davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
No Softer Peace
ditor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me to voice my accord
ance with your views on the German
reparation question, which you So ably
discussed in last Tuesday s>issue.
Your statement that "softer peace
is being "propagandized" by pro-German
thinkers in ,the Allied counties should
arouse the indignation of all patriotic
Allied peoples who sacrificed their coun-
tries blood to a cause which would be
in vain If the enemy of civilization were
to escape unpunished. A punishment
would force upon them the realization
that another attempt at world invasion
would surely result in their downfall.
A complete reimbursement to in
jured France and Belgium, which have
suffered immeasurably, would keep the
memory of their great mistake fresh in
the minds of the "murderers," would be
Just deserts for crime which II nation
has repeatedly tried, an encroachment
upon the rights OF mankind in past his
tory, and who, if given light sentence,
would almost certainly apply the old
adage "If at first you don't succeed try,
try again" r. w. G.
New York, Feb. 2, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
Ii, Praise of Dubs

This is a hymn, loud and unapolo-
getic, in praise Of dubs, those livable,
friendly, personable folk who keep
the world turning while the auippy
intellectuals and the wise guys and
the smart Alecks pick at them and
sniff.
To be different is the sole aim in
life Of these superior mortals. They
loathe any idea that has become
popular, any phrase that they must
share with the tongues Of the mob,
any slang not belonging to .the day
after tomorrow. They are the one
race Of perfect snobs left alive in
this democratic age; or, at any rate,
the most complete and self f-conscious.
There are all grades and classes of
them, as in every hierarchy of snobs.
Those that use the slang Of to-day
sheer at those who use the slang of
last week. Some of them brag about
the exciting people they know, al
ways using nickname; some of
them are quite unobjectionable in
this respect and act like regular
human beings, neither Dragging nor
showing off, even avoiding such
bumptious snobbery. But the tribe
is one, whether they inspire to mur-
der or not. The central point is they
are. publicly or secretly, puffed up
by the thought that they are not as
other men.
Dubs may have minor forms of
snobbery, as who has not? But
mostly they are too busy living to
waste time on being different. They
are different--often more important
ly SO than the most strident Phari-
see. But their differences are those
subtle ones of disposition and nature.
rhythms of feeling, the length of
wave of hair, and so on in respect to
vital matters which make or break
neaTtS ana empires. WAS Hermione
good sport?" and "How long was
her nose?" raise far more important
queries than any jeer at the dullness
of her thinkers. 1t is safe guess
that the name Of that publican who
has figured so largely in sermons for
the last 1900 years was Cyril and
that he said Its me' despite all
that his wife could do to prevent him.
In short, we tender our respect
and affection to the dubs of-the uni
verse and express the hope that they
will yet conquer, despite the hordes
OF intellectuals now descended upon
the land, each striving to be zippier,
smarter, knowinger than the other.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
Principles of Americanism

Addressing meeting of the Amer
lean Legion at the State House, Gov
ernor Cox of Massachusetts re-
marked that "Americanization is a
broader term than is generally ac-
cepted." He went on to say that
the process should not be confined to
those who are not citizens, but that
many who are American born shave
fallen out of sympathy with the prin-
ciples that we call American" The
truth of this assertion can hardly be
denied. There is room for debate,
perhaps, as to the exact nature of
these principles. There is, for ex-
ample, difference hetweers patriot
ism, and jingoism. Much that
passes for Americanism is simply
narrowness Of view, but. this is less
dangerous to the body polite than
the immoral internationalism which
certain recent tendencies have
brought into vogue.
Governor Cox's warning was no
doubt meant to apply to those whose
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
The New Natior,

