davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
A Clear Observer

Mr.. w. L. George is hard. and
superficial observer by comparison
with the intimate, human touch of
Mr.. Arnold Bennett, for example.
On the other hand, he realizes the
limitations of his opportunities to
observe far better than most visitors.
He knows that his picture is super
fetal one, repeatedly says so, and his
record has an especial value just by
reason Of this detached, ,salmost sci
entific spirit of observation, care
fully exercised and <endidly sx-
pressed.
When he can reach conclusion or
make an inference he does SO. For
instance, in the current Harper's he
gives vivid description Of that na-
tional activity and restlcssness
which is most visible in New York
but which prevails in every city and
many towns. The automobile is i'm
mediately responsible for our pres
ent "clotted Streets" but obviously
the underlying cause is deeper. Mr..
George offers the following analysis:
Traffic is mostly composed Of peo.
pie who are getting about for ex-
cessive pleasure or hardly necessary
business. This loads one to the con-
clusion that America is getting about
to too many places, trying to handle
IN one day too many Jobs and in one
night too many pleasures
Mr.. George finds plenty to criti-
.cize in American life, but seldom
without ample justification of accu-
rately stated fact. And he finds
much to praise. One Of mis- most in
teresting items is "superman"
whom he discovered in large cor
poration office---a college man whom
Mr.. George. describes as "an Oxford
man with an American cutting
edge" This type combines "the
graces of the Old World witla the
force Of the New World" AS for the
common comparison made by Eng
lishmen based upon some visiting
Americans abroad, Mr.. George re-
CARDS it as lamentable and stupid:
mot only does the Englishman set
up as standard his cwn county
families, conveniently forgetting
England's profitecrs, England's lower
middle class. the mincing gentility Of
the antimacassar, the bawling tap
q rooms Of our country hotels. but he
compares the English gentleman
class with any braggart salesman
Who talks to him in tho club car"
There are plenty Of other Ameri-
cans, Mr.. George notes, who compare
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Italy's Complaint

An Englishman visiting Rome has
been talking to "the man in the
street." This supposed representa-
tive of average opinion is said to
think that America, the money
lender, is trying to force the utter
most farthing from nations (which
have spent their best blood like wa
ter"; that France is "selfish and
overweening"; and that England is
keeping her raw materials, especial
ly her coal, for herself. Thus Italy.
more exhausted than any of them,
is left to get out of her difficulties
as best she may.
1t is easy to call this criticism
unenlightened, as no doubt it is.
The serious part of it is that it is
heard and that Italy, alienated from
the Allies, may resume her old in
innate relations with Germany.
This is not amazing. The Italians
fought mainly against the Aus
trians. They have no such mer. ories
OF German savagery as the French
and Belgians have. "Scntiment?"
asks "the man in the street." "Bah!
there IS no sentiment in business"
Germany is necessary to Italy, and
there is no other resource. Besides,
are not the English ready to trade
with Germany at the first opportu-
nifty?
Now, this is doubtless only an
undercurrent in Italian feeling, and
there is no call to take It too grave
ly. Returning prosperity may
change the mood. Yet the fact re-
mains that opportunities to rescue
Italy from the slough Of despond
are neglected by those who ought
to be her best friends. The part
in financing Italian enterprise once
played by Germans is open to Amer
leans to take up, and the rewards
promise to be substantial. The Ital-
ian people, as whole, cannot really
want to mortgage their country 20
Germany again, but if neither SYM
pathy nor money is to be looked for
elsewhere, then the German market
is all that is left.
Every nation is inclined to exap-
gerate its own sacrifices and to de-
preciate the sacrifices of others.
That is human nature, and the Ital-
ians are very human. But even if
the soreness which at least some
Italians cherish is unjustified, It
is none the less a pity that the al
lies Of Italy in the war have per-
mitted it to grow. Despite the
cynical assertion that there is no
sentiment in business, sentiment is
always present, at least to smooth
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
; The New Nuneral
To tho Editor Of The Tribune

