davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Futile Short Sessions

The short session ends three
weeks from next Friday, and Con-
gress is now in the throes of the
biennial legislative jam. Every two
years the general futility of the De-
cember-t March sitting is demon
strated afresh. But there isn't
enough energy left in Washington
after the crisis is over to break away
the shackles of an outgrown political
calendar
The legislative work of year
can't be crowded into three scant
months. 1t could be in the old days,
when routine business was light and
the appropriations were a twentieth,
or even a tenth, of what they are
now. We didn't have a billion-dol-
lar Congress until 1890. Now we
have three to four billion dollar
sessions. Even appropriation bills
are beginning to fail with some req
ularity. at the short session. Some
may fail again this year in spite of
the acceleration brought about by
the creation of single House COM
mittee to handle many measures.
AS for other legislation, it is left
more than ever at the mercy of
minority opposition groups and even
single obiectors.
Most of the important bills which
have passed one house or the other
ere held up in the present jam.
They include the emergency inn1i-
grafton and tariff bills, the meat
packers bill, the soldiers bonus bill
and the reapportionment bill, the
last named the best measure of the
sort which the House has passed for
many decades. There Is serious op-
position, open and covert, to many
of these bills. But it is more desir-
able, whatever it's merits may be,
that Congress should act on a bill
of consequence than that it should
be choked to death blindly in a log
jam. Congress is, in fact, introduc-
ing into its procedure something like |
the Presidents pocket veto"
This legislative pocket veto" also
offers an easy escape from personal |
responsibility. 1t is common talk
at the Capitol that many Representa- |
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
The Call for General Wood
Fiigh Expectations of the People That
Only Sinister Forces Can Defeat

