davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
The Meat Packers Bill

AH passing Ile heIly -hoIlUTlCk
bill, bringing the meat packers under
Federal regulation, the Senate re-
sponded to complaints from three
sources. Livestock raisers generally
have long been Of the opinion that
their selling market is unduly limit
ed through the control of stockyards
by the packing houses. The live
stock buyers think, with or without
justification, that they are not re-
ceiving just share Of the money
paid for meat by the ultimate con-
sumer. They hope to obtain higher
prices by clipping the power of the
big meat niddlemen.
The wholesale and retail dealers In
products Of animal origin have also
resented the presence in their field Of
the competition Of the packing COM
panies. The companies recently re-
versed this policy of expansion But
the possibility of competition of this
sort still alarms many groups Of
dealers in commodities, food or
other, not by-products Of the slaugh-
tering and packing industry.
Finally, the average consumer
has, rightly or wrongly, attributed
the high retail cost of meat to the
predominance in the market which
the packing houses have secured.
There are many causes for high
meat prices. Influenced by these
special interests, the public gener-
ally assumes there is an excess cost
of distribution, and it charges this to
the packers.
But will intrusive government
regulation reduce the cost of distri-
button. and thus give the stock
raiser higher prices for animals on
the hoof and the consumer lower
prices for meat? There is fat con-
tradiction in the prophecies. The
packers stoutly maintain that they
operate on margin lower than is
attainable without their intensified
and partially monopolistic form of
organization. The specific facts, so
far as they are accessible, seem to
sustain their claim.
Economically, therefore, the Ken
yon-Kendrick bill represents an ex-
pertinent in business decentraliza-
tion which may or may not bring the
results which its supporters expect.
Federal regulation has not, as
rule, made either FOR higher prices
to the producer or lower prices to
the consumer. As proof of this it is
only necessary to refer to oil prod
ucts and tobacco, and the more re-
cent experience with the railroads.
II is surely serious business when
the public tries to break UP great
organizations Of business whose
monopoly at bottom rests on their
ability to minimize economic waste.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Shifting Hylan Softly

The Times, discussing an obvious
duty resting on the Legislature,
says,
There is general belief and con-
siderable evidence that the present
municipal administration Ia incompe-
tent and inefficient. II 1t Is, the peo-
pie OF New York are entitled to know
the facts to the uttcrmost. A thor
oogh investigation should be made,
accompanied or followed by o con-
strucriye report"
The case Is succinctly and accu-
.rately stated.
AS TO. the "politics" Of the investi-
CATION, The Times claims to have in
formation that gone Of the local Re-
publican leaders are unfrierdly to it.
'on the theory that from their point
of view 1t Is desirable to have Mayor
Hylan renominated, and that, while
1t is desirable to discredit his admin
istration, the exposure should not be
carried 30 far as to prevent his re-
selection by Tammany. The Times,
wishing the Democratic organization
TO escape this untoward fate, severe
~ castigates the Republican leaders
for their alleged Indifference TO the
public interest.
II the attitude of the Republican
1oodoxu d - The Tiu1os describes. II
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
The New Nurneral

Most Of our words have the an
cientest of ancestries, and there have
been centuries Of use to wear them
to their present shape and con-
venience. Moreover, they are still
being accommodated to new con-
ditions. New shades of meaning de-
velop over highland new pronun-
Citations as well, from that new con-
troller of the destiny Of tongues and
speech, the telephone.
The numerals, the spoken nu-
merals, have taken on new irnpor-
tance with the development of the
modern telephone and the modern
exchange system. To enunciate the
numerals clearly and quickly is one
of the prime requisites Of existence
in modern civilization. That trill
Of the ''r" in "three" which the elusive
and invisible operator ripples Off so
trippingly will be taught to school
children few years hence as mat
ter of everyday utility, we suppose.
Who knows but that all spoken Eng
lish may be affected thereby? A
trilled "r" to replace the West
erner's death grapple with the
sound and the Fasteners la-de-da
avoidance of it as something unclean
would change the aspect of spoken
English amazingly.
And then there is that wholly new
numeral, "ai-en," which you can hear
any day on the phone if your ear is
quick. Its source and occasion are
obvious. In the care-free centuries
before the telephone it made no espe-
cial pother that "nine" and Give"
had the same vowel sound and am
blguous consonants of scant carry
ing power To-day this fact is one
of the greatest sources of wrong
numbers and bad temper and waste
time. So the experts Of the tele-i
phone have turned to "ri-en" as a
substitute. Try it on your trans
mitter and see how it works.
Personally, we think it a make
shift little better than the original.
A really scientific congress of the
telephone nations could undoubt-
edly improve on it. Several vowel
sounds are not represented in the
numerals at all-oh, ah and u, for
instance. And surely more vibrant
consonants could be found to help
carry the sound. Here is word re-
form that has real practical sense
behind it. Yet such is our distrust
of congresses that we are fully re-
signed to what will probably happen
F-the slow evolution by custom of a
new mine" or "fve" that will be
completely telephonable. Already, as
observed, the work is on it's way.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Books u.yv.s> By p,,..