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: You said something the other
day on "The New Mineral, "ni-en," !"
as enunciated by Central" probably
under direction of an inspired mind at
headquarters. 1t entertained me, be-
cause my wife and are divided on
the subject. she favoring this lately
arrived kid and disclaiming any in
terest in it. The thing could be car
ried out "ad' captandum vulgus," as it
seems to me, If VIC wanted to carry the
play that far. For, if mine" conflicts
with "fve," why not "ninny" and
"fvvy" as alternatives! My Office
number is $500" 1 called it and got
"41so." with an ultimate EXCUSE US.
please" from Central. How, then. are
we going to sequestrate five from four :
Arc we going to say "f-eve" and "fo-
our"7 When calling the Office might
do 1t thus: "Fi-eve, One-ee, Men, OF"
But won't. I'd sooner spell it for
Central than attempt system Of pro-
nunciation in accordance with our
p. s. (public school or public sery-
Ice, whichever you please) education" :"
j. w. y.
New York, Jan. "a, 1891.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Can't Have Meant It

In his lecture to the League Of
. Women Voters Governor Miller said:
~ have very warm conviction
that any organization which seeks to
- exert political power is menace to
~ our institutions, unless it is organ
lied as political party"
- If any organization which seeks to
exert political power is a menace to
our institutions unless it takes on
4 the form of political party, then
many menaces unblushingly stalk
about.
- There are the bar associations,
the chambers of commerce, the vast
array Of civic societies and voters
leagues and labor unions-all of
these exert political power.
.e.s Governor Miller is too little loose
q thinker to uphold seriously the prop
osition he announced. Seemingly,
the only rational Interpretation Of
= his declaration is that he spoke
without mature consideration.
-. =. The Governor is rated to be a
learned lawyer. AS such he does
not need to be told that the right of
petition existed long before there
% were voters or parties. Even auto
Gratis conceded the petition right, and
1.-The urgency Of a special organization
in behalf Of particular political ac-
,~tion is petition in modern form.
Ia The Governor is also rated to be
!, one familiar with American political
= institutions and practices. So he
q knows every political campaign as
the existence of independent
voters not firmly welded to any
. party who can be swayed by ap-
f.1peals to them. The political party
sis. of large use-a man or woman,
generally, can most easily
exert his or her political influence
through one-but the political par
. ties never engross all our citizen
ship.
George Washington did not believe
= In political parties--came close to
: hating them. Not even on the
authority of Governor Miller can one
identify Washington as a menace in
his day to our institutions.
.ss Nor can one believe the Governor
: carefully weighed his words when,
= after saying to the Women's League,
that "you must leave to the indi-
vidual himself the provision of his
old age and his unemployment or
{ for his Sickness" he turned around
and declared that he hoped the well
fare measures favored by the women
would come in time.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29

pathways. When President Wilson
quarreled with the Italians and
threatened, as they charge, to starve
Italy unless she agreed to his ideas
a bad influence was set to work.
The damage done to Allied unity
and thus to the peace Of this world
by the policy pursued by the Amer
ican representatives at Paris has
had many untoward effects and
sapped the foundations of confidence
and peace. That the men RESPONSE
BILE may have thought they were
following high ideals does not dimin-
ish their offense.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
way to make it's execution imprac.

a way to make it's execution imprac-
ticable.
A discriminating higher duty on
imports in foreign vessels would not
only bring motley into the Treasury
but would support the American
merchant feet in the struggle to keep
operating. It would do truly ma
tional service, benefting all taxpay-
ers in the long run. This is also one
form of protection not inconsistent
with the necessity of receiving
relatively large volume Of foreign
goods in payment Of foreign debts.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Protection That VIII Count

The increases in tariff duties car
ried in the Fordney bill, now before
the Senate, are expedients to meet
an internal emergency. We are not
now threatened with food of i'm
ports. Exports still greatly exceed
imports, and Europe's debts to US
make a relative increase in imports
! natural and unavoidable. The Ford
ney duties were intended to relieve
pressure on domestic producers and
distributors during brief period of
. price readjustment. They are not
tied up with any general tariff
policy.
In one field, however, radical
departure from past policy is fore
shadowed. The effort to create and
maintain an American merchant
marine has committed US to a pro-
gram of government assistance.
This assistance can be given through
snbventions, as has long been the
( custom Of successful maritime ma
tons. Or it may be given, in part,
by discriminating duties on imports
: carried in foreign ships.
!. In the early days Of the Republic
such discriminating tariff duties
were imposed. 1t is natural and lop-
icai TO go back to them. The Jones
shipping law paved the way for
return to earlier American policy by
directing the President to give notice
70 foreign governments Of this coun-
try's intention to terminate treaties
or parts Of treaties, barring the i'm
position Of discriminatory tariff
duties on tonnage dues. Mr.. Wilson
signed the law and then refused to
execute it.
i. The new Administration win exc
! cute 1t. Then it will be possible for
Congress to impose slightly higher
rates on dutiable goods brought in
alien vessels. The Underwood tariff
act tried to do something to encour-
age. the American carrying trade by
allowing a discount of S per cent on
duties on merchandise imported in
American bottoms. But the Treas
nry Department nullificd that pro-
vision and the courts construed Il in
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
The Bergdoll Comedy

