davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Mexican Land Seizure
Confscatior Under Cooer of Agrayian Laws
Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune. In

the social order by attacking it at
its foundation and seemingly with a
desire TO destroy it for their own
personal benefit and pleasure.
"The local agrarian commissions
are inventing fantastic plans of
taxation, confiscating large and small
properties, and sugar, mescal and
orange plantations, which have cost
their legitimate owners years of toll
and the investment of considerable
capital. The Federal tribunals, deaf
to all appeals, follow an invariable
line of conduct in every case against
the land owners. Should the land
owner invoke in his behalf the same
doctrines which have been applied
to the benefit of others, he finds out
that these same doctrines are never
interpreted in his favor. The au-
thorities favor only those they wish
to favor and to accomplish this end
they do not hesitate to override JUS
tice and reason.
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
OF JALISCO,
''By A. G. Arce, Director"
l read President Obregon's statement
n The World with keen interest. AS
me familiar with Spanish can assure
'ou that it was never written in Span
sh originally. That statement was
composed in English. Reading it.
sathered the impression that Presi-
lent Oregon must have been an Amer
can newspaper man thoroughly famil
ar with the New York point of view.
do not doubt the authenticity of
he statement, but it was not written
~ Oregon. When English is trans
ated into Spanish or Spanish into Eng
ish the earmarks of translation are
Inevitable. This statement has none
# them. 1t is an excellent example of
Mexican propaganda designed exclu-
ively for American consumption and
,aving very little relation to the actual
ituation in Mexico.
CHESTER T. CROWELL.
New York, June %, 1921.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Replying TO our good friend
John T. Culyer as to national hymns,
|. too, have heard a school sing the
Battle Hymn vigorously, and have
likewise heard them recite their spell
ing lesson in unison quite as stentori-
ously, and / am afraid with equal en-
thusiasm
The difficulty with the national
hymn committee of 1891 was that, like
every committee since, the members
were of the very highest type of poets
and musicians. The people have a
way of deciding for themselves @hat
they will sing, regardless of the opin-
ions of any committee, and any music
publisher who could forecast correctly
the popularity of his songs would reap
fortune.
The people are to sing our national
hymn, and let the people choose what
they will sing. W. H. PRICE.
Brooklyn, June 90, 1891,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Vega
} the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Once again the beautiful blue
sun Of night, Vega, is ascending to-.
ward her zenith throne.
The advance of one hour in terrestrial
time causes azure Vega to be lower
in ornamental position, but neverthe-
less, this beautiful sun is sparkling
around 8 p. m. about half way from
the eastern horizon to the zenith. Vega
is situated amid the small constellation
of Lyra, and she glitters there like a
veritable sky diamond.
1t is interesting to note by what
stars and consultations this brilliant
sun is surrounded. Northeast of her
we behold the fve-starred cross of
Cygnus; northwestward, the meander-
ing constellation Draco; southwest
ward the dim constellation Hercules,
and southeastward the bright star AL
tair in Aquila. At this season, when
the clocks are striking 9, it is better to
observe Vega from some roof or out
in the suburbs. but if we remain up
until midnight we shall be able to be-
hold Vega high in the heavens from
some quiet and less garish city street.
CHARLES MEYERS HOLMES.
Newton, Mass, June 27, 1921.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Senator France on His Wav

The last report concerning SEN
ator France, of Maryland, who
would visit Russia, is that he is not
travelling fast, but is still on his
way. Recently he has been champing
the bit of impotence at Riga, near
the Russian border. The Lithua-
mans have treated him Hospitality,
but his heart pants for Lenine and
Trotzky. IN
- At last his ambition is about to
be satisfied. After protracted nego-
tiations it has been agreed that he
may proceed. But he must wear a
special set of binders. His secre-
tary may not go with him and he
may not bring his own interpreter.
He must not ask questions as to the
fate of American prisoners in Russia,
but confine his Interrogation to trade
matters. Above all, he must curb all
desire to wander about and to en-
deayer to pick up uncensored in
formation. The Soviet government
thinks well of the Senator, has
heard something of his political &C.
tivities in America, but after itseex-
perience with Bertrand Russell and
others is taking no unnecessary
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
The Marine Engineer
Of More Importance Than odd
Shipmaster" Would Admit

