term for the crane.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

(From The Sam Francisco Chronicle
Lenine admits he has worked nm
self into a dilemma. Compelled by
stark fact to concede the failure OF the
Soviet's plan to nationalize trade anu
granting the necessity of permitting
free economic relations between WORK
ers and peasants, his logic tells MN
that this means free trade aud tnas
free trade means a return to capisa''
ism. The logic is unassaiiable. HOW -
Lenine to dodge it? He admits nc
does not know. The pity of it IS tnAs
Russia had to be ruined and millions
of Russians had to die so that Lenahs
might attain to this much wisdom. -
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
Too Easy Naturalization
A Set of Questions for Would-Be
Citizens to Answer
% the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: One Of the greatest problems
that confront eur nation is that OF
making Americans Of the aliens VINO
come to our shores.
Much has been said of Americanizn
ton. What is Amercanization? Amer
icanization means to teach him who
seeks the honor Of becoming a citizen
of the United States his duties, re-
sponsibilities and privileges.
American naturalization is too easily
obtainable as the law now stands. 1t
is sufficient to live here few years
after one has filed his declaration of
intention, to have two citizens vouch
for the applicant, and the latter, after
having answered a few insignifican.
questions, is created a citizen by our
courts. The two citizens are generally
either relatives of ths applicant or
men who have business dealings with
him.
To become an American in that wav
does not mean that the new citizen
is Americanized. I suggest that When
the applicant declares his intention of
becoming citizen--in other words.
when he takes out his first papers-he
be handed the Constitution OF the
United States and the Declaration OF
Independence, both instruments trans
lated into his native tongue. When
the time comes to apply for his final
papers he should be interrogated
along the lines of the above two docu
ments. Furthermore, the following
questions should be answered and
sworn to:
1. Why did you leave the old coun-
try?
2. Have you ever been arrested, con-
victed or sentenced for a crime against
society?
3. Have you ever held an Office in
your native country?
a. Do you intend to make the United
States your permanent home?
&. Have you done any military scrv-
ice?
6. What activities, if any, did you
take part in during the great war?
After these formalities the state
should, before granting naturalization,
insert two successive notices in the
daily press as follows:
John Doe, Of Blanktown, Europe,
has applied to obtain American citizen
ship. Any information concerning tac
applicant will be greatly appreciated
by the Office Of naturalization, and the
name of the informant will be kent
strictly confidential"
Surrounded by such guarantees, our
new citizen will be worthy to enter
the great American family, and will
become a valuable acquisition for tho
United States.
That constitutes real and effective
Americanization.
JONAS L1PPMANN.
New York, April IL, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

| affairs realized that Ireland, if SHE
were left alone, would not remain sta
tionary, and realized also that any
movement must be away from ar
agreed settlement. There was indeed
no time to be lost, and, on the signing
Of peace with Germany in June, 1919
it seemed to me essential that Parlia-
ment should proceed forthwith to the
conclusion of q peace with Ireland
In the following month The Times
published series Of articles which
presented the Irish situation, as II
then existed, to the British pubii4, and
outlined the conditions which then
governed the solution of the problem
Limited Partition
Since those proposals were made the
Irish controversy has passed through
many phases, but on the whole the
issues, where they have narrowed, have
converged in the direction which The
Times anticipated. The scheme was
partition was q necessary preliminary
to united ireland. Ulster ionists
criticized it strongly, y Ulsto.
Unionists we're prepared, Il long
afterwards, to accept its principles, as
slightly modified by the governments
bill.
In November, 1919, the Irish govern
ment issued proclamation suppress.
ing the Sim Fein movement and kin.
dred organizations throughout the
country. This was undoubtedly the
gravest blunder they had yet made ir
administration. Until that time there
had been no serious political outrage
in Ireland; the young men had found
an outlet for their energies and en-
thusiasm in the political side of the
Sim Fein movement.
This action Of the Executive closed
every legitimate outlet. Those who
knew Ireland best, the older Irelands
would be to drive the great forces
which were behind that movement into
tn, sinister channels of the secret So
Gle lies; and events have proved them
rii it. Once the campaign of outrage
ans assassination had begun, it was
inevitable that deeds of'violence should
lead to others still more violent and
that the conscience Of the country
should become Injured to actions which,
at first, startled and even appalled, it.
1t was also inevitable that coercion
should keep pace with defiance.
The old Tory belief in the efficacy of
force in ireland has survived the shat
tering of a similar faith among the con-
servatives Of Prussia. Coercion, if it Is
20 succeed at all, must succeed rapidly,
arsa in Ireland the critical moment has
long passed. Sim Fein is becoming
habituated even to the very strong
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
A Double-Barreled Program