An editor Of popular monthly maya
zine which specializes in red-blooded
fiction, football heroes and detective
yarns and the frozen North and all that
was speaking the other day to a pros
pective contributor. "We'd like to have
you do us a series Of storics," he said.
"Get something with a humorous char
acter in it and work up a series about
him. Something like -, something
like -" The prospective contribu-
tor trembled, for he thought that once
again he was to be advised to edo
something like Mr.. Dooley." But what
ever train of thought had been in the
editors mind he suddenly shifted.
There's man in England named Max
Beerbohm that writes just the sort of
stuff I'd like to get. There was one
story of his I read a few weeks ago
called Enoch Soames that's just about
the best short story ever read in my
life. Do US something like that"
The assignment, to be sure, was no
easier because of the editors shift from
Dunno to Beerbohm, but the prospective
contributor was interested because he
had heard so much of Max as fit fare
only for the few, and mere was an ed
itor of 20 redblooded magazine for he
men" clamoring for a tale as subtle as
Enoch Soames. 50.
"Do you mean to say that you would
have printed Enoch Soames If it had
been sent in to you?" asked the strux-
Cling author.
"Of course" said the editor. "I might
have cut out literary allusion here and
there, but the story's the thing, and
Beerbohm's got that as we'll as anybody
know. Don't get this idea that the
people who read the cheap magazines
have to have terrible stuff There's just
one thing they demand, and that's
story. If mans got story to tell he
can write just as we'll as he blame
pleases and he won't annoy soul"
And Even Now, the latest collection
Of Beerbohm's short pieces, is hardly
as good as Seven Men. 1t has not yet
been issued in an American edition, we
understand, but we trust that it will be,
since 1t is good stuff even if not Beer
bohm Of the very best. Certainly there
Is popular appeal in it. We have in
mind the essay entitled "How Shall
Word It?" which is Max's rambling
comment on guide for letter writer's
containing models for such useful COM
munications as Thanking Fiancee for
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

might we'll add another item to its
indictment-namely, that they are
exceedingly poor politicians. To be
convicted of maneuvering to smite
Mayor Hylan, but only softly, would
be as popular with the public as a
hippodrome conflict between Carpen-
tier and Dempsey. The Times hard
ly may be expected to think we'll of
the motives Of the Republican lead
ers, but it Is going far to attack their
intelligence, as it implicitly does. =.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Detectives at Large

An unusually clear and succinct
statement Of the waste and peril to
which society subjects itself by it's
indifference to the problem of men,
tai detectives appears in an article in
The Sing Sing Bulletin by DR..
Pearce Bailey, chairman of the State
Commission for Mental Detectives.
Mental detectives do not as a rule
plan crimes or take the lead in their
commission. They are useful to
gang leaders as helpers, however,
and crime wave like the present
is largely strengthened by their
presence and readiness to obey or
ders. Out of civil prisoners as a
class probably between Is and 20 per
cent are defective, DR.. Bailey esti-
mates. The percentage is far higher
among repeaters, and in this field
are the simplest opportunity for
prompt remedial action and the most
appalling waste of public funds and
disregard of public safety. Many of
these repeaters have been arrested
five, ten or even twenty times-an
infallible sign Of mental inferiority.
The average cost of a trial to the
state is $1,000. The cost of the
crimes committed by these detectives,
in life and property, is far greater.
There are more than two thousand
vacancies in the penal and correc-
tional institutions of the state at
this time, DR.. Bailey notes. The
present Legislature by a simple en-
actment could provide that these diff
fercnt institutions fill their vacancies
with these irresponsible criminals.
There is ample authority under the
mental deficiency law of 1919 for
the commitment of mentally defec-
tive delinquents to custodial care.
At Bedford Reformatory this pro-
cedure is now in force. At Elmira.
however, and the mems prisons the
mentally defective are turned loose
when their terms expire without re-
gard to the consequences. "Thus,"
says DR.. Bailey. every year we set
loose proved criminals, gunmen,
thieves, firebugs, vagabonds Of all
kinds who we know cannot be any
thing else"
DR.. Bailey played q. leading part
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
The Moderate Drinkers
A Prohibitionist Cries Shame Upon
the Lawbreakers


