davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Riaing Improvement Funds

Congress is Of course able to enact
law which keeps maximum sur
taxes at the SO per cent level. But
Congress cannot repeal self-applying
economic law.
Congress histrionically levels a
blow ut the over-rich. But it knows
quite well that it hits the enterpris-
ing, who would like chance to end
unemployment. The bag that is
rifled contains funds much needed to
start idle wheels going. 1t drives
capital that would be stimulating
and fructifying into tax-exempt Sc
curities.
Congress may be assumed to be
we'll aware of the necessary conse-
quences Of the action. 1t follows not
It's own Judgment but caters to what
it believes is dominant popular
prejudice. That's all.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
What Rides Cost

The income figures submitted at
the transit hearing carry their own
comment. In 1921 it has cost some
body 6.43 cents per trip to carry
passengers on the traction systems
Of New York. Where the fare is S
cents others have contributed 1.43
cents.
The chief contributor has been the
city's treasury. A subsidy Of $10,-
100000 year has come from the
funds levied against general taxpay-
ers. What has been saved in fares
has gone out in higher rents.
Perhaps it is wise to grant such a
subsidy. This is arguable. But let
US get by camoufage and see what
we are doing. The traction issue
was successfully nlisrepresented in
the recent municipal campaign, but
the deceit cannot be kept up forever
The Transit Commission hopes, by
an elimination Of costly competition
OF duplicated services and of unnec-
essary overheads, so to reduce oper-
ating costs as to bring back the s.
cent fare in fact. 1t is the only
agency intelligently working to this
end. Yet the city administration
would stop its labors. 1t seems un.
necessary to say anything more.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18

Of his program, a mere interlude.
Quite a compensating night it was,
for Roy Gardner was wanted $4,000
worth by Uncle Sam, who will agree
that Gardner spoke within bounds
when he said to Inderlied, "Well,
you've earned your $4,000 tonight" "
A mail clerks pay is not large,
but man like 1nderlied---a type not
80 uncommon, either-will not meas
ure his duty in terms of dollars. II
there are bandits enough to GO
around and rewards on their heads
the mail clerks may find their call
ing most remunerative. Their trains
will go whistling over prairie and
desert paging the successors Of Jesse
James.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
The American Atmosphere

The free countries of Europe, In
the form of their institutions, are
as democratic as the United States
i'm some respects more democratic.
But that, after all, there is diff
ference has been shown in Wash
ington during the last few days.
One can't easily imagine the Brit
ish House Of Commons or the French
Chamber Of Deputies present as
guests at a solemn international
gathering openly and vociferously
cheering on favorite orators. "This
is delicious" remarked one foreign
observer. "It marks the democrati-
zation Of the conference"
Nor is 1t easy to imagine, while the
echoes Of the first fall of the gavel
fingered in the air, the chairman
saying in effect: Gentlemen, we are
assembled for business. Let's get
down to it at once. I propose the
following plan" Such startling
directness is not in the European
fashion.
Even more notable has been what
has happened since. Much discus
sion has occurred over whether the
meetings should be open or closed.
The debate was unnecessary. This
country is one where publicity is
screaming and where the press
knows how to get at the facts
needed to satisfy public curiosity.
Though the most positive mutual
pledges had been given by the dele
gates to keep mum, secrecy was i'm
possible. Long experience with the
executive sessions of the Senate has
developed technique of uncovering
the covered. The process is simple.
Some link in the chain of silence is
not strong enough to resist the
temptation to get the case before
the public. When one talks others
must talk, unless willing to have an
issue go to the public in one-sided
manner. Abroad it is good news
paper manners to respect hints from
the government to keep still. Here
anything deliberately held back has
special news value, and there is an
unholy zeal to publish it. Censor
ship thus quickly withers.
The American atmosphere has
affected the methods of the confer
ence and perhaps will affect it's con-
clusions. The enthusiasm of a
crowd is infectious. 1t takes an un-
usually strong personality to resist
environing influences. Nor on bal.
ancc does it appear that good fe
suits are lessened by Americas
tumultuous way of handling ever
the gravest and most dignifed Of
problems. Dignity suffers and the
feathers of propriety are ruffled
but business gets done.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
A Joint Rhine Watch

