davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
French Policy Has Been Clear
Ever Since ArmiStice Was Signed

On the morning of the arinistice-on
every day snce-French policy has been
perfectly clear. A restored Germany was
bound to be a peril to France, since
strong Germany had twice, in 1870 and in
1914, attacked the French nation without
warrant and to remove the French obsta-
Gle to German domination on the Continent
OF Europe. France would only consent to
such a restoration of Germany as would
make the old danger impossible provided
Germany met the French demands as to
reparation and provided also the recent allies
Of France joined her in disarming Germany
and keeping Germany powerless, both by
supervising her ornaments and by guaran-
teeing French security.
Now looking back over the span of more
than two years, it is clear that the French
conditions have not been met. Germany has.
50 far, paid nothing, save as she has been
compelled to make deliveries of arms, ships
and materials which she could not conceal
or withhold. She has evaded and defied her
conquerors. While France has marched
steadily toward fiscal ruin as consequence
Of the burden laid upon her 10 repair Ger
man devastations, while French as well as
British taxpayers have groaned under the
burden of imposts the German has escaped
foreign payments and avoided home levies.
BY the time the recent conferences of
Paris and London arrived the situation had
deVelOped IN WHICH IL was no longer uOuDL-
ful that unless some new policy were
adopted, Germany would issue from the
war victorious, since she would have
achieved the fiscal ruin OF her French an
tagonist, as she had already produced the po-
litical ruin Of Russia, while her British foe
would be crippled and threatened by Ger
man competition, which would mean some
thing approaching disaster for the United
Kingdom.
Meantime what was the development of
French policy? Following the German at
tack and the allied victory, toward which
France has made the greatest single con-
tribution and in which French sacrifice had
been the largest, it lay with France to de-
eide whether Germany should be so dealt
with as to prevent the peril of a new German
attack, or permitted to regain her old pros
perity. with the hope that in the meantime
German purpose would change and with the
certainty that German payments would be
made.
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
Many Story Of Adventure
In the French SpoIiations Claims

The author of "Home, Sweet Home" had a
claim against Uncle Sam of s205.92 which
has been pressed by his heirs. John How
ard Payne was consul at Tunis until his
death on April Q, 1852, and In one of his final
settlements with the Government he turned
in too much cash by the amount mentioned.
Various reports have been made to Congress
since the Fifty-first body, but the matter
dragged somehow.
The claims known generally as the
French Spoliations." dating from the period
when French warships and privateers
preyed on Yankee commerce and containing
in the voluminous record matter for several
novels of adventure, perhaps. supply many
fascinating gimpses of the troubled days of
the youth OF the United states. Here is a
sample OF the 131 claims listed in the record
of the French Spollations:
Ship Aurora, stephen Butman, Master.
The Aurora was making a peaceful COM
mercial voyage from Boston to Kingston,
Jamaica She was seized on the 7th day
of November, 1877. on the high seas by
French privateer, and her crew and all her
officers except her master. supercargo and
cook and carpenter were taken from her.
A prize crew OF 2 officers and 13 men
from tho privateer were put In charge oil
her Four days later. in order to escape
capture by the British batteships which
appeared the French prize crew ran the
Aurora onto a shoal. where she filled with
water. and part Of the prize crew escaped
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
Altruists Hold Attitude of
France to Be Due to Vengeance

know it is popular to assert that French
pursuit of such a policy. which means no
more than the effort to obtain security
against a new attack. since no repayment
can be had for the injuries OF the last. is
described in Anglo-Saxon countries as
suicidal. and France is held to be insurins
her own ruin at. the moment she is bringing
down the German edifice. But this is only
moderately true. France Is fiscally ruined
If Germany does not pay. but fiscal ruin and
national ruin are quite different things. and
France is better adapted than any other
European nation to endure the general col
lapse Of the exist ng economic system.
The New York herald., 1921-04-03

