davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Perverse Railroad Problem

The railroad problem is chronic
and will not stay solved.
When, on September I, the rail
roads were returned to private con-
troll nearly everybody was pleased.
Railroad executives rejoiced be-
cause they had received permission
TO increase rates and fares, al
though the great pre-dated increase
in wages granted by the Railroad
Labor Board in the latter part of
July was sizable fly in their oint~
mcnt. The public was happy be-
cause it could look forward to man
agement efficient enough to do away
with the transportation congestion
that had occasoned so much COM
plant and confusion. Labor was
happy because it had obtained high
err wages. = And we suspect the Ad-
ministration was reasonably happy
because it was relieved of task in
which it had failed conspicuously.
But the general rejoicing was not
of an enduring sort. Unexpected
things began to happen. The new
rate structure, under which passen-
ger fares were advanced 20 per
cent and freight tariffs up to 40
per cent, did not yield the results
that had been confidently looked
for. For one thing, a number of
state regulatory bodies refused to
permit intrastate rates to be revised
upward in accordance with the new
interstate schedules.
Much more important than that,
the new rates were, in some meas
ure, inherently unsound, for they
were in cases more than the traffic
would bear. This was especially
true Of the passenger rates. Travel
began to fall off, and it has decreased
progressively ever since. Similar
ly, freight traffic was lessened by
the high rates-which is hardly sur
prising when it is considered that
transportation costs, Of all things
entering into the production of a
unit of certain commodities, have
advanced more than 100 per cent
since pre-war days. Specifically,
The Iron Trade Review rccently
made compilation showing that
the cost of transporting the mate
rials to the furnace making pig iron
at given point was l20 per cent
higher than in 1912.
But. however large a part higher
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

plays on many obvious psychological
weaknesses. Just now it is picturing
Germany, whose soil was untouched
by war and whose industry ia still
intact, as a greater martyr even
than France or Belgium. Equitable
retrihution from Germany is emo
tonally distorted into "gibbering
nightmare" Of vengeance.
Will Germany be able to utilize
this soft-heartedness TO the point Of
escaping her treaty penalties? It Is
question which only the Allied
publics can answer. 1t rests with
them to say whether the peace will
confirm the decisions of the war or
gradually nullify them.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Making Giving Worth While

The weakest part of charity in a
large city is the dull, machinelike
appearance Of the thing to be given.
One gets a circular and sends check
and one knows that, somehow, some
where, something happens as re-
suit. But of that friendly, lend-a-
hand feeling which the small-town
neighbor gets from good deed done
there is next to nothing.
Toward the task of making charity
worth while to the giver, toward
making him an intelligent and un-
derstanding friend instead Of q
mere check signer, the little maga-
zine Better Times yields modest
but powerful aid. This smallest
newspaper in the world" Is lively,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Naval Appropriation Bill

The naval appropriation bill as
reported to the House seems an ac-
ceptable compromise. 1t provides
for an expenditure Of about $685.
COCOA reduction of 1884, 100000
in the Navy Departments estimates.
Provision is made for 100000 men,
10000 marines, and the corps Of
commissioned officers is not reduced.
This personnel, if properly en-
ployed, should suffice to man the
principal fighting elements in the
fleet as it exists to-day, provided
all useless ships are placed out of
commission.
The bill also provides for con-
tinuation of the navy's building pro-
gram during the current fiscal year
pending action by the incoming Ad-
ministration on the subject Of an in
ternational conference on disarma-
ment.
The duty Of the Navy Department
in the present emergency is perfect
ly plain. There are many ships now
in commission which would be totally
useless in war under modern condi-
tions. They should be laid up at
once. The sixteen dreadnoughts
forming the backbone of the surface
fleet should be fully manned without
delay. The submarine and air forces
should be provided with personnel
and should be brought to the highest
possible standard of fighting eff
cheney. AS many as possible Of
the new thirty-fve-k knot destroyers
should be fully manned, and this inn
portant force should be prepared to
use torpedoes with skill. A torpedo
in unsllilled hands is ineffective.
And, finally, these modern elements
-dreadnoughts, destroyers, subma-
rines and air forces--should be
united into one fighting feet under
one commander in chief. This fleet
should be stationed in the Pacific for
the present and should be thoroughly
drilled TO prepare it for war.
In the mean time Congress should
begin searching investigation Of
the building program and of existing
conditions in the navy resulting
from eight.years of incompetent ad-
ministration at the Navy Depart
ment, The people are thoroughly in
terested In the efficiency of the navy,
and they should be assured that it is
organized, manned, trained and in
all respects prepared for the one
emergency which justifes its exist
ence.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Trail