A Jewish tradition has it that the
return to Palestine would not occur
until the scattering Of the race was
complete. And SO when tolerant
Puritanisnl, through Cromwell, re-
pealed the exclusion act Of Edward
/ and permitted entry into the
Ultima Thule Of the ancients, it was
argued that the Diaspora had been
consummated and that the last sta
ton of exile, as Philip Guedalla re-
marks, was to be the first station of
the homeward journey.
AS if to vindicate the tradition, it
is through Great Britain that Zion
again has habitation. The found
ing Of territorial Jewish nation
was yesterday proclaimed from Lon
don. Great Britain, trustee under a
mandate issued by the Council Of the
League Of Nations, devolves her au-
thority, or the greater part Of it, on
the representative Of Jewry brought
together in an advisory committee.
Balfour wears not the aspect Of
Cyrus, yet after three thousand
years he follows the policy Of the
Persian king.
To found or to rebound nation
according to q prospectus is q diff
cult business. From Plato's Repub-
lie to Oglethorpe's Georgia one
searches in vain for an example Of
successfully induced national life.
But the Zionists are full of faith
that promises to flower in works.
Many Of the children of the dis
persion have found personal pros
perity. Many others are wretchedly
poor and oppressed. The fortunate
propose to give their unfortunate
brothers q chance. The new Pales-
tine is to be watered, railroaded,
severed, electrically lighted, fur
nished the material of modern civili-
cation. To the prepared land it is
believed a great company Of home
steaders will flock, partly to satisfy
their national and religious aspira-
tions and partly to better their eco
nonic condition. From New York to
Jerusalem may seem long journey,
but for many reasons the distance is
not as far as from Kishineff.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05

forgetfulness Of American principles
unhappily found expression during
the war. There is no Americanism
in pacitisn as commonly preached,
or in pro-Germanism; nor yet in that
pallid enthusiasm for humanity"
which is usually so oddly unhuman.
The so-called intelligentsi,s did not
speak for Americanism then, nor are
they speaking for it now. 1t is a
curious fact that extraordinary diva
cations from both logic and common
sense are more frequent in the self
styled thinker than in the plain way
faring man. Perhaps this is because
the former takes himself too seri-
ously. There is close connection
between sense of proportion and a
sense of humor.
Americanism may be Illustrated by
our outlook abroad no less than by
our outlook at home. 1t is not Amer
icanism to hold in contempt the rest
of the world or to fail to have, in
the words of the Declaration Of Inde
pendence, "a decent respect for the
opinions Of mankind" Domestic
and foreign problems are more or
less interrelated, and those who can
not see straight when they look at
Germany or Russia are little quail
flied to cope with the future Of Amer
lea. herself.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
inent against Germany there is as
sessrnent TO the same amount against
Fray,cn
Cooperation First

AT this stage in the development
OF the American merchant fleet the
one great need is cooperation among
the interests behind that develop
ment. We are In q backwash just
now. Ocean transportation is shrink
Ing in vol,Rne. The government is
behindhand in disposing of its ship
holdings. It's operating ventures are
also not sufficiently liquidated. These
conditions tend to create friction be-
tween the government-owned part of
the fleet and the privately owned
part.
The main hope OF reviving our
merchant marine lies in successful
operation under private ownership.
We are working toward that end
under recent shipping legislation.
Government operation is sort of
stop-gap until private ownership
becomes extensive and powerful
enough to take control. Under these
circumstances government competi-
ton which INJURIES private owners is
departure from sound policy.
The government, in justice to pri-
vate operators. must recognize that
its own enterprise has become
transient and self-limiting one, in
which the main consideration is to
close out with whatever loss may be
inevitable. 1t has sold shipbuilding
material and shipyards cheap, and
cannot long postpone sacrificing its
remaining tonnage. There are war
deficits which might as we'll be faced
and accepted. Any attempt to oper-
ate ships in damaging competition
with privately owned ships will not
avert the writing off of losses. 1t
will do harm, instead of good, in so
far as it makes operation by private
owners more difficult.
This is no season for rate cutting
or bther activities ON the govern
ment's part which will depress the
business Of private owners. Nor is
it q good time for controversies
which create bad feeling between
Congress and American companies
which must participate in any effort
to revitalize the American carrying
trade.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
What Japan Knows
o the Editor of The Tribpre

