davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Really Helping Russia

Among the recommendation of
the President is one urging an ap-
preparation to supply the American
Relief Administration with funds to
send grain to starving Russia. This
part Of the Presidential address was
heartily applauded, it is reported, by
both Senators and Representatives.
America is still America; her ears
are not deaf to cries Of human want.
But as we give let US not forget
the source of Russia's misery or
hope by mere alleviation much to
help Russia. Drought and a burn
ing sun last summer were the inn
mediate causes Of the Russian fam
inc. But back Of them lies the true
cause. Russia suffers not so much
because nature has been unkind as
because Of the sort of government
which curses her. Russia, one of the
worlds greatest grain-producing
countries, would have ample food to
meet special calamity except for
Bolshevism.
For four years Russia has been
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
League or Association

League or what's
the difference except in name?"
tauntingly asks a minority which,
like the Bourbons, is able neither to
learn nor to forget.
The difference is equal to that be-
tween solid and a fluids SO
manifest that it is difficult to believe
the interrogatory is fathered by
good faith. Rather it seems to be
born of no higher motive than to
cover retreat from an untenable
position.
A league, at least such a one as
that provided for in the Smuts- Will
son covenant, attempts to institu-
tionalize, constitutionalize interna-
tional relations. It erects a sand
statue that has no stability. 1t jum-
bles juridical and political questions
together. It would trace a national
boundary line, a matter charged
with emotion and desire, by the
same machinery by which it would
define international law, which rests
on reason.
On the other hand, an association
leaves political questions open to ad-
justment and compromise. Take
such a problem as the Irish one. 1t
was unsolvable by proceedings ap-
propriate to courts. 1t was neces-
sary to make a bargain, with the
concessions Of one side deemed by
the other side a sufficient offset.
The Tribune, as it's readers are
aware, did what it could to secure
this country's entry into the league.
1t was the best thing then in sight.
The league provided some sort of Pc
riodic world gatherings. The pres
ence of Americans on international
commissions tended to habituate this
country to participation in co-opera-
tive undertakings. But equally The
Tribune recognized that loose kind
of organization held out more hope
that the world, like motor car,
needs differential and floating
joints rather than rigid gears.
A time may come when world
state, with constitution and stat
utes, will be feasible, but that time
has not yet arrived. Until it does
an embarrassed association Of ma
tlons seems greatly superior to
league which necessarily restricts
and ignores the vital fact that ma
tlons are organisms, and that their
policies are as often the result of
fear as Of reason.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

it Is to-day. Now there are elabo-
rate codes concerning the speed, the
lighting and what not of motor
vehicles, and these too often vary
materially between adjoining states.
To drive from New Haven, Conn,
to Richmond, Va, is to traverse
seven states, besides the District of
Columbia, and thus be successfully
subjected to seven different highway
codes. A traveller might break the
law in one state for doing what it
was quite legal for him to do an
hour before. Relief from the vexa-
ton Of such n diversity Of law and
practice is TO be found in co6pera-
tion and uniformity among the
states. And the same question Of
uniformity presents itself in many
cases.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Civil War Officers Claim

To the Editor CT The Tribune,
Sir: Many fine, strong young mon
who came back from France unwounded
claim bonus. They want as much as
was made by "stay-at-homes." In TINS
claim there is lot of greed but no
justice. To every soldier who was in
jured we owe great debt, but TO the
uninjured the United States owes mol
one dollar. Every patriot knows tna'
it is his duty to fight when called Oh
Half of the four million soldiers nevsf
crossed the sea and never fred snos'
World War men got far more than
was given to Civil War soldiers ano
had better care. Ex-officers OF volun-
teers in the Civil War, e. 6, were
promised "pay and rewards equal IN al
respects" to the rewards of regular
officers; but for years and years they
have prayed vainly for enough retired
pay" to keep them alive. Get it! MOI
Heartlcss Congressman have treateo
these ex-officers--all survivors are nov
over eighty and helpless' with :
meanness that is contemplate; ana
more than 10000 ex-oficers, poor ana
helpless, have been put under the SOD
Do Congressman have no clear ideas a.
to the sancs;ty Of President incoins
promise to Civil War officers!
u. S. G. r
New York. Dec. 6, 1921
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Few Soldier Black Sheep

