New-York tribune. [volume], December 04, 1915, Page 8, Image 8

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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First to Last?the Truth: Newa?Editorial?
?Advert i ?ementa.
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'.ou ran purchase merchandise advertised
m THE TRIBUNE with absolute safety?for
.f ?lis*>at?Htat'tion r?sulta In any rase THE
TRIM" NT guarantee!! to pay your mnnej
Oatk upon rt?iue*?t. No red tape, no quib?
bling. We make g?wd promptly If the ad
?ertiaer doe? not.
A Platform.
?n the editorial columna of The
World" we take the following:
The Tribune agree? with "The World" that
Rapttblleaa leaders in Conijrreg? cannot;
Attack President Wilson unies? they are wilJ
iriff to take the responsibility for war.
Such a statement misrepresents the view
:' The Tribune as expressed In its own
columns. Where The Tribune does agree
with "The World" is in the statement
?hut Republican leaders will not be war?
ranted in criticising Mr. Wilson's lack of
courage and policy if they display a Bimi
!ar lack of courage and policy.
What the policy of the Republican mi?
nority should be The Tribune set forth
frankly. It believes that it should intro?
duce and press for adoption a resolution
calling upon the President to suspend dip?
lomatic relations with Germany until the
Lusitania crime has been disavowed. This
course can lead to war in only one way; if
Germany chooses to make it a eaeue belli
then conflict will result. But the respon?
sibility for such conflict will be German,
not American.
The Tribune does believe firmly that no
fear of war, no apprehension of possible
German action, should prevent the Con?
gress of the United States from taking
the single course compatible with national
honor and self-respect. But it recognizes
that a resolution calling upon the Presi?
dent to suspend diplomatic relations is
purely advisory and can be ignored by
Mr. Wilson if he chooses. The Tribune
is perfectly willing to confront the ?event?-!
uality of war if the German Government
in addition to murdering American citi
Sjgstl takes a cessation of diplomatic rela?
tions, pending a disavowal of crime, as a
pretext for a declaration of war.
What "The World" is trying to do is
perfectly clear. It is attempting to con?
fuse the issue by asserting that the choice
for Congress is between war and diplo?
macy and that those who criticise the
President are eager to push the country
into a war with Germany, which could \>e
averted if diplomatic usages were fol?
lowed. In this our neighbor is merely I
following the example of Count von Bern
storff, who, when popular indignation over
the Arabic incident reached the point
where there was possibility of a break in
relations, caused to be published an inter?
view asserting on his authority that such
a break would mean war within a few
days.
The Tribune has never criticised Mr.
Wilson for his failure to protest at the
invasion of Belgium by the Germans. It
does not share the views of those Ameri?
cans who feel this was a duty, because it
does not believe that sound American
policy justifies any interference by this
country in a European war on European
issues. Again, unless the United States
were willing to fight for Belgium, a pro
would be a mere pretence, a piece of
self-righteousness and a transparent sham.
The Unit?*d States was not willing to fight
over the Belgian issue and Mr. Wilson
cannot be criticised because he adhered to
the wish and tradition of his country.
The Tribune has never believed that the
1 States should intervene on behalf
of the Allies. It believes that the Ameri?
can policy, dating from the days of the
French Revolution, the policy of absten?
tion from European conflict, is sound. It
nid and it believes that the principles
for which the Allies are contending are
American principles; it has said and be
that the success of Germany would
'nenare to American ideals, because
crman idea the negation of
all that rl'-mocracy and liberty mean to
Americans But it has never advocated
American intervention and it does not
do ?o now.
The ? . een the United States and
Germany has no complicating European!
circumstance. In sinking the Lusitania
the German Government deliberately au?
thorized the murder of more than a hun?
dred men, wornc. and children, American
by nationality and covered by American
sovereignty. This assassination was ac?
complished in direct defiance of the ex?
plicit warning of the President of the
United Sutes in his Strict Accountability
m**;sag?. After several earlier notes Mr.
Wilson on July 12 addressed to the Ger?
man Government a message calling for a
Jisavowal of the Lusitania crim. and de?
manding inderm.ifieatton for loas That
note has never beet, formal,?, anawered,
and In all informal conversations th? Ger
msn Government, through its Ambassa?
dor, has mmdetSi thst no disavowal was
possible heraus? the deasd had been an
thorized aid it was impossible for the
German GovciUtMOt to confess an error.