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Long Islands" sorrowful sympa-
thy, expressed in The Tribune, with
those whom he designates as "men Of
standing in the community" and "good
citizens" "men who in the old days
would not drink a glass of whiskey more
than once or twice a year." is really
touching. He moves me to tears. What q
dreadful result of prohibition, that men
who, before the passage of the Eight
eenth Amendment, imbbed not more
than twice year, are now fast degen-
Grating into gutter drunkards, in order
to show their disapproval of an article
of the Constitution which has become a
law of the land! And this alarming con-
dltion results because, forsooth, they
resent prohibitions interference with
what they call. their personal liberty"
l wonder, now, just what is this
personal liberty" we have heard so
much about in the arguments of the
ron-prohibitionists? According to their
view, so far as I am able to gather,
personal liberty" is the right to con-
sumo as much booze as they can hold.
have not heard one non drinking man
dllating volubly upon this phase of the
question. If it be conceded that "per
sonal liberty" is interfered with by the
enforcement Of the Eighteenth Amend
ment, the argument must be carried
further-oh, much further! We must
also abolish the Thirteenth Amendment
1t interfered quite violently with the
personal liberty" of a very large Sec
ton Of the country. Then let us abolish
all the laws restricting the sale and use
Of drugs. What right has the govern
ment to tell man that he cannot in
dulge the beautiful dreams that are said
to be so real to those who smoke opium:
or that he cannot sink his consciousness
into the oblivion that morphine, heroin.
absinthe, or any other of the soul-devas-
tating drugs afford? The government is
going too far. And then the white slave
traffic, as we'll as the black--is not the
Mann Act also an interference with
personal liberty"? The profiteers of
the war period, as we'll as of the present
time, might also register their con-
demnation Of the laws which curtail
their personal liberty" to gougc the
public. Is a man not at liberty to sell
his own property at the price which he
himself chooses to set? One could cite
innumerable instances of the interfer-
ence Of the government with the per
sonal liberty" of those who come under
Its Jurisdiction. Where will this argu-
ment Of personal liberty" lead us? Rus
sia to-day is in the throes of an orgy Of
personal liberty"
If these so-called "better class of
men" were really, truly Americans,
they would do all in their power to up-
hold the Constitution of their beloved
country-if the amendment be wrong.
to work to have it repealed, but to up-
hold the hands of the law while it re,
mains law Of our land. l cry shame
upon Long Islands "better class" Of
moderate drinkers" men who are
bringing disgrace and sorrow on those
connected with them. What a price 10
pay for mere disapproval and "resent-
ment"! "FREEDOM FOR ALL
Jersey City, N. j., Jan. 20, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Looking to 1924
How General Woods Presence ia
the Cabinet Would Unite Party

