davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
The Somme Comes In

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir: An American, thank God, born
right here in the U. s. A., for America
first, last and forever, congratulate
The Tribune on having on its staff
Mr.. Grantland Rice, whose poem, "The
Somme Comes In," in yesterday s
issue, evoked praise-and tears-from
many VINO read it,
When God gave Mr.. Rice the in
spiration to write this poem He meant
that through your fine, honest, Ameri.
can newspaper the appeal "Keep
Faith" should be rung in American
ears.
These immortal dead are home
back again to America--back to the
soil from which their Maker fashioned
them into mighty warriors for Truth
and Freedom. He would not allow
them to lie in lands where there is no
rest or /peace, but He deemed that
they should rest in peace in America,
than which there is no place more
blessed except Heaven.
CHARLES BRUSH.
New York, March 16, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18

fluid and that = bargain need not be
kept, it is not difficult to foresec
what in the end is likely to happen
to owners of public utility companies
and what credit they are likely to
command.
Will the courts countenance the
principle at the bottom Of the
Knight-Adler bill! They may, for
courts sometimes yield to pressure.
If they do SO in this instance the
present condition Of the railroads,
which have passed under complies
public control, shows what may hap
4 pen when another Legislature sits at
Albany and Sulzer rather than q
Miller occupies the Executive Man
sion.
The Knight-Adler bill is attrib-
uted to reactionary influences. In
fact, it is revolutionary in its funda-
mental radicalism, even though the
first fruit Of its enactment may be
an increase in street railway fares.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Plain Speaking to Panama

The State departments latest
note to Panama presents the only
logical solution Of the Panama Costa
Rica boundary dispute. The old
Spanish border between Costa Rica
and Colombia was crudely drawn.
1t was agreed to arbitrate the line.
President Loubet of France made the
award. This was binding on Panama
which seeded from Colombia and
set up as an independent republic.
Panama accepted Loubet's deci-
sion in part, but claimed that the
line across the backbone Of the con-
tinent was not properly defined.
Costa Rica agreed to a supplement
tary arbitration, or Interpretation,
intrusteds to Chief Justice White.
But she never has been willing to
carry the amplified decision into
effect.
Hostilities occurred recently when
Costa Rican forces entered part
of the territory allotted to Costa
Rica on the Pacific side. After two
awards there was fight. Panama's s
only excuse for on-evacuation seems
to be that the White Interpretation,
in her opinion, went somewhat
against her. This is the attitude of
a disgruntled loser. The United
States is pledged by treaty to main
tain Panama's political independence
and to protect her against aggrcs-
sion, but our government could not
be expected to sustain her in chal-
longing an arbitral award given be-
fore the present guaranteeing treaty
went into effect.
FAN arbitration is an arbitration.
No prejudice on the part Of Presi-
dent Loubet or Chief Justice White
can be established. The two deci-
sions, one modifying the other, must
stand, so long as Costa Rica declines
to join in asking for; a third judg-
ment.
The United States has no interest
in the matter unfriendly to Panama.
Quite the reverse, But Panama
hasn't leg to stand on in the pres
ent quarrel. 1t is to everybody's
advantage to apply the awards and
end long standing cause of fric-
tion. The United States is pledged
to keep the peace in the canal region.
1t will do SO. All that is required
now of Panama is that she shall
reconcile herself to living up to her
international engagements.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
A SIave-State

The memoirs of DR.. Ethel Smyth,
the British musician, contain much
piquant and intimate material. Her
gift Of observation was Of the rare
sort that sees and records minute de-
tails, but always significant details.
British celebrities have been can
didly set forth in her portrait gal
lery, and now, in her Berlin rcmi-
niscences, the Kaiser and his people
have their turn.
She is writing to-day with the in
struction afforded by world war.
But one feels that she. is setting
down accurately her impressions of
twenty years ago. Her summary of
Berlin life, Of the Prussian idea,
runs thus:
II never could have believed that
human beings would consent to exist
on terms of such abjcct snbserviencc.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Thomas Jefferson's University

