davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
The Lynching Stigma

The House has decided to vote on
the Dyer anti-lynching bill imme-
diately after the Christmas recess.
The roll call on the rule limiting de-
bate showed an inconsiderable oppo-
sition, most of it from Representa-
tives who look on the biA as a chal-
lenge to state rights.
On the constitutior7 side the
power Of the Federal government to
intervene is pretty clearly estab-
lished. The opposition will dwell
more on the expediency Of interven-
ing and thus fitting the balance fur
ther against local sef-rule. Yet on
the practical side the argument for
the measure is strongest.
Our system leaves an awkward
gap between the government power
to make treaties and to enforce
them. We are thus often put in a
false position before the world. The
Federal authority by treaty promises
alien residents the equal protection
Of our laws. But when an alien is
lynched and the state fails to bring
the lynchers to justice the Federal
government cannot step in. All it
can do is to apologize for its own
powerlessness and to offer money
reparation.
For many years way has been
sought to relieve the government Of
this embarrassment 1t asks Of
other countries more than it is able
to give in return. Any pressure
which it may be able % put on the
states to stop mob violence will help
it to regain its own self-respect
Congress, part of the Federal
power, is bound to take Federal in
terests into consideration in the mat
ter Of penalizing communities with
in state which tolerates lynchings.
Even apart from the international
aspect lynching is a disgrace too
long endured. 1t is the negation Of
law and civilized methods of justice
1t influences savage passions. 1t
lowers the morale of q community
Since state authority has failed to
suppress this evil, and Federal in
tervention is perfectly legitimate, it
is only common sense for Congress
to take a hand in making lynching
more hazardous and expensive for
those who countenance it or take
part in it.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
ConHscation's Costs

with occasional exceptions,' says
Samuel Untermyer, "private owner
ship of public utilities has been one
long, continuous, Shiny control of
bribery, debauchery, chicanery and
corruption" And why so? Is it
because owners and managers Of
public utilities are specially wicked?
Does man who has been fairly
decent fellow become depraved when
he buys a share in a traction COM
pany? Even in his most heated
rhetorical moments Mr.. INTER
lnyer will scarcely 50 declare. He is
not ignorant of the wherefores of
the drift toward crookedness.
1t is because the public in its re-
lations to utility companies is not an
easy boss. 1t has little liking to
stand by bargains. Under the in
citement of demagogue politicians it
IS prone to threaten confscation or
something akin to it. The public got
along we'll, for example, with the
railroads for many years. Service
improved. Rates came steadily
down. The railroad business of
America was more efficiently con
Quoted than any other business in
the world. Abuses, of course, ex
listed, but they were of small social
consequence. Then politicians of q
type with, which Mr.. Untermyer is
familiar became busy, and every one
knows What happened. The rail
roads tried to defend themselves by
improper practices, and these i'm
proper practices became justifica-
tons for new attacks. Progressive
deterioration was rapid.
Would chicanery and corruption
exceptionally characterize the public
utility business if the public re-
spected not only the letter but the
spirit OF contrGC.s and turned men
OF energy and enterprise loose to
work instead of compelling them to
race from investigation to investiga
ton? The experiment would be
worth trying. Perhaps the fve-cent
fare would in fact be with us if the
traction issue had not been the stock
IN trade of every petty politician.
But is corruption ended by mu-
nlcipal ownership? The cities which
have tried it do not so report. The
busy bees Of graft become busy in
deed about the municipal sugar bar
rel. Poorer service costs more and
the crooked continue to be crooked
10 assume Mr.. Untermyer does not
know these things is to question his
intelligence.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Free Speech in Foreign Tongues