Hcfc btsiaf the case Th? Tribune has
criticised Mr. Wilson for taking no d?fi?
nit? step ti> ?ever diplomatic relations with
a nation whirh has on its own confession
ordered the murder of American citizens
and di?elines to make the single reparation
posaibla, thsjt of disavowal, So fax Th?
Tribune is perfectly willing to accept the
responsibility, for itself and its party, of
advocating war. It believes that no Amer?
ican government ?hould consent to let
-tand without protest in action the mur?
der 0? American citizens, women and chil?
dren as well as men, merely because a
protest in action might lead to war.
One hundred and forty years ago a
! handful of Middlesex farmers gathered on
i Ix?xington Green to defend certain things
that seemed to them worth more than life.
j When through the early morning fog the
red of the British coats was seen their
? captain said to them:
"Don't fire unless fired upon. If they
want war let it begin here."
To The Tribune it seems incredible that
? now, when America has become a mighty
?nation, its citizens should be led by fear of
?war to abandon their murdered citizens and
?decline to sever diplomatic relations with
?the murderer nation because such a course
might end in a conflict. If the German
Government asserts that it has the right
to murder American citizens and to make
war upon us, if we refuse to continue dip?
lomatic relations while it holds to such a
doctrine, is it possible for us permanently
to avoid war or temporarily to preserve
self-respect?
The Tribune does not care at this time
to accuse "The World" of wilfully misrep?
resenting ita position, although it is hard to
see how it could make the statement it has
made on the basis of what The Tribune it?
self said. We are interested not in any
controversy with a* neighbor, but in mak?
ing perfectly clear to our readers our
own view. We agree with "The World" j
that it will not be fair or decent or right
for the Republicans in Congress to criti?
cise Mr. Wilson if they are too cowardly
to act themselves and on their own side
are "too proud to fight." The Tribune does
believe that this country should break off
relations with Germany and continue ti.e
break until the Lusitania crime is dis?
avowed, even though this means war, but
it does not accept "The World's" state?
ment that The Tribun? demands war.
It demands that American rights shall be
upheld, whatever the cost; it demands that
the Republicans in Congress act on behalf
of those rights, leaving it to Germany to
decide whether she will, having murdered
some Americans, make war on the rest
because they decline to continue friendly
relations with the German Government.
Having now with as complet? frankness
as wb possess mads clear the position of
The Tribune, it is perhaps fair to ask our
neighbor to set forth its views upon the
present situation with reference to the
Lusitania. Recalling the Strict Accounta?
bility note, recalling the note of July 12,
taking into consideration the fact that
that not? has never been answered and
there is no apparent hope of obtaining a
disavowal of the Lusitania crime, does
"Th? World" believe the United States
should continue indefinitely to maintain
friendly relations with Germany? Does
it believe that the possibility that break?
ing off relations might mean war should
operate to prevent the cessation of diplo?
matic relations until such time as the
Lusitania crime is disavowed?
An Argonaut's Outfit.
Every expedition into the unknown re?
quires an equipment which will insure the
maximum of safety with the minimum of
discomfort. Polar exploration, a hunting
trip in the big woods, a voyage up the
Amazon?each implies a special "outfit" as
a prerequisite of survival. It is so with
the projected peace mission to Europe, on
which so many of our fellow citizens are
embarking. This, too, demands the pur?
chase of certain articles, a list of which
Dr. Moses Steam, of Philadelphia, has
very magnanimously given to the public
The total cost of this emergency equip?
ment, as Dr. Stearn has BO carefully com
puted it, should not prove a serious obsta?
cle to those contemplating the voyage. But
it must be remembered that his computa?
tion approaches the minimum. It con?
tains: A passport, $2.20; a photograph,
16 cents; a life preserver and water wings
*3 (those reposing full confidence in their
iiwn wings may omit the water wings) ; a
lawyer's services in drawing up one's will,
52; one dozen new collars, 50 cents; one
dozen pairs of socks, fiO cents.
