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tfL jV, ! ?&$ ;,'t i !VM & fffv $$ "Wif. j i'v; 'Wsffms&m y " T EVENING PUBLIC LEDGERr-PHILADEbPHJA: ff RIDAYr DEOEMBlftt hu MM fH 1 i y v im7 jjj n TV" '? i 8iiTf .. tvjr , , ay) afa. t4 If, J EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY 1 CTBUB H. K. CURTIS, PssaiOSiT run, Vic Praildent and Traurrt tirr, rtcrejary ; ciwrin n. iuama . cIUn. Jehn B. William. (Mera smith. David E. Smtltr, Director. Sy mXTtO BMtLBT. Editor i,-V--iaPW C.'MAlVTtN.... General Butlnm Managw . l VttHaaed telly at Pcitie Limm Building i I, IndtMndiae Seuar. Philadelphia. P Atutme Crrr Pf-t7m Building ' Kbw YetK SM Mtdlien Ay. Bmerr : T01 merd Building tr. been ......013 Otokff-Dtmecrai nulMIng CttlOtte 1303 Tribun Building NEWS BUREAUS! WllHlMTON BCSSaC, N. B. Cor. Pennsylvania Av. nd 14th St. Hsw Yei BciliO Th Sun BullJtng- lessen Bnuv Trafalgar Building SUBSCRIPTION TERMS 1 Th awisim) Pcitie Lseata I red te ub serlbtrs In Philadelphia tnd turreundlng town SI th nit of twlv (IS) cant pr wek, payable 9 tb eerrlar. By nan te point eutild ef Philadelphia tn th United State. Canada, or United Slate pet. setilen, paatag fr. fifty (SO) cent per month. It (HI dollar per r, payable in advance. . Te all ferelirn ceuntrle one (II) dollar a month. ' Notiep Bubecrlber wtihing addreta changed nuit glv old a well a new addrtu. ELI. 3M0 WALNUT KEYSTONE. MAIV 1MI tAddrtf all eommuttlcnffene te Kvenlna Publle m litdctrlndtyendencei Square, Philadelphia. Member of the Associated Press TUB ASSOCIATED PRESS J ezcluilvelu en teHra te th use or republication et all new il$patchta credited te it or net ethcrwile credited in Mt paper, and alie the local news published therein. All right ef rtpubUcatlen et special dUpatchn Serein art alto reserved, 1 PhUedetphlt. Frldiy. Pwtmhff I. Wl QUARTERLY TAX PAYMENTS COUNCIL is facing In the right direction when it begins te consider n preposition permitting the payment of tax bills in semi annual installments. If it would adept the rule governing the payment of the Federal income tax it would relieve the small householder and at the sine time provide current revenues as they re needed. The Income tax may be paid in quarterly Installments, or it may he paid all at once, or at any quarter the balance due may be paid. Under the rule new prc filling a small rebate is allowed te these who pay their taxes early in the year and penalties for Ben-payment de net begin te run until Sep tember 1. Very few taxpayers pay their bills at the beginning of the year. The collections in January were only $117,000, 'While in August, the last month before the penalties began te run, the collections were 118,000,000. It would be much easier for a small householder te pay a tax bill of $100 in installments of $25 every three months than te pay the full amount at once. The subject was raised by n request from the Receiver of Taxes that the date en which the penalty for non-payment should become effective should be changed from September 1 te August 1. This was very properly opposed by some of the leading Ceuncilmcn, and the six months' install ment plan suggested. The quarterly pay ment' plan would solve many problems. If the city asks for it the Legislature will doubtless grant it. THE RED-CROSS OBLIGATION j A CCORDING te the official schedule, the l A Red Cress rellcall began en November f 11 and ended yesterday. In this southeast- em district of Pennsylvania, however, the ( house-te-house campaign nnd the canvass I of industrial nnd business organizations are jL... net yet completed, a condition leaving a ? margin of grace te the public te send the drive well ever the top. Anether week will be devoted te this work, which it is hoped will result In sub- atantlal appreciation of the magnificent no- tivlties of the Red Cress, especially in the home field. Here in Pennsylvania there are thousands of ex-service men awaiting light en the complicated question of adjustment of their compensation claims by the Government. Even assuming that all the Federal ma chinery is In perfect operation, there are cases of distress and suffering lying outside the scope of governmental relief. The Red Cress extends Its ministrations net only te the veterans In their plight but te their families. It is a mistake