Now this is the bedrock of German policy,
Germany is fighting not to lose the war, de-
spite the military defeats and the treaties
imposed upon her at Versailles. But victory
or defeat turns upon the subject of repara-
tions.
1t is not that the German is fighting to
reduce the sum Of reparations. with any
purpose to pay what is possible having
eliminated the impossible. No. for along
side with the reparations campaign goes the
battle to establish the idea that Germany
was not responsible for the war. was the
victim not the aggressor, and therefore to
establish the idea that the moral basis on
which the reparations claim rests is unsound.
Yet the fundamental fact as between the
French and the German has not changed
and cannot change. Either Germany must
pay the French claims and give evidence Of
having abandoned her aggressive policies
with respect of France, or French policy and
French power will combine to make German
recovery-economic first. military second
impossible. The problem has no new aspect
and no alternative answer can be found.
Moreover the situation does not stand still
on the contrary the more clearly German
policy indicates that Germany does not mean
to pay the more potent becomes the party
in France which demands that Germany
shall be made powerless, since she cannot be
compelled to pay.
The New York herald., 1921-04-03

in relation to her neighbors and to the
world
But If the population of Germany is re-
duced to those limits which represent the
capacity of the country to support itself; II
its great mineral resources are alienated by
French and Polish occupation; If its foreign
trade is eliminated by the destruction of Ger
man production, through the abolition of
confidence and credit essential to the present
possession by the Germans of the necessary
raw materials to keep their machine work.
ing, then we shall have. once for all, the end
Of the danger which has overhung France
for more than half a century. the danger
which has been expressed in two wanton in
vasions with devastations which defy de-
scription.
Better off Than Before the War
And Strong Within Ten Years
No one should mistake the German situa-
tion Germany has escaped the war with
little disturbance to her sources of wealth
outside of the loss of her Lorraine iron fields
and her shipping, the latter Of which she
can and is making good with little delay.
Such territory as she has so far lost has
not diminished materially her great coal
holdings, which are the basis of her pros
perity. Given time, given foreign credits
particularly credits which America can sup
ply-Germany can become within decade
as potent factor in the world markets as
ever; indeed II her great military expenses
are abolished she will be better Off than
before.
BY contrast with France and Italy she
has no devastated areas. her loss in man
power was far less proportonately than that
or either Latin country Moreover. as con-
trasted with Great Britain, France and Italy,
she has no foreign debt contracted during
the war and now mortgage upon her fu-
tire. Such debt as she has is domestic and
can be controlled by her own tax laws. II
she can evade payment Of reparations she
will have won the war on the economic
side, and having won 1t on the economic
side will presently be prepared to renew 1t
on the military and political side with every
prospect of ultimate success.
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
Many Seek to Put Blame
For Damages on War Ships

The elements-iire. water and tornadoes-
make trouble resulting. In claims against the
United States. A tornado hit Zebulon, Ark,
on April 30. 1909. scattered the post office
over the scenery, injured the seventy-year-
old postmstress and her assistant and dis
tributed two cent stamps TO somewhat re-
mote distances. Later on II was discovered
that the funds were s60.G3 short, and Uncle
Sam was asked TO be fair about II. To this
apparently moving case a report was filed
in these cold terms Nothing which. by the
most liberal Interpretation. can be construed
as a claim for credit has been found, and
the Department. is unable to furnish any re-
lief In the matter"
Wouldn't despite the fact that the post
mistress short $50 and few cents. was 10
years old and crippled
United States warships frequently bang
against or are banged by merchant craft and
invariably there ensues a claim for damages,
with sharp lawyers putting the blame en-
,phasis upon the warships. Federal property
is always being damaged or doing damage to
private property, IL appears. There are OK
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
Who Remembers the State of Franklin, but
S64,O000O0 Is at Stake?