Dr. Steam makes the total $7.75. but for
the life of us we have been unable to get
it under $8.55. Still, at the last moment
he may have effected on his collars and
?ocks a reduction which he forgot to in?
clude in his itemized budget. One often
obtains such wholesale rates in Philadel?
phia, and, in any cas?, the discrepancy
does not destroy the value of his contribu?
tion to the economies of pence pilgrimage.
In the mean time, it will be well to
remember that Dr. Stearn, though himself
so splendidly prepared for eventualities,
has been asked to stay at home. His
threat to sue Mr. Ford for his expenses
suggests the probability that he would
gladly part with his newly acquired col?
lars and socks at a still further reduction.
Here is a superlative opportunity for some
'.right, enterprising Argonaut to complete
his official wardrobe at slight initial ex?
pense.
Books as Gifts.
On another page of this issue of The
Tribune our rcader.s will find a guide to
the books suited for holiday giving. The
term "holiday books," meaning books
Bpecially made for th? Christmas trade,
began to lose its meaning long ago. It
w?)uld seem as if the war had dealt the
final blow to this branch of the publishing
business, leaving the field open to bi'tter
and worthier book?. There are no longer
any uftelesa "gift books"; we have come to
recognize the fact that the real books for
giving at special season.? are the best
books for all the year 'round.
What a twelvemonth has brought forth
"f real importance in biography and his?
tory, in poetry, bal les- lettre? and fiction,
in all branches of human advance these
are the real holiday books to-day. Our
publishers have been nwvlng toward this
viewpoint gradually; they have attained
it at last. The public has been taught to
look upon the matter with their experi?
enced eyes. People may still buy libraries
fof show, as part of the trappings of B|
certain social standing; they no longer buyj
showy books to give away. They give!
thought to their purchases, and if fhey
be inexperienced but wise It will be the
bookseller's thought they give. And the
earlier they shop the more of his attention
can they claim and receive.
The choice has become no less wide; it
has merely been simplified on a higher
average level. For the luxurious of taste1
and opulent of pocketbook there are still!
beautiful volumes in plenty, but there is;
more to them now than mere costliness!
of illustration and the art of manufacture.!
And good taste has become the rule in,
even the least assuming of books. The
field of the classics need not be com-1
mented upon. It is always there, inex?
haustible in its riches, ever worth draw
1 ing upon for a new generation.
Of these classics, Dickens's "Christmas'
Carol" alone appears in a new holiday,
edition to be added to the innumerable
onts which have preceded it in earlier sea?
sons. Generally speaking, the reduced
production of Fngland this year is respon?
sible for the small total number of holiday
books, a shrinkage more than compensated
for, however, by the increased number of
volumes dealing with our own country in
all its phases. In belles-lettres, in poetry
and fiction, as well as in matters of na?
tional and international importance, the
passing year in America has been uncom?
monly rich.
Rook giving requires thought, and
thought take? time, the time of the book?
seller as well as of the buyer. Therefore,
do your shopping early. It will reward
you, and it will reward the recipients of
your gifts.
The Buenz Case.
The jury which convicted Dr. Buenz
and three other agents of the Hamburg
American Steamship Company of conspir?
ing to violate the laws of the United
States had a clear case before it. These
men were charged with having acted to?
gether to procure false manifests for
cargoes which they were sending out to
German men-of-war. They deceived our
customs officials, because they believed that
false manifests would be of service in
protecting the ships and cargoes from
seizure by enemy warships. They took
chances with our laws for the sake of aid?
ing the German Government.
From the German point of view these
men should have been perfectly willing to
risk being fined and imprisoned for break?
ing our customs laws. They served their
country, and can look to it for decorations
and other rewards when the war is over.
They did not imperil life or property; they
did not commit a felony. Under the cir?
cumstances?having been caught in an of?
fence which involved little moral turpitude
and established a future claim on the
gratitude of the Fatherland?it would
have been the natural and manly thing for
them to do to admit guilt and accept the
penalty. The American public here would!
have thought more highly of them if they ?
had taken that course instead of trying to
show that the manifests were falsified
accidentally and innocently. Aliens resid?
ing in this country are bound to obey our
luws or suffer the consequences. Many
?lien agents here seem to have gotten the
idea that American justice is too leaden
I'noted ever to overtake them. They are
fomenting and committing crimes against
property and eren against life in the
effort to prevent the manufacture and
shipment of war materials destined for
the AJaiea, They are taking a big chance,
just as Dr. Buenz and his associates took
a little chance.