A unique center of learning is the
old University Of Virginia, on many
counts. Its campus is commonly
rated the most beautiful in America,
for one itenl-thanks in large part
to the excellent taste Of Thomas JEFF
ferson for the classic line. He per-
sonally superintended the initial con-
struction, hiring workmen, buying
bricks and selecting the trees to be
felled for lumber. The whole insti-
tuition was child of Jefferson's S
brain, as a matter of fact, and
formed the crowning feature Of that
universal education upon which he
set his heart and to which he devoted
so much energy Sin his declining
years. Before he died Jefferson
penned the inscription Tor his tomb
stone. 1t reads: "Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson, author of the
Declaration Of American Independ-
ence, Of the Statute Of Virginia for
Religious Freedom, and Father of
the University of Virginia" a"-the
three sources of his chiefest pride.
Not only upon the architecture of
Charlottesville did the influence of
Monticello prevail. Ideals and plan
felt the same touch. The honor sys-
tenn has prevailed among it's stu
dents since 1842.~ Attendance upon
religious services is voluntary. The
elective system has operated in re-
spect to studies. And no honorary
degrees are ever conferred. An
ideal Of individual freedom and re-
sponsibility has been maintained
from the start.
The university has rounded out it's
first century Of existence strong in
numbers-the enrolment is now l roo
but, like most other educational
institutions, weak in material sup
port. A fund of $3,OO0,O00 is being
raised as birthday gift--to in
crease salaries, build gymnasium
and otherwise enlarge and improve
equipment and personnel. 1t is a
pleasure to present it's needs and be-
speak in the North support for this
distinguished institution of the
South, source of pride to every
American.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
An Acknowledged Need

III his comment on Mr.. Whitman's
statement on graft conditions in
New York Governor Miller further
emphasizes the necessity of action
by him and the Legislature for p
legislative investigation of the city
administration.
The Governor withdraws not a
word he has said as to the character
of the Hylan administration. He
finds it such as to warrant the dis
placement Of the head for at least
misfeasance. If this is the fact it
follows that he admits the existence
of. prins1 facie case for the less
drastic step Of investigation.
II THE Governor says he is for an in
vestigation if needed" His own
words have ringingly made it clear
that he recognizes that the "need"
is present. It is thus not possible
to turn around and speak as if the
need" were not yet established.
Nor will the Governor seriously
contend that the initiative is wholly
with the Legislature. In other mat
i tiers he has indicated willingness to
edvise the Legislature as to what he
deems is its duty. The Governor
should not only consent to an inves-
tigation as he now does, but push for
one.
4 Legislative Investigation of the
city government should be author
ized, and at once.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
A Life Of Unselnsh Service
To the Editor Of the Tribune.