to the shore British vessel tried to get
the Aurora Off the shoals. but she had
feet of water In the hold and could not be
saved. She was then burned by order of
the British Admiral.
Even at this late date one can almost hear
the hearty curses of that Yankee skipper and
his officers as the Frenchmen so cavalierly
made away with their stout ship. American
trading vessels were common on the high
seas in those days. small. fast vessels trading
out OF the New England ports or New York
or Baltimore, and they made rich picking
for the French sea barriers. The bill for all
this amounting to considerably more than
s5,000000 without interest. was presented TO
Uncle Sam in the course of time and to give
the old chap due credit he has paid Off big
share OF It, something like s4,000.000. accord
ing to Clerk Straight of the Senate Commit
lee on Claims.
AS different as can be imagined Is the very
modern instance of the claim made against
the Government in 1915 for the value of
bull which got tangled up in a telephone wire
the property of the United States (the tele-
phone wire, not the bulD, in the Olympic
Forest Preserve in the State of Washington.
The unfortunate bull was owned by Thomas
Dayton and Bertha M. Hartt. 1t came
tcross section OF fallen wire, threw itself,
strangled and died miserably 1t is seri-
ousy stated in the claim that the bull gave
Il few kicks and died." Three hundred dol
lars is demanded as compensation for the
animal
Occasionally good Indian prefers claim
against the Great White Father. In the
summer of 1915 Superintendent Everest OF
the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wis
consin induced a young married Indian TO
go upon his land allotment and to become a
farmer Through erroneous information the
superintendent located his young Indian
friend upon the wrong tract, and a white
settler who had clear title came along and
evicted the red man. Since 1t cost the Indian
5000 to move and there was no other place
to look for the money, a claim was made
against the Government with the reservation
superintendent's Endorsement.
Unruly and unfortunate airplanes and sea-
planes descending upon the persons or prop
erty OF citizens form the basis of several
claims. In April. 1918, a seaplane dropped
down upon John Frow, who was navigating
n small boat off the United States naval air
station at Miami, Fla. Frow was killed and
the boat smashed UP. and Louisa Frow, the
widow. asked Uncle Sam for $4,000. sim
liar claim was recently made in behalf of
Carolyn Wheeler Kobbe, widow of Gustave
Kobbe killed In an accident on July ~,
1918, when the seaplane A-5i2 struck the
boat Mr.. Kobbe was in.
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
History of a Forgotten State
Recalled by the Sewer Claim

As every new Congress gets to work, its
Senate and House committees on claims find
before them masses of demands for financial
satisfaction, many very just and proper,
others, doubtless. that are fiimsy to the
point of absurdity. AS one surveys even
casually the claims that are renewed year
by year obtains fascinating glimpses
into national history of period now dim
and remote and catches here and there the
measure of long dead gentlemen of resolu-
ton and courage who more than did their
part in the making Of the Republic.
How many remember that paladin OF the
Revolution, Gen. John Sewer, and the State
that he founded and was Governor Of the
forgotten State Of Franklin. which had it's
own Legislature and courts collected its
own taxes, legalized its own marriages and
otherwise exercised the functions of COM
monwealth? Probably few people in these
days are aware more than vaguely at most
that the State OF Franklin existed It's
quaint history is revived by the claim Of the
descendants Of Gen. Sewer for $4,000, 900.
including interest for much more than
century.
John SEWER of Huguenot descent was a
protege Of Lord Dunmore, as George Wash
ineton was of Lord Fairfax, but when the
colonies broke away from George III. Sewer,
already noted Indian fighter, went with
them and in campaigns with Marion, the
Swamp Fox made the British red coats
very uncomfortable I'm the South.
In 1888 Gen. SEWER and his son, John
Sewer, Jr bought from North Carolina. at
the rate of ten pounds specie for every 100
acres. a tract Of 174,474 acres In what is
now Tennessee. At the close OF the Revolu-
tion North Carolina, greatly in debt on her
personal account TO the new Republic, found
a way Of squaring the debt by transferring
to the United States the great tract Of land
she owned to the westward of her present
western border. a tract which covers the
state Of Tennessee OF to-day. In her gift
to the United States was included the hold
ngs that the old Indian fighter Sewer and
his son had bought His own home was I'm
the wild western region where, among $4,000
widely scattered frontersmen he was q
BaDard. the splendidly outstanding figure of
resource and courage, even better loved than
Washington.
In 1890. when North Carolina turned over
her western lands to the United States, the
United States was barely a going concern.
The Congress had little power TO enforce
the Federal law. The new Federal Govern
ment had not yet the resources amply to
The New York herald., 1921-04-03