Grover Cleveland Bergdcli, the War
Departments most distinguished
draft evader and jail breaker, has
come to the assistance of the depart
ment sleuths who have been pain
fully trailing him and his bag Of
gold. Perhaps the famous fugitive
thinks that he is thus repaying the
unusual favors done him while he
was the departments temporary
guest at Governors Island. Yet he
would have shown more real graft
tude if he hadn't sent this gloat-
ing cable to The Philadelphia Public
Ledger from Eberbach, Baden:
"We captured six Department Of
Justice agents and threw them into
prison. See The Associated Press
report. BERGDOLL,"
The War Department would natur-
ally rather let sleeping dogs lie. But
Grover Cleveland has walked up and
is barking pestiferously. He evi-
IDENTIFY transported his person and
his gold stock to Germany without
the formality Of securing either a
passport or a trading-with-the-
enemy permit. The Associated Press
dispatch report to which he refers
says that he applied for naturaliza-
tion as German citizen and that his
application was granted. AS the
subject Of an enemy state Bergdoll
Seems to think he can safely defy
the United States and avoid either
forcible seizure or extradition.
What is the War Department 60
ing to do about 1t? Bcrgdoll prob
ably has very positive opinion on
that point. He is hero in the eyes
of the people of Baden. The Pre-
mier of the Grand Duchy, Herr
Reumele, has denounced the alleged
attempt to abduct it's new-made citi-
zen as disgraceful violation of
Baden's sovereignty. So it must
seem to all German eyes.
Our political and military relations
with Germany are determined by the
atmistice. Could Grover Bergdolls
surrender be demanded under them?
Germany has as lax views of her
armistice obligations as she has of
her treaty obligations. Representa-
tive Anthony told the House on
Thursday that the cost of the Amer
lean occupation Of part of the Rhine
province, to be betrayed by the Ger
man government, has been about
$270,000,000 so far. But only $780,.
100000 of it has been liquidated.
Germany owes us the balance. How
much of this is collectible from a
creditor as slippery as Germany?
$50 far as we know" said Mr..
Anthony, "the War Department is
making no effort to make Germany
pay up" Perhaps Berlin would con-
slider delivering up Grover Bergdoll
If Secretary Baker should promise to
remit the $27o,0o0,O0O.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29

favorably with the best Of any coun-
try. It is an extraordinary feat that
Mr.. George accomplishes Of describ-
ing country he has visited, with
neither condescension nor undue
sympathy, but rather with that clear
light, rather hard and dry, perhaps,
but amazingly just and true, which
we think Of as Gallo rather than
British.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
The Bus Business


Governor Miller's traction pro-
gram, so far as it is exposed to view,
does not seem to give great local joy.
But when the straphangefs consider
Mayor Hylan's alternative the Gov
ernor's plan shines effulgently.
What constructive proposal does
the Mayor bring forward? Moth
ing, absolutely nothing, except that
busses shall be put in service under
the control, it would appear, of Com
missioner Whalen, Cinderella Of the
courthouse ashes. 1t would be al
most as sensible to recommend 90
carts or motor skates.
Buses have value in supplement
tary way, but imagine attempting to
handle with them the mighty human
currents that sweep up and down
Manhattan Island and across to
Brooklyn!
To carry 100000 passengers a
day in rush hours-and this demand
will soon come-would require fleet
of 100000. Where would they park?
In single file, with twenty-foot head
way, they would stretch out four
hundred miles. Four abreast, the
procession would be one hundred
miles long. To get road room it
would be necessary to spend several
hundred millions on new streets and
avenues.
Moreover, no one knows what it
would cost per passenger to operate
the busses. Surely more than five
cents. The only available data are
furnished by the Fifth Avenue COM
pany, which collects 10 cents, has
full vehicles and yet its net income
is small. The bus project is prepos-
terous-is Hylanesque.
AS has been remarked before,
there is need of information. Neither
the state nor city is able to give in
telligent judgment as to what should
be done.
In his review the Governor left out
many important matters-for ex-
ample, whether or not subway ex-
tensions should be paid for, in whole
or in part, out of local assessments.
This matter has an intimate bearing
On fares. Many other omissions
could be listed.
The complications of the traffic
problem are so many that the Gov
ernor has lacked the time to get at
the bottom Of the matter. Few are
disposed to accept as facts either
Hearst-Hylan or Interborough as
sertions.
So the best attitude, it would seem,
for citizen to take is to refuse to
be stampeded into hasty conclusions
and to ask for the speediest possible
ascertainment and publication Of the
facts-this to be done before either
the Legislature or the city commits
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
The Election of Dr.. Manning
10 the Editor of the Tribune.

