davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Our Stake in Reparations

Groups in this country which
wanted "soft" peace for Germany
are, of course, attacking the Allies
reparations agreement. These
groups are against anything which
might appear to benefit Great
Britain, France and Belgium at
Germany's expense. Their attitude
and the reasons for it are well un-
derstood.
But undisguised pleadings in be-
half Of Germany will hardly, it is
realized, move the American public.
So an adroit attempt is being made
to show not so much that the rep-
arations agreement bears too hard
ON the Germans but that it will
injure the United States. The nat
ural form for this argument to take
is to say that q IL per cent tax on
German exports will hamper Ameri-
can trade with Germany. Domestic
purchasers Of German goods, it is
contended, will have to pay the ex-
port tax, and the American con-
sumer will thus be forced to con-
tribute to the reparations annuities
which are to 60 to France, Belgium
and Great Britain.
That the German exporter can
shift the export tax to foreign con-
sumers is open to considerable
doubt. He cannot do it in all cases.
The tax Is TO be collected on the
other side. Germany has always
been a cheap producer. She will
produce even more cheaply, rela-
lively speaking, under her postwar
economic regime than she did be-
fore the war. Her exchange situa-
tion will facilitate exports. There
is more than q chance, therefore,
that a part OF the manufacturers
profit will go into the export tax.
But even if it doesn't the United
States wouldn't welcome food of
cheap German goods any more than
Great Britain and France would
welcome one. The German export
tax would do the work in our ease
of an equivalent import tax, which
Congress might easily be moved to
impose In order to deter German
dumping.
There is another important factor
in the case. Great Britain and
France owe as the larger part of
the Treasury's s1O.O00,0Oo,0 900 war
advance to our European allies,
They will be in better position to
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
But Mr.. Wilson interviewed and pre-
vented publication.

But Mr.. Wilson interviewed and pre-
vented publication.
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee was extremely anxious to
consult the records for the purpose
of clearing up obscurities in che
treaty. But Mr.. Wilson was obdu-
rate. AT the committees conference
with him on August 10, 1919, efforts
were made to establish to what ex-
tent ne claimed a proprietary inter
est in these documents. The Presi-
dent was led TO describe the process
Of record making. Then this col
loquy occurred:
Senator McCumber Where are
those records kept now?
The President--They are in Paris,
Senator MrCumber-Is there any
objection to their being produced for
the committee?
The President think there is q
very serious objection, Senator.
Senator Moses returned later to
the charge. He asked whether the
Paris process Uerbaue were to be de-
posted anywhere "as a matter of
public record" The President an
swered that no decision on that point
had yet been reached. Mr.. Moses
next inquired whether the conference
records were to be treated as private
papers belonging to the members of
the Council of Four. The President
replied: ~ auontd not call them pri-
cate papers. I haze a cohv, Sena-
tor. I regard them as a public trust,
not Private papers. And can as.
satre yoat that they acil not be de-
>stroyed."
Are these papers, constituting a
public trust," to continue to be re-
served for Mr.. Wilson'S private uses?
The peace conference was a gather
ing not of private individuals, but Of
public officials. It's records belong
to no President or ex-President.
Their concealment hitherto, although
unjustified, may be attributed to
what Mr.. Wilson considered the po-
litical exigencies Of his fight for un-
conditional ratification But it would
be intolerable to think that they have
been withheld, and are still being
withheld, for exploitation in pri-
vate literary venture.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Whose Papers Are They?