Only Sinister Forces Can Defeat
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: There is some captious COM
ment on the prospective Cabinet an
polntments of President elect Harding.
but there is one point that cannot be
too strongly emphasized. The people of
this country will not much longer tol,
crate the disregard of their wishes in
nominations and appointments Our
government is supposed to be one of
and for the people, but their choice of
their choice the effect will be so dis
the election Of candidates selected by
mlnorities, and the appointees are sell
dom called by the vox populi.
At the present crisis nothing could
be clearer than the call for General
Wood for high and responsible po-
sition. That justice will be done in
the case of this great man, SO long
shelved by the peevish autocracy of
the outgoing rule, and that we can
have the opportunity to apply his wis
dom and experience to our pressing
problems constitute a demand that no
incoming Administration could safely
ignore.
If the people are disappointed of
their choice the effect will be so dis
heartening as to deaden the whole tri-
umph of the election. Many hopes
have been placed upon the entering Ad-
ministration; to kill these hopes will
be disastrous. We can only trust that
Mr.. Harding will not begin so inaus-
piciously. He cannot afford to do so,
nor can we afford to lose our higher
expectations. 1t is time that some as
surance came. Only sinister forces can
defeat this demand of the people. Will
politicians never learn?
We want to remove the stigma from
this word "politician" 1t ought to
be synonymous with Statesman" Poll
tics is not game for the advancement
of individuals, but great science, and
it should bear evidence of wisdom.
Discerning minds should not find it
necessary for the people to ask for
General Wood; he should be taken for
granted. The notion that he represents
spirit of militarism is too absurd
to be believed by any but few fanat-
les. We have had enough of deliberate
misrepresentation. 1t is unthinkable
that we should begin another course of
it, The tension is becoming too great.
Why can we not be reassured?
NJ. C. SMITH.
East Orange, N. J., Feb. 4, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Not Revenge but Justice
New York, Feb. A, 1921.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The letter in yesterdays Trib-
une entitled Forget and Forgive" is
an instance of the common mistake of
taking up a single verse in the Bible,
dwelling wholly on that and forgetting
to compare it with other portions of the
same Scripture, which either explain it
or state other phases of the truth.
The demand to forgive our enemies
applies to personal conduct. Savages
took the law into their own hands. The
Old Testament describes how courts
of justice were formed among the
Hebrews to prevent men from doing
this and enable them to submit their
disputes to an impartial court. Christ
found the people of His time especially
needed warning against revenge and
malice, but equally He sent His apos-
ties to teach the position Of the civil
magistrates and their duty to punish
those that do evil. AS a recent version
expresses it, "they are Gods servants
to infiict his punishment upon those
""" w WIOHE. icb. refer declares
that "the governors are sent by the
emperor to punish evildoers and COM
mend those who do right" When.
therefore, an organized army of rob
bers burst into Belgium and northern
France, killed the people, ravished the
women, destroyed the churches and
universities and robbed and took what
they could get, it was notionly the right
but the duty of civilized nations to
punish them and "to execute Justice"
We find in our own time the inhu-
ence of ohrist's teachings in both
aspects. The practice of duelinc,
which was sort Of private war by
which men undertook to punish indi
vldual wrongs, has practically been
abolished. A gentleman is not "sud- |
den and quick in quarrel" as his an
cestors were. But, on the other hand,
the Allies united to punish the great |
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
MaudIin Christianity
e Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The letter Forget and Forgive
Is the best exhibition yet of the maud
i'm state of mind in which some al
legged Christians are placed by the al
legged teachings of their Master. I
shall endeavor to answer it.
Since when is the collecting Of an
indemnity for damages done called
vengeance? If it is so, our courts of
justice, who daily allot damages for.
injuries suffered or losses incurred bv
the plaintiffs, cannot be called Chris
Slan; no more so can the American SOL
ciers who went "over there" to helm
PUT down the fiendisht followers of the
Kaiser, for did they not help punish
the invaders of Belgium and visit VEN
geance upon the Germans?
II the payment of this indemnity
places "a Eation of men, women and
their children in economic slavery y
what about France, the Twronged and
despoiled nation, who Will find her.
self in economic slavery, with her chill
dren, II this indemnity is not paid :?
How about Belgium, the martyr, who
would find herself in the same predica-
paent? Is it more Christian to deprive
the injured of their just dues than to
force the rscalcitrant malefactor to
make reparation?
1t Is high time that certain kind of
unhealthy religious buncombe and
Weak sentimentality which parades un-
der the name of Christianity should
get its just deserts from the press
and the pulpit, or the very name of
Christianity will suffer from the vapor-
ings of it's deluded defenders.
JUSTICE.
Pelham. N. Y Feb. s, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
orget and Forgioe
Il FEN Typical RehGes TO the Assertion of Reader That
Indemnity Is Uncristan
, the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The assertion of your CORE
spondent Russell J. Clinchy to the eff
feet that the action Of the Allied
powers in demanding of Germany the
sum of fifty-two billions of dollars is
direct challenge against the princi-
pie of Christianity is, contend, seri-
Gus misapprehension of the truth. 1t
is much of kind with the principle
underlying the idea of pacifsm.
AS the Christ Of the New Testament
is merciful and demands that His fol-
lowers be likewise, so also the Coo
of the Old Testament was merciful. but
not without condition in either case.
Both demand that the transgressor be
penitent, and humbled, accepting of
his punishment" and willing to make
restitution UP to the "extent of. all
the substance of his house" Iev.
xiv, 1921. Prov. vi, 3o-31.)
And John, the forerunner of Christ,
demands of the Pharisees and Saddu-
Gees that they ''bring forth fruits meet
for repentance" So also Christ Himself
in His parable describes the impeni-
tent debtor as being delivered to the
tormentor," and of his having "to pay
up to the uttermost farthing" (Matt.
V, rs, and xviii, 34.) So, then, where
do we get the. idea of the unconditional
forgiveness demanded by Mr.. Russell!
Clinchy?
That very much mistaken idea that
Jesus Christ was the impersonation of
an unreasoning mollycoddle principle
needs repudiating most vehemently, as
1T is propagation of much infdelity,
bringing unmerited scorn and de-
rision upon the Church of Christ.
MAURICE c. ROBERTS.
New York, Feb. 4, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
MIR. Wells's Strength and
Weakness