To the Editor Of the Tribune.
Sir: The election yesterday OF Vt.
William T. Manning, rector of Trin.v
Church, to be the tenth bishop of to
Diocese of New York accomplishes >
twofold purpose. First, it elects %
a high Office an able clergyman, wns
has proved his ability and bis loys!
to America. Secondly, il gives a direct
slap to the lowest, most tontempsoie
piece Of propaganda which has yeI
been attempted. The Episcopal do
cese is to be heartily cdngratulatea
on it's election Of DR.. Manning.
WILLIAM NEWMAN CHEW. /,
Brooklyn, Jan. ~, 1894. II
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
For a Zone Fare
Why Reader Regards Unit Flat
Fare as Fundamentally Unsound

Fare as Fundamentally Unsound
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial capitalized "Some
Home Rule" in the edition Of January
26, is timely in view Of the Governors
recommendation regarding traction
conditions in this city and should give
cause for much reflection from advo-
Gates Of increased fat fares.
The unit flat-fare scheme is not
sound; it is fundamentally wrong and
has been kept alive only because the
average length Of ride was short and
the average fare received per passen-
ger carried exceeded the cost of haul
ing that distance. However, with the
city continually spreading out, thereby
lengthening the average length. of ride
taken by each passenger, the cost Of
hauling is increased while the average
fare paid per passenger remains sta
tionary. In other words, no difference
between long and short haul riders
is recognized.
Fares must be kept as low as possi-
BILE to attract traffic Is my belief
further, the minimum fare should be
the time-honored nickel. For that
nickel the railway COMPANY should give
a full nickels worth of ride, and if
passenger should want to ride q
longer distance the fare should be COM
mensurate Herewith. The next ques-
tion comes to the matter Of collection
and the ease with which the public
and employees can defraud the COM
pany.
1t seems to me that the rapid transit
lines should be divided into three
zones-Fifty-ninth or Forty-second
Street to Bowling Green or Wall
Street being one zone, and another
being north of Forty-second or Fifty
ninth Street to Van Cortlandt Park,
White Plains Road, and the third in
Brooklyn. The Brooklyn zone should
overlap to Fulton Street or Park
Place, Manhattan, and the Manhattan
zone overlap to Atlantic Avenue. This
would provide zones in which the max
imum fare could be 3 cents.
In fixing the rate there are other
quantities that must be considered in
determining the cost Of service--name-
ly, the rate base and the rate Of return.
The rate base on which the rate Of
return is to be figured should be the
amount Of money actually invested in
the property both by the city and the
company and has nothing whatsoever
to do with the outstanding securities
now on the market
The determination of these values
together with proper annual allow
ances for renewable property out of
revenues would soon restore the credit
of the traction companies and put
them in position to aid further the
city development
Surface line companies should be
treated in similar manner, but It is
useless to consider unified system
Of rapid transit and distribution lines
for single unit fare.
c. ". STOCKS.
Brooklyn, Jan. 27. 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
New England's S Wish
Demand for Wood in the Cab.