TO the Editor of The Tribune,
Sir: l am greatly interested in the
letter in to-day's Tribune signed colo
Shipmaster." Judging from the sen.
tments this old mariner enunciates
his dlatribe might we'll have been en-
titled "Hark from the tomb a doleful
sound!" He has resurrected the spirit
of the old shipmasters of over haif~a
century ago, when the winds Of heaven
were being replaced as ships motive
power by steam.
The battle between sail and steam
was settled decades ago and steam won
out in a most decisive manner. The
engineer on modern vessel has come
into his own, and to day his Importance
is being recognized more and more, as
it is his efficiency which spells success
or failure in ship operation.
Gone are the tall, tapering spars and
the snow white canvas of cold Ship
masters" days, to be replaced by the
grimy but efficient boilers, engines and
pumps of the modern steamer. The
monkeywrench and the oil can have
succeeded the marlinspike and the
Delaying pin of moth eaten antiquity.
An engineer stops or goes ahead
when he is ordered to do so BY the
MASTER" says our disciple of Neptune.
He certainly does, but what more help
less figure can be found than this regal
master if the engine does not start
or stop at his imperial command? OF
what use then is his knowledge of
nautical astronomy" or Of "the great
movements in the celestial heavens"
except that, being very much up in the
air as to what he can accomplish in his
raving impotency, he may commune
with his celestial associates until the
perspiring engineer down below can
by his skill, gained from the expert.
once of years, make the necessary re-.
pairs which will suffice to drive the
vessel onward.
Poor "Old Shipmaster"! l sympa-
thize with him and his kind. He I'M
doubtedly served his vocation nobly,
as men of his type were pioneers in
discovery and sea trade and performed
their functions in a most commendable
manner. If he is anxious again to
earn livelihood l will gladly recon-
mend that he apply for a position with
the Shipping Board as admiral, of the
feet of wooden ships which that or
ganization now has on hand. His
thoughts and his sturdy doctrines will
fit there very acceptably, especially in
connection with the numerous bulls
not fitted with machinery.
c. A. M'ALL1STER.
New York, June 20, 1921.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Teachers Losing Heart
Breaking Down Under Present High
School Conditions
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: / am glad to have your paper
call attention to conditions in the high
schools. The lengthening OF the school
session, the increase in number OF
classes, the increase of the pupil-load,
additional supervision of large study
halls and the making of a greater num-
Der of reports of all kinds, all COM
bine to break down the health and the
spirit of the high school teachers.
We need to question whether if there
were no necessity for earning our iiv-
ing we would not continue to teach
for the joy of it. Now we ask our
selves whether we can possibly hold
out until we are eligible for retire
ment,
AS we see our fellow teachers fall
by the way 1--WE recently laid to rest.
two members of our faculty within ten
days., we shudder and ask, "Who will
be the next?" Burdens greater than
we can bear are being laid upon US.
SCHOLASTICA.
New York, June %, 1921.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01

wild food in sufficient quantities, is
to have food and drink most exqui-
site and satisfying. BY such food
are we changed"
IT change Of body and soul de-
ponds on change Of food, what
chance have we who own no "Ding-
bat Of Already" as Miss Wilkinson
calls her means. Of locomotion, no
ability to push canoe through lone
ly green stretches of far rivers? We
are driven to commercial food, and
commercial food is standardized and
comes in packages. Even the fish
ball ceases to be home-mixed.
We, the millions, may get our
change of work. We may pound
mosquitoes instead Of typewriters,
climb mountains instead of subway
stairs, and count stars instead Of fig
ures, but we return with new lines of
care showing beneath the tan. We
come back largely the same lump Of
canned peas and tuna, California
peaches and Chicago roast beef that
we were in June.
The only way to subdue this sad
fact is not to believe in it and to
trust to the new psychology. Dreams,
we are told, make the man to-day.
We may dine on beans in our Ar
cady, but if we dream of blueberries
and trout we shall come back new
men.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
The Horse Survives
New York, June %, 1921.
From The Philadelphia Public Leo