The news that President Wilson is
arranging the documentary material
in his possession with view to writ
ing book on the peace conference
raises some interesting questions. Is
the President to divulge in his ca
pacity as>an historian the transac-
tions which, as a public official, he
obstinately held back not only from
the public but from a coordinate
branch Of the treaty-making power?
Is ne going to print in a copyrighted
book-perhaps "best seller',-- Of
fetal records which he refused to
send as "copy" to the Public Printer!
The ethics oil such procedure
comes down to this: Are the con-
ference records official papers or pri-
vate papers? So far, Mr.. Wilson has
claimed exclusive custody of them.
He has at times made a mystery OF
their whereabouts. Last October
Senator Spencer, Of Missouri, quoted
the substance of translation OF a
part of the French record for one OF
the Councils sittings. The Presi-
dent vehenently denied it's accuracy.
He produced in rebuttal, not the
American official transcript, or a
copy of it, but the notes Of Chicago
stenographer who had been admit
ted to the session. He wouldn't even
say that the American records were
then in this country. The French
government was ready in 1919 to
publish the entire conference record.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Needs at Home
o the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Let me voice my appreciation Of
the letter from "a Worker Just Back
From Switzerland. in this mornings
Tribune. 1t strikes the vital point,
Many other Americans have been think
ing this same thing in the last few
weeks.
Why feed the children of the Central
Powers, so that in twenty years from
now they will again be able to disturb
the peace of the world, and at the same
time let our own soldiers, the victims OF
these same powers, die from lack OF
proper hospital facilities? /? Let the Cor.
man protiteers (and they have as many
as WEI dig down into their pockets and
feed their children.
I would suggest, rather, fund for
the transporting of the tuberculous pas
victims TO sanatorium in a part Of the
United States where the Climate is such
that they will have at least "a fighting
chance" which they do not have in this
climate; a fund for searching out ex-
service men in poorhouses and caring
Tor them in soldiers homes; fund for
taking shell shock victims from public
insane asylums and. segregating then,
where they will receive special care; q
fund for taking care Of the wives. and
children Of the ex-service men in the
hospitals; . fund to give ex-service men
now n their homes proper hospitaliza-
ton.
Why continue to be stupid. and blind
TO the needs Of our own boys, while
pouring money into foreign charities:
e these drives continue 10 their Logical
conclusion, we will soon have drives fo,
funds for INDECENT Chinese laundrymen
enfeebled Australian boomerang throw.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The Precedent OF 1854

The much diseussed\ though ap-
parently little read special message
of Governor Miller speaks with
commendation Of the rapid transit
act of 1894, which was enacted
when the city faced conditions not
tiissimilar to those now present.
Then, as now, there was traffic
congestion; then, as now, the city
government was such that few in
;telligent persons, whether OF the
city or out of it, dared trust the city
administration to be either honest
or wise; then, rs now, it became
necessary for the state to act as the
one agency with competent direct
ing power, and then, as now, there
was much talk Of home rule and
how sound principles required
traction matters to be left to Jake
Sharpe and Tammany Board of
Aldermen.
How did the Legislature and
Governor meet the situation Of
1894? BY the one passing and the
other signing an act Of which the
following is the salient part Of the
first section:
'In each city having over one mil
lion Of Inhabitants, according to the
last preceding national or state CEN
sus, there shall be board Of rapid
transit railroad commissioners In
and for such city, which shall con-
sist of the Mayor Of such city, the
Comptroller or other chief financial
officer Of such city, the president Of
the Chamber of Commerce of the
State Of New York, by virtue of his
Office, and the following named per-
sons. to wit: William steinway, Seth
Low, John Clafin, Alexander e. Orr
and John H. Starin."
When this commission was cre-
ated some objections were heard,
but not the home rule objection.
That died. The official city was
represented in the persons Of it's
two chief officers, the state in the
person Of the president of the
State Chamber Of Commerce and
the non-ohicial public Of the city in
the persons of five eminent New
Workers who commanded the conf
dence of their fellow citizens.
The work was done, done honest
ly, was done expeditiously, done
without the intrusion Of politics.
Probably it never would have been
done except for this resort to an
unusual .expedient. In 1894, quite
as much as now, there was danger
of rapid transit becoming perma-
nentiy snagged until perhaps some
syndicate bought privileges under
circumstances of scandal and of
robbery Of the public.
The present Legislature may not
care to follow the precedent of
1894. But before taking action it
may well study the way New York
secured her first subway; it may
well examine how home rule prin-
cip1es on a former occasion were
reconciled with practical action and
learn how in the end there was~gen-
eral satisfaction.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
From Gopher Prairie. Conn.

70 The Editor Of The Tribune.
sir: M. G. A., who is disappointed
with Main Street, should not have read
the book as description of the char
aeser Of small town folk, sbut, instead,
should have considered it as thorough
lsyeiat'on of the smaliness Of mind
'aat - characteristic Of some writer's,
Mr- Lewis has written what he sees Ia
Gopher Prairie. He cannot write what
he doesn't see. NJ. c. A. can always
choose books by writer's who have bet
~, nloadsr vision. G. s. H.
aaidd etown, Conn, Jan. 27s 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
A Cabinet Of Big Ones
MIR. Harding's Problem Likened to
That of Washington and Lincoln