When citizen who had lost an
automobile wished to reward"
policeman for doing his sworn duty
as ap officer, where did he go to
pay the appointed sum? To an un-
marked, anonymous room at 240
Centre Street, Police Headquarters
of the City Of New York.
The graft room" is the name
which the insurance men have given
this meeting ground. Not many de-
. tails have been revealed as yet by
Mr.. Whitman touching the interest
ing transactions In this spot. Per-
haps when Detective Sergeant Arm
strong has told his story in full
more will be forthcoming. At pres
ent 1t is only alleged that such
room exists and that much money
entered there.
Is it too much to hope that we
shall presently know where this
{ money went? We think not. Mr..
Whitman has already uncovered
: much in his few weeks of investiga-
ton. He has found graft dissent
mated far and wide in the depart
ment. He has secured a batch of
indictments, including the indict-
ment Of one captain. He is hot on
the trail.
The question remains, BY whose
will has the Police Department of
New York City been thus honey
combed with new corruption? The
trail now ends in graft room" in
Police Headquarters. Who stands
beyond? Whether Mr.. Whitman's
criminal process can solve this ques-
tion or whether it will remain for a
legislative inquiry with broader au-
thority to follow the trail about
Police Headquarters and to other
city buildings, the answer will be
. had. The citizens of New York will
not accept less.
The indictment Of small fry will
not be enough. The cleansed and
reorganized force Of Arthur Woods's
regime did not suddenly corrupt
itself. Who put graft back into the
New York police force upon scale
equal to the darkest days Of red
lights and brass checks?
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The League and the Partv

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: On January % certain papsrx
quoted Republican women, then meeting
In Albany, as being opposed to the League
Of Women Voters. was therefore .ur-
prised to receive an invitation to be-
come charter member of the Wom-
ems National Republican Club, ss i am
an elected officer Of the New York Stste
League of Women Voters.
at once wrote to Mrs. Livermore
chairman of the Republican Women's
State Executive ComAittee, asking her
whether my invitatioa had been sent
me by mistake. Mf. Livermore re-
pied; u feel sude that the invitation
to join the National Republican Club
was not sent you by mistake, and
know that the club wishes in it's mem
beTship all those who hold the Repnb.
Iican party first in their political al.
legiance." / know you will be happv
to publish this letter and give pub.
licity to Mrs. Livermore's statement.
ROSALIE EDGE.
{Mrs. Charles Noel Edge}.
Treasurer, New York State League
Of Women Voters.
New York. Jan. 80, 1891
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

rates may have played in reducing
traffic volume, there was a still more
important factor--namely, business
depression, The slump In the vol
ume Of business was quickly re-
flected IN lighter shipments. A year
ago the shortage of equipment was
acute beyond precedent; now many
thousands of freight cars stand idle
on side tracks or in yards.
Immediately the traffic slump be-
gan the railroads started to reduce
working forces, discharging thou
sands of employees added to the
pay rolls during the period of gov
ernment control. Millions of dol
lars were saved in that way. More
over, the new prices for coal and
other railway supplies helped great
ly TO cut down expenses.
These savings, however, large as
they were, still did not suffice to
balance the account-to permit the
railroads to earn the 6 per cent on
their property value provided FOR
in the new transportation act. In
deed, one spokesman for the car
riers, General Atterbury, says that
under present conditions many rail
roads are not earning operating ex-
penses and others are not earning
fixed charges, let alone a fair re-
turn on property value.
Under the transportation act the
situation could be relieved-theo-
retically, that is--by advancing
rates to still higher levels. Practi
cally that is out Of the question.
for if rates are more than the trat-
fic will bear they will tax it out of
existence. 1t is more probable that
rates in many cases will have to be
lowered.
Such, briefly, Is the position of
the carriers as they go before the
Railroad Labor Board at Chicago
to obtain abrogation Of the national
agreement rules and working con-
ditions which were put into effect
during the war. This, they assert,
is necessary if efficient operation is
tc be maintained. Also, they con-
tend, wages have fallen in other
lines since the present railroad
scales were established, and it is
unreasonable TO expect the rail
roads to continue to pay the higher
rates, especially for unskilled labor.
The reduction which has been made
in the cost of living, they declare,
IS sufficient to permit some reduc-
ton in wages without working hard
ship on labor.
Whether that is true or not, it is
certain that the railway workers
will energetically resist the move
ment. They assert that General
Atterbury has overdrawn the pic
ture of financial distress. In that
they may be right, but even so there
seems enough foundation of fact in
MS statements to suggest the posi-
blllty Of another transportation
crisis. Whatever the means. that
must be averted.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Luck