To the Editor Of the Tribune.
Sir:'The name Of the late Mrs. viii.
liam G. Choate will ever remain asso.
ciated with that Of the New York Ex.
change for Woman's Work. For forty.
two years she ~as president and hon.
orary president of this institution
her work was long, noble and fruit.
full service to education. Not alone
her personal friends and acquain.
tances but great company of women
the world over who have benefited
from her philanthropy will remem.
Der this noble character, the crownine
purpose of whose life was that of serv-
ice to her less fortunate fellow women
Hers was the genius which estab-
lished and carried forward against
countless obstacles the invaluable sys-
tenn Of exchanges for women's work
throughout the entire United States.
The New York exchange, founded in
1873 from small beginnings, was the
pioneer. The work has broadened and
improved until to-day there are thou
sands Of prosperous homes which stand
as monuments to her who created and
SUPPORTED them. IDA ]. BUTTON.
New York, March Is, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Normalcy and amily
A Numerous Tribe of "Cys" Is
Lurking in the Ofing
To the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l observe that the word "nor-
mality" has gone entirely out of use
since President Harding set the ex-
ample of "normalcy" Are We to infer
therefrom that the President of the
United States is OK officio a dictator
of correct usage in linguistic matters,
an arbiter elegantiarum, SO to speak
whose example it is patriotic duty to
follow?
If so, it seems to me that that duty
is by no means fully discharged by
confning our departure from estab-
iished usage to that one word
1t is reasonable to assume that our
President intended to prescribe rule
tor all similar words end that hence
forth not merely is normality to bs
normalcy, but morality is to be NOR
alcy, finality finalcy, fatality fatalcy
cordiality cordialcy, mortality NOR
talcy, etc. To assist my fellow citizens
l herewith submit list Of words the
formation Of which is changed in ac-
cordance with the ABOVE mentioned
rule. The list, of course, is far from
complete. but it will serve for begin
ming, and by the time it is mastered our
tongues will have become accustomed
to this new twist and 1t will be a con-
firmed habit with us to substitute
"cy" fer city" in words Of this class.
1t will be observed that my list IS
confined to those abstract nouns whose
corresponding adjectives terminate in
81" or "le." 1t would be pushing the
analogy too far to suppose that the
President intended that the entire
class of "itys" is to he changed to
"cys"-e. e., rigidcy for rigidity, abb
surdcy for absurd;ty, etc. However,
here is the list:
Idealcy, financy, cordialcy, ration
alcy,. venalcy, totalcy, iatalcy, formal
cy, moralcy, mortalcy, liberalcy, spir-
itualcy, realcy, individually, specially,
externalcy, legalcy, loyalcy, brutalcy,
banalcy, gentilcy, futilcy, falscy, hos
tilcy, agilcy, divisibilcy, visibility, mo-
bilcy, imbecilcy, humilcy, inidelcy
utilcy, fallibilcy, stabilcy. mobilcy, SEN
sibilcy, durabilcy, feasibility, practices
bilcy, advisabilcy, nobilcy
C. O. YOUNG.
Milford, Pa, March l6. 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
The Supreme Sacrifice
tFrom The Kansas city Timesl


The Soviet government ct Moscow
does not understand why anybody in
Russia should be dissatisfied with con-
ditions there, but just to show it has
mo Ill will toward the hungry but mis-
guided masses it has appropriated W.
100000 gold rubles to buy food Tor
them. Only it happens--for reasons
for which nobody is responsible, OF
coursezthere is no food in Russia ana
it will have to be purchased from ths
capitalistic countries that have 1t.
1t is a humiliating thing for the
Soviet government to have to do, TINS
trafficking with capitalism, but it oughs
to show the waverers who are begin
ming to doubt the Bolsheyist theory
that the government is willing to make
any sacrifice for the public welfare
Although the first principle of ~
teaching has been that capitalism csn
produce no good, it will allow cspitsi'
lam to produce food for what usea "
be the greatest food producing county
in the world. Really. the discontenteo
masses in Russia could hardly expecs
the Soviet to do more, unless they w
reasonably want the Soviet to quit -
together.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Lloyd George and the Soviet.

Lloyd George has signed treaty
OF commerce with the Soviets, and
doubtless his critics will sneer that
he did so on the principle that he is
willing to try anything at least
once. He is seasoned opportunist
and rather boasts of the fact. If he
consents to open trade relations with
Lenine and Trotzky it is probably
because he thinks that he is armed
with q long spoon and that they will
not be the ones to profit most by an
uncanny association.
Trade between Great Britain and
impoverished Soviet Russia is likely
to prove figment Of the magma
ton. There is nothing to show that
the Red government has any stocks
of food or merchandise with which
to carry on barter. A few British
merchants may be in frame of
mind to send goods to Russia on
risky credits. But any real exchange
seems visionary, especially in view
of the fact that the British courts
require evidence that Russian liquid
assets, like gold, securities and jew
elry, offered in the London market
are the rightful property of the
holders.
| Nevertheless, there has been Gu
rious pressure in England for more
than year for reopening of bust
ness with Russia. A part Of the
British Labor party has clamored
for it for sentimental reasons.
Some merchants, shippers and pro-
moters have thought that they might
make money out of it. The treaty
| is sop thrown to these elements.
In that sense it is a lnaneuver in
domestic politics-one Of those an
chors which Lloyd George is SO adept
in throwing to windward.
| From his point Of view the victory
which Lenine will certainly claim is
effectively valueless. He himself
draws from the compact pledge
that Moscow will stop its Asiatic
propaganda and let Afghanistan and
India alone, This promise is doubt
less only form Of words. The Boil
shevists would be false to their first
principles If they lived up to it. Yet
it reads we'll in Parliament as a
quid pro quo. Even a temporary
alienation Of the British situation
in Asia would be welcome. The
treaty is : sand house. But each
side is acting in good faith to the
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
WELCOME

