davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Sharp Note to Panama.

T-HE Panama Costa Rica boundary dispute was the
subject Of a sharp note, almost utmatum,
: rom Secretary Hughes to the Republic OF Panama.
made public Monday. -..
The White award. fixing this boundary, has been
declared unjust by Panama despite treaties signed at
the time the decision was made, affirming acquescence
IN The terms The note demands that Panama
transfer the control Of the disputed territory Costa
Rica. withdraw all civil and military authority, and
recognize ss binding the borderne already laid down.
The note states that unless these terms are COM
Piled with the government Of the United States will
be bound TO proceed in the manner which may be
requisite" 81
Americas determination to protect the indepen-
dence Of Panama Is reaffirmed with the explanation
that this does not include support of unjust claims and
that Americas duty is likewise to see that Panama
keeps her international obligations in good faith
The American communications was in reply to
note from Panama receiyedsApril in which that
country replied TO previous. American note but
sought to evade fulhlment of the boundary decisions
The United States also reminds the Panama gov
eminent that the award Of the French President Lou
bet the Pacific side heretofore formally recog-
nized by the Panama government as clear and indis
putable. & ~. ~.,.
Denying that there is any valid ground for OBJ
jection to the White award the United States also
refuses to consider the suggestion that the dispute be
settled by pebscite
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Outline Help to Commerce.

"UGGESTIONS- for improvements in the service
~ rendered by the Department of Commerce were made
- last week by the committee of business who have
been in conference recently with the Secretary of the
department
The committee took the Congressional definition Of
The duties Of the department basis for action The
definition Isl
~ shall be the province and duty of said depart
nent to foster promote and develop the foreign and
domestic commerce, the mining, manufacturing, ship
ping and fishery industries of the United States; and
this end il shall be vested with jurisdiction and
troll of the departments bureaus, offices and branches
OF the public service hereinafter specified and with
such other powers and duties may be prescribed by
law" .-s'
I'VE are satisfied" reports the committee, that
the department has been developed the scope
implied in the and that to that it has fallen
short of serving business think it should be
served by this department OF the government.
I'VE desire to express to you our firm and unani-
conviction that the functions of the Department
OF Commerce shall be amplified as to meet the
purpose Of Congress expressed in the definition Of the
province and duty of the department above quoted.
1T is evident that, to this end the Department of
Commerce should embrace all of the nonreguatory bureaus
relating directly to industry (as distinguished from agr
cultire), to trade and to transportation
I'VE feel that the whole statistical activities OF the
government relating to production stocks, consumption
and distribution and movement Of the basic commod
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Stacker Lists Are Published.

nUBLlCATION of the lists Of names OF draft
dodgers was started by the War Department
last week. The lists for the District OF Column
bia should be ready for print within a few days
Estimates show that there are about 10000 men
who lodged their duty during the war when called bv
their draft boards. The army officials hold that when
they were notified they inducted into the army
they became soldiers subject to military orders and
never having been discharged from the service are
still liable under military rule cout-martal for de-
sertion in time Of war.
The attorney general holds that should an inno-
cent mans be published in the list of slackcrs
that will have against the government
for damages for defamation OF character
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
New Steel Wage Scale.

CONSIDERABLE sensation in labor and trade
I circles followed the announcement Tuesday by
Judge Ebert H. Gary, of the United States
Steel Corporation, that wages in all the concerns
plants would be reduced per cent effective May I6.
Judge Gary at the same time announced that prac-
tica method had been found for junking the I2hour
day although officials OF the corporation working
with this end in view During the past year the steel
corporation paid $6oo,oooooo in wages The
slash. it is expected, will about $I2o,oooooo.
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Nav Day Tranquil in u. S.