Not by any song Of mine
VIII men set store,
But If make gold shine
Where silver was before.
Not for treasures unknown
Will she think me worth,
But to build fine stone
House upon the earth.
Now, what is there crueler
God has ever done?
I'm not any jeweler
Nor a builders son.
ADUL TINA.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
lEE:3u

there he generally has wise. shrewd
and serious things to say, but q large
part of the audience continues to think
that he is still turning tiip-hops.
Again he has sacrificed some Of his
potential power of leadership by try
ing to move people in so many direc-
tlons at the same time. He is not con-
tent to bark up single tree for any
considerable length Of time. The en-
tire forest has come within tho range
OF his activities. He has asked us TO
become excited about too many wrong
things, and such a watchdog Of the
public morals becomes q little exact
ing. Indeed, it might be said that Mr..
Shaw has called "Woofl Woofi" once
too often.
1t Is pleasure to have the privilege
OF printing Mr.. Shaw's letter. II is q
still greater privilege to have the
power of cutting and ccndensinc il 2
little. With one stroke Of the pencil
the newspaper man becomes at a bound
mighty person, who has been able
to do that which has been denied for
go many years to actors and TO man
agers.
"Of the smaller forms Of mental snob-
berry, one which annoys ME far beyond
It's actual Importance" writes W. H. P.
rs the cockiness of the good speller.
am bad one, so speak with bitter
mesa and conviction. I hate the whole
tribe. Max Beerbohm falls quite IN
my estimation in utilizing bad spelling.
even as secondary aid to humor. It's
IKE making fun Of badness or any
other personal defect. Either one has
halr or one hasn't, one can spell or one
can't, and that's all there Is to It. I
nave studied earnestly and forgotten
more or less completely Latin, Greek
and German. and I'm holding on to nv
French by heroic labor, but l cannot
spell English derivatives from any of
those languages. If recall CORRECTLY,
spelled 'fallaciously' no later than
yesterday with one H. and probably
shall again. / have to travel with a
dictionary in my vanity case, and I
assure you there are thousands more
like me. And If were Bolshevik
commissar should earn their eternal
gratitude by suppressing all diction-
aries and spoilers (books) and behead-
ing every perfect speller (person) at
the first boast"
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Books u:yv.53 sY B,,..

George Bernard Shaw Is intensely
annoyed by the manner in which folk
guffaw at his plays and has written
to the I'hcater Guild to complain about
it.
"Imagine,' writes Mr.. Shaw, "what
first performance of symphony by
Elgar would be- like If the audience,
a. every stroke Of Instrumentation,
every fortissimo or pianissimo that
pleased them, were to break into noisy
applause, compelling the players to
put down their instruments and the
conductor his baton until silence was
restored. Would the symphony be
symphony under such circumstances ?
Yet that is what have to pus
up with and what \ the players
who interpret me have to put
up with. They have to pretend to
like it and even try to provoke it lest
they should be reproached for its alb
sence. / have been in provincial opera
houses In Italy where the wretched
tenor is expected to hold on TO q high
note until the audience yells with ap-
probation; so that you may see him.
when the yell does not come until
his wind is nearly exhausted, looking
round at the house, half indignant
kalf imploring 1t to come to the rescue.
/ have seen the baBso bow six times
to his boots in the middle of phrase
because boy In the gallery shouted
'Brava.' But ! have never heard an
opera so utterly ruined as some of
my plays have been ruined by roaring
audiences. I give them plays of the
right length; they add half an hour
to the rehearsal time by their sense
less incontinence; lose their trains;
and then complain that my plays are
toe long. | have done what |
can to make the public ashamed of
this intolerable nuisance, which robs it
with violence of SO much artistic en-
Joyment. have distributed appeals
with the programs. l have stormed
in the press. My remonstrances have
produced some effect for time. On
the first night of 'Pygmalon' the au-
dicnce held out very fairly until the
third act, when their collapse was per
haps excusable. At the Court Theater.
| and later at the Kingsway, there was
the beginning Of tradition that no
noise loud enough to interrupt the
performance was allowable. But since
the war new generation of playgoers
has raised its intolerable guffaw and
made a comedy impossible 1t is for
the critics to educate them. And that
cannot be done by blaming the actors.
Blame the real culprits-the playgoers.
Within my recollection they have been
educated quite easily to listen to Wag-
ner's music dramas without uttering a
sound from the first chord of the act
until the last, though they had been
| accustomed to uproarious encoring, to
making dead bodies rise and bow. to
calling prisoners out Of their dungeons
| into the castle yard to smirk acknowl-
edgments for 'Ah, che la morte.' II
they cannot always repress a chuckle
they can at least refrain from a hee-
| kaw. II they will not then / shall
protect myself by writing in the style
of Venice Preserved and simply not
amusing them"
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Need of Cen. Wood
Independent Democrat Who Voted
tor Harding Urges Him for Cabinet