11tCk
(Frons The Lesotston (Xc) Jou.xon
To-day great portion of the AfueYi-
can people waits, silently for the most
part, to see what Mr.. Harding 10 to do
for General Wood in the Cabinet make.
up. It seems inconceivable that Mr..
Harding should neglect to name General
Wood for some place thereon. Two
names have all along been selected BY
the Folks, whatever the politicians have
to say about it, and these are Wood and
Hoover. 1t is sensible, wissand
judicious. 1t respects the fundamentals
s9f representative Republic. 1t ado.ns
the Cabinet with distinguished service.
1t assures better Administration than
one that emanates from single coteric
and that is perhaps constituted from
among individual followers and from
sources of subjective control.
We have hitherto expressed our per-
sonal opinion Of General Leonard Wood.
1t has not been changed by affairs, by
disclosures Or by events. He is . man
Of power. prudence, wisdom, experience,
ability, approachability and, in this par
ticular. instance, visibility. We can "see"
him in the Cabinet and see him there
without any fear or compunctions he
belongs there, and it will be shock to
the loyalty of New England toward the
Harding Administration If General
Wood is passed by unnoticed in the Hsr-
ding program.
New England claims General Wood.
Of late, feeling Of unaccountable
depression has came over many Repub4
licans in Maine at the signs Of the ap-
parent neglect of General Wood by thef
Harding leaders. There is no use up
mincing matters. We have every faith
in Mr.. Harding We believe that he is
about to make a record for economy and
prudence, wisdom and fair play that will
do US good. But he cannot do it alone.
He must have about him representatives
of all sections. He must not concentrate
his advisers about his own door-yard.
He should have one man who has. the
world-view; who knows all sections;~who
is wise as to foreign complications; who
is serene and powerful, soldierly snd
sensible; disciplined in all ways. Cen
eraI Woods nomination to the Cabinet
will start his Administration in the
spirit of good faith. Omit General Wood
from the Cabinet and Mr.. Harding's
purposes are open to doubt, his cour-
tesies belittled, his generosity Of heart
and spirit questionable, his Judgment OF
men open to grave suspicion OF being
biased.
New England Is watching this Cabinet
determination with keenness Of consio-
Grafton never equaled in the history O.
the Republican party. We hope that We
are all wrong in the fears that asssiI'
us. We hope that very soon, from his
retirement, General Wood msy be sum-
moped to conference with Mr.. Harding
his following recognized and his plad
be fixed in the Harding AdministratloP
and that, too, in a position Of ressonspP
responsibilities keeping with the greH
service that he can perform for the PEP
pie of the United States.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
The Coming ooer

he Belongs Hers
I am the little man
Who said, year ago,
"1 don't belong here"
In Castleton if / walked abroad
With 2 single coat hanger,
would be q Spectacle.
Last night did four blocks
Down Seventh Avenue
With cane jauntily swinging,
A wastebasket, eight coat hangers,
And a gas lamp;
And no one even blinked.
re:ract,
l like your darn ols town.
F. r. T.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
@. II. F. TO HIS BOSS

"Aoecenos. otcr4s sdsse reo1sus."-Eorace
Maecenas, friend Of royal line,
'Tis not for vain applause I pine,
Nor plaudits from the populace
For winning an Olympic race.
For Libyan grains do not care;
My goodly taste for Massic rare
Is not SO powerful that
Should wish to loll beneath the sky
Near some deep, cool and placid stream
And sip good wine and dream and
dream;
Yet even less do desire
To sit around the soldiers fire
And hear the loud, portentous crash
Of the warning truMpet's fearful lash.
But rather would have my brow
Crowned with the pleasing ivy houxh
All, then I'd share the glory Of
The great immortal gods above,
And strumming on my golden Tyre
I'd sing TIL consultations tire
But IL thou shouldst, while rejoice,
Proclaim me with thy royal voice
To be full-fedged lyricist,
My head would pierce the starry rnisti
j. H. A.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
A Nominal Difference i.
(Fron The Toledo

(Fron The Toledo Blude>
About the only difference between \
maniac and n fanatic is that one is in
tho asylum and the other ought TO be,
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29

It is good idea to leave politics
out Of the traction problem. Also out
Of the Department Of Health. the Po-
lice Department and the Department
OF Street Cleaning. Why not out ct
the world, while we are about it? A
world without politics would give
everybody more time for whatever he
wants to do. A librettist who could
get manager to produce his stuff a.
written might do worse than try the
theme Of Land Without Politics.
Still, probably it would be only in q
land without politics that sucn a Ii
brettist might work; and then his
theme would be trise.
New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
SATURDAY, JANUARY -. 1921
GUARANTY

Ysu can purchase merchandise advertised In THE
TRIBUNE With absolute sajety-for u dlssatisfac-
Hen results ta any case THE TRIBUNE Suaran.
tees to pay your none, back upon request. No rcd
ssss Ne aylhbins. We mako sood promptly II
lhe advertiser does not.