Two years ago the Commissioner
OF Police, in his capacity Of uni
versal boss, issued an order forbid
ding public speaking in any Ian
guage but English. A man was
arrested fo- violating that order at
a Jewish meeting, bat the charge
against him was dismissed by the
magistrate. He thereupon brought
suit for damages for false arrest,
which suit in turn was dismissed.
lie appealed, and the Appellate Di-
vision OF the Supreme Court unani-
mously decided in his favor, declar
ing the police order to have been
an act of oppression.
1t was not merely an act of op-
preston. It was an act of stupidity.
Every Sunday there are many SER
mons preached and services con-
Quoted in this city in foreign lam
guaecs. Every day there are many
newspapers published and circulated
III many foreign tongues. The city
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21

government itself has provided for
the delivery of public lectures in
other languages than English. In
such circumstances, what conceiv-
able justification could there be for
prohibiting the making of orderly
and law-ahiding addresses in yid-
dish or Italian, or any other lam
guage?
The powers of Police Commits
sioner Enright are great, but they
DO not extend to amending the Con-
stltution or to the making of the
laws. All citizens should learn to
speak and read and habitually to
use the English language, but the
fact remains that many have not
done SO. The Constitution does not
merely forbid legislation "abridging
the freedom OF speech" in English,
but it forhids "abridging the free
dom of speech" in any language.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Related Blame E'i;xina

At last we understand why the
Kaiser declared war and whv his
army In prosecuting it did num-
Der OF things which, it is generally
agreed, it ought not to have done.
1t was all the fault of the wicked
American dime novel.
Germany, undergoing new
moral awakening, has banished
these tales of Wild Western mis-
conduct from her boundaries. Poten-
tial Hlndenburgs and Ludendorffs
shall never be brutalized by their
pcrusal. If there are still LITTLE
Hohenzollern boys in Germany their
gulleless souls shall not be moved to
thoughts of violence by reading
that the sharp crack of a rifle rang
out on the midnight air and another
redskin bit the dust"
This action, we are sure, will do
much for the peace of the world
The German soldier, innocent Of
knowledge Of the crimes of the
plans, will be too mild, if not too
proud, to fight. Thoughts of world
empire will be banished from his
brain, because world empire is to
be attained only by shooting ones
fellow men.
AS for ourselves, it is not neces-
sary to ban the dime novel In
the tattcred form in which it used
to be read behind the barn or in the
lott of the woodshed it has utterly
disappeared. We buy it now be-
tween nice red covers and pay So
for it. And it doesn't brutalize US
in the least.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Back to Business

To the Editor of The Tribune.
sir: There still seems to be lot
OF pessimism in the country with re-
gard to business conditions. But l
feel that 1 am not unduly optimistic
in believing that the crisis is over.
A few days ago was talking with
salesman for rubber company pro-
ducing standard tires. He stated that
this year since November IS ne has
sold more tires in dollars and cents
at the new low prices than he sold
either in 1920 or in 1919. Now that the
employment situation has definitely
turned for the better. business through
out the country is on the same read.
Normal business conditions will ne1
be reached at once There are stu
problems 70 be solved such as lover
ing of freight rsses, proper adjustment
of the income tax, abolishing the bur-
densome excess profits tax and many
others.
However, the signs are that ths
country has passed the crisis OF the re-
adjustment period and is getting down
TO brass tacks again. II obstruction
lists would stop their clustering ana
get to work we would soon be baek 90
normal. C. R. DAVIS.
Matawan, N. j., Dee 10. 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Japan's Claims on China


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Slr: Some days ago you printed let
ter from former Attorney General
Wickersham in which he laid consider
able stress on certain alleged rights of
Japan, based on "treaties" between the
Japanese and Chinese governments in
1915, covering the so-called 'twentv
one demands"
The things that Mr.. Wickersham
called treaties were the demands made
by Japan, some of which were accented
by the signature Of Chinese minister.
but he refused to sign an acceptance
OF all of the twenty-one demands. He
knew, and the Japanese who accepted
his signature knew, that his signature
had no binding effect and could have
none until the treaties were laid before
the Chinese Parliament and ratified
by it.
When it became known that this
Chinese minister had accepted certain
OF the demands he was mobbed nv
Chinese students and so beaten that
Tor weeks his life was despaired of.
The transactions on which Japan bases
her claims not only were never ap-
proved by the President of China nor
ratified by the Chinese Parliament. but
no President Of China has even dared
20 submit them to q Chinese Parlia-
ment for consideration, much less rati-
fication. GUY NJ. WALKER
New York, Dec. II, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Motorists 10 Watch Motorists