10! f1ardlng Urges him for Cabinet
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am one of those independ-
ent Democrats who voted for Senator
Harding because l was tired of the
Glctatoral actions Of President Will
son. l write this letter in the hone
that such letters as this may have
some influence with the President-elect
IN the selection of his Cabinet.
MIR. Harding may recall that Mr.,
Lincoln appointed Mr.. Seward as Sec
retary Of State in his Cabinet in 1860.
Mr. Seward had been his opponent for
the nomination, and was an able man
IN every way qualified for the duties
that devolved upon him as Secretary
Of State.
Mr. Harding must remember that he
was not the choice of the majority Of
the Republican convention, but a COM
promise candidate. do not say
this by way of disparagement. Mr.,
Harding knows that General Wood was
the choice of the Republican conven-
tion, but by the skillful manipulation
OF those opposed to him he could not get
the necessary number of votes to re-
celve the nomination. Though a COM
promise candidate, the people believe
Mr.. Harding to be an honest. upriqht
man. and expect him TO make good
President. The selection of his official
advisers will do much to confirm their
confidence in his sagacity as states
man.
1t would be mistake, yes, politi-
cal bMnder not TO appoint General
Wood as Secretary of War. The peo-
pie as a whole, or at least those Of
them who give the matter any serious
consideration, demand this Of Mr.
Harding. General Woods services "a
the nation and his stanch patriotism
through his entire career entitle him
to Cabinet position. l take it for
granted that Mr.. Harding will give
heed to public opinion and make Gen.
eral Wood Secretary of War. l do not
hesitate to say If Mr. Harding does
not make General Wood Secretary of
War 1t will be grea: political blum
der on his part and cause much dis.
satisfaction throughout the country.
The country needs Genera, Wood
Mr.. Harding needs such wise coun.
selor in the management of the War
Department. The nation wants a
stronger man than the present Secre.
tary Of War as a successor-a man
better trained to perform the duties
Of the office. Give us this man, and
the War Department will become a
most efficient one.
The disturbed world outlook TODAY
needs at the head Of this most impor.
tant department OF the government q
cool, sagacious, experienced man, 8
trained soldier. who combines with
these qualifications the knowledge Of
civil Offices. General Wood is a su.
perb man for this position. hope
that in spite of any opposition that
may arise Mr.. Harding will ignore il
and appoint General Wood, so the
War Department may have a trained
soldier in charge and one of superio,
fitness for the Office.
NATHANIEL ELLIS.
Brooklyn Jan. 20. 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Coming ]. o,oer
NEW YEARS EVE IN ATHENS

Tho supposedly chic dance at tho Ang gletarra.
The prohtcars eily and bald and monocled,
Their wives. all jewels and fnt,
MISLEADING their fingers for food.
Drinking champagne. unused to IL.
Also, many OF the hundred and Afteen ger,
ernlsa
Tripping on their swords,
Catching spurS in Paris dresses.
Young gsls dark hard-lookina,
Manners Of den,i- -mondainss.
And then
The vrai Greclan Goddess.
Graceful, modest, with the afr
One likes to associate with English1onasn,
thing Of beauty
Her parents, weli-contatned
Aloof from their couutrymcni
Yet you knew they deserved to b.
She danced very well, and
One wondered So,
Didn't | meet you mt tha Rits
TN Paris) last summers''
Merely the old line
The one a few American girls know enough
to meet with
Where do you get that stuGf'
But this one said.
Il there in july
SO we danced.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