The law must be vindicated, and it will
be vindicated whenever American judges
and juries get an opportunity to deal with
these culprits. That is the chief lesson
to be drawn from the Buenz case. The
authorities have been sJow in tracking'
down the incendiaries and bomb-planters
who have been operat'ng here in utter
contempt of law and the right? of Ameri
cfns. But when we get hold of them we
shall give them short shrift. Many of
them will be in jail a long time before they
have a chance to wear a German or
Austro-IIungarian decoration.
"Long dirt ihr super?!ition* in medicine per
-.if-t." Professor Hollida? jn "The Bei SB t fir
Monthly."
Why "did"?
Wilkes-Harre Is just now among the most
turbulent uf hyphenate?.
Football and Military Training.
To the Kditor of The Tribuno.
Bin Your corresponden? a rmse letter was
published yesterday comparing football train
Itt military preparedness has made a
' ;n?-,it comparison, doubtless ihrou.
norance of what really does happen in the
case of a football tatBBB.
Your ?porting editor can undoubtedly in?
form M. T. R. as to just how many "vet?
erans" were on the Yslo and Harvard teams,
respectively, but the rhftnee? are ?hat they
were about equal, a? Is usually the cas??. A
football "veteran" at the most is a youngster
who has played for three brief seasons, after
training which Is both shorter and less con?
centrated than the President has proposed.
K. J. SURIVER.
New York, Nov. 80, 1015.
Edith Cavell.
:-he Fuccored BtBB of ??lien race and name;
Beside the dyhig knelt, her eyes a-gleam
With t< ndf-riie-is, wnich brought dim eyes a
dream
Of home in the fur land from whence they
eataa
Clear, steady, a? a sacrificial flamo
Hurrud that brave spirit; and we well may
di em
That all undaunted in the hour supreme,
She waited . . while a tiritig ?quad took
aim!
(ravens ?tand forth! all unabsolved by Time,
Though making War's necessity the plea
And fare a deadlier lire for that dark crime!
Scorn of your fellow men your portion be.
\*. hile she who?e life was given to utmo?t need,
A world-wide homage win? for her bright
meed.
MAitTHA LAYU?,, '
'AFRICANISM VS. COWARDICE'
The Powers of the President and
of Congress Considered.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your leading editorial of to-day,
"American ism v?. Cowardice," you quote
"The World" at saying: ". . . Here again
the power of Congress it beyond controversy.
It may direct the President to suspend diplo?
matic relation?. The probability that such
act,on would be preliminary to war makes
<"or.gres? the only branch of government
which may properly a?sume the responsible ]
ity for ?o momentous a atep."
For yourself you ?ay, "The Tribune be?
lieves 'The World' 1? absolutely right In lta
views as expressed above." Now, the con?
trary is the fact "The World" la absolutely
wrong In Its views a? expres?ed above. Con
gress has not and ha? never had such power;
and no attempt by Congres? to exercli? ?uch
a power lias ever been carried to the point
of adoption by joint action of the two Houses
of Congress. The conduct of the foreign
affairs of the United States Is assigned by
the Constitution to the President. The mak?
ing of treaties and the appointment of on- ,
ctrs in the foreign tervice of the govern?
ment are conditional upon the "advice and
consent" of the Senate alone.
No other aet or function of the Executive
In the conduct of foreign affairs Is shared
even by the Senate, and Congress has never
participated, as the legislative branch of the
government, in any degree In that executive
function. Th? abnormal "commercial agree- i
menta" Ho-ealled) of the McKinley admin?
istration constituted a separate question (In-1
volvlng the revenue powers of Congress) and
they were In no sen?? a departure from the
constitutional function of the Executive
touching the control of foreign affairs. iSee
the Constitution, Article II, Section 2;
Moore's International Law Digest, VoL VII,
p. 103; Senat? Document No. 68, 54th Con- '
gres?, second session.) Whether or not the
Wilson administration Is prepared to turren
der the executive right to a subservient ma?
jority In Congres! as a makeshift Is another
question, for the answer to which we must
"watch and wait."