the Cabinet Would Unite Pany
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Undoubtedly the major portion
Of the people, without regard to section
or party, would be glad to see General
Wood made Secretary Of War; Tho
valuable discussion In your columns
has brought out in strong relief the
reasons for this approval, based on bis
personal efficiency and the public good.
But there is another angle Of approach
that should not be overlooked BY those
who, like myself, genuinely desire
successful Administration-one that
will be vindicated in 1924. / refer 10
that psychology Of great political move.
ments which, whether based altogether
upon reason or partly upon prejudice,
persist through long periods Of time.
The Progressive movement Of 1912
took firm hold of the Republican party.
This was partly due to Theodore Roose-
velt's personality, yet it had vitality
enough in 1916, although the Colonel
was supporting Mr.. Hughes, to assist In
the lattcr's defeat. 1t still exists IN
the hearts and minds Of men, and will
continue just so long as the conditions
that brought it forth. What Is Mr.
Harding going to do to prove that he
wants square deal" for the followers
Of Roosevelt in 1912? So far there
has not been a hint Of any political
recognition of that great body Of peo-
pie who polled three-ffths or mora OK
the Republican party vote Of that M
fortunate year. We may not wish y
raise such questions, but It Is foolish
to ignore facts.
On March the tremendous majority
for Mr.. Harding will, in the nstursi
course of events, begin TO disintegraS'
The Democratic party will be reorgsn-
lied and will once again acquire Wis
dom in defeat. 1t Is entirely probable
chat the Administration will have 20
depend ultimately upon normal oldtime
party strength. What will happen II
feeling of resentment and betraysi
shall prevail In the ranks, especls'i!
IN close Western states? Such feei'
ing last November was submerged III
the dominant purpose to get rid o.
wisconsin, but it was not destroyed.
Mr.. Harding, Immediately after MS
nomination, was taken on trust. hl'
conduct Of the campaign and h's
speeches brought him greatly deserved
admiration and much reluctant support
Not only political ethics but the *e'-
fare of the country now demands tns'
the new Chief Executive make posslpis
kindly, harmonious p.-rty sentiment
This cannot be achieved if those WIZ
loved and believed in Theodore Rooss-
welt find the party entirely in the nano'
OF those who at one time hated n'"'
This is plain speaking. but, ike pre-
paredness, it had better come now the"
two or three years too late.
While admirers of General WOOD a'o
fortunately not confined to any one
party or faction, nevertheless tne'o
could not be a more happy answer "
the questions have raised than MS
appointment to that responsible post IA
the Cabinet for which he is so emsneh''y
fitted. c. L. ROOD.
New York, Jan. 81, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Some Home Rule

The traction plan Of Governor
Miller, so far as it is revealed in his
special message, is attacked on two
grounds.
The first is that it seems to con-
template taking away from the City
Of New York all effective control
over. an investment which now
aggregates $30O,0O0,000 and in the
not distant future may be three
times this sum, and all local man
agement of service that intimately
affects every resident of the city.
Looking at facts as they are, recog-
nizing what Tammany is and the
likelihood Of its occasional success,
the great body of New Workers have
been willing partially to suspend the
home rule principle. They have
consented to a system under. which
the state government. and the city
government, jointly or concurrently,
the one checking the other, have
governed the city. But it is another
thing to turn over a city matter of
the first magnitude to the exclusive
control of the state.
The Governor argues that control
over transportation system is a
state function. The academic suf-
ficiency of this legal theory may be
conceded, but in practice, neither in
this country nor any other, has it
been the custom to consider strictly
intramural transit to be transporta-
Ton in a general sense. Governor
aiiiler will scarcely be able to take
way from local government alto
gether functions that are in fact
;;urely local in scope. AS this issue
IS more fully understood opposition
more and more will be encountered.
There is reason to apprehend that
adoption and application Of the prin-
c;ple that ali power is at Albany and
hat Albany may and should dis
egard rs it pleascs the wishes of
lAase who payethe bills would de-
s:eoy any political organization
eing to it.
Nor will it he agreed, although the
stion is disputable, that there
sssodld be a single fare under COM
g.ecely unified traction system. The
city is territorially large-twenty-
i:ge miles from one border to an
other. To make traveller who
goes five blocks pay as much as one
who travels one hundred times the
distance is policy that has limits.
Moreover, as President Mitten of the
Philadelphia Traction Company re-
Gently pointed out, the high fiat fare
= kills the profitable short haul, and
thus tends to increase the charge
for the long haul. The drift of
opinion is toward loose zoning sys-
tom rather than against it. The
scattering out of people is supported
: " strong arguments, but it can be
carried too far-increasing the bur
den Of taxes by requiring the main
tcnance, the patrolling and the light
: ing Of more miles of street, and fore
ing workers either to long journeys
. or to live in highly congested areas
: 10 be in walking distance.
Thes Governor, therefore, may be
: appropriately urged, as he is by ap-
parently the great body of Repub-
lican opinion in the city, to allow
more breathing room for the home
rule principle and to avoid deciding
in advance delicate questions which
!. may be properly left to the test of
experience.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