One of the best criticisms of the
Wells Outline Of History that we
have seen appears in The Nation
from the pen of a fellow historian,
Professor T. Salwyn Schapiro, of
the College of the City of New
York. There is a careful and illu-
minating review Of the volumes in
detail; and there is also, based upon
this record, an extraordinarily
fair and deep-probing analysis
Of the whole Wellsian mind and
philosophy.
Professor Schapiro keeps his
head and his adjectives in admirable
control throughout. He gives large
praise where it is due; he refuses to
be stampeded either to irritation or
extravaganza by Mr.. Wells's high
psints of nonsense or genius.
Touching Mr.. Wells unon Napoleon,
for instance, he remarks that there
is a laugh IN every line but that
there rs nothing worthy of serious
notice" The whole violent be-
lifting of Alexander, Caesar and
Napoleon Professor Schapiro char
acterizes justly as carried to absurd
lengths. Conceding that historians
have sinned grievously TT exagger-
ating the majesty of our heroes, he
concludes that the Wells Judgment
of these worthless is even more fan
tastic and unreal than that of their
glorifiers."
Excellent comment is also made
upon the Wells treatment Of ma
tionalism as a reactionary force; to
the contrary, it was "the revolution
ary force of the nineteenth century
and it is one of the great progress
sive forces of our day." 1t is not
an idea that can be eliminated by
merely taking thought. 1t is
sentiment that expresses the desire
of community to live it's own life
in It's own way, unhampered by re-
strictions imposed by autocrats or
by outsiders" This is clear sense
scientifically stated and it makes
the Wells arV-nationa'ism sound
like the romantic Stiffness that it is.
The summary of the Outline
shows magnificent design, splen-
did imaginative conception, that
makes the work an extraordinary
and brilliant tour de force-the
reading of it "a liberal education"
But, Professor Schapiro regretfully
considers, Mr.. Wells is not an i'm
mortal and will not pass into future
generations. He is ''the most high
ly imaginative human being now
living; but his sintellect is not ex-
traordinary." Therefore, he is sug-
gestiye, not creative. He arouses, he
stimulates; but he is utterly incapa-
BILE of being the architect of any
new system of thought in any field.
The Outline, like his more amhi-
tious novels, begins superbly. The
problem presented Is universal
one, the characters approach it with
magnificent strides. Then, when
You are about half way through, |
there is break, a sudden descent,
and the book fzzles. The Outline |
begins with a magnificent concep- |
ton of history as foretelling hu- !
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

tives and Senator'S have supported
bills at this session on the theory
that the latter would never reach
q final roll call. Short session condi-
tions therefore encourage political
juggling and window dressing, while
at the same time they put enormous
obstacles in the way Of desirable
measures which have sincere ma
jority's support behind them.
A session of adequate length each
year, with nc snap time limitation,
is needed to insure straightforward
and intelligent handling of the ma
tion's business.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

In presenting their case for more
control over labor conditional the
railroad executives emphasize what
has happened in the railroad repair
shops. =.
In 1917 in the railway shops I302,-
S28 machinists, blacksmiths, Delec-
tricians, etc, We're employed, who
received $317 ,679,549 in. wages. In
1920 the number employed was
443,774, and the wages paid we're at
the rate, of $S90,o0o,o00 ANNUALLY.
The pay roll increased 40 per, cent
and the wages nearly 200 per icent.
What of, the work done? If the
railroad executives speak tru v the
aggregate was but little larger in
1920 than in 1917.
The figures should be most inter
esting to organized labor. They
throw into high relief the chief
legitimate criticism of uniohs and
suggest why the open shop, move
ment has grown in strength. EN-
ployers would probably make little
headway in bringing i'm the open
shop if not assisted by practice
of unionists which Is as much
against the welfare of the unionists
as against that Of employers and
the general pubic.
To the union idea itself. objection
is almost dead. Nor is. the main
opposition to the rate Of wages. The
principal complaint is to that de-
liberate decrease of production, per
employee which inevitably leads
first to loss to the employer and
then to greater loss to employees.
If unionists but intelligently pur-
sued their selfish interest labor dis
turbances would be few.
One pest of the industrial world
is the superstition frozen in many
union regulations that wages are
paid out of profits, and hence that
when the total Of the extraction is
enlarged it is necessarily good for
wage workers. Only during tenn
porary periods is this ever true.
The wage fund is limited by prpduc-
tion, and when production per man
comes down, then down comes COM
pensation.
The other pest, equally its
brother in malignancy, is the stupid
delusion, also inherited from the
past, that labor gains when two
rather than one are on job. This
has been a most powerful influence
in depressing wages. Few labor
leaders who give thought to their
problems are victims of it, but they
plead their inability to open the
minds of their followers to simple
truth. However this may be, they
seldom try, and SO the business of |
manufacturing useless and non-pro-
ductive work and multiplying jobs
continues.
A time will doubtless come when |
organized labor, for the good Of it's
membership, will have lecturers in
labor political economy, but this
time is distressingly slow in arriv-
ing. The absurdity that labor saw
ing is bad for the laborer still holds
it's grip and is the provoking cause
Of destructive strikes and lock-outs. |
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