Questions of foreign affairs are and have
always been non-partisan. The present hu?
miliating and scandaloui petition of the
President and his galaxy of adviser? toward
Germany cannot be relieved by the participa?
tion of a Democratic caucus. Throughout the
country, where any opinion at all exists on
the subject, the cancerous policy of co.ardiee
is supported, or condemned and abhorred, by
individuals without reference to party affilia
tion?. To make that policy a party LSaTSS
would probably be to dissipate present apathy
and to awaken the people of tne country to
an adequate realization of the consequence*?
of the abandonment of common courage and
common decency.
? Ungress may, however, advise the Presi?
dent, or request the President even, In proper
term?, to ?ever diplomatic relations with
Germany, in ?pite of the German Ambassa?
dor's threat reported in the newspapers-? I
that war would follow his departure under ,
tuch a condition. Congress may with entire
propriety express its views on the situation
by a concurrent resolution, or by separate
resolution of each House, with the object of
influencing the Executive. Unless it doe?
something of the sort it seems fairly clear
that Count von RernstorfT and his attach?s
will remain in the country, to its continued
shame and discomfiture.
The present schene is to veil depravity
and an abject attitude by the high-sounding
phrases of a middle-of-the-road neutrality?
SS though the quiet acceptance of contempt
and insult were essential to the maintenance
of a rigid impartiality as between Germany
nnd Austria on the one hand and their ene- ,
mies on the other. ANDREW H. ALLEN".
Washington, Dec. 2, 1915.
Not All Cowards.
To the Etii'or of The Tribune.
Sir: Untier the heading "Americanism
versus Cowardice" appears an editorial in to?
day's Tribune which I think Is the very
best of your magnificent series of edito?
rials dealing with the subject of our i!uty to
d'-fend our women and children from mur
I agree with you that American men are
not all cowards; and I think they simply
need a leader to show them an intelligent
?ray to expr?s.? their thoughts by actions.
Ars we loO.COO.OOO ?laves who are com-,
pelled by one moral coward to refrain from
exacting r.-paration, or, if we fail in that,
to punish the murderer of our citizens who
is now laughing at our fear of calling him
t? ?-count? There are probably about 20.
' men in the Unite.) States of fighting
[f B per cent of these men have rod
la th?ir vein? there should be no dif?
ficulty in raising 1,000,000 volunteers who
will he willing under certain conditions to
imnvdiately volunteer to join an army of the
Cnited States for the purpose of upholding
our honor. If there are BVJCh me in our coun?
try I suggest that they write to President
Wilson, or Secretary Garrison, or ?uch other
nlfic.al a? they de? m le- t ?.mi ai?re.? that if
a vigorous policy on the part of the Presi- ,
?lent should make it necessary to raise an
army they will volunteer not only their ser- ;
vice as soldiers, but such a percentage of
their income, as they can afford, to pay the
. \rense of a war in case the American peo?
ple in general are not willing to face same;
sad tii.i*. they demand that American honor
be upheld.
"NOT TOO PROUD TO FIGHT."
New York. Die. 'J. IflS.
"American Audacity."
To ths Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: E.cry tune I SS? 'orial page
??..?r" is .-?ome ranting, radical, jingo:.
tunal condemning Wilson's sane and suc?
cessful foreign policy, which has done much ?
to fur:! ? r the cause of reason vs. rahidness. |
For want of better cause for criticism you i
say he shosjld br.-ak off relations with Ger- '
many over the Lusitania incident. Outside '?
of the few who blindly grasp your argu?
ments ; and whose letters you carefully print'
to show ths gnat support you have1, how
many Americans are there who think that
American honor was disgraced through the
dsatt of a few adventure-seeking Americans
on th" Lusitania? It i? not a caso of Ameri?
can rights, rather one of American audacity.
RANDOLI'l! ft. SHANNON
I'r nictori, N. J., Dec. 2, 1915.
Straight and True.
To ?he Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To-day's editorial "Americanism vs.
?'?.war.?ce" is. of all -.-.?:- !':..,,. , ,i-?,,r.a.?. thl
greatest and best. Kight out from the shoul?
der you have dealt cowardly expediency a
blow, as strong and straight and true as T.