President Harding proposes, first
to establish peace with Germany by
passing the Knox resolution, which
repeals and negatives the war reso-
luton Of April 6, 1917. This done,
he then proposes to ratify, or adhere
to, the Versailles Treaty, minus its
covenant provisions.
The specialists in international
law and usage are busy arguing
whether or not this double-barreled
program is feasible or legal--some
saying it is and some that it is not.
With all respect to the dissentients,
it is perhaps permissible to say their
contentious are absurd. They are
victims of vice to which the learned
are addicted-namely, the assump-
tion that words and forms are reali-
ties and through their own force
establish inhibitions. Yet in truth
they are but images. The realities
lie behind them.
A state of peace may come into ex-
istence after a war without treaty.
Peace is condition, status, and
may prevail without single scratch
of pen on paper. The passage of the
Knox resolution would merely mean
the recognition of an antecedent
fact. But even as method Of certi-
iication no serious claim is made that
it is inadequate to the end it seeks.
The international law faculty unani-
mously agrees that peace can be pro-
claimed by resolution.
If the Knox resolution is accepted
as furnishing sufficient evidence that
the war is over, then this country is
free, as sovereign state, to make
any agreements it sees fit to make
with any nation or group Of nations.
A nations power is plenary in this
respect. Our state papers are full
Of records of qualified adherence to
general agreements. If qualified
ratification is agreeable to those
with whom we deal, a reciprocal bar
gain is, of course, closed.
But it is said that should we pro-
claim peace with Germany various
matters which were settled to our
advantage by the Treaty Of Ver-
sailles would be reopened, and, as we
would have no sword to hold over
Germany's head, we would be forced
to make concessions to gain our ends.
Nonsense. If we adhere to the
Versailles Treaty with the approval
of our allies we would not have one
word but the associated sword of
four other great nations to hold over
Germany's head. Can't it be seen
that the prospect for US or any other
nation to secure the advantages of
the Versailles Treaty depends not on
the agreement reached but on ability
and a Willingness to enforce the
agreement?
The European nations would bt
most happy to help US get ours if we
in turn would help them to gel
theirs. Any one who can't see this
suffers from dimmed eyesight.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
Decline of Alcoholism
the Editor of THE Trihune.


Sir: In the April Archives of
Neurology and Psychiatry, a publica.
tion Of the American Medical Asso-
citation, review is given of investiga-
tions by DR.. H. Kirby, which Shows
a perceptible decline in the number of
cases of alcoholism, as we'll as alco-
holic> insanity, admitted to New York
State hospitals during the last few
years.
1t is stated that admissions to
Bellevue Hospital for acute or chronic
alcoholism had reached high point of
90 per cent Of all admissions, totaling
1888 during the last ten years. The
lowest figure was reached in 1919,
when less than 6 per cent of cases ad-
mitted to the hospital were diagnosed
as alcoholism. The figures for 1920
were not yet available, but preliminary
estimates showed smaller number
than in 1919.
Of the cases of alcoholism which re-
suited in insanity admitted to all of
the New York State hospitals during
this tim. there was drop to less than
2 per cent in 1920 from The high point
Of II per cent of all cases which were
previously diagnosed as insane upon
admission.
During this time there was little if
any change in diagnoses, it is stated,
and the continuous decline in the ratio
of all classes of alcoholic cases is of
the more significance when one takes
into consideration tho increasing
population of New York State.
x. z.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
A Protest
To the Editor of The Tribune.


Sir: AS chairman Of the committee
on motion pictures Of the General
Federation Of Women's Clubs, / wish
to voice for the 100000 women who
compose it's membership their indig-
nant protest against the plan of a
motion picture producer to make
money out of the Clara Smith Hamon
tragedy.
Whether this was to be presenta-
ton of portion Of her sordid story
or simply capitalization of her tran
sient notoriety, the effect upon the
young folks who throng our motion
picture theaters inevitably would be
deleterious. 1t is simply pandering to
the morbid curiosity of the unenlight-
ened.
AS friends Of the motion picture in
dustry we regret to see such pictures
put forth, because we know that similar
productions must sooner or later re-
suit in the placing of such shacklcs
upon the motion picture industry as
will retard and possibly prevent its
proper development.
We recognize the great power for
good of motion pictures and would
urge exhibitors to give to the public
films which will enlighten them and
upbuild as we'll as entertain Film
men who will produce and exhibit films
of this character will find our great
organization backing them in the most
practical way, SO that in the long run
it will be found that the best pictures
bring the largest financial returns.
MRS. WOODALLEN CHAPMAN.
New York. April 70. 1921
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

Ifylids

Hylids
Hark, now that day is done,
10 this shrill unison
Piercing the dusk; night long
Echoes the strident song.
Whence are these myriad cries
Under the evening skies
Have budding trees voice?
Does the young grass rejoice?
Surely such notes as these
Rise not from grass nor trees!
Or are they festal spritte
That through dim April nights
Dance in a round and sing
HAIL to returning Spring?
If you but tiptoe near,
Rumors Of sudden fear
Still them at once, and they
Cease till you turn away;
Then into mirth they break
What high din they make!
G. S. B.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
A Fair Exchange
fFrom Tho Indicnopoli, Ne,s,

fFrom Tho Indianapolis News)
To be sure, Mr.. Chesterton paid
tribute to Mr.. Wells. All those fell
lows over there do that sort of thing,
for they have one Of the greatest re-
volving funds of mutual admiration
or, at any rate, reciprocal advertising
that was ever established.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

method a thorough test. We hope
that the Legislature will find time,
despite the crowded condition of its
remaining sessions, to enact this ex-
cellent and important bill.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
The Problem of Ireland