1t Mr.. Balfour. as Stephane Lau-
zanne, of the Paris "Matin," re-
marks in his frank dispatch to The
Tribune, tossed little stone to Pre-
mier BRAND, M. Lauzanne has coun-
tered with full-sized load Of buck
shot.
Talk Of open covenants openly ar
rived atl The distinguished French
editor is practitioner of the new
school of diplomacy. He believes not
merely in appearing in shirt sleeves,
but with bare fists. Whether this is
good tactics is for him to judge.
M. Lauzanne, deeply dissatisfied
with British policy, is particularly
ircensed at the suggestion that
France should lessen her land arma-
ments-perhaps abolish CONSUMPTION
altogether. This, it is announced,
will not be thought of if on France
alone is thrown the burden of keep
ing watch on the Rhine and of en-
forcing the Versailles Treaty.
The Lauzanne logic is irresistible.
France must indeed have a strong
army il the assurances she asks for
are denied her and Germany is led
to believe she would not be inter
fered with were she to attack
France. Her plea for joint watch
on the Rhine or, failing that, recog-
milton of her need of a large army,
is self-proving argument.
So we get around once more to the
conclusion that if there is to be land
disarmament there must be some
protective guaranty given to France.
Germany must bow before the fact
that she faces preponderating power
ready to compel her to keep her
pledges. Thus even Germany, if her
majority really wishes for peace and
recovery, should welcome a contin-
gent offensive alliance against her to
assist her government in keeping her
revenge-seekers quiet.
The Ndifferences between naval
and land disarmament are obvious.
In the one case agreement among
friendly nations entitled to trust is
all that is necessary. In the other
case France and Italy are asked to
trust Russia and Germany.
From whatever way the land dis
armament problem is approached the
conclusion seems inescapable that
q contingent understanding among
the pacific nations is essential to a
permanent solution. Many deprecate
or oppose such an understanding, but
it seems to appear the only door to
peace.
A JOINT watch on the Rhine, Joint
agreement to enforce the Versailles
Treaty. means assured peace. Moth
ing else discoverable reaches to the
| very heart Of the worlds trouble.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Against the Death Penalty

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: am strongly in favor OF the
abolition of capital punishment 1t Is
we'll established fact that capital
punishment does not reduce the num-
Der of murders, but, on che contrary, 1t
has a brutalizing effect. Circumstan-
tial evidence is likely to be deceptive
but even when there is no doubt apou'
the guilt of the person charged wi'n
the crime there is no benefit in tos
death penalty.
Men who enlist for war know that
there is great danger of their being
killed, yet We expect them cheerfuiiy
to answer the call How can ws
expect hardened criminals to abstain
from crime through fear of the deatn
penalty? I hope the State OF New
York and all the other states OF TINS
enlightened country VIII abolish TINS
barbaric ana artiraate} method 81
dealing with crif-.
ADOLPH LEWIS0HN.
New York, Nov. IA, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18

win themselves be benefited eventu-
ally by return Of the industry to
sound economical basis. Wages in
the long run must come out Of the
service which is sold to the public,
not out of the pockets of the rail-
road owners.
What the railroad executives aim
at now is wage conditions as they
were, in the main, before the un-
warranted 221s per cent increase in
compensation made by the Railroad
Labor Board in July, 1920. If the
operators can throw off the burden
Of excess costs they will gladly stim-
ulate business by offering cheaper
transportation.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
bedded in all the treaties. II H.
Chinese have modified it ont of can

Chinese have modified it out Of con
venience to tho foreigner, it would
seem that every government would Gee
the wisdom of restraining their sub
jects, missionary or trader, from over
stepping the bounds Of courtesy as
we'll as the bounds Of law.
The principle needs to be studied
and then applied, even though Japan is
the one to whom application is spe-
cially meant, For legitimate Expansion
of japanese trade on the continent Of
Asia there can be no objection on tn
part of China, but to allow the politi-
cal interference Of the japanese gov
ernment or any form Of military occu-
pation-in other words, to consent thst
japanese who trade outside Of tn
established towns for foreign trade
shall be under Japanese and not
Chinese jurisdiction-this or anything
like it must meet the decided opposi-
tion of patriotic Chinese, and in thsir
resolution they deserve the support 81
the whole Washington Conference.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
InderIied's Interlude