TEAR of May Day riots in the United States came
r. to nothing. As the holiday of international la
u Dor and the occasion taken advantage OF for
the past few years in Europe to start trouble there
real lest the troubled industrial situation
in the United States might nit precipitate uprsngs
here Radicals held enormous meetings in New
York and Chicago which conducted peacefully.
No made One two red flags were
seized in Chicago. In both New York and Chicago
heavy police duty in of riots.
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08

ties at least, excluding agriculture should be coucen-
trated in the Department OF Commerce"
The report is signed by w. D. Adams, Hugh p
Baker Frank r. Briggs, r. II. Claiming, Stuart W.
Crammer, Walter Drake, S. NJ. Evans, w. G. Jamison
Alexander Leggs, Charles II. MacDowel. Charles A.
Mccormick, NJ A. Oudn, Charles Piez, J. J. Raskob
w. J. Raybold NJ l. Requa, Julius Rosenwald, Wilfred
H. Schoft George w Sisson. jr, w. H. Stackhouse
Hamilton Stewart. H. l. Thayer Ernest T. Trigg John
P. Wood. Clarence Wolley, and Sydney L. Wright
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Government Finances.

Alarming increase Of current government eNpcn-
dtures, especially in connection with railroads. army
and navy has made hope OF retiring $2soooooooo of
floating debt that natures impossible unless
drastic made, says Secretary Mellon. Already
the government has spent $378377 900 during
fiscal year, at rate Of $Sooooooooo year. Recon-
mcndaton includes repeal OF excess profits tax; limit
ing Of normal surtax incomes 40 per cent for
present year and 80 per cent for succeeding years;
new taxes transportation automobiles, tobacco and
other luxures; repeal Of nuisance taxes" such as
soda water tax; tax imports and revision down
ward Of appropriations for army and navy.
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Supply Men Indicted.

Charging conspiracies which have doubled the
price of certain building materials the Federal grand
jury in Chicago has returned indictments against
individuals and firms in sheet metal and plumbing
lines. They charged with consprng to restrain
trade. The indictments after long investigation
Of so-caed building ring" in Chicago which, it is
claimed, has made building operations much slower,
costly and difficult.
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Ship Strike Skies Clearing.

THE proverb of nights being darkest before dawn
appears peculiarly applicable to the wage contro-
versy which until late last week threatened to
tie up practically all American shipping
On Thursday afternoon, negotiations between the
committees representing engineers and other marine
workers who had refused accept cut in pay seemed
to be definitely terminated. A few hours later, however,
Admiral Benson, chairman OF the Shipping Board Sec
reary OF Labor Davis and the committeeman were in
conference emerging smiling to continue deliberations
Friday.
The committeeman intimated to Secretary Davis
late Thursday that they ready to into confer
again and he after hurried trip the White House,
resumed his conversations
However, lines still tightly drawn Chairman
Benson apprised that some ship ready TO
grant the mems demands that wage schedules be not
reduced announced that the board would dsposscss
line OF ships secured from the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration If such arrangement was made The men
previously had refused to consider a IS per cent
duction in pay, advanced reasonable by the Shipping
Board and agreed to by the owners. who previously
had decreed cut of about IS per
Owners late in the week asserted the situation as
regarded movements OF ships was well in hand.
In New York recruiting bureaus, location of which
kept far possible, were said TO be
receiving all the applications operators could handle.
The Calao Shipping Board vessel which cleared from
New York late in the week said have been
completely manned with non-unon hands and to have
sailed for Rio and Buenos Aires in cargo and with pas
sengers. About dozen ships which should have passed
out of the harbor reported held up however.
Long continuation Of the marine strike would be
OF the most disastrous things which could happen
today to American commerce. declared Secretary Her
bert Hoover He pointed out that not only would the
unemployment situation be rendered worse but that the
railroads would in time become packed up with goods
intended for export and that foreign contracts depen-
dent the delivery Of the goods would be broken He
expressed hope OF finding solution which would
quickly bring the matter a peaceful solution.
The issue OF the "A hour week backed by owners of
job printing houses during the week brought about
wholesale walkouts in Chicago and other cities The
union position is for the same pay as for 4S hours
work.
In New England New York Minnesota and Can
ada, between 5000 and $4,000 pulp and print paper
workers were reported out strike as protest
apainst proposed wage reductions Attempts TO cut
wages of building trades workers in Cleveland resulted in
walkouts estimated from $4,000 to 10000
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
Awarded the D. S. G..