R. himself could have delivered it. One j
thi.nk? God for a newspaper that dares to
call a ?pade a spade, and seek?, with thrilling ?
word? of truth and en.-rgv, to rcwaken the
now almost forgotten idea!? of American
courage ?nd honor. May all ?ucee?? be yours
m your efforts to restore to us the old. brave,
fearless spirit that made America respected
by all the world and all her people proud to
be American?! C. M S
Waaai?gtua, Dea, 2, 1914,
"TONNERWETTER! DONT THEY KNOW THEY ARE BEATEN?-.
A PLEA FOR PRACTICALITY
Better in Framing Safety Laws
than Uplift Qualifications.
To the Editor, of The Tribune.
Sir: The article in to-day's Tribune, "Bac
Factory Conditions Legalized," makes th?
suggestion in seeking to place the blame foi
the loss of life in the Williamsburg factorj
fire "that it may be instructive to look foi
fundamentals," etc.
Throughout the length of this article n?
mention is made of the fundamental cau?e o
this and the Triangle Waist disaster?locke?
doors. In the latter fire there was shown ai
indestructible, adequately ?afe, fireproo:
building rendered unsafe nnd made th? vie
tim of a tragedy by locked door?.
You can build the finest type of fireproo:
building conceivable, in compliance with an?
even exceeding the requirements of the laboi
law i including, of course, the payment o:
tribute to a monopoly, made mandatory bj
the law), but if the occupant locks and bolt!
the doors, of what earthly use is this superl
building as a means of protection to humar
life in case of fire ?
One weakness of the labor law in regare
to its structural requirements in factories is
this: That at the time it was framed every
"expert," exploiter, theorist and fanttic whe
had wares to sell or hobbies to ride was mad?
a? welcome as the flowers in May. The re?
sult is that the law is burdened with a mass
of contradictory, ambiguous, useless require?
ments.
The ?imple lesson of the locked doors of tht
Triangle Waist building was entirely disre?
garded, and there seems to be exactly the
same tendency now among notoriety seekers
and impractical uplifters to conceal or disre?
gard the fact that this latest fire disaster in
Williamsburg had tho same contemptibly
petty, but none the less fearful, cause as the
Triangle tragedy. In both cases aole jurisdic?
tion over thene doors was vested in the Labor
Bureau.
In short, it i.-; the "housekeeping" in facto?
ries which needs strict attention, rather than
the haildiags themselves, except where they
are flagrant!;- dangerous.
Ilr-re .-.re ju^t two of many lastaaess of the
charming workings of the labor laws:
(ll The F.quitable Building is a "factory"
and does not comply with the labor law.
Hence its present occupancy is illegal.
(2) Sume of the tine-t, safest, most modern
factories in New York are made iflegal by the
stuj.nl provision? of the law.
A thorough analysis of the structural pro?
visions of the labor law at this time will be
most revealing in showing the haphazard,
carele?s and impractical manner in which it
wa.a framed, and through which the fire pro?
tection has been retarded, instead of having
been attained.
Some day | may it come soon! ) the fact will
be recognized that practical building experi?
ence, knowledge and wisdom are more essen?
tial in framing building laws for tire protec?
tion than the possession of the qualifications
of a glib tongue, membership in a civic up?
lift organization, fanaticism, a total lack of
construction knowledge ami an ar.lei;? di-sire
to ?hine resplendent in the limelight of pub?
licity. J. H. C.
New York, Nov. 28, 19115.
Commendation and Complaint.
To the editor of The Tribune.
Sir: As the "Ad-Visor" has truly said, news?
papers occasionally exhibit a human failing
by making errors, but The Tribune seems to
be about as near perfect a? they make them.
Now for the knocks. .Some of the stuff
from your Washington correspondent i? ob?
viously coloVed by administration officials
with a v.ew to influencing public opinion,
and is often contrary to facts and complete?
ly at variance with the information on which
your fine editorials are based.