From the first engagement in the
war on the mail bandits energies a
mail clerk hero, Herman Inderlied,
of Phoenix, Arizona. With such men
in his service Postmaster General
Hays may have small need of
marines.
Roy Gardner, a top-notcher of the
hold-up tribe and all-American
champion Jail breaker, was out of
luck when he interviewed Inderlied
alone on business in Phoenix in the
secluded mail car. Inderlied hadn't
learned the hands up response to a
gunbarrel poked into his uniform.
He hadn't pistol. He didn't need
one. Fists were enough, and Mr..
Bandit was soon down and out with
215 pounds Of Drawn and pluck
fiattening him.
1t was all in the nights work for
Inderlied, or, rather, On interruption
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
More Railroad Rate Cuts

The railroad executives are con-
vinced that the sweep back toward
normal conditions in transportation
must continue if the industry is to-
be saved. They have asked for 10
per cent reductions of carload
freight rates on virtually all farm
products. These reductions are to
hold good for six months and will
continue after that if further defia-
tion of railroad wages is permitted.
This is heroic remedy on the
carriers part to check the falling off
of traffic which has marked railroad
operations in the last twelve months.
Gross earnings have decreased be-
cause Of stiff rates. Even with the
stiff rates the roads have been able
to increase net only by reductions
of excess labor costs and the skimp-
ing Of maintenance.
Since 1915, according to the Bu-
reau of Railway Economics, rates
have been increased 78 per cent. But
no appreciable increase was made
until June IS, 1918. Up to Septem-
Der I, 1920, the aggregate Of the in
creases was less than 80 per cent.
On the other hand, wages were In
creased 2 per cent in 1916, 13 per
cent In 1917, Al per cent in 1918, s
per cent in 1919 and % per cent in
1920. All these increases were on
totals already increased. The ag-
gregate of the wage advances was
119 per cent. But wages were really
about $50 per cent higher in 1920
than they were in 1915.
One wage cut Of 121s per cent
has been made. The railroads have
been slashing rates steadily since the
beginning of the year. Freight
charges are above the level on which
the roads can be operatedsto the best
economic advantage. It is to the in
terest Of the shipper, the consumer
and the roads themselves that ex-
cess cost Of operation be eliminated.
Even the transportation workers
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Memorial Trees at West Point

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l take the liberty of suggest
ing through your columns that on the
day when Marshal Foch officially visits
West Point he be accompanied by
President Harding and General Per-
shing and that each Of these men plant
at West Point a memorial tree to cele-
brate the closing of this hideous war
and as an evidence of the closer bond
OF friendship that is gradually grow
ing between France and America.
I think the doing of this gracious
and sentimental act would not be dis
pleasing to the American people, would
be very gratifying to the French peo-
pie and would serve the purpose for
which it would be intended to far
greater extent than most of US imagine
LOUIS c. TETARD.
New York. Nov. 10 1901
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Swarming Peoples
Almost Irresistible Pressure for Ter.
ritorial Expansion

rltorlal Expansion
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: felt that your editorial
"Still Room for All' was devoid
Of the logic SO characteristic of
John Stuart Mill, whom you quote. I
am not disciple of Malthus or pre-
pared to advocate or reject the prin-
ciples of those recently in conference
here, but would point out that you
take little note of the effects Of the
tremendous increase, for instance, in
European population during the past
century, from about 150, 100000 to AGO.
100000, we are told.
Many students feel that the national
necessity for expansion had much to
do with Germany's running amuck. A
casual study of Japan, and better, a
visit to the empire, will convince one
that the swarming period of that race
is exerting an almost irresistible pres
sure for territorial expansion. That
means in these days Of settled globe
that another people usually must suffer
to permit that expansion.
The rising tide Of new lives which
has come with the era Of world trans
portation OF foodstuffs and the great
concentration Of population in our
modern industrial centers is, feel, a
problem, and a possible menace to
peace at points of greatest pressure. /
would suggest to the producing
theorist, too, that populations are not
mobile in real sense. A famine in
India does not result in pilgrimage to
North Dakota.
Possibly Texas might support unborn
hordes of those who dig and toll for
the ration that permits them to
breathe. But why should it? do not
admit people have d right to be born;
but I do say that born they have a
right to expect g world with not SC
many of their kind but that they may
reasonably hope to develop their best
possibilities.
Your editorial, it seemed to me, is
analogous to the old question about the
camel that can go without drink fol
seven days, but who wants. :?
II. E. BENEDICT.
New York Nov. 16. 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Our Policy Toward China