Capt Mahlon H. Harris of the 3I2th Infantry was
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross last week. by
order Of the President for heroism in action near
Grand Pre- France, in October 1918 He led his COM
pany through heavy machineg gun fire and scaled the
walls Of the citadel, capturing the objective.
The Washington herald., 1921-05-08

The War Finance Corporation representations
that there is difficulty in financing exports OF California
packing products announced Friday its willingness to
make advances to responsible banking institutions
which finance such products for shipment
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26

N ME fast word has been said IN oppoSiton 10
the proposed settlement with the railroads
before the Senate. 1t has come in the
form Of letter from Mr. McAdoo, who the first
Director General, made the contracts under which
the roads passed into government control. There
can be no doubt as to the completeness OF his in
formation. There may be another viewpoint based
uponSt, disputes to Interpretation, or situa-
ton demanding some other conclusion than coin
cides with his judgment the letter OF the con-
tract.
4" As fact this statement by Mr.. McAdoo has
not one item of information not already known and
discussed. What he gives is from public records.
The conclusion as to what should be DONE is his
own; the expression OF his business judgment. He
does not OF course hold that Congress cannot agree
to the proposed settlement He does not seriously
conteRd that ii is fair in its general terms He does
not seriously maintain that the amount fixed as due
the railroads, is not fair settlement. He questions
II, but does not oppose it.
+ He gives the balance due from the roads as
just what is agreed upon as in testimony at the
hearings and merely says that these expenditures
were not forced upon the railroads" There has
been no contention that they and this has not
bscn a factor in the agreement. He maintains that
Under the letter OF the contract what is due tho
railroads should be Offset against what they owe
the government No one disputes that this is so.
His main objection to the settlement is that 1t IS
on per cent basis and that ultimately some OF
the weaker companies may not be able to pay what
is granted them as postponed debt. He docs not
say and would hardly to claim, that any OF
it'wQgld be uncollectable, difficult OF col
lectioS ten years from>now than now, unless as an
ofsetSespeciay as railroad security issues now
government controlled
But he is distinctly mistaken when he appa-
rsntly says that the settlement will bring added
taS burden" or that it will be IAN added invest
1nent of the taxpayers money" He is too familiar
with financial methods not to know that this debt
can be paid through the banks with the securities
given by the roads for their debts. He also ad-
uits that such debts for equipment and bettefments
are crstornarily financed in this way in whole in
part with exactly such securities the roads will
give the government.
Indeed, Mr.. McAdoo could have condensed all
that is new all that not already in the record,
all that has value or weight in his long letter, into
the one sentence: "ln my judgment the roads
should not be paid anything, but all that is due
them should be offset against what they to the
government" In this sentence, also, he would have
stated the exact issue. On this the President and
all OF his Cabinet as we'll the head OF the War
Finance Board and the present railroad control,
disagree with him. So, it is quite evident, will a
majority of the Senate, as does very large ma
jority of the House, as shown by the vote.
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
The Latest and Greatest.