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: AS motorist of several years
experience who drives his car almost
every day in the. year, and who has
never been arrested or handed sum
mons for disregarding traffic regula-
tons, and who has tried to respect the
rights of other motorists as we'll as Of
pedes 59tans, wish to make the follow
ing suggestions:
Have the proper authorities appoint,
without pay, a thousand men and
women who drive their own cars to
assist the traffic officers in enforcing
traffic regulations such as speeding,
cutting in, reckless driving, etc Allow
them, when they observe such an in
fraction of the law, to make report to
the proper authorities, who will keep a
record Of all such reports and warn the
guilty drivers. Should one of the latter
be arrested, let this report count
against him.
Of course, the men or women ap-
pointed should have clean records. and
let it be distinctly understood that the
appointment carries no favor in any
way, shape or manner should they be
arrested for any violation.
1t has been my experience, and no
doubt the experience of every one who
drives car, to see many fragrant Of
lenses against traffic laws and rules Of
the road bv taXicab and trrcl~ dr;vor-
chaufeurs and owners when no officer
was in sight to check them. Abb.
New York, Dec. 19, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
should feel quite at liberty to skip
over few reniuses WIN bnnnannd fo

should feel quite at liberty to skip
over few gcniuses who happened to
be dirty, or noisy, or for any reason
or none uncongenial to u.s. But we
don't find women as such uncongenial,
and we don't enjoy this pose Of malo
superiority and male excusivcness
that circumstances ohligc us to wear.
We have therefore requested the In
stituto to fill it's, next occurring VA
cancies by electing some women mem
hers of suitable emincnce. AS possible
first choices in different realms Of
achievement we suggest Edith Whnr-
ton, Cecilia Beaux and Jane Adams"
or course no ono supposcs that
Mrs. Wharton is eating her heart
out because, unlike Owen Wister,
Hamlin Garland and Booth Tarking-
ton, she hasn't ribbon to stick on
her coat. Nor is it to be thought
that Katherine Fullerton Gerould
and Agnes Repplier are lying awake
" lAtGiitS hINtiusc tliSy olCll \ ASNCu w
Join the charmed circle. But the
fact remains that an American
Academy which leaves out Edith
Wharton is queer sort Of academy,
indeed, and that there are at least
half a dozen other women whose alb
sence from this roll of half q hum
dred celebrities is conspicuous. That
was but flimsy excuse that was
offered a short time ago for the
Academy in reply to DR.. M, Carey
Thomas's charge of anti-feminist
injustice. The best President Sloane
could do was to enter plea of
confession and avoidance, shifting
the blame for the exclusion Of women
upon the Institute--but is there not
every reason to suppose that word
from the academicians would cause
the Institute to alter it's practice?
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
May Women be Academicians ?

The following announcement was
not, but might very properly have
been, made on the occasion of the
laying Of the cornerstone for the
new home of the American Academy
of Arts and Letters:
I'VE, who compose this Academy
feel ourselves to be placed in some
what embarrassing position. The fact
that we draw our members from tho
American Institute of Arts and Let
ters, coupled with the fact that that
Institute (since the death of Julia
Ward Howe, who was one Of our num-
ber) has placed no woman's name upon
its roll, prec.udes the possibility of our
group making itself the representative
body that it ought to be. We don't
pretend to Jovian impartiality in the
recruiting OF our membership; wo
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Bernstorf' S View

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In Mr.. Tumulty's book, where
he is endeavoring to explain our DELAY
in entering the war in the usual fash
ion. putting it to the account of the
unwillingness and unreadiness of the
people of our country, he quotes Mr.
Wilson as calling the sinking of the
Lusitania "an isolated incident" which
did not furnish cause or occasion for
war.
1t is curious to note in Count Bern
storff's book, "My Three Years in
America" that the view of this shrewd
German is quite opposite as to this
matter. He says that the President
had only to nod"'and the whole coun-
try would have been up in arms.
M l.. HENRY.
New York, Dec 10, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
An ANNOYING Oversight