Or onward, where the rude Carin
THAN boor
Against the houseless stranger shuts the door
The Traveller.
Across our valley, where the sky
Comes down to meet the hill,
We saw the high, white farmsteads lie
Remote and bright and still.
Girt with their climbing walls they lay
Flanked by their orchard trees
And haystacks; and for neighbors they
Had sun and stars and breeze.
There, set in upland peace apart,
We knew that we should find
Old-fashioned folk of friendly heart,
Simple and sincere and kind.
And so we climbed by rain-washed ways
Stopping by sunny brooks
Like those where once we loved to laze
With rods and lines and hooks
Two frowsy men made no reply
When "Good dsy!" we dared;
With doubtful eye, we went by,
Folk stared and stared and stared.
-. -
A beldame at kitchen pane
Wiped sodden hands and scowled
A wolfish dog tugged at his chain,
And howled and howled and howled.
G. S. B.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
The Great Failure

Mr.. Lansing's article in The Sat
urday Evening Post does not tell
much essentially new, but it settles
some matters hotly disputed.
Mr.. Wilson's responsibility for his
unfortunate decision to go to Paris
is shown to be single. Mr.. Lansing
argued against the project the day
after the armistice was signed. Mr..
Wilson had pointed out to him that
his prolonged absence from Wash
ington would embarrass domestic
administration, would affront the
Senate and make ratification more
difficult, and that the Administra-
tion's policy could be best forwarded
by naming commission to which
matured instructions could be given
and which would regularly report
back.
But Mr.. Wilson was determined to
go, aid to the initial blunder he
added the one of going without d
plan. Nor would he allow others to
remedy the lack. So the initiative
went to others. Mr.. Wilson found
himself playing the f6le, not Of a
constructor, but of critic and fault
finder with respect to details. So
his influence was worn down.
Equally faulty was Mr. Wilson's
procedure with his own delegation.
He held no real conference with it as
a whole. He merely talked to its
members separately, and his instruc-
tions were chiefly oral, and thus nee
essarily indefinite. There was no
team work, and seldom in any true
sense was advice sought.
So the prestige of both Mr., Will
son and Of the delegation declined.
The tactics of Mr.. Wilson made this
practically unavoidable. The leader
ship this country originally exercised
became weak and then practically
expired.
The story is a lamentable one. Mr..
Wilson's gifts were not such as fitted
him to the task 70 which he put his
hand and from participation in
which he jostled others. His fixed
habit Of mind was to think out things
alone and then to give commands.
His temperament was opposed to
taking counsel. This Napoleonic
method has its merits, but it is ILL
suited to conference of equals. So
the great failure at Paris came, fol-
lowed by the even greater failure at
home when he still stubbornly re-
fused to learn from experience.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18

The Kaiser was alluded to In an
awcd, hushed whisper, and ] noticed
that any one who pronounced an
unorthodox opinion, such as admira-
tion Of modern pictures or music
both Of them among his abcminations
would be marked dangerous and
avoided by the discreet. In fact,
those two words, der Kaiser swal-
lowed up every other conception in
the Berlin brain, and distilled a
brew Of servility, terror, snobbish-
ness and moral cowardice that de-
fertilizcd all surrounding regions.
Conversation was not possible, but
merely the interchange Of guarded
phrases, as among people surrounded
by spies.
"If you asked your neighbor
whether he preferred potatoes
mashed, he would qualify his reply,
lest some hostess in the vicinity
should recently have given him fried
potatoes. I used to speak freely to the
Bulows about all this, and rather
gathered that the Kaiser liked the
idea Of all Berlin trembling in its
shoes, each man in terror Of the
man above him, and all in terror Of
him--a terror tempered by admira-
tion in his case, but none the less
mortal dread. In fact, Berlin seemed
to me what it was, the capital of 4
huge slave-state rather than a CEN
ter of civilized society"
There is ample testimony to con-
firm this general picture, and 1t
holds hard lesson which in justice
both to the German people of to-day
and to the rest of the world cannot
be good naturedly brushed aside. A
people who have lived under such
subjection for so long cam
not Immediately learn freedom or
practice truth. Allowances must be
made and, equally, care must be
taken. The mere fact that the mas
ter of the slave-state is at present q
refugee from his people cannot
forthwith end the consequences of
that subservience. Until a new
spirit is born in Germany and new
wisdom learned, through the slow
action of the years, the rest of the
world must watch and remember.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
The Landsmen $ Canal
Panama Locks Too Marrow for
Wide Battleships and Huge Liners