Our Policy Toward China
Our commercial relations with
China date back to August 80, 1884,
when an American ship, the En-
press of China, entered the port of
Canton. The supercargo, Samuel
Shaw, wrote a letter to the Con-
tinental Congress telling Of the re-
spect with which the new American
flag had been received by the
Chinese. Shaw was commissioned
the first American Consul at Canton
on August 80, 1886. But a treaty
Of commerce was not obtainable
until 1914, after the British govern
ment had blazed the way for one
in the settlement following the
Opium War. Caleb Gushing signed
this treaty at Wang Hiya on July
3, 1874.
A clause had been inserted in the
British treaty opening trade on
equal conditions to all foreign ma
tions. Gushing accordingly made
the additional concessions granted
to the United States applicable to
all other countries. He wrote to
Washington: "Thus, whatever prog
ress either government makes in
opening this vast empire to the in
huence of foreign commerce is for
the common good of each other and
of all Christendom."
Cushing's statement lies at the
basis of our Chinese policy. 1t
hasn't been departed from; for the
United States has never sought ex-
elusive privileges in China, economic,
commercial or political. 1t has
never acquired territorial lease
hold or established "sphere Of in
fiuence." 1t stands for equality of
opportunity for all.
The complement Of this position
is desire to see China's sovereign
ty preserved and her political indie
pendence and territorial integrity
maintained. Our record on this
point is also clear and straight.
General Grant, on his tour around
the world after his retirement from
the Presidency, told the Japanese and
| Chinese in an arbitration decision
which they had asked him to make:
America has great commercial in
terests in the Far East, but she has
no interests, and can have none, that
are inconsistent with the complete
independence and well-being of all
Asiatic nations, especially Japan and
China 1t is the policy of
America in the Orient, and I may
say it is the law Of our empire in
the Pacific, that the integrity and
independence of China and Japan
should be preserved and main
tanned"
American conduct has harmonized
with this double doctrine. We didn't
guarantee China's territorial in
tegrity against alien aggression
But we haven't practiced aggression
or condoned it in others. Our
diplomatists have labored to obtain
pledges from other powers to treat
China justly. The case that China
is able to make against other ma
tions doesn't touch us.
At the Washington conference
therefore, we stand in a peculiar
relation to China. Our policy is not
: challenged. It may be, as some sug.
gest, more fitting for some power
which has infringed on Chinese in
tegrity and sovereignty to suggest a
program Of restitution and more
binding self-denying ordinances fol-
the future. We are happily able
] to throw our influence unreservedly
for the broadest possible policy OF
restoration and naturalization fol
China.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Misleading Statistics

(From The Boston TronscHpt
Statisticians who undertake to tan
how much money is "lost" Whenever
the country takes holiday forget thai
days of healthful recreation and days
devoted to conservation to high rar.
pose bring blessings whose sum totss
cannot be revealed by an adding ma
china -
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18