From The Philadelphia Public Led1erl
The Census Bureau has published
figures that show how cur friend the
horse is receding upon the municipal
landscape in favor of motor vehicles
By the statistics it is seen that where
as Philadelphia employed 50,4eI horses
in 1910, in the last year we had bat
19,472 in our service. New York has
56,539 instead of 128,244 decade ago.
The decrease in the ZEN years in Chi
cago has been from 6s,i22 to 30,0s8.
The average price received for horses
in the United States in 1915 was $3.50,
and in 1920 this figure had descended
to $118.
Though the number of horses in the
three chief cities of the country has
shrunk considerably, as the census re-
turns indicate, the number of horses
on the farms is greater than it was in
1910. In the latter year there were
2l,o40,0o0 horses. according 10 figures
of the Department of Agriculture, and
in 1920 there were 21,109,Ooo. In
1880 there were 1902, 900; in 1890
there were 14,21S,oo0; in 1900 there
were 12,53s,0oo. The farm horses Of
the country are valued at nearly
$4,000, 600
We must, on this showing, guard
against supposing that because we see
fewer horses on city thoroughfares
there is considerable loss to be re-
corded for the country at large in the
last decade. The actual increase in ths
number of farm horses is rather sur
prising in view of the enormous in
crease in the use of motor cars and
tractors by the farmers. The time
when stuffed horses will be museum
curios and children will look on live
ones at the Zoo very much as thew nov
regard giraffes and elephants is still a
long way off, though there are few
American children who have seen
horse cars; and even the horse-drawn
fire engine is coming to be something
OF rarity.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Dominion Foreign Policy

Commenting upon the last of the
four points raised by Premier
Meighen of Canada at the imperial
conference-that the Canadian gov
ernment shall have the final word on
all Canadian-American relations
The Montreal Daily Star remarks
that
mo British government would to-
day dream of trying to settle any
question between Canada and the
United States in a fashion not ap-
proved by the Canadian government"
BY granting Canada the right to
conduct her relations with the
United States directly through a
Canadian Minister in Washington
the British government has acceded
in advance to the Premier's demand.
And in so doing it has opened the
way to even more intimate relations
between the two countries. Canada
is so close to the United States in
spirit, ideals and interests that we
may expect to see her become more
and more the bond that unites Amer
lea with the rest of the English
speaking world, The position of the
Canadian delegation to the League
OF Nations on Article x showed many
people that Canada thought as we
did on the matter. Premier Meg
hens attitude on the policy in the
Pacific is another proof of this same
common feeling. And the Premier
to-day in the London conference is
in a way the spokesman Of the
whole North American Continent.
His concern is for the peace of the
world, and his belief is that it can
best be accomplished by the closest
cooperation of the English-speaking
nations.
For the British Empire, however,
the situation is one of extreme deli
cacy. All the dominions call for CO.
operation with America. In this
the London government is agreed.
But what if all the don1inions ask,
as Mr., Meighen has done, that their
Judgment shall be final in their
Spheres? How will it be possible
to draw the line between questions
of empire and of certain parts?
How far, in other words, is the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Blueberries and Trout

The lyric suggestion of Marguerite
Wilkinson in Scribner's that a vaca-
ton should be not only change Of
work but of diet fills US with the de-
spair Of those who have gone about
seeking this apparently unattainable
ideal.
Long ago the disillusioned learned
not to count too much on blueberries
or Holsters in Down East hotels nor
on green corn at Sweet Acres Farm.
Cooks are scarcer than boarders in
Vacation Land and cans much easier
to open than pea pods. We must
close our ears to this singing of wild
Strawberries, borne in abundance
on long, fair stems glistening with
dew" and, OF wild fallows where the
blueberries, smoky, mild, uncloying,
are cause enough for grace after
meat"
Nothing could induce u.s. Miss
Wilkinson. carols, ito go camping
with the usual luggage train of
many tin cans, accompanied by
many people who think that camping
means beans. Those beans are very
good at home, but it is not in that
way that we desire to be fed by the
open road. For to live clean and
hard, to go hungry when it is neces-
sary. to get the clean, sharp SAVIOR of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
The Dawes Mass Meeting