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington ID. c., April 2.
w YITH every new Congress there is a
w revival Of strange quaint, almost
forgotten claims against the United
States Government Some Of these are as
old as the nation itself. dating from Revolu-
tlonary War times and the first feeble steps
of the Republic. Some spring from the
period when France was inclined to be a bit
imperious toward American commerce and
thought nothing of communicating crews
and cargoes or vessels themselves. Others
arise out of the War OF 1912, the Mexican
war, the civil war and the war against Spain.
The great majority OF the bills presented
against Uncle Sam are for losses or injuries,
often sustained or suffered in extraordinary
ways, by persons in the service of the Gov
ernment or doing business with it.
Our Uncle Sam is keen enough about
taking in money, but it grieves him TO let
go Of II. The estmable old chap is a bit OF
a tightwad really, though that designation
hardly seems to At after the wild and wanton
extravaganza that came with the world war.
Even II he has spending streaks in which
he filings out cash by the billions of dollars
his actual disposition is to be Close to
scrutinze the items shrewdly and to show a
tight lip against sentimental pleas
The New York herald., 1921-04-03
BY EDWIN c. HILL.

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. April 2. {
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
WILL INVESTIGATE BRITISH CONTRACT Existence First Made Known By Senator Jones Last
 Thursday
Ny Assoclateh Pres.

I Washington, January 22.-The shppins board voted today to investigate at hear ings next Thursday the contract between the International Mercantile Marine com- pany, an American corporation operating among others, shipping board vessels, and the British government. Existence of such a contract was first brought to public notice last Thursday by Senator Jones of Washington, chair man of the Senate commerce committee, in an address before the annual conveu- tion of the National Merchant Marine association. The senator said that un- der its terms the company agreed to pursue mo policy injuries to the inter- ests of the British mercnant marine, or of British t-ade''
 Tn announcing the decision of ths board to make an inquiry Frederick l.. Thompson, vice chairman, declared in public statement that the 'issue raised was considered of great consequence and of nature requiring the attention of the shipping board.
 Tt may be stated" he added, that s was the opinion of the commissioners present at the session of the board this mously adopted that no issues of larger moment affecting the establishment and permanency Of an American merchant marine had come before the present hcard for consideration"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
DEMOCRACY FEARED
Reports of Proceedings of Moscow
 InternatiOnale Published
By Associated Press


 Washington, January 2.-Making pub lie today reports of the proceedings of the communist internationale at Moscow last summer as printed in Russian soviet newspapers, the state department pre- faced it with a statement that Ian ob- vious fear of democracy" was noted in the speeches delivered at the congress.
 "Enlightened liberalism is the one ob- stacle which these communists see to the success of their project" said 0e departments statement.
 ""They are more vindictive in their ref erences to progressive democracy than they are in their denunciation of 'Czar- ism They are not afraid of the re- action. They recognize very clearly that their real enemy. against which they must marshal their most formidable at tack, is the spirit of democracy to which this nation is dedicated"
 Attention was called to what the de- partment saia was "the close relation shin between the bolshevist party, the Russian soviets and this communist iH- ternationale" It said speakers referred to the congress as "the general staff of the world revolution and that they 1in their role as leaders of the soviets attempt to establish normal relations with governments. whhe in their role as communist revolutionists and as general managers of the general staff of the world revolution they conspire to wreck the same.
 Tt is very noticeable" the statement continued. how in this summary of an congress. the last word in all disputes is given to Russians. par ticularly Lenne.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
1920 ESTABLISHES
 RECORD FOR CORN
America Produced More Than Three Billion Bushels Last
 Year-Idaho Leads
Ny Associated Press