1t is good to have the expert find
Ing of Superintendent Christian
Of the Elmira Reformatory that
former service men have not as a
result of their war experience com-
mitted crimes of violence. Those
with whom he has had to deal were
either subnormal or delinquents be-
fore they entered the service.
Doubtless there are instances OF
boys who wouldn't have gone to the
bad If they hadn't been taught to
use firearms In the army. But they
must have had an ingrained streak
of lawlessness at the start. They
had the "bad man" instinct and only
needed convenient means for it's ex-
ercise. When the restraint of disci-
pline was removed from soldiers OF
that stamp the natural reaction was
bad.
But with few exceptions the boys
came out of the war benefited by
passing through the great ordeal.
Their character was steeled by the
service, their ability heightened.
The A. e. f. was great school for
the making Of men.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Valuation Caution

The Presidents cautious and quail
fled discussion Of the American valu-
alton scheme, his careful avoidance
of any general Endorsement, indi-
Gates that he has studied this tariff
innovation and is not much inn
pressed with its merits.
The industrious lobby which has
been laboring to railroad American
valuation through Congress expected
definite Presidential Endorsement.
That it is lacking goes far toward re-
ducing the danger Of precipitate ac-
tion; and precipitancy has been the
chief danger, for the American valu-
alton idea withers under examina-
ton. 1t is sort Of proposal whose
appeal is strongest when first
launched. Some arguments in it's
behalf, such as the one that exchange
fluctuations make invoices unreli-
able, are superfcially plausible. But
these, when diligently scrutinized,
are found either to be invalid or to
be more than offset by other consid-
erations.
What the President proposes as a
possible alternative to American val
uation is not clear. He suggests "a
provision authorizing proclaimed
American valuation on any list of
articles imported" Proclaimed by
whom? What governmental body is
equipped to substitute its estimates
of value for the value shown by
actual transactions? Great would be
the pressure against any agency in
trusted with the delicate task of say
ing what is the worth of articles in
trade. From week to week they
swing up or down.
The President speaks Of American
valuation as departure, though not
radical, from the method Of assess
ing ad valore7s duties which the busi-
ness world has known for century.
A departure it surely is. It would
scrap countless appraisement deci-
sions. Common sense seems to say
that, until normalcy is restored, de-
partures are to be avoided.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Presidential Inability >
Suggestion That Question Be Decided
by Committee of Seven

Dy AOmmlttec or Scyen
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The raising Of the curtain BY
Mr.. Tumul.y showing what happened
behind the scenes during former press.
dent Wilson's illness brings the impor-
tant subject of Presidential inability
before the American people. What an
absurdity that this question should be
decided by Presidents personal ply
| sician and his private secretary!
1t is mooted question among Con-
stitutional students whether Article 2,
Section /, Paragraph gives sufficient
power to enact legislation on the
matter. If necessary the following
amendment might be added to that
article: "The Congress may by law
provide the method OF determining the
inability of the President and when
the disability is removed" It is my
personal opinion, however. that no
Constitutional amendment is necessary.
"The Congress- shall have the power
to make all laws which shall be necss-
sary and proper for carrying into ex-
ecution the foregoing powers, and all
other powers vested by this Ccnstitu-
ton in the government Of the United
States or in any department or officer
thereof" (Article 1, Section 8, Para
graph 49,
The following IS suggested as
method of determining the inability
by a law: A standing committee Of
seven members shall be appointed at
the beginning of each new session Of
Congress. The president Of the Senate
and the Speaker Of the House shall
each appoint two members, one from
each party; the three others shall be
justices of the Supreme Court IN
order of seniority, except the Chief
Justice, who will be the chairman.
the chairman himself or by him on
request of any two members This
committee shall have full power to IN
vestigate and make final decision
when there is "Presidential inability"
and when the feasibility" is removed.
This plan is non-partisan, simple and
is immediate in its action--it is lar
to both the President and the country
IRVING H. BROWN.
Plainfeld. N. j., Dec. 5, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