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: During my sojourn here this
last two months have been listening
to the continuous talk among my Amer
lean friends of the possibility of war
between America and Japan. / am posi-
tive voice millions when / state that
Japan is far too wise to entangle her
self with the U. S. A. She knows that
should there come clash the u. S. A.
would consist of the most wonderful
army and navy the world could picture.
She could just beckon to the prime Of
England and other western countries
and she would have every soldier and
navy man answering her call, in spite
of any existing treaties.
Ninety-nine per cent of Englishmen,
Canadians and Anzacs would rush to
her banner and Japan would have Just
such shock as Germany had when she
had the whole~world against her.
Honestly, some of us would like the
chance TO prove above. f. M.
New York, Feb. 2, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
Hiuck and the Blue Laws
The Historic Case of the Widows
Snuff Cited in Evidence.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Turn to Chapter 1, last verse, on
page eighteen of the book of Huckle-
berry Finn. And Huck said, pretty
soon wanted to smoke and asked the
widow to let me. BYt she wouldn't
She said it was mean practice and
wer'n't clean, and must try not to do
it any more. That's just the way with
some people. They get down on o
thing when they don't know nothing
about it. And she took snuff.
too; Of course, that was all right,
because she done it herself"
This Huckleberry philosophy is sug-
gested by the activities of the Blues
and the Drys as we know of them
particularly through your good
columns: wondering, after the Vol
stead enactment, if we'll know them
more intimately should more law put
on the screws of a Sad Sabbath and
permit those camels to come snoop-
ing around our kitchens.
don't use liquor. Good liquor costs
too much. But what we've, your
average citizen--would like to know
is what are we coming to? Are they
actually going to invade the citizens
cestle?
We nope not. The Volstead act
would not have become a law, the
indifference of the protoplasmic ma
jority Notwithstanding, were prohibi-
tion in a large measure not beneficial.
But-and please discount any passion
for oratory--we must shake our heads
with some concern when we realize to
what extent the Volstead wedge has
encouraged that mania in people, like
the widow of Mark Twains tale, of
laying down the law, even to regulat-
ing habits of somebody else.
Let the dead rest in peace. Twas
we'll done job, last November. But
it was one largely the result of
bureaucratic interference, in cases
amounting to persecution. Are we
going back? And I'm asking for. in
formation. Do you foresee a relapse
We beseech you, o scribe, to warn us
in time of Mrs. Grundy and her secret
ways! Is she poking the pointed end
sof her umbrella into the backs Of our
legislators, by the Blues called
cowardly? And are we going to have
more government poking its nose into
our private affairs?
Twill all, however, be the same a
thousand years from now. Some days
it looks as though it would never stop
raining. But, as the farmer said, it al
ways has. E. T. REVLING.
Brooklyn, Feb. 2, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
BrindelI

The conviction of Brindell is i'm
portant to every citizen of New
York, particularly to the poor in
worlds goods, for his brazen extor-
tion strangled the building of tene-
ments. Brindell was most forceful
ally of greedy landlords. Every per-
son in the city pays more for a
place to lay his head because Of his
crime. TIE put few dirty dollars in
his pocket this man was willing to
Derpetuate cruel conditions.
The, conviction is important as q
hopeful sign that society is still able
tp protect itself against the most
S1'1tle efforts Of cunning wickedness
10 prey on it. Evil is protean, is for
ever putting on new masks, but they
are torn aside when it swelis to
menacing size. We have the old les
son that hypocrisy vainly seeks to
shield itself by hiding behind good
movements and causes.
But even more important is the
instruction the conviction brings to
the organizations of labor and those
who sympathize with them. These
organizations are warned that they
are also afflicted with an infirmity
common to all human institutions.
The state, the church, the lodge, the
Union, no matter how noble it's aims,
il always under risk Of being as
sailed by internal rottenness. A
unions agents also steal the livery
of good to serve the devil in. When,
with more experience, organized
labor fully realizes that it is neces-
sary for it to watch for and to drive
out it's betrayers, then Brindell
prosecutions will be more excep-
tional. The law can do much to pro-
tect, but the law needs, much needs,
the assistance of the honest rank
and file of the unions themselves.
No excuse for Brindell is possible.
He is thoroughly despicable. He not
only attacked all of us, but particu-
larly he has sold out those lie saluted
as comrades and brothers and
cajoled with monstrous infamy into
following his crooked leadership.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
By
Heuwood Broun
9ai. Sew York Trihuna &c.