Up to Monday afternoon
Grover Whalcn, Commissioner of
Plant and Structures, was making
a neat little profit of 200 year
on the Staten Island Midland Rail
road, which he is opernting for the
city. With justifablc pride Mr..
Whalen told the Transit Commits
sion about it. The road was
operated on n fve-cent fare. Yet
it paid. What had the critics of
Mr.. Hylan to say to that?
One of them, Clarence J. Shenrn,
counsel for the commission, had quite
bit to say. Among other things
he inquired Of Mr.. Whalen if, in
calculating his profit, he had taken
into account interest and taxes,
state and local. Mr.. Whalen, after
81 moments reflection, admitted that
he hadn't. The taxes and interest
amounted to considerably more
than $4,000, and zip! went all the
profits.
1t was Mr.. Whalen, presumably,
who drew Mr.. hylan's plans for the
bus line. SO we begin to under
stand why the Mayor is so optimis-
tic about them. If a trolley line
or bus line can be run without
figuring in the overhead it is rea-
sonably sure to show a profit. But,
unhappily, trolley lines and bus
lines can do this only until the man
who is running them wakes up.
OF course, omitting to figure in
the taxes was merely an oversight
on Mr.. Whalen's part. But the peo-
pie, who will have to pay for his
further traction experiments, will
wonder how many similar over
sights he made in his calculations
concerning the bus line.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
France S Burden
Greater Than Is Generally Realized
in America

IL t\tdl1/Cu
in America
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIT: Comparatively few Americans
know that to date France has not re
celved one cent of German reparation
money. After losing on the battlefield
over 100000 Of her male population
between The ages OF eighteen and fifty
France has had TO bear the burden of
the war deb, OF current expenses, and
provide the funds for the restoration
OF the devastated regions From the
survivors, impoverished by the war and
weakened by years of privation and
anguish, one must deduct, as Mr.. Case
nave says, the 100000 inhabitants of
the devastated regions, who are lia-
bility, not an asset, to the country.
We're our losses and sufferngs in pro-
portion to those Of France [ think that
we, too would be insstent on the score
OF reparations.
Unfortunately, France has failed to
make these matters clear to the Ameri-
can public. Your Washington corre-
spondent says truly that France lacks
an adequate publicity system. She
lacks it because she does not realize
that facts so seif-evident are practi-
lcally unknown to the American public.
public
France did not indulge in propaganda
during the way; she fought with grim
and silent determination that aroused
the admiration of the world. She has
not lndulged in propaganda since the
war and has gone about her struggle
for recovery with equally grim and
silent determination. That, too, will
some day arouse equal admration.
France has no desire to bear the bur-
den of a large army moment longer
than necessary. Her army is her only
protection against Germany, unless she
is protected by international agree
mcnt until such time as democratic
Germany has become a stable democ-
racy. How can any one expect the
German people, with fifty years of i'm
perialistic intensive education back of
them, to change their national charac-
ter in the course Of three years?
JULIAN CLARENCE LEVI.
New York, Dec. 10, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Maneuvering

Does the country confront an
other long and wearing struggle in
the Senate over treaty ratification?
The news from Washington indi-
Gates that danger exists and en-
phasizes the need of early express
sion of public sentiment.
The heavenly twins" fthe Senate,
Messrs. Borah and Reed, have al
ready dug up the hatchet and are on
the warpath. Senator Borah will
devote the Christmas holidays to
stirring up anti-Japanese prejudice
on the Pacific Coast Senator Reed
is practicing a new vocabulary Of
alarm and denunciation. The Hearst
newspapers, which specialize on
arousing hate and suspicion, are, OF
course, busy
But Borah, Reed and Hearst are
not particularly dangerous. Two
years ago they were Of little conse-
quence in themselves. They did not
become formidable until they estab-
-iished a working alliance with the
Wilson Democrats of the Senate.
Then the two elements were able
to club the Versailles Treaty to
death and to prevent the country's
entry into the League of Nations.
The arguments of the two factions
differed, but they voted together,
and it is by votes that treaties are
ratified or not ratified.
So far no definite information has
come of what the Wilson Democrats
of the Senate purpose doing. But
the silence is ominous. Reports
come that such Senators as Swanson
and Glass, of Virginia, are sounding
out their colleagues and are in con
ference with Mr.. Wilson. If Messrs.
Rorah and Reed are able to re-
mobilize their battalion of death.
then the Wilson Democrats, thirst
ing for revenge, will likely make
common cause with them.
But by what argument it is
asked, will they be able to justify
their course? By no good argument,
Of course, but bad one will serve
their purpose. Two years ago the
argument that no entry into the
league was better than entry except
on Mr.. Wilson's terms Gid not impress
the country, as the election showed
but action was based on it. Now
doubtless some excuse can be
hatched--for example, that as the
1our-power treaty does not cover
all international relations it is bet
ter to have nothing.
How can the Senatorial gentlemen
who look to Mr.. Wilson for advice
be persuaded not to follow him if
ne raises again the banner of "My
league or no league at all'? Special
responsibility, it seems, is laid on
Wilson Republicans who before en-
couraged him not to soften his
stubbornness. They can again do
harm if they incite Mr. Wilson to
instruct his obcdient Senators to
vote against ratification.
The present is no time for mac
tivity to that majority Of the Amer
ican people who wish this country to
protect it's own future and the fu-
ture of the world by bearing its
due share Of common burden. 1t
still takes two-thirds of the Senate
to ratify a treaty, and minority
now, as heretofore, has a great ad-
vantage. 1t should be made plain
that the public is strongly averse to
another protracted treaty struggle
and expects sincerity and non
partisanship to rule in the Senate.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
The "Seeded" Draw