Tho following paragraphs aro quoted
from on article by Lord NorthcHfc Il,
tho April issue of The Nineteenth Gen.
talry and After:
| l have been asked to contribute o
forecast Of the settlement which must
come to our present unrest ard ]
should have liked to find time and
space to deal with all the problems
which confront US, in Europe and in
tho empire, at the moment. But, as
one with Irish blood in his veins, ]
find myself absorbed, to the exclusion
OF all other interests, in the problem
of which the solution is, to my mind
the key to nearly all the rest--namely
the deplorable, but not necessarily in
soluble, problem Of Ireland.
l am convinced that settlement
will eventually be reached and that
Ireland will then become more pros
porous than at any time in her his
tory; but this can only be. when the
English public realize the futility of
maintaining by force and under world
wide condemnation an obsolete form
OF government such as we have always
been the first to denounce in FOREIGN
empires. 1t is no use for us to assure
ourselves that we must always he, be-
cause we always have been, in the
right, and that if we only persist long
enough in the course into which we
have drifted the world will come to
admire our skill in statecraft; nor can
we gain anything by arguing about the
inevitable.
Lost Opportunity
1t was in the period Immediately
following the armistice that British
politicians let slip what regard as
perhaps the greatest of all opportuni-
ties to readjust the relations between
this country and Ireland. / recognize
that the hands Of the new Parliament
were Too full to permit Of legislation
IN regard to Ireland before the sum-
mer of 1919. But legislation was not
essential. What was necessary and
what might have been given was an
assurance on the part of ministers
that they intended to approach the
Irish question in the spirit of the
peacemaker and that they were pre-
pared generously to recognize those
Irish claims to which the debates of
the convention had given expression.
Ministers did not do this. AS has
80 often happened in the past, they
permitted the Irish situation to drift
until such time as they might find it
convenient to redeem their pledges
Irishmen, on the other hand, found
that the conditions which, during the
war, they had suffered understanding
ly, if not uncomplaningly, seemed
likely to be continued indefinitely into
the peace. Every close student Of Irish
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15
The Hospitality of Billy Phelps

From The New Haven News Leader1
Gilbert X. Chesterton, who sailed FOR Eng
land yesterday after profitable lecturing
tour of the United States, which included
New Haven, says ne found prohibition here
somewhat of sham" remarking that
wherever he went his "host, if he had no
spirits to offer on my arrival, invariably said
he would have some next day, and when it
came the spirits also and there was
sufficient ever after" Mr.. Chesterton said
ne found no out and out advocate of pro-
hibition.
While in this city. Mr. Chesterton was
the guest of Prof. William Lyon Phelps.
New-York tribune., 1921-04-15

with the Presidents suggestion for
ehe establishment Of E. Department of
Public Welfare we are out of accord
We don't believe that the public.-mem-
oers OF which are some of our best
lrlends, we hurry to add,-knows what
is good for it. And we don't believe
that Welfare Department would know
either.
Years ago we sought to guide the
pubic, to train it up in the way It
should go. But it was intent on other
things, so we abandoned 1t. All that
matters, IN our opinion, arc the per-
fection Of an offensive backhand stroke
ana the 1921 styles in straw hats.
AND yet we are, we fear, reformcr
at heart. If we should be chosen head
OF the Department of Public Welfare.
our first act would be to abolish the
sponge, whipped-cream atrocity vended
to the public as Strawberry Short Cole
The Trolley (Sixth Ave.) Takers
- y ~ uouOle yer money!.
"zat right? C'n ye double it?"
Sure l en- double it. N no time. u
"Yeah ?"
"W'y surel Y ask any O. the big
buyers. They'll tell ye l en- double it,
"Y' can, eh?"
"1ll say so--bctcherlife l en- dou-
BILE it,"
"Awright, see We t'morrah."
Yeah, t'morrah. Watts t'morrah ?"
"Tmorrah's Sat'da v"
"Sure, I'll see ye t'morrah awright." !"
Bout twelve clock?"
"Yeah, t'morrah. Watts t'morrah ?'
"Awright, see ye t'morrah."
"Yeah-sure-noon."
"T'morrah noon, awright. G'by."
Gby--sure-g'by."
"Gby." NJ M
"1f," hypothcsizes Walter Trumbull
in The Herald "the Giants, Yankees
and Robins will keep on advancing at
their present pace the big league war
will be over long before October" The
Yankees, of course, may win all their
games; but the Giants or the Robins
will find it difficult to keep up that
percentage.