ruled according to the MARKHAM plan.
Possibly her masters have been no
worse in average intention than tho
czars. Doubtless they thought, at
least In the early days Of their
dominion, that their system would
benefit the average man. But the
supreme world ruler littla estAstders
intentions. He 'as ia iaws; defy
them, and tho punishment is pitt
less. Lenine, his cruelty attested by
his cold eyes, his brutal mouth and
his savage expression, has butchered
according to the manner Of tyrants;
but for every life taken by his firing
squads thousand have been taken
by his decrees. Even though he had
been gentle and humane his system
would have been fatal.
Relief ships put off from our
shores and Russian children arc fed
at the Hoover tables. All this is
we'll, but the root Of the disease is
not reached. Russia will little re-
cover as long as Bolshevism rules
her. If she now shows signs Of bet
terment it is only to the degree that
Bolshevism shrinks from applying
its principles.
Give to Russia? Yes; but when
giving remember that every word
spoken in behalf Of Bolshevism
tends to encoffln Russia-and in
creases the probability of recurrent
famines.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Work for the Governor.

The conference Of the Governors
now in its thirteenth session can
point to a not inconsiderable record
OF achievement, but it has before it
an Immensely larger opportunity
Tor further usefulness. In purely
voluntary fashion, and with onlv
moral influence, it may serve the
purpose which statesmen of CAL
houn's school imputed to the Senate
Of the United States-namely. that
OF being congress of ambassadors
Of the states.
There are many useful things
which such an ambassadorial BODY
may accomplish. Almost every state
has done or has tried to do things
that other states have not under
taken. 1t is profitable for the mex
perienced to hear about them and
about their success or failure. Then
there is the Standardization of Iaw
and practice in matters Of interstate
interest, the number Of which, by
the way, is constantly Increasing.
For example. uniformity Of laws
and practice is needed In the control
of traffic on the highways. Years
ago the matter was negligible. High
way laws were of the most primi-
tive description, and interstate traf-
ds vas the naexest fraction Of what
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Profitable Prohibition
(From The Los Anoele, Times, ,

(Fro'n The Los Angeles Times)
The State of Minnesota has been
collecting an average of about So 1000 a
day in fines in liquor cases A case Of
LIQUOR does run into money fast-no
matter what may be the viewpoint.
AS a matter of revenue, however, 49,
600 a day helps in keeping the ma
chnery running. If the nation, the
state and the city should all vie
with one another in enforcing prohibi-
tion for the sake of the revenue, the
bootleggers and hooch hunters would
have tempestuous season.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
The Future Ireland

Now that she has it, what will Ire
land do with her freedom? Recently
the chief champions Of Irish nation
alism have been literary idealists
and political agitators. Neither
group is particularly we'll equipped
to lead in the new era.
Successful self government is a
serious business. No people can
boast of making shining success Of
it, and the Irish do not claim to
possess miraculous powers. To
stimulate Irish nationalism 1t has
been Irish habit, when anything
went wrong, to lay the blame on John
Bull. The explanation sufficed. Now
the old kicking post is gone. When
flaws in the millennium show them
selves a scapegoat now must be
sought in Ireland. Sharp differences
Of Irish opinion are likely to arise
and severe strain be put on Irish
tempers.
In practical matters the English,
at least for many years, have not
been hard taskmasters. Indeed,
Ireland has been a favorite Of Brit
ish law. The Irish farmer has been
helped to acquire his acres, while the
English farmer has shifted for him
self. Defense burdens have been
borne by the imperial treasury. Dis
criminatory taxes have been un-
known. Irish industry has been en-
couraged. During the war Ireland,
free OF conscription, was excep-
tlonally prosperous, England buying
at top prices her surplus agricul-
tural produce at the rate of nearly
half billion a year. So to-day.
though in Ireland as everywhere else
is a lessening of agricultural pros
perity, Irish banks are full of money.
Will Ireland, with her mind taken
from the contemplation of wrongs.
now more successfully exploit her
resources and diversity her indus
tries! TO do so her people must, of
course, show they are able to meet
competition-must turn their gaze
outward rather than inward. The
young men who think that the first
thing is to learn Gaelic and to draw
away from general human contacts
will not much help. Sonnets and
plays are excellent things in their
way, but they are not physically nu-
tritious. Yet some factors will
strongly favor Ireland. With peas
ant proprietorship Ireland is likely
to be conservative and to keep away
from destructive Red doctrines
That there is room for great i'm
provement, even in Irish agriculture.
is conceded. In Denmark every
nnilch cow yields 750 gallons a year.
against 425 gallons in Ireland.
When rejoicfngs are over and Ire,
land settles down to humdrum life
and cessation Of living in the past
the division in Irish opinion is likely
between those who for one reason or
another would have Ireland live
apart as peculiar people and those
who would have her take not luck
with the world. The first triumph
may be expected to be with the SEN
tiniental idealists, but in the end
aloofness is likely to fail, with Ire
land, except for wholesome minor
dlfferentiations, at one with the
Western world.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
BY
Percy Hammond