Learning isn't everything. and the IN
accurate arc as likely to inherit the
earth as the sticklers. So the Wanna
maker stenog who sent Chilver tho fol-
lowing bill Is doubtless an estirnabIe
young person:
/ Story Of an Opal
l Peterson
Mira Calf
l Miss Lulu Bell.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
A Stranger-but Not Taken In
tFsor, Tie Wal! Street JcurnaD

tFror, Tie Wal! Street Jour"a''
He was a prosperous looking stran-
ger, and when he entered f"'a
Avenue church the usher felt MIN "
worthy subject for special cons'oet''
ton. So he escorted him down ths
aisle and, stopping at pew, said sra.
ciously: "Sit in this pew and presently
you will see Josephus Daniels, oec.s,
tarv Of the Navy, In thnt pew ahes''
Thank you." replied the stFaaSe.'
but would rather sit elsewhere
am bankruptcy lawyer. and ] soc -.
the failures / want to during the vss1
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Costly Cures
(From The San F~onossoo Bulletin

Fron' The San Fronctsco Ballettn}
Doctors prescriptions issued last
year might give the impression that
the people of America hold the record
for sickness. AS matter of fact, we
are tho healthiest, as we'll as the
wealthiest, Of nations. Only q wealthy
people could afford to buy tho medicine
called for in most of those prescrip-
tions.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
TheConning 7ower
A ROMAN WINTER SPORT
Horace: Book /, Odo 3

Horace: Book 1, Ode 3
"Vides ut clta stet nive candidum-"
How shining white Soracte stands:
Ice are the streams. the woods arc snowy
Decans that best Of Sabine winesl
Fill up the crate. the nigh, is blowy.
As to the rest, leave that to them
Who keep the expresses from shaking.
The sunrise Of the next a. m.
Is not thing of human making.
Youth yet is yoursi scorn not tho dancel
Your daily exercise continue:
And don't say there IS no Romance
AS long as there is breath within you,
Come, Thaliarchu.. lc, u. =.
And take walk upon the Campu.,
And give the girls the double-o,
And let them. Thaliarchu.. lamp us.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
THE BRooKALYN sopRANNER

Dureenk to me yonlee wee-ee thy neye-ee
Zann die-ee wsel playd with my
Nor lee vah kee swecth ee-en the cu-uh
Pam dial nav tahsk for wine
The thirsss at from the soul doth rye
doth ahsk dree-eenk divi-een
Bah tmigh tie Of 10 vznechtah sl-i-
Pie woo-oo dnotch ange for thine.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

II we were desirous Of place in tho
Cabinet we should like our name to
appear to Mr.. Harding in vision the
night before the nominations were made.
When people have time to think you
over and consult others about you, your
chances wane.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

1t is the FREQ verse bards-most Of
them, that is-who are thrifty. Thrifty
with ideas, and thrifty, to the point Of
penuriousness, with rhythms.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Opus l,ooo,oo1

Said Lola Pratt to Lulu Bctt,
us 90 some chappie's tickle pet?"
"Be careful when you talk like that"
Said Lulu Bett to Lola Pratt.
p u
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

Complete Characterizer: The kind of
person who, guiding motorist. tells
him 300 feet before reaching It, which
turn to take.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
The Saving Sense

Solomon Grundy
Opened Bank Account on Monday,
Made Budget on Tuesday,
Insured his Life on Wednesday,
Bought Home on Thursday,
Made Will on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Was Buried on Sunday;
For Thrifty Guy
Was Solomon Grundy.
G. E. v. O.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Domestic Finish

from Tbs Bennington (Vt) Banner1
NOTICE
In answer to my husband Arley Il. Green's
posting notice is mistake. 1 stayed at my
sisters one night because did not dare
stay at homo after getting black eye and
other i'll treatment from my husband IN A
public place.
! am at homo now and It Is he who has
left. He picked up his few belongings and
dug out BECAUSE he was ashamed to look
people In the face after his behavior.
tSlgned) Mira. Arley Il. Green.
BY cable from Cork: Green grow tho
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
A Long Vacation
From The Montreal s

From THE Montreal sta.)
Speaking Of naval holidays" it is
recalled that the German feet had one
during tho late war.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26

At last the reviewer is able to sug-
gest an adventure story which really
is adventurous. Hubert Footner's The
Owl Taxi, published by Doran, is easily
the best of recent mystery yarns. A
more extended report will be made in
this column later in the week.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
TO "A SIMPLE LOVE

My dear, If should say your eyes
Are bright as Rigel in the skies:
If I should say your lustrous hair
Is glorious more than high Affair
And that your simple. happy smile
Is of the Mona Lisan style;
Or that your graceful ruby lips
Fen Trojan Helen's do eclipse;
And tell you. too-not Just to please
You're fairer than the Naades:
Said such things. by ardor famed,
l do not think you'd understand.
ELMO p AB8Nfl