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: l cannot suppress the impulse
to thank The Tribune, that is ''voice to
the voiceless," in affording an opportu-
nifty to those who are not SO prominent
as to be called into conference al
Marion. or who lack the assurance to
thrust their attentions upon Senator
Harding, to speak word on the make
up of the new Cabinet. One hesitates to
intrude upon what seems very delicate
ground. But the President-elect himself
has solicited comparison of views.
In this class who lack the opportunity
of direct approach are millions of the
rank and file Of the people. They would
like to whisper confidential word to
the Senator just now: "Be careful" The
word thus spoken would not be in
huenced by the consideration of any
personal ambition or prejudice. 1t
would be simply straightforward, can
did, friendly word of advice.
Washington, through his military
genius, laid the foundations of nation
and later, through his craftsmanship. as
President OF. the new Republic, drew
the tattefed fragments of liberty. into
the strength and unity of stabilized in
dependence. Yet not he alone, but he in
conjunction with the very ablest men
of his time.
Lincoln faced a nation torn asunder
by internal strife. 1t was moment OF
tragic import. To be or not to be, that
was the question. Like Washington
Lincoln surrounded himself with the
ablest minds in the country. Able as he
was, the best was not too good for him
The new President will face tasks as
grave and serious as those Of Washing.
ton or Lincoln At his feet lies nation
prostrate. Unjointed 1t is at every
joint and bleeding at every pore,
Social unrest, business prostration, in
dustrial arrangement, war debts, op.
pressive taxation, justice to soldiers
army reconstruction, naval policy, mer.
chant marine, foreign trade, railroad
PASASf teooA Soholtloil5s iIVlHR c0SCS
conservation of food by Improvement OF
| means of freight collection and distribu.
ton, to say nothing Of the complicated
foreign equation, are some of the prob
lens with which the new Administra.
tion must deal.
II Mr.. Harding will take the advice
Of those who have no axes to grind or
favors to ask, he will follow the exam.
pie of Washington and Lincoln and
select only the best men. Let us have q
twelve-cylinder Cabinet, full powered
with every cylinder hitting. This course
may cost the new President some sacri-
fees, possibly some friends temporarily
but there is no loss to be compared to
the loss of the public confidence.
| This appeal is for the big ones, the
Hamiltons, the Jeffersons, the Madisons
the Stewards, the Chases, the Stantons of
our day. The claim of the professional
politician is as near nil to-day as il
could well be. Senator Harding owes
his election to no man or set of men
He was elected before he was dominated
which is simply to say that the people
had decided for change even before
the conventions were held.
| A STAND-PAT REPUBLICAN.
Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The Irreducible Minimum

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: For the nation. the irreducible
minimum Root, Wood and Hoover
For the city Of New York-Coionel
Arthur Woods for Mayor.
GRACE ELLERY CHARMING. Z
New York, Jan. 80, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

i It is sound enough plan,.D J. F.
Johhson's, to burn ell cur Liberty bonds.
But why waste the time going to safe
ty deposit vault and getting the bonds
Why not burn up Ell the paper money
we happen to have? If the burner noti-
fies the Treasury Department, the same
governmental benefit would result as
from what might be called a Liberty
Bondfire.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
A Strong Endorsement
{From The Boston Globs)

{From The Boston Globs)
Arthur Brisbane speaks of "Postmas-
ter General Burleson, who has worked
systematically and intelligently to make
the Postofice useful to the people" so it
appears there are two American citi.
zens who think well of the Postmaster
General,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
New York. Jan. 27, ls2l.

To the Editor Of The Tribane.
Sir: IN re the confusion between
nine and i've in telephone calls. why
not make up all telephone numbers villa
five onaitsedg There are enough burner
ais left. Bat if ten d::sits are rsqalred
why not substitute ietter-k,' z for
instance instead Of aves Il is not
necessary to coin g new name far Q
nuineral. ssiail'lsasA.
potsdan, N. Y, Jun. S5, ssah q
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

You can purchase merchandise advertised In TINE
TRf SukE With ahsoiue saety--fsr IL dissatisfac.
: som results In any case THE TRIBUNE suaran-
tess to pay yaur moass back upon request. No red
i tape. No auibhiins We make good eresaptiy /.
i she advsrtser does not.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
New York. Jan. 90, 1921.