A^-ain, it is very difficult to understand
why you afford so much free advertising to
the Gary or Wirt system by the obviously
one--i(l?-d and real!y misleading matter by
Mrs. Fernandez. Briefly, the Gary plan does
not give as much academic inltruction a? the
present ?chool programme, and a real anal
ysit will ?how thut it only cures the part
time problem by putting all children ?jn a
daBfaisasl part time schedule. Moreover, the
Gary syst? m can only operate effectively
when the school buildings and ground? are
suitable; that i?, with building? of not more
than three stories and several acre? of play?
ground, a? at Gary. Th? makeshift proposed
for New York gets the children out of the
class rooms for from two to four period?, In
plavyttruuail, church, auditorium, librar)'.
swimming pool or any other place conven?
ient for storage, and any saving in teaching
cost simply comes through depriving the
child of the teacher's services.
The Mayor should take steps to secure
efficiency and economy in all the other de?
partments of the city before pruning the
educational department?but that might lose
more votes in the next election, and is there?
fore politically inexpedient.
GEORGE RAE.
Brooklyn, Nov. 28, 1915.
A Stenographer's Union.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Certainly the stenographers should
have a union. Why not? A business man of
brilliant attainments said to me about a
year ago: "You stenographers should or?
ganize and not continue to be imposed upon,
being compelled to remain in the office until
all hours."
Now, I have been a stenographer ever since
William Jennings Bryan first began to ran for
President; have been employed in high-class
offices, and also taught the commercial
branche?. I am not in favor of the minimum
wage of $.H a week, for many so-called ste?
nographers are not worth that. My chief in?
terest in a union would be to eliminate the
long hours that many girl.? are forced to
work, thus ruining health and eyesight.
The average New York man always has
important work to do when it is time to go
home; it is then he begins his slave-driving.
Aftor working hard all day the stenograph?
ers are forced to hammer the machine two
or three hours longer, until their heads are
in a whirl and the ceiling seems to turn
round. Many time? they do without luncheon
and a? eften retire without any dinner in
the evening. If they should happen to make
? few slight errors in their work they are
reprimanded the next day. This applies
principally to offices in the financial district.
Thank God, they have not aa yet installed
cots in the offices for women! That will like?
ly be the next step.
Many of us. are not "lame ducks," neither
pre we chickens, but when it comes to high
class work in our line we are game- and we
are not looking for jobs ?wages 515 pen, but
positions paying at least $25, which is less
than we hsve been earning. ELSIE T.
New York, Nov. 30, 1915.
Needless Apprehensions.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Replying to the letter of Paul Brown,
it is very evident that one should read be?
tween the lines when such ?illy statements
are advanced as that France alone would be
loyal to our government after the present
v;.r.
We only ne^d face conditions as they have
existed with Englar.ri during many years and
the ties of friendship common to both the
United States government and that of Great
Lritain for comparison. What of our neigh
bora in ('anadia, who are eight millions in
number, who transact business with people
in the United ?States in peace and harmony?
Sich conditions could exist only under the
fair rule of Great Britain, because her policy,
like ours, is humane to all citizens, regardless
of rank or condition.
The enditions under which a people are
governed must continue to? be the tafs
?uard of posterity. Rulers such as dominate
th" peoples of Turkey, Austria and Germany
will always be tyrants when subjects are
rebels from principle. WM. GRIFFIN.
New York, Nov. 2.!, 1915.
A Plea for Teachers.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: It is a year and a half since the last
appointments of teacher?, and it has been
aid by the board that appointment? will be
deferred until 19tT. Just imagine three and
a half years and no appointments!
How many of you citizens have ever
thought what this means? The elaas where
thtre is no regular teacher may have as many
its ten substitutes. The children know that
they are substitutes therefore take undue ad?
vantage of them.
How many of your own daughter? and ?on?
who have graduated from college and train
tig school? and who have passed the exami?
nation to teach in the elementary schools
are now working behind the counter in the
department ?tore or in a shop for the ?map
salary of $5 per week? Help us and ?end
etter? to the Board of Estim?t? that ap
.ointments be made. It is you, the c!ti
ens, that can help, and help you should
?\aw York, Dec, 1. 1916. M. M. 8.
JEWISH HOPES IN THE WA1
Ottoman Promises To Be W?U
comed with Faith and Joy.
To the Editor of The Tribuna.