PEKING, China, Oct. IL [By Mai).-
Besides the principles usually men
toned as bearing on conditions in
China and on the prevention of fric-
tion between one country and another
in affairs of the Far East and the Pa
cifc, there is another Of great impor-
tance, but little understood by the aver
age American. This principle relates
on the one hand to the restriction un-
der the treaties Of foreigners to the
treaty-ports and on the other to the
element of friction arising from neg
lect of this rule through the gradual
expansion Of foreign interests into in
terror towns not open to foreign trade
ard residence.
This distinction as to where the for
eigner is to live in China is due to the
aggravating circumstance that every
foreigner is subject not to the law of
the land, but to the jurisdiction of his
own government, commonly spoken of
as cxtra-territorlality
When China, IN 1912, was first opened
to the foreigner, as determined by
treaty, the open door was only at five
| ports-Canton, Annoy, Foochow, Ningpo
and Shanghai. The number of ports or
towns of foreign trade has since been
increased, until now there are upward
of fifty, most Of them being away from
the coast line and even away from the
great water communications.
Foreign Intrusion
The constant pressure brought to
hear to open up China has been yielded
to in by no means a gracious spirit
and this has aroused carping criticism
from foreigners of all nationalities and
avocations. The critic has lost sight of
the fact that with every new town open
to residence Of the foreigner there
came the establishment Of several for
eign governments.
In spite of more and more towns be-
ing opened to foreign residence, and
with that the holding of property, all
classes of foreigners have sought the
chance or claimed the right to go be-
yond these towns designated for their
use, to all parts of the interior. At
first passports were always required,
but latterly foreigners go up and down
over the land with no passports at all
With or without passport, the for
eigner has demanded full protection
from the Chinese authorities, no mat
ter what he might be doing, good or
bad, helpful to the Chinese or in
furious to the peace of the land.
The first ones not only to travel but
to seek residence and hold property
away from the ports and towns of for.
eign trade were the missionaries. Ar
rangements were gradually established
between the Peking Foreign Office and
the foreign legations whereby first the
Catholic missionaries and then the
Protestant missionaries could carry or
their missionary work in certain places
and could purchase property if held in
the name of the slocal Christian
Church"
From 1850 down to the Boxer upris.
ing in 1900 there was plenty of what
We're called "missionary difficulties,
missionary riots" and smissionary
cases." keeping the foreign ministers
and still more the Chinese officials, in
constant state of worry and aggrava
tion. There were unceasing collision ans
friction, intensified if the "gunboa
irolicy" was adopted, and foreign sol
diers or their officers went to the res
Icue in these inland towns. Since 100,
there has been no clashing over religiou
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
TO A LADY

What will it matter, in the years to
That / have made you songs about
your eyes,
Or troubled you with lovers lyric
why's"
Which somehow left you, as they found
you--dumb1
What will it matter that I've tried to
Upon guitars my love in plaintive
guise;
Or that I've raised my voice unto the
In praise of you until my throat grew
numb?
You have not understood, or have not
cared,
And have maintained throughout q
calm disdain,
AS though you did not hear or want
to see;
In spite Of which I'd tell you, if
dared,
That you are simply very, very vain
And will not bother with dub like me
ADELE DE LEEUW.
There were SO many passengers
standing on and about us yesterday
afternoon that we couldn't see the sub
way bulletin telling about Health
Week
Disarming the navy is Americas con.
tribution, and some Of us think il
might be as we'll to disknave the army
Of course. as everybody knows, the
poker players itinerary should include
Deal, N. j.; Flushing, N. Y; tae Berine
Straits; Bluff. Mo-; Ante, Va; and
this is good one-Cardiff-by -the-Sea
Calf.
! And Pokegama, MINI.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18

But the conference says to China, in
the language of the vaudeville actor,
'Im not ASKING you; Pm TELLING G
you."-Arthur Brisbane, in The Amer
lean.
The tramp comedian who pulled that
line was pretty good, too. His name
was James McNeill Whistler.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
From the Metaphoric sidelines

+. p. A.: "Plunging through the i'm
pregnablc defense, the doughty war
rior planted tho pigskin in the shadow
of the goal posts, and all that. Let's
end the season with some freshmets.
"Collaring the button and cutting past
the selvcdge, the Boston guarder
ripped the Blue shirtings for twenty
yard bolt. One more sock would make
Crimson tie" Haberdashing. what?
HUGHES.
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
.nnxnrn or 4san AssocrATEz, pxrss

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled 70
credited 70 It or not othcrwfse credited In this
PAPER. aud also The local news Of spontaneous
All nxhts os republication Of al other matsss
herein also arv resesved. -
New-York tribune., 1921-11-18

But with Mr. Yarros's third sentence
we are in complete and dovetailcd har-
mony. All we want to know are the
names of few reporters and inter
prefers who see things as they are.
And then we'd listen attentively to
the reply of the greatest and most
unanswerable question in the world
"Well, how GRO things?"