imply because there was a passing
resemblance in form between the two
And yet i put it up TO any essayist to
simplify, for the average New Yorker
for al New Yorkers-to classify
doughnuts, rrfed-eaKes and crullers.
During the war the S. A. made a
reputation with its doughnuts, so
called. l have never had the oppor-
tunity of eating one, but, ii am to
Judge by all the stories and pictures Of
3 A. doughnuts, they were not dough
nuts at all, but fried-cakea. Only last
week went into bakery department
and asked for crullers--for the New
York baker doesn't take to the word
fried-cake-and when | pointed TO the
sort of crullers wanted the saIeslady
informed me that ] was pointing to
doughnuts.
81 have stood for much since our
family came to this overgrown Main
Street from the Center of Culture and
Peauty some years ago, But no enc
ever palmed Off doughnut on me and
labeled il n cruller and got away with
IL. They can't start doughnut and cof-
fee stores all over town, where you get
fried~eakes instead of doughniIts, with
cut comeback. So / appeal TO you to
pass this on to the essayist you were
reviewing. with tho suggestion that he
rive the subject Eve minutes. He will
deserve the thanks of all irritated low
ers of crullers."
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
For Blue Sky Law.

TO the Editor Of The Tribsat.
Sir; Ia reference to Mr. psshodys
letter emphasizing the need rather q .
campaign Of education as a naesns q
aborting the schemes Of dishensss
stock promoters them the enac,rnenf q
laws 70 accempIish tha. purpose, is z
not o6yioua that the best reSalis sn
likely to be obtained il beth msshee
should be employed7 Why reiy on estsss
course alone7 "a Is an eternal &C.
preach 10 the gre It State OF New Yes
that 1t alIows companies 70 exist q
operate hers that possess no title 70
honesty or responsibility and whose ssSs
purpose is 90 rob the erednlons anf
unwary. r. e. WOODWARD. y.
New Yerk, Feb. 4, faaf.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
Confusion on Our Streets
Larger Use of Streets by PubII
Vehicles Demanded
To the Editor Of The Tribune. }

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Six: In an editorial in to-day's Tsibl
une under the heading "Traetion b.
formation" it is shown that tbs sras
tion companies Of the city ara prasl
tically subsidized By the city, aus
that the public is really paying NOR
than a fve-cent fare. The probisn
OF public transportation under con.
ditions which exist in New York ciy
is more difficult of solution than IN
any other large American city aad il
such as to demand the gerry highest
efficiency in planning and operating a
proper transportation system. undsf
the difficult conditions existing IN Nss
York the substituting Of the srsesisr
companies, rather than increasing its
fares, is proper and rational mesns
for increasing efficiency, provids
che expenditure Of the amounts q
such subsidies Is under tho superyisist
os commission appointed by the cts
AT present the people are take
heavily in order to subsidize a mean,
OF private transportation utilized b
about per cent of the population, ha.
which suifees TO clog up Che stress
to an insufferable extent. refer b
the heavy expenditures by the clty i
building and maintaining streets suli
able for automobile trsffle IN orss-
that n very smsll proportion Of h,
public may arrogate TO themselves II,
privilege of monopolizing these stress
] have often taken pains 10 soas
the occupants in passing automobils
and have found that as a rule enougl
automobiles arc used to transpors le
passengers past given point 70 max
procession from 1900 TO 1900 Zee
IN length (assuming, Of course, ths
the automobiles ara separated by ID.
feet IN order TO assure safety Of opet
atom. Contrast this With the sh
elehey oil the elevated or subway, N
one who is in hurry will use an ~
tomobile 10 40 from uptown 10 down
town, simply because be can make "a
trip in the subway in less than ore
half the time. Now this il au ohjes
Lesson in what is reqaEred--shet is, 81
elaboration ard extension of The lrsi
ac systems already ia use and deyel
opnsent Of ali effieient system of pat
lsc vehicular transportation either b
the eit9 or by private corporations sgb
sidtzed by and under the aupervissa
OF the city, and restriction ~ th
use of private passenger sn,omobas
to the parks and residential dsstriets
|. Certainly some radical change mu,
be made II there Is 10 be airy hope 3
bringing order out Of the eonfasic
which rsigns in the streets to-day, ts
what ts needed is an enlightened csz
bination Of public and private interest,"
which would be found In the suhsidi'
ing plan above referred TO.
n. r. YOUNG.
White Plains. n. y. Jan. ss. 1891,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
Prophecies