NAiA4SlldI1ity VIII MOE D)le
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: That the shallow, servile whim-
perings of the German people are still
able to win over weak-hearted sympa-
th1zers is demonstrated by the views of
Russell j. Clinchy, printed in The Trib-
une of this date.
The essence of Mr.. Clinchy's letter
betrays his sad lack of knowledge of
the reasons for placing the indemnity.
and wonder where he has been dur
ing the last seven years. While the un-
warranted invasion of Belgium, the
slaughter of its inhabitants, the whole
sale destruction of French property.
the sinking of passenger ships, ETC.. all
may be overlooked in the light of some
Biblical phrases, still the Allied peoples
take the virile, sinful stand that Ger
many must pay for the damage it
wrought during its spasm of fallacy.
AS q result the succeeding generation
OF Germans may be forced to shoulder
part of the burden imposed bv the
Allied countries, and the more prompt
they are in their payments the quicker
VIII they be able to whitewash the he
smlrched regulations of their indiscreet
fathers.
In any case, Christianity will not
die, despite Mr.. Clinchy's lugubrious
prediction. RANDOLPH ST. JOHN.
New York, Feb. a, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

manity's future. And what dSues
that future turn out to be? ~A
vague, sentimental, middle-clhss
mid Victorian vision of peace sand
prosperity"
There could not be a Gle hrer
statement of the Wells paradox that
makes him easily the most inte rest
ing mind applying itself to the eriti-
cism Of current life---and also one
of the least reliable of ghilles
upon the constructive side oftthe
problem.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Too Optimistic
tFrom The PHILADELPHIA Inquire

'F'roTFs The Philadelphia Tnquirer)
Because, according to its figures, the
consumption of whisky decreased from
o9,64l,985 gallons in 1917 to 5,581, ,553
gallons in 1920, with proportionate de-
creases in other liquors, the Anti-sa-
loon League calmly states that prohibi-
tion saved the country over a billion
dollars last year. 1t refuses to take
into account, of course, that the coun-
try paid from eight to ten times as
much for its liquor as it did in 1917.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

crime that the Germans had committed.
The indemnity that they are now de-
manding is not matter of revenge
but of justice. 1t is impossible for the
Germans to restore to life those they
have killed or to replace the beautiful
buildings they have destroyed, but it
IS at least possible for them to make
compensation for the material injury
they have done. 1t is their duty to 90
this, and the nations are doing simple
justice in requiring it.
EVERETT P. WHEELER.
New York. Feb. K 1921
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
The Coming 1T,ower
"'The Pigeon-Scarer''

"Ihe Pigeon-Scarer"
Every mornn' useta watch and wonder,
While all them pigeons was ayn' around his
head,
What was he doin' with that, now, 6shin'-
pole,
Funny and blackhkc. and The sky all red
After a while thought he mus, be crazy:
Didn't he know they don't catch birds that
wayp
But still he done it, and finely goes
Inta the bird-store, and asts EN-, Say,
That dizzy gink there, way up on the roof.
What is he doin'--whats he tryin to
provc?"
They says he was reg1ar pigeon scarer,
And has to keep them pigeons on the move.
A pigeon is lazy thing, you see;
They like to SET around and hate to fly;
But if you let EN-. then they clean forget
How fyn is, and so get sick, and die.
Now amt that funny9 But got to thinkin'
How Life is like that; and, you know, i,
seems
Troubles and things like those is pigeon
scarcrs,
And pigeons is your soul, or elset your
dreams.
If everything goes right, they get all lazy,
And fat and crawl around all weak and
slack;
SO then old pigeon scarer comes along.
And pokes EN- up. And all the siren III
comes back
inta your dream wings or your soul-winss---
seep--
And-WhishI-they leave the lazy parts Of
Down on the ground, and up, way up, they
Up where it's clean, and beautiful, and blue
But here's the sad part, when YOU come 10
think:
They sneak back to the place he chased 'em
from;
Always they get back to the lazy ways
Always the plgeon-scarer has to come.
JOHN V. A. WEAVER.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Echoes of Mr.. Daniels
the Editor of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Why is it that so many of
our naval officers back up Mr.. Daniels
at all costs? Even the General
Board appears, in many respects, to
9imply echo his ideas! Is it not plain.
after the awful record of the past
eight years, that the opinions of Mr..
Daniels are worse than valueless i?
Far better quote the Ahkoond of Swat!
OLD NAVY.
New York, Feb. 4, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