General Dawes's histrionic success
with the mass meeting of department
and bureau chieftains shows that he
understands the psychology of the
Washington bureaucrats. Outsiders
don't understand the workings of the
Federal machine. An order from the
top isn't sufficient of itself to change
methods of doing things in Wash
ington.
President Taft had an earnest de-
sire to rationalize the estimates and
to cut out extravaganza in govern
ment operation. He tried to intro
duce budget. But Democratic
House Appropriations Committee
fought him and refused him author
lty to change the old pig-in-a-polse
method of submitting estimates.
He also had an efficiency and econ
omy commission of his own. But it
never got anywhere because of the
passive resistance of the bureau
heads, who wanted to remain masters
in their own households.
Most Of the bureau chiefs have
been doing favors for Congressman
for years and have powerful political
backing. The way to get their CO.
operation is to convert them to the
idea that they have more to gain
by giving an economical administra-
ton than by cultivating political in
Huence. General Dawes held out to
them the prospect that their organic
ing talent would be recognized and
rewarded. Heretofore an economic
ing bureau chief has been looked on
somewhat as an enemy of his class,
cumming the merry game of inhat-
ing bureau expenditures.
The new Director of the Budget
knows how to appeal to the self
interest as well as the patriotism
Of the submerged" department Off
Gals. He is injecting them with his
own zeal and enthusiasm. If he can
save Is per cent on his own appro-
priation-which he described few
days ago as pitifully small-why
can't they also save 25 per cent?
Demands for 1922-'23 can be whit
tied down proportionately.
Similar miracles" have been &C
complished elsewhere. The estimates
submitted last January for govern
ment operation in this state ran up
to $206,000,000. Governor Miller
and the joint legislative budget COM
mittee cut them down to less than
$4,000, 900. The Federal machine
is vaster than the Albany machine.
But it is equally amenable to a Cos
pei of economy outlined by a.master
Of mental suggestion. General
Dawes is going to succeed in his task
because in his contact with those
who must help him most he shows
sympathetic magination as we'll as
business sense.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The statement of President
Obregon that there have been no con-
fiscations under Article 27 of the Mex
lean constitution is not true. This
statement to The World you quote in
your editorial of this morning.
You will recall that Article 81 COW
ers many subjects and is not at all
confined to the sub-soil rights Of OIL
bearing lands. Article 81 provides,
among numerous other things, that the
states shall pass laws limiting the
amount of land any person may own.
The excess must be divided and sold,
or if not sold it is appropriated by
agrarian commissions. They are au-
thorized to pay for these lands with
agrarian bonds, In spite of the fact
that these bonds have never been
issued, seizure of lands under the
agrarian laws goes forward daily.
Even if the bonds had been issued
their value may be guessed from the
present status Of Mexican government
bonds, which have been in default for
many years.
These coniscations are also carried
on under what is known as the Law
of Idle Lands" That law provides
that the lands not sowed to crops may
be seized by the authorities and par
celled out to persons who wish to cul-
tivate them. Municipal councils in
Article 8 of that law, are authorized
to require land owners to furnish work
ing machinery to the persons who thus
come into possession of the lands. Ar
ticle 10 of the law fixes the rent for
such lands at per cent of the crop
II no machinery is furnished, or 10 per
cent ii machinery is furnished. Under
this law considerable American owned
land has been seized, although the
owners are still required to pay taxes.
Oddly enough, idle lands are not
generally seized. The rule has been to
seize lands actually in cultivation. In
fact, the administration of the agrarian
laws has been so outrageous that on
April z, 1921, the following protest was
sent to the National Congress and to
the President of Mexico by a group of
land-owning Mexican citizens Of the
State OF Jalisco:
AN Appeal to Public Opinions
ut is not our desire TO write at
length with regard to the prejudicial
effect which this nefarious National
Agrarian Commission is causing TO
the nation and to the land owners.
Such commissions are nothing more
than partisan eenters where laws,
reason and justice are Knocked.
This atrocious work will be
judged by public opinion as soon as
the deep and serious damage which
has been done Is known, and history
will in time establish the RESPONSE
bility. Sufsce it TO say that in every
case 1T has been work of destruc-
ton and never of construction.
1T is useless to contend that the
agrarian law at least be correctly
applied. Not even this can be OBJ
tanned, and obstinate authorities,
blinded by prejudiee, have threatened
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
A Texan on Admiral Sims