The latest output of prediction
from the Cabinet prophets declares
that the list of President-elect Har-
ding does not now include the name
of a single person conspicuously
identified with the progressive wing
of the Republican party which sup
ported the candidates. of General
Wood, Senator Johnson (who ap-
pealed to the radical progressives)
and Herbert Hoover.
1t is safe TO dismiss this guess as
baseless. 1t is inconceivable that
the President-elect has any desire to
relight the fires of a controversy
now happily almost dead or to af-
front the majority of Che rank and
file of the party. 1t is not a matter
of doubt as to what policy this ma
jority wishes to see followed. 1t
would have a broad spirit shown,
expressed through and by a repre-
sentative and efficient Cabinet.
Mr.. Harding is too seasoned in
public affairs, too familiar with the
way American public opinion reacts,
too desirous of securing a legitimate
success for his Administration to
surrender himself to the guidance of
those who in cloakrooms and hotel
lobbies are boastfully pretending
that they have captured his at
tention,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05
1871 and 1921

In 1871 Germany exacted from
France war indemnity Of $1,000
900, 900. Not until the total sum was
paid did the invaders retire. The
Germans assumed that the right to
compel payment was undiscussable.
How does the bill Of 81, 900, 900, 900
which Germany presented to France
compare with the tentative 21,000,-
100000 bill which the Allies have
submitted to Germany?
A great change has occurred in
the purchasing power Of the gold
mark in the fifty years. Gold has
deprecated more than one-half. So
on the basis of 1871 gold values the
bill is not more than $4,000, 100000.
Second, the present population Of
Germany is about double that of
France in 1871. Measured per
capita, then, what is now asked Of
Germany must be halved again to
make true comparison. The rep
aration bill, when judged relatively,
thus falls to $5,o00,0o0,O00.
Third, individual wealth per cap
tia in Germany is something like
four times what it was in France in
1871. Allowing that half Of this is
due to gold depreciation, the other
half may be ascribed to a positive
increase in wealth accumulation, and
another cutting in two is needed to
arrive at a true comparison. This
brings the reparation total down to
s2,500,oO0,oO0.
Finally, the German bill in 1871
was not to repair damage Germany
/ was not invaded or German brick
| disturbed), but solely for war ex-
penditures. On the contrary, France
is to get nothing for her war ex-
penditures--only about one-half
enough to repair her ravaged terri
tories. She is the poorer in actual
property by many billions, though
Germany pay her bill in full, and
longer than forty-two years her
thrifty taxpayers will be burdened
TO meet the cost of expelling the
Germans.
1t is high time to recognize exactly
what the new German propaganda
implies. 1t means not only that Ger
many is to pay relatively little more
than did France in 1871, but that
an intact Germany, having wantonly
begun 8 war, is to emerge from the
conflict in condition to distance
France in economic competition.
Any one who would benevolently
allow Germany to go scot-free is
seeking to place on France the bur-
den he lifts from Germany. No one
can have the matter both ways. The
damage is done. No repatriation
conference can alter this fact. There
must be restoration by some one.
All that is now possible is to decide
whether Germany or France shall
pay for the work. Any one who says
that Germany needn't fays France
must. In strict accuracy the pres
ent dispute is solely whether Ger
many shall pay the bill or France
shall pay it. If there is not assess
New-York tribune., 1921-02-05

ministration after March it may
be predicted chat officers and men OF
the navy will devote themselves
zealcusly to the perfection OF this
important adjunct, by practical work
with bombing and torpedo planes.
In connection with this subject a
recent experiment In Great Britain
is interesting. Eight torpedo planes,
under cover Of q smoke screen, re-
Gently attacked a British feet In
Portland Harbor and scored six hits
with dummy torpedoes, any one Of
which, had 1t carried q full charge,
would have placed a battleship out
of action.