work, They are therefore entitled
to the most liberal consideration as
agents in developing the foreign
trade of which the United States
now stands more than ever in need.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

Mr.. Bryan is entitled to take note
of the fact that the votes cast in the
two houses to sustain the Presidents
latest veto were 16 and /.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
sEMewa OF rur ASSOCIATED PRESS

& The Associated Press exclusively entitled to
che use for republication OF all dispatches
credited 10 Il not otherwise credited in this ,
isaper. and siso the local Of spontaneous
iergin published herein,
e . All rights OF republication Of ell other matter
herein also reserved.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
suaeaNTy

fte can surehasc merchandise advertised "a TNE
TRIBUNE @lsh absolute safety--for II dlssattsfao-
ten results ie any case THG TRIBUNE suaran.
tees to pay your neaeS hack uFon reruSst Ne rsd
tsps. No eul6anp. We make aosSi, promptly II
tue advertiser does net
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

Il never thous'Rt of taking cock
tail before Proh>,Htion," confided Dull
clnea, but now 1 take one whenever
am offered one, May never get an
other chance, you see."
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

The Thanatopsis Club of Gopher
Prairie telegraphs it's Endorsement If
hn Mrs w. G. Harding's musical taste.
~ uOur favorite song, too," it wires, ais
The End of a Perfect Day."
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08

AS general rule writer's and editors
want to discuss anything but their
work when they are on holday.-Ray'
Long in The Bookman.
AS a general rule writer's and editors
don't want to discuss anything but
their work wnen they are on holiday;
and more often than not themselves
in relation to it.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-08
Christianity Will Not Die

New York, Feb. s, 1921.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-13

Velour, plain and plaid
silvertone in tan, brown
and Pekin. Sports model
sketched. Some attractive
wraps included. All silk
lined.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-13

continue untl the
last now member
is counted. at
midnight. ] I'm @
30. At the con
clusion Of the
drive n prize
dra wing will be
con d ted by
Franklin D'Olier.
chairman Of the
H.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-13
LEGION PUSHING
MEMBER DRIVE
II Is Expected State Will Have
Largest Enrolment at Con-
cIusion Of Campaign
mARNEMEN PLAN TRIP

The membership drive Of the Ameri-
cnn Legion in the Department OF Penn, i,,
sylvaua i now in full swing ana VII
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-10

opinion, in 80 per cent of the cases
age is more to blame than youth
for the lack of understanding and
sympathy between generations
The speaker declared that BOYS
and girls from earliest childhood
should take up the study of the OPP
posite sex. Men should make a
study of womankind, and a girl
should be taught to make the prop
er sort of home for her husband
and family. Because if there is a
better understanding between man
and wife there is sure to be a
greater understanding between
children and parents.
Mrs. Pennybacker emphasized
the necessity of a girl earning her
own living for at least year be-
fore her marriage, that she may
have a better understanding of the
problem of her husband. She said
that love saved the world once and
il will save the world again. She
urged that the older people try to
interest the younger generation in
the problems OF the day, suggesting
In particular the coming confer
ence for the limitation of arma-
ments.
Judge Florence Allen of Cleve-
land, Ohio, judge of the court Of
common pleas, will address the
November meeting on. New Free
dom and New Responsibility.