THE latest air disaster is the greatest of many.
i 1t is greatest in the deporable loss of life, in
the size and cost of the carrier and in mechanical
and expert failure. The ZR-2 was much the largest
dirigible ever built. 1t along the plan and
general design OF the Zeppelin but with greater
carrying power and much larger. 1t was am
plifcation of the German airship and a rather
daring one-bite measure of advance.
1t had several preliminary trials which de-
veloped weaknesses. 1t had been strengthened and
according to report the American experts had
greater confidence than the British in her
staunchness. 1t was 700 feet long, fragile en-
velope filled with inaamniable gas and, depended
for strength upon many planes wires and girders.
She had been out thirty-four hours this, her
final test and had crew of forty-nine officers and
men, The wreck came when about to land.
The key to what happened may be in that part
of the report which says that she had just under
taken sharp turn. In the earlier tests the full
engine power had not been used. On this final
test speed and engine power would be two factors
given trial 1t supposable, then, that being under
full speed, the sharp turn proved too much for her
strength; she buckled and the inhammable' gas in
contact with the gas engines did the rest. She
lies tangled in the Humber River and all
but bare halfdozcn, less, of her splendid crew
are dead.
The ZR-2 was built for the United States by
the brltlsh' why TINS order was gwen mas not
been explained. 1t probably needs no explanation
The British have had much more experience in the
construction of drigblcs of this type than our own
people. They had had the opportunity of studying
the Zeppens first hand They the better
equipped in plants for the work and possibly, too,
arc somewhat less inclined to take chances. What
the faults may never be known. But the in
vestigation is sure to be thorough and honest. 1t
is not British failing to whitewash, to shirk re-
sponsibty, or dodge their own faults.
But it would that before another expert
ment of like magnitude was undertaken, there or
here, some other than inAammable gas should
be discovered the sustaining substance. Con-
struction and mechanics can still wait science,
as they always have had to do. Perfect what is
known to be safe and wait for the superships until
the lives at stake will at least have fair chance OF
not being snuffed out in horror
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
Show the Need.

THE American Relief Administration has moved
i into Russia One of the first results will be
to develop the extent of the need Many reports
have come out of that country. They very con-
ficting. Some of them make large part of South
crn European Russia little better than charnel
house. Typhus, cholera and famine hells trim
ity. The world has been told that eo,ooo,ooo, or
more, doomed unless fed, and that even worse
conditions will come next year unless that great
is provided seed grain and seeded.
The wonder is, if this is true, who is LETT able
to plow, harrow and plant. But few disasters or
calamitous conditions bad is first reported.
First stories necessarily largely by word of
mouth, and the spoken word under such conditions
is prone to exaggeration Other reports have a far
cheerful tone. The people said to be
ragged, underfed, but cheerful rather than despond
ent The impression is of a widespread lack of
food which will cause famine, but not actual
famine conditions
When the A. r. A. gets into action will all
know exactly the situation, just what has to be
met and what is the demand There may be lack
of complete popular confidence in the most
dependable correspondents. There is none in the
A. R. A. They avoid sensations, deal only in facts
and whatever they say, will be taken 100 per
cent correct not only in this country, but the
world
The greatest value. if not the frst-for of course
such reports cannot be expected very soon-whch
may come from this American relief agency, may
be this accurate and exact information Until then
the real size of the job ahead will not be known.
1t may be American size; it may be world size. 1t
may be within the reach of charity; it may demand
government action and appropriations by all coun-
tries. Whatever it may be, there seems very
unanimous intention to do it, wholly forgetting Boil
shevism and persons. Any other spirit has no
appeal to Americans worthy.
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
Back With the Folks.