tional pungency when Mr.. McKenna
remarks later that Germany chal-
lenged France because "the French,
true till death to their policy of Civ
ing everything to their country but
the money in their pockets. had
neglected to equip" Mr.. McKenna,
perhaps, overlooks the fact Tat Ger
many regarded the war as inevitable,
even If he and others did not; and that
it took the steps to make it so.
X X =.
Mr.. McKenna explains the early COM
position of his memoirs by quoting an
observation of his friend, Shane Leslie,
in ''The End of Chapter" "People
who are old enough to write memoirs" !"
said MIR. Leslie, "have usually lost
their memory" Therefore Mr.. Nc
kenna decided to record his impress
sions of the generation which van
ished with the Peace of Versailles be-
tore his clear and youthful recollec-
tlons had given way to the confused
lmaginations of middle age In "While
Remember" he writes brilliantly of
school days at Westminster and Christ
church; Of politics and the war: of
the Irish; of books, music and the
theater, and of minor experiences in
Washington as a member of Mr. Bal
tours embassy. He recalls Mr.. As
quite with sympathy and admiration
and Mr.. Lloyd George with loathing
similar to that he feels toward Sir
Edward Carson. Anecdote is not ab-
sent from Mr.. McKenna's animated
pages. Have you heard that one abont
Mark Twain at Oxford? Let Mr.. Nc
Kenna tell it.
by an unhappy coincidence certain
news bills had appeared with the words.
Arrival of Mark Twain in England
Theft Of Ascot Gold Cup Before he
was allowed to take his degree an un-
tiring undergraduate chorus demanded
to know, Now, Mark, what did Won do
with the Gold Cup!' His reply | never
heard. 1t was probably ADEQUATE.
though occasionally he met his match
in repartee. Once, when he was STAY
ing In England, the income tax author
lties sent him an assessment form
which he referred to Queen Victoria
with the statement that he had not
the honor to be one of her subjects; she
must forgive his writing to her, be-
cause, though ne did not know her. IA
had once had the pleasure of meeting
her son. He said Mark Twain. was
driving IN his coach of state to St.
Paul's, and l was on the top of bus
Many years later, when he returned to
England in his glory, he was presented
to King Edward, who said that he was
glad to meet him again. Again. sir p
echoed Mark Twain. Have YOU for
gotten our first meeting?' asked the
King. L was in my coach of state.
driving to st. Paul's, and you were on
the top of bus"
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
WILLIAM 7. HORNADA1
New York, Dec. 6, 1921.
Absurd and Oppressive" :"

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: An item in your paper to. dav
states that man who shot and killed
hold-up bandit who attacked his
neighbor and rescued the intended
victim was arraigned in court on a
charge of homicide, and that the magis-
trate acquitted him of the charge and
praised him for his bravery but held
him for trial on n charge of violating
the Sullivan law in having a revolver
without permit.
This illustrates beautifully the
natural working Of the Sullivan law.
How much longer will that absurd and
oppressive statute be tolerated?
S. H. THAYER.
New York, Dec s, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
School Week
To the Editor of The Tribune.