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: How few there be who realize
that any possible misinterpretation, on
the part of Japan, of our reuniting the
fleet, divided by Mr.. Daniels for politi-
cal reasons, could have been avoided
by our constructing a proper canal at
Panama.! The present structure, as was
pointed out in yesterdays Tribune, is
open to bombing attacks on it's locks,
hence it is practically useless in time
of war. AS all sailors know, one at
sea level should have been built, but
no sailors opinion was ever sought.
The canal was designed by landsmen. 4.
When finished, the shipping community
and the navy were virtually told to
take it as itwas and be thankful. Well,
we sailors are not thankful at all, but,
on the contrary, very discontented. It's
locks are too narrow to permit battle
ships the greater beam which their
growth in size demands, and soon they
will be found too short for the huge
liners now contemplated. When l
asked one of the members of the in
ternational commission appointed to
recommend the correct type why the
sea level project, which that commits
sion strongly favored, was abandoned
for locks, he countered with the query:
"You don't suppose the canal was built
for ships, do you?"
Thus we see to-day that the neglect
to consult those who were to use the
canal and to adopt the finding of an
unprejudiced board of experts has led
the Administration to assemble it's
fleet in Pacific waters, whereas with a
canal "built for ships" the vessels
could have been brought together in
the Atlantic without woundine the
susceptibilities or arousing the sus-
picions of our Far Eastern ally. The
evil results Of this original, colossal
blunder are bound to make them selves
felt more and more as time goes by.
c. F. GOODRICH,
Rear Admiral, u. s. N.
Princeton, N. j., March 10, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18

extent Of believing it may get sonle-
thing out Of it before the other does
and before it crumbles.
Lloyd Georges bargain is flyer
in what the Germans call realpolitik.
It is not idealistic. Other nations,
more squeamish, prefer to hold aloof
from Lenine's Tartar despotism.
They don't want to shake hands with
him even across a counter.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-18

whose opinion is highly valuable to US,
really believe that the French nation
has become bellicose, imperialistic and
that it's only concern is to ruin or
conquer Germany?
A. Do Americans really believe that
the Paris conference was too hard on
Germany and that the French demands
are exaggerated?
S. Does America believe that the
German Reich has become sincerely
democratic?
6. 1t interests US greatly to know
the sentiment of your boys who came
overseas two years ago; does their
attitude at present strengthen the
friendship Of America for France?
7. What will be the attitude of the
new Administration in the matter OF
the League of Nations?
8. What about the present economic
crisis? What do your business man
think Of the money exchange ques-
tion?
9. What is Americas opinion of the
future of Europe, or is she averse ia
bother about European affairs?
10. What is the sentiment, generally
speaking, about Bolshevist Russia and
it's future?
The above questions prove the in
tense desire of France TO go hand in
hand with America. Columns Of com.
ment would only weaken the impor-
tance that France attaches to Amer
lean public opinion. A loyal member
OF a family consulting another loyal
member Of the same family on LEADING
issues, what is more natural?
Viviani, we'll known in America. will
soon be honored by President HARDING
in an interview. The. French states
man will also pay visit to the great
political men of the country. It NAV
be assumed that the future security OF
France against possible aggression
by Germany will be the leading tonic
OF the conversation. Every one of these
statesmen knows that, under the cir
cumstances, security Of France means
security of the world-and what ia that
security worth without the moral sun
port of the United States? That is the
problem to be solved. There is no
other.