~ONGRESS has adjourned for thirty days
after session of four months. Most OF the
members will go to their homes and mingle with
the folks. Codspeed to them, good fortune and no
undue unpleasantness. They deserve this relaxation
and renewed strength for the work ahead not
physical strength but that of sheer mental integrity
OF which this Congress, whole has more than
the average portion. We trust they will be good
listeners and not undertake to do all the talking.
Old Antaeus threw all corners until Hercules
discovered that every time he hit his Mother Earth,
he renewed his strength ten-fold So Hercules
picked him up and held him away from the source
Of his strength until he could break his neck. The
source of every Congressman's strength is back
home among the folks and to keep him here in
Wilmington too long, breaks his political neck.
Bur the thing to remember is that strength comes
from the people. Our friends go home TO get, not
totake; to hear not to tell to listen, not to talk;
toreceive, not give
30, This House has an unusual portion OF new
members. They have had a great experience. They
did not have wait thirteen months for it. 1t has
coWe in this special session and they are as far
ahead in their course the, old-time Congressman
was when the time for the next campaign.
Among them are many very able men and very
hiph average OF conscientious service. They have
taken their work seriously, with saving strain of
humor Among them is much of capacity for
leadership and they have not been content merely
to he led.
,r 1t is but fair say. also, that Congress
met with so much expected and many intricate
problems Reconstruction is always far more tax
inn, requiring far more time and ability, than the
enSsIgency from which it comics. The wo-'; O. Con-
gress during the war. comparatively simple.
The real tasks fell to the lot of the executive div
sion. About all Congress had to do was what it
was asked to do-make appropriations in stagger-
ins, amounts, and grant the Executive all the
power and authority asked.
piInevitably this made a mess. 1t is like un-
setainbling the eggs Enormous debts; enormous
-rxpenses; enormous expansion of activities; every
thing taken away from private control, and cen-
tering OF power which was akin to despotism. To
untanglc all OF this, get back to the usual, to
restore the normal just in machinery; make gov
ernment ht into new world conditions; to reorganr
iz~ government activities to suit economic apd
social conditions, was not and is not simple task.
;,On the whole Congress has dene much and has
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
He'll and Electricity.
10 the Editor. The Washington Herald:

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
Goliath may say the soul is the
soul. but l would rather have the
opinion of Va l0Gyear-old newsboy
than the opinion OF Goliath or any
Of his contemporaries. Tell us what
the mind of an ant is and you
have solved the problem Of the
soul. And tell US why a Hebrew
myth is more valuable than a Hin
do m! In.
once walked through a theo-
logical school and also took q few
lessons from a horse, so ] am as
well equipped as anybody to pene-
trate the future and this is what ]
see:
The mind continues TO live con-
scious and happy. This is heaven.
beautiful. delightful. heavenly. The
evidence may be scanty but no one
can disprove il. 1t is as reasonable
as any other doctrine and nothing
but good can come from preaching
II. So heaven is the goal of every
mind.
Consequently there is no hell-no
eternal punishment. The author of
this doctrine. although the greatest
scoundrel that ever lived. does not
deserve eternal punishment himself.
William Hohenzollern does not. The
men who teach this infamous doc
trine must be lineal descendants OF
its author. Let preachers quit
harping on the love Of GOD about
which we know nothing and can
never know
Let them unite in a holy war on
hell and Gust II from civilization.
We look back in horror on the re-
ligious history OF the Middle Ages.
Some day the New Zealander on
the ruins OF London" will be aston
ished that hell and electricity were
contempors neous.
J. W. SNAKEHCNTER.
The Washington herald., 1921-08-26
Brutalized Justice.

GORGE BRANDON, convicted of murder,
" eectrocuted on Tuesday at Trenton, N.
J. The verdict held him guilty of double murder.
When he entered the death chamber he tried to
read statement he had just written, declaring his
innocence. He read but sentence when he was
seized by the attendants, rushed to the chair his
quest Let finish UNDECIDED, bound and
the switch turned
more brutal and wholly heartless spectacle,
a more hopelessy degrading episode could hardly
be imagined The worst of criminals could hardly
have been more ruthless. No complain
that reprieve had not been granted; to that
the governors judgment must control Whether or
not there should be capital punishment is mooted
question. AS for The Herald, we do not believe
that taking life is preventive of crime.
But that man facing death, assured that death
is his portion, having no hope of clemency, should
be refused the right of statement, whether as to
guilt or innocence and should BE roughly hurried to
his DEATH is more than shameful. 1t is the mob
spirit in iegalized action New Jersey has electro
cuted thirty-seyen convicted of murder. This was
the first of the condemned to attempt final state
ment 1t would seem that electrocution does not
improve the better and nobcr part OF those charged
with the execution OF the sentence.