The "luck of the draw" will be
taken out of one of the major
amateur sports if the selective
method proposed by the executive
committee Of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association is adopted
at the associations forthcoMine.
meeting.
There is little doubt that "secd-
ing the draw that is, so distribut-
ing the ranking players in tourna-
lnent that they will not meet one
another in any Of the early rounds
will be generally acceptable. The
leading players of the country.
with few exceptions, have voted for
it. The tennis gallery naturally
wants the best matches saved for
the last. There was disappoint
ment at Germantown last summer
when blind chance, with the usual
contrariness, scheduled the Tildan-
Johnston match, which should have
been the final, several days too
soon. The rest of the tournament
was an anti-climax.
The new system so arranges that
No. l and No. 2, if they play true
to form, will arrive at the final
stage, having defeated in the semi
finals No. 3 and No. A, who had dis
posed of other distinguished nu-
The nice task of hand-pick-
ing, which, after all, is no more diff
ficult than handicapping, is in
trusted to the tournament committee.
The plan works out well on paper
and is in keeping with the passion
for classification and STANDARDIZED
ton that is so marked at present. It
recognizes proved merit. The
small fry are welcome to swing
racquet to fill out the entry list
but it would be 3 serious breach of
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21

Is there certain note Of jealousy
IN "The Evening Worlds" professed
amusement at William j. Burns's eff
fort to "clear up the Wall Street
bomb mystery? Perhaps 1.-The
World" which solved the entire mat
ter to its own satisfaction not so
long ago, desires the exclusive privi-
lege in exposures which blow up with
q report almost equal to the original
explosion
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
The New Mountaineer
from the Springfield Repuslsca

FFToW 7Hs sVFs"JEeld RepN57s6aNj
practical use fer airplanes was
picturesquely demonstrated when Pres
ident Obregon sent an expedition of
airmen to investigate the sudden erup-
ton of Popocatepetl. 1t is a reminder,
incidentally. that mountain climbing
has lost some of its usefulness, if not
soma of its appeal, to the adventurer
by the development OF aviation.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21

study the country express the opinion
that the basic conditions of Peru, as
they exist to-day, are more sound and
more favorable than those Of any other
country in South America
EDUARDO HIGGINSON,
Peruvian Consul General.
New York, Dec. 10, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Christmas Cheer for the Sick
he Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The New York Flower and Fruit
Mission, 104 East Twentieth Street
will be open December 20, 21, % and
% for the reception and distribution
OF Christmas cheer to the sick in hosp-
tails and tenement houses. Supplies of
all sorts, especially condensed milk
canned soups and tea, are requested
Oranges, evergreens, Christmas cards
and candy are necessary for the hospi-
tails, and toys and dolls for children
everywhere.
FRANCES L. RUSSELL,
Secretary.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21

YOU ean purchase merchandise advertised IN THE
TRIBUNE With absolute safcty--fcr II dissatisiae-
tion results In any TAE TRIBUNE eunran-
tees to pay your money hack uron request. No red
tane No uufhblins. We mako good promptly u
the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
uyxnrn OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tho Associated Press IS exclusively entitled 10
the ,asc for republication Of all dispatches
credited 10 Il or ncs otherwise credited tn this
paoer and also the local news Of spontaneous
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herein also reserved.