. tHe Edltof OF The Tribune.
SIR: One or two papers have sug-
gested editorially that it would be a
good thing for New York to have a
school week. 1t apparently has es-
capped their attention that this present
nationwide school week renresents q
pickup" from New York by the Ma
tlonal Education Association. Last
fall, when the school week was under
way here, several papers printed dis
yatch from Washington stating that
the New York idea had been commend
ed to Governors throughout the coun-
try, etc. WILLIAM II. ALLEN.
NJ tsrk, Dec. S, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

and everybody recognizes the i'm
portance Of the Y. M. G.. A. The
"Y. W." is entitled to the enthusi-
astic support it asks for.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

YES saa pyrehass merchanehs sdvs.tised tn THE
TRIBUNE With ah4eiute safst--fer II elssatsfAc-
ttsn rssults In any sass THE rRieUNE suarnn.
tses to pay your meney back upsa reaucst. Ne rsd
tapA Ne uuibhlinq, We mako seed promptly "
the ndyerti3er doee not.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

Irish success is confined not to the
Eastern Hemisphere. Unless some
body else before December 81 con-
tributes something we like better than
Mr.. j. M. Kcrrigan's Synge version of
FRANKIE and Johnny" the 1921 watch
will go to that erudite and compelling
young Dublinite.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
The Tower
THE CYCLoPEDrC MUSE

THE encyclopedias should scrits their
books over egutn, In pGssfondts Vsrse.
What zoo mood In am encyclopedias u
lyrical fcrror, not sners conspIotonsss--
Idyts Of Economic Jurisprzldencs, Songs
Of tho Nitrntcs.--F'rom "Ths Crc4ys
Nest" by Clarence Day jr.]
A child, I wandered with my Ma
Along the banks Of the river AA:
And there we met that best Of men
The Danish ANDREW AAGESEN.
"Observe, my child" my mother
cried,
"The African AARD-vARK e feet
wide).
II hate" exclaimed Andrew, "such
subjects as thesey"
And he died from form Of zY-
MOTTO DISEASE.
Better, to our notion, one page Of
"The Crows Nest,"--an even more re-
splendent book than Mr.. Days "This
Simian World,"-than a cycle Of Mr..
Max Eastman's "The Sense of Humor,"
to our notion as unilluminating as
most other discussions Of that subject.
1t strikes us that Mr.. Eastman aim ost
patronizes humH, as we thought he
patronized, some years ago, slang.
Mr.. Day is discussing Coventry Pat
more and says that Peter G. Patmore,
his father, "did all he could to de-
velop in his son an 'ardor for poetry
But ardor Is born, not cooked. A
watched pot never boils." A typo
graphical error, we think. What Mr..
Day meant to say was "A watched
poet never boils"
Truetalk from "The Crows Nest:
"The principal objection to pessmists
is they sap mans hope. As some
English writer has said, there are two
kinds Of hope. First, the hope Of sue
cess, which gives men daring and
helps them win against odds. That
isn't the best sort OF hope. Many de-
liberately cultivate it because it makes
for success, but that is an insincere
habit; it's really self-hypnotism. 1t
may help US to win in some particular
enterprise, yes; but it's dangerous,
like rug-taking. You must keep on
increasing the dose, and blindfolding
your reason. Men who do it are buoy
ant, self-confdent, but some Of their
integrity is lost.
"The best kind of hope is not about
success in this or that undertaking.
It's far deeper; hence, when things 20
against you, it isn't destroyed. 1t is
hope about the nature and future Of
man and the universe. 1t is this hope
the pessimists would disallow. That's
why they repel us. Some lessen our
hope in the universe; others, In man."
Tho Corslcan's Quaint Native Tongue
[From the Swanton (Vt.) CourierI
The great Napoleon. after one OF his
wonderfully successful campaigns during
which he was striving for world mastery,
sent ths following message by courier to
the Roman Senate: "Veni, Vidi, Vici,"
meaning, II came, saw, l conquered"
There are tests also, thinks J. T. S.,
for Westerners, such as speaking Of
John Hopkins, or Smiths College.
1t takes, we find, twenty years resi-
dence in this great city before the
average moron stops calling it the Cen
trail Park.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08

The Traffic Cops Honor Roll
de starts the day with quip and jest,
ihls CHEEKY cop that like best.
Upon his smile / always reckon
When reach Fifth and Forty-secon'
New-York tribune., 1921-12-08
Mx,nrs OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The uss fer republication ss all news dlspAtchss
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