Sir: In your issu? of Thurt-ilsy, Norta??
ber 18, you ttat? that an announcement OSS
made by th? Turkith Embaaty to tht ?ffto.
that Jew? will receive certain ?dvantaata
and exemptions within th? Ottoman Empiis
and that ti*i? ?rr?n?i?t of "exceptional fadtt?
tie? for having accasa to Ottoman ?oil, tie
acquisition of Ottoman nationality and tas
immunity, for s certain period, from pay?
ment of taxes and military ?enrice," that
rightt, examptiont and prlvilegei which f?B?
raerly were accorded by the Ottoman fotira
ment exclusively to Mahometan imTilgTaaB)
coming to Turkey will now be granttd t?
immigrant? "profetiing a religion o'ner that
the Mahometan.? You then go on to ?rast?
the opinion expressed by the Rev. Dr. Mas?
rics It Harris, in an Interview, ?tatinj Hut
the "special privileges now promised by th?
Ottoman Empire to those of other faithi its?
not meaD much to me. I regard it at noth?
ing mor? than exp?diant of war." Aa4
the epirit of the interview it to cait a ?ntaf
upon this announcement and to expren ?JJs?
tnist of it.
I am very much ?hocked by Dr. Barrit?
reception of this announcement. It nay
mean nothing to him, but I car. auurt hi?
it means very much to Jews ?ho ?rill ?tail
themselrea of these exemptions. And tt
means very much to Jews all over the sftfA
who are watching every such ar.r:oun<*es?tBJ
made in the course of thia ternb ?? war Thai
Dr. Harri? should ?peak ?o disparagingly ?I
the announcement of the Ottoman Empil?
merely ?how? that as on Amer can natural?
ized Englishman his ?ympathie? with ti*
Allies have proved stronger than hi? uisal
interett in hi? Jewish coreligionists. Ttt
ntyaelf, a? a neutral American, i hail tai*
announcement with joy, and I accept it ia
good faith. I do not hesitate to ??y that, ss
a neutral, my chief interest in this ternbl?
barbaric war, the result of race hatred?, ?ad
brutal commercial rivalries, is in what it tssy
bring about of emancipation for my ??"
pressed coreligionist? in Eastern isnds. ?
hailed with joy the announcement. toa?
months ago, that one of the condition? W
world peacu which the great heiligeren' <??*?
many laid down was the world va.de reeof*
nition of Jewish rights. It was i.gn.:-?n?
that a few days afterward the cable broogh?
the message that even in Rust?a Btrts
Rosen, addressing the Nat.or.al fountv?
pleaded for the granting of political n.htt
and the removal of disabilities from the Jew?
I even hailed that annour.cernen' ?.th h arfa?
though nothing ha?, as yet, resaltad fia* lt
And I equally welcome, with optn-.i-t c ftith?
the announcement of the Ottoman Erap.rt.
It is, in my opinion, the duty of the J?*7*
to make every effort to obtain ci'? tnd ?*"
litieal libertiet and right? for the UKS
wherever they are, to encourag? ef?ry pr??v
ue, with faith in it and not to ?neer ?t ??
Furthermore, Dr. Harris ought to know thai
the history of the Jew? for the last t\* has
dred yeart proves that again and tg?m ?*?
Turkish Empire showed itself more toif-'
tabla to Jews than many a Chriitian nt'ios.
The refngeos from Spain found a ?holtet ????
an a?ylum in the Turkish Empire. U ?-??*
century the Jews were better treated in TST
key than in Russia, the great ally of hi? ?*"
tive land. There i?, therefore, no reason to 1?H
partisanship' ?o mislead one a? to que?!-**
the sincerity and the good will of the Otto?
man Empira. Aa s nnutral my sympath-**
srs tory mixed. And ss a man I ?a? ??
humiliation of th? thought that th? two ratet
advaneod poopUo in Woltern civiH??t:0P ?**
fighting because of commercial rivalries. A*
a Jew I hope and pray for the tim* ?"??*
national animositie? will be no more, roo*
prejudice? will com? to sn end and the J?**
all ?vor ths world, ia Turkey and In Ru?1**
and in Rumania and wherever they BUJ "-11
themselves, will obtain equal right? s-ifr "
they enjoy now in civilized lanJt, and i-****
all In America. I trust to the con?cieur? 0?
the nation?, I encourage it? awakening by 1*1
faith in it, and aa s neutral I take the ?.r*
of all of them. SAMUEL ECSOUS?M
Now ?ork, Nor. 18, lftll, A