To the Editor of The Tribune,
Sir: 1t has pleased me beyond meas
ure to read the editorial in your issue
of the 25th, "A Hyphenate Victory"
You are quite right. The attempt to
humiliate Admiral Sims lifts him to
higher honor" The <4dmiral's sturdy,
courageous Americanism has warmed
the hearts of his admirers, the real
Americans. ! hope to see the day when
it will be impossible for any official
Of this government to reprimand a
brave, efficient officer for merely tell
ing the truth. D. C. EARNEST.
Dallas, Tex. June 81. 1921.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
Declaring Peace

AfloA feSolUCionS, POrter reSolu-
tons, qualified notifications of the
Versailles Treaty-all these things
arrive at the same destination,
namely, the formal recognition of a
state Of peace which actually has
existed for more than two years.
Those interested in words, forms
and legalistic conceits have made a
vast TODD as to which of several
parallel roads should be followed.
But, happily, the number of such is
diminished. Common sense has as
serted itself and practical folk will
rejoice that Congress seems at last
willing to certify to the existence of
a long-existing fact.
War is condition, and so is nom
war or peace. Neither, in any true
sense, depends on verbal declara-
tons. Last week we were tech
rically ct war with Germany. BY
the end of this week we probably will
be technically at peace. Yet no one
will be able to discern any practical
difference between the two states.
Nor does vitality remain to the
. assertion, once loudly trumpeted,
that in some mysterious way, if
this country declared peace in
manner different from that of other
nations, we would lose valuable
rights, as they are called. This
mirage Of diplomacy has vanished.
In the first place, we ask little
from Germany, and such lien as we
have on former German properties
IS firmly established by possession.
Who will take away what we hold?
In the second place, Germany, for
reasons Of self-interest, may be &C.
Quilted of any present design to stir
Up the United States. She once
made the mistake of regarding this
country as negligible. She is not
likely to repeat it. Her present
concern is to weaken our good rela-
tions with Great Britain and France,
and it is more probable she will
bother us with laundering wooing
than with discrimination.
In the third place, even as regards
such special things as mandates and
Anglo-Japanese alliances and the
like, our principal allies are most
solicitous to continue the union born
in the trenches. The good reasons
for this are known to all. The no.
ton that according to whether we
declared peace this way or that this
country would face sullen or smil-
ing world is preposterous, and it is
extraordinary that any intelligent
person ever entertained it.
Another phase of the peace dis
cussion once prominent is, fortu-
nately, now so dead that it is
scarcely necessary to mention it
namely, the invention that in some
way it is traitorous to our war as
soclateS Tor us to declare peace sep
arately. This had weight when the
common victory was unwon, but it
has had little pertinence since, and
lost this little when our associates,
not waiting for US to act, declared
their peace separately.
This departure from joint proceed
ure was, of course, abundantly jus
titled by conditions, and we never
thought of complaining, but for a
time in this country there was q.
hangover of the claim that we were
not at liberty to initiate our Allies.
But this infantile argument has not
been heard for some time, and may
be allowed to lie undisturbed in
its grave.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01

principle of self-determination to be
applied?
AS The Montreal Daily Star rightly
says, Premier Meighen's position on
Canadlan-American relations con-
tains "a certain amount of dyna-
nate for the British Empire.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
GUARANTY

Yea car purchase merchandise advertised In TINE
IstbeHE with absolute safety---taf IL dssatIsfse.
boa rcsuu In any csss THE rSfHUME au,rnn.
tees to payssopt money hack open request No nd
the advertiser does not "
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-01
From an Authority

(Front The Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Trotzky says the world revolution is
long way off, and it will be perfectly
safe to record this as an expert opin-
lon.