To the Editor of The Tribane
Sir: In your entertaining and in
structive editorial on "The New
Mineral" failed to find reference
to one Of the most common and confns-
ing mistakes in sounds Of words as
heard over the telephone. This is the
taking by the ear Of .'f" for .s' and
50 for 81" Surely you must have had
many annoying experiences OF this
Ireakish transmission Of sounds by the
telephone. Is there possible remedy Z
EDWIN c. WALKER.
New York. Jan. 27, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The Coming cOer
aENsR

What does he want OF beauty, always saying
Beauty is something born upon the sea.
Or apple-blossons in the dusk, or rainfall
Slanting against a black-green tree2
Whst will he get Of beauty, and not taka It
One of these nights when I ara dead OF
talk
I've seen fellows that he wouldn't look at
Tremblc If they paused me en- a walk.
Apur. TINA.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
A Gard Of Thanks

Sir: Permit me to express my thanks
to all who on recent occasion extended
to me so many and such valued courte-
sizes; especially to the Magister Bibendi,
Smeed, whose parodies cleverly tempered
justice with mercy; to Mr.. William Allen
White, who stood while I attempted to
read copy of verses and who, fear,
missed that Midnight Special; to Hilary
and H. g., who consulted me on topics
of literature--a thing no human being
had previously done; to Miss Carolyn
Wells, who thought looked like the
Able Liszt, whoever the guy is; and to
all who refrained from asking me
whether or no am related to the Hon.
William Jennings Bryan. G. S. B.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
A RHYMED REVIEW

t"Tbs Outline Of History BIZ H O. w.1.
Muom!ilanl
The rise from amoehae
Through Time to what we be.
FsEcELEa.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
MEMBER or rHE AssocIArEp pnEss

The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled TO
the use for capitalization OF all news dispatches
credited 70 1t or not otherwise credited in this
: paper. and also tee LEGAL newa OF spontaneous
4 ergip published herein.
All Fights Of republication Of all oiher matter
herein reserved.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

+ When, in George AIDES Doc Horne,
somebody confused Byron with Bryant,
the Lush said, "There are eight or nine
poets altogether" The advertisements
of "oyer the Hill" call Bryant the Most
lllustrious Poet Of England. Still, as
John Peter Toohey suggests, that isn't
any worse than calling Will Carleton 9
poet at all.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The Diary of Our Own samue, pe,va

January 29--Up, and my wife point
ing out to me at breakfast how that nv
Journal said had seen Mr. Fl. Blinn
in "The Bat" instead Of "The Bad
Man." and told her ! was distraught
when wrote that, yet ! hold that no
excuse; forasmuch as have no tolera-
tion at all for anybody else who might
make so silly mistake. With Mrs.
Hilda Gaige and Miss Jane Seymour in
my petrol-waggon to Peekskill, and had
luncheon there, and Mrs. Jennie Lewis
gave me loaf of bread to give my wife.
TO the Armory, and played few setts
of tennis, not badly either, albeit /
could not find my shoes and had to wear
Mr.. l. Hartmann's. Home and A. Sulli-
van and Alice there for dinner, Of liver
and bacon, very good.
so-All day at the faslioning of some
verses, and so to Katharine's, where 7
saw Miss Aileen Brenon, and Juliet, too,
and had some deep talk with them. So
to the Playhouse, and saw "The New
Morality" and, save for one speech OF
Mr.. I. Grossmith's, found it thinly
diluted attempt at smartness, but well
played.
S1-snow falling when / awoke, filing
me with wish to go to Florida or
Bermuda. To the office by subway, and
there all day at reading letters, and this
and that.
What the Allies are trying to do Is
to write Germany for 8 A1-year endow-
fnprtt nnlicv Nt
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The Theater Takers

At Miss Lalss Bett"
"Well, how dye like it?'
"oh, do know. All right. on'y it,s
too youman."
Chow dye mean too younan?o
"oh, I do know. Youman. Like up.
state"
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
illustrations Arsless Aid