1t is undeniably true that Shaw suf
fers more than any other man In the
world from the fact that folk are dis
posed TO think of all his writing as
perfectly screaming. He will never be
able to summon the FIRE engines or call
out the police. A little of 1t is his
own fault. He has always been willing
to turn cartwheels and fijp-Aops In or
der to induce an audience to follow
him into tho tant. When he gets them
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
OR

OR
Some Of It's terrible whisky;
Some of it's villainous gin;
Some Of it's horrible sherry
Great griefl how the liquor rolls inl
$4,000 REWARD will be paid 70
whomever first informs the under
signed. Western Union TeIe-
graph Company.
The Sheriff. whom the victim
knew was once sheep thief.-Louis
V. Defoe In The World.
Whom are your said Cyril"
They are discussing Daylight Saving
IN Albany to-day, and If the farmer
comes out and sees his shadow we'll
have lot Of long summer afternoons
Our faith In the incorruptibility Of
the press is reborn. Mondays Wash
lngton Star frontpaged the story tha,
Mrs. Harding is in New York. "Mrs.
Harding Shopping" Is the headline.
She will devote some of her time, -
1hc sIoFy says, TO purchasing part oi
her White House wardrobe" Truth
and accuracy, and yee nothing there tc
offend the most sensitive OF Washing.
ton advertisers.
If Mrs. Harding has the things sh,
is buying in our village empor,a sent
to her Washington address by parce
post, and the stuff comes through
quickly, W. G, as Mrs. Harding call,
him, might retain Mr.. Burleson on tn,
fob.
He-Mr. Burleson--is our choices fol
Postmaster General 1t will be hars
to get used to abusing somebody else
#. p. a.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
xxMaER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press Ia exclusively entitled to
the use tor republtcs ten OF all new. dispatches
credited 10 II or net otherwise credited In this
RaPes. and aiso the local OF spontaneous
erstn published herein
All riShIs Of republication CT ell other raattss
hescn seAerred
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
THE LETTERS or DULCINEA

Grayco dear:
Emelita, the dearest little sister the
law ever made, has q BABY. Mother
hood seems to have aoftened EN-" and
given her face such a sweet express
sion. 1t does bring out woman's best
qualities, don't you think2 Or don't
you? The baby's mama Is James, but
| call him Sonny" When he goes to
sleep he throws his hands up over his
head in the eutest way. Well, he may
be President some day.
Have to stop now. Going over to
the dentist's-"Ouch!" !"-over on AM
stergosh Ave.
Over the river!
Foadly,
DULCINEA,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
DULC1NEA.

It is DR.. Einstcin's conviction that
this is finite universe, but Dulcinea,
concluding that 1t is, after all, small
world, gave tbs Doc his idea.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

Yes ssa purchase msrshasdtss aSvertlseS IN YAg
TRIBUNE aIth absolute saiety--tor II disgatisfse.
: t'Se results In any case the TRIBUNE suaraa.
tees to pay your money back request. Nc red
tape. Nc QuithIIng Ws make seed promptly IL
she advertiser does net.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

illustrations cause is artfully aided
by MIR. W. T. Benda in the February
Red Book. In an adornment to Mr..
Rupert Hughes's Beauty" the game
of craps IL played with three dice.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02

Complete characterizer &C. B. D.'s);
The kind Of man that goes back into
tho doctors waiting room to finish the
story he was reading when his turn
came.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
The Column Conductor Psychoanalyz.d

Ahc &SAut'hh SOHuaCtOF FBycM0aMAIyZHU
Sir; May offer an Interpretation
Of the Last Limo Dream Panic, D 10
DR.. Freud?
Tho individual dispossd TO q dream
OF this nature undoubtedly ls saddled
with the CURSE OF PROCRASTINA-
1ION, linked with the GIFT OF IN
TENSE CONCENTRATION. In other
words, no idles away much precious
time; then suddenly concentrates and
nccomplishes q days work In two
hours.
Through the DREAM GATE an all
WISE subconscious mind Is atten pting
to lure the subject from PROCRAS-
TGNATION HIGHWAY by way Of
FRIGHT CHANNEL. NIL.
Miss Hurst" says our gay contem-
porary, Jay E. House, in The Phiadel-
phia Ledger, "has few equals and no
peers" Mathematics can go no higher,
though praise might.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Solving the Housing Problem

tFrom the New York Americana
All the readers of single issue OF the
sunday American would fill the Hotel Nc
A!pin to capacity every "a hours for the
next s ls years