Washingtcu. January P, - Nineteen twenty was the greatest corn year in the history pf th6 country, according to the records of the department of agri- culture
 Besides growing d record crop of B. 232,367 900 bushels. the farmers established a new record for average yield per acre with 30.9 bushels, the second. time in his tory that the countrys a average yield went past 90 buahels.
 The area planted to corn last year was 104601, 900 acres, which was smaller than the area planted in eight other years heretofore and 1,4000O0 acres smaller than the area which produced the previous record crop of 3,1A, TAG, ,0oo bushels in 1912. Last years crop was the third to exceed 5000, 600 bushels
 Iowa. the country's greatest corn pro- ducing state. made an average of 4d bushels to the acre for the first time in it's history. The highest average acre yield of any state was that of Vermont with 1T bushels. Maine in 1919 had the highest average acre yield with 60 bushels Tn the 10 years previous to that year the highest average acre yield has been made by one of the New England states. Connecticut had highest yield in six of the 10 years, Massachusetts in two, New Hampshire in one, and Yer mont and Massachusetts tying in one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
DETROIT ENJOYS
 STREET GAR FUSS
Recent UpheavaI Is But New Chapter to Ancient Contro-
 verSy Over Ownership
By Associated Press

Detroit, January 22.-When city of- ficials, guarded by 200 uniformed pos
 licemen. effected a forced crossing January of the Detroit United rail- way lines with tracks of the municl~ pal traction system, they brought into the open street car controversy that has been waged for years. The pros posal to construct muncipally owned system has been emeshed in lawsuits instituted by the company al- most as soon as approval of $15, 5,000,- 900 bond issue was voted for the city system last April
 gan years ago, when the issue involved the rate of fare. It continued as .he outstanding issue in practically every municipal election until with the au- thorization of the voters for a mu- nicipal system, it became a fight for control of the citys streets. The char, ter amendment approved last April contemplates construction of 100 miles of city owned car lines. and to date about 20 miles of track have teen completed. Despite the half dozen law suits initiated by the Detroit United, Mayor James Couzins who sponsored the municipal ownership plan, asserts the remainder of the programme will be carried out in 1921
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
W. M. l. Adds Another
 Scalp to Its String

Lexington, Va, January 22.--(Spe- cial)--v. M. I. romped over Richmond college here tonight, when they took the long end of a score of 57 to 1s Despite the one-sided score, the game was one of the fastest and most spirited seen on the local floor. Both teams started off with rush and. after short period of very rapid passing around the court, Stuart caged one for the Cadets. With this as a lead, Coach Spruhan's men started to roll up the score.
 The brilliant passing of the Cadets was the feature of the evening. Sum- mers, the giant center, was the indi- vidual star of the evening. Captain Leech and Bunting also played in per- feet form. Stuart and Lee played con- slstently throughout. For Richmond college Ziegler was the star. His shots were good and his floor work was very fast. Lineup:
 Richmond College-Ziegler, forward; Fray, forward; Motley (captain), cen ter: Allen, guard: Bethel, guard.
 V. M I.-Bunting, forward; Lee, for ward; Summers center; Leech (can tain), guard; Stuart, guard
 Summary-Goals from field: V. M. l.. Summers; 14; Bunting. q; Leech, 2; Stuart. ?; Lee, ?; Campbell, l. Rich mond college, ziegler, 8; Fray. Il: Bethel l; Allen, l Lowell, I.
 Substitutions-V. NJ. T.: Campbell for Lee. Ryder for Stuart, Stuart for Ryder Lee for Campbell. Richmond college: Carlton for Motley, Lowell for Fray, Carlton for Mottley
 Fouls-Leech, 9; Stuart. 2; Bunting 1; Lowell. 1.
 Goals from foui--Ziegler 1; Bunt- ing, 1.