Sir: Do you know how far back the
authors holler against the illustrator
goes? In Forster's "The Life Of Charles
Dickens" is quoted letter from Dickens
about an illustration for one OF the num-
bers Of "Dombey and Son." He says: ",
can't say what pain and vexation II Is
to be SO utterly nisrepresented. Nv Id
cheerfully have given one hundred
pounds to have kept this illustration out
of the book. He never could have got
that idea Of Mrs. Pipchin If he had at
tended to the text. Indeed, / thina he
does better without the text; for then
the notion is made easy to him in short
description, and he can't help taking
lt IN. G. B. D.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
The New Numeral
Sundry Suggestions for Ending Tele-
phone Antiquities
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your editorial under the
above heading, in your issue of the 2eth.
you record the fact that in order 10
insure distinction between five and
nine, which are often misunderstood
one for the other, practice has
been introduced by the telephone oper-
ators of pronouncing nine ni-en, max
ing two syllables of this numeral. AS
such pronunciation is both absurd and
clumsy and not sanctioned by any pre-
ylous usage, and, after all, does not SO
greatly differ from FIVE, as the long
sound Of "i' is retained, it would be far
better to pronounce nine min. This
at once changes the sound of the vowel.
and nine cannot be mistaken for ave.
In reciting the first ten numerals.
using min, the tongue executes it trip
pingly and with facility, but when ni-en
is substituted there is an awkward
stumble in the enunciation. Again min
has the advantage of common usage
s.AAe o@HSeiOA III tiS pronunciation OF
final Zine" occdrring in hosts of words,
e. e., chlorine, fuoriae, iodine, etc.
Even many public speakers of the pres
ent day refer to Lenine as Lenin, with
accent on the first syllable. In fact,
there is no reason why this pronunci-
alton should not be in common use
everywhere, and if the telephone oper-
ators will adopt it am sure they will
have no further cause for complaint.
ARCHIBALD C. WEEKS.
Brooklyn, Jan. 27, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your recent comments on s1Ths
Neva Numeral" were very interesting.
Possibly we should confer with our CO.
workers of the New England Telephone
Company about how the Bostonese con-
slider revision of our pronunciations.
This is important, as not only are nu-
merals affected, but also are certain
words. Have you not noticed "Plee-uz"?
But let me say word to set at rest
the doubts Of 81. w. E." The New York
Telephone Company is working aard
and fast to install Misunderstanding or
automatic" telephone throughout It's
territory. In reasonably short time
all local calls viii be dialed; and no
words. need be spoken until connection
has been established. For further in
formation, see page % of the November
II, 1920, Telephone Directory. As these
new Misunderstanding offices will be
put in service in new months, 81.
w. E.' will get wrong numbers through
slip of his finger rather than through
slip of his tongue. And if he will be
content to argue the question with his
wife for only few short years, he may
then have peace and pronounce words
as his wishes and customs dictate,
c. 0. LETYN.
Nats x~LS r.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
THE SHOPPERS BROOK

l come from haunts OF sax and hearn:
bend an ankle weary,
stagger up to shop with stern,
And linger at mccreery.
gimbel, gimbel as go
l purchase almost never;
For sales may come and sales may 60,
But shop on forever.
RorLo.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

And Eden, n. r., and Paradise. Pa.
e. n. a.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

Emperor viii Go to Princess --Th,
Sun headline.
"Noblesse oblige," writes Peter.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

10 Truculent Contrib:
Melville Henry Plattsburgh Cane,
Why is guy like you SO vain
When you went, upon your cruise.
supplied both girl and booze,
SKUNK
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
suARAAr4

4 Entered III the postoisicc as New York as Serond
- Class Mali Matter,
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

Whether, as DR.. George G. Allen, Of
Brookline. Mass, has Just said, the
Garden OF Eden was situated in Ohio. II
is hard to confirm at the moment! of
shoveling to press. But that it was
located in the United States is evidenced
by Adam, w. Va. and Eve, KY.
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
TITEspAY. FEnRuARY i. .a21

Owned hs New FORK Tribune me-. New York
corppssson. pubsishea daily. Ogden reid, rresi
denss q, Vernon Rogers vscs President: Hsiea
Rogers Reid. Secretary: II. E. Maxneid, Tressursr
Address Tibuns Baildsng. iss Nassau street. New
xcrk. Telephcne. Beekman sooe
q, srBSCRlpT7oN RATEs--Ey mail. tncluding
3 psstase. IN THE UNITED STATES.
- Ono Six one
By aiaii, Postpaid yasr. Months Month
One week Ssc
Daily Assiy.. -. . !. . 1900 Se6 ss
eae week, Soc
Sunday Sniy ~ = 40a 2as ae
Sunday only. Canada...s. seb 1926 .sy
ii EoRErCN rArEs
Daily and Sunday 800 sts.ss $sAs
Daily only. ...........s II 40 syo LIS
Sanday only. ...,..........s S.75 6.l2 .a3
----s---------------
4 Entered the postosacc Ut New York as Ssrcnd
- Class Mall Matter &
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

Not to add Cain City. Tex. and Abel
Kys
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Oh the snow, the beautiful snow,

Frets the Department Of Street Clean.
ing SO!
New-York tribune., 1921-02-01

What the Allies are trying to do Is
to write Germany for 8 &1-year endow.
ment policy.