te regerd the Red Cress s a humanitarian agency with exclusive concern for catastrophic conditions abroad for misery resulting from famine, flood, .earthquake, wars or political unhcavnls. All $,'' these tragedies exercise calls upon the as- piuutiy, geiirresuy ami emciency of tiie or ganization, but net te the subordination of domestic woes. At the present moment much of its ac tivities is directed toward soldier relief. The responsibilities of the public are here conspicuously evident. It is new predicted thnt 200,000 new members, each contributing $1 for enroll ment, will be drawn from this district. The original program provided for ."0,000 mere enlistments. This community and ad Joining regions cannot morally afford te make n showing less than that outlined in the original specifications, The current week furnishes the oppor tunity te repulr lapses and deficiencies. In- ciuentaiiy, it may be noted that Detroit '"SvU produced its quota of ucw members in three U5.fc -dajs. DRY AND DELIGHTED rpUB Turks celebrated their occupation of . AdrlMn Ile witb " "fl""' 'linne- nt . which pilaff was perhaps substituted for comDusuuie pium pudding, and loukeuin! (almond paste) with n draft of Thrnclan water possibly took the place of cocktails and caviar. The banquet, moreover, was net the only evident of spirituous absti nence. General Tali. Hey, the new Gov Gev Gov rner of the town, promptly promulgated an' order closing, all liquor shops ami bars at which alcoholic refreshment hud been old. Judging from reports of the Greek exodus from Adrlaneple, net enough Hel lenes remained there te support any effec tive pretest en behalf of their favorite and te the uninitiated, unpalatuble beverage' reilnat jJL wine. ProhiuHien among the Moslems is net n , Action or a Pharisaical fancy. Alcoholic in dulgence is displeasing te Allah ami niiieug self-respecting followers of the prophet it is accounted net only a disgrace but a religious heresy. It must be remembered that Omar, who sang of wine, wns a Per alan whose "liberal" views are deemed dis creditable and shocking by the Sunnlte sect te which the Ottomans belong, There arc, of course, lapses among the faithful even In Turkey, but prohibition there and in the greater part of Islam Is a reality net primarily dependent upon en forcement agents. Its bucking is far .nignuer. it is me uncuaucngeable strength ! public opinion. AW jr- THE WET DEMOCRATS PUULIQATION of the results of the offi effi clal canvass of the vote in the Slate en Election Day makes it possible te examine "r'late (U significance; Ttte meat Interesting Inference that can fc drawn from the figures is that the two ' ltagrtwiye candidates for the Senats draw HM fmttr aaft of tbtir support from the tmmx Sfr. McSparrtn 881,000 fqr Governer. Mr. Bhull, Democrat, running against Senater Reed for the full term, polled only 434,000 Teten, and Mr. Burke, the Progressive can didate, polled 127,000. As Mr. Reed polled 802,000 votes, or 20,000 fewer than Mr. Plnchet, It is apparent that the Burke vote was cast by a few Republicans nnd n large number of Demecrnts. Mr. Burke Is ti "wet." His vote probably represents the militant "wet" sentiment. Mr. Thompson, the Progressive candidate running in opposition te Senater Pepper, polled r.7,000 votes, while Mr. Kerr, the Democratic candidate, polled 408,000. Mr. Pepper's vote was 810,000. The Thompson vote was clearly made up et Democrats in large part. The Prohibition ote en the Bcnatershlp was nbeut one-third of that polled in 1020, when Mrs. Marlen received 120,000. Mrs. Marlen's vote, as is well known, wns swelled by Republicans who would net vote for the re-election of Senater Penrose. A WAR OP PROPAGANDISTS IS DEVASTATING AMERICA Highly Paid Agents of Fanatical Groups Have Taken Political Initiative Away Frem the People A GREAT many earnest people are won dering whether something Isn't seriously wrong with the henrt and mind of the Re public. President Harding himself nnd Mr. ' Daugherty nnd Scnnter Reed and ether public men seem greatly distressed bv what they regard ns omens of n decline In national morale nnd something like spiritual disin tegration throughout the country. What Is wrong In America may be traoed easily te a very obUeus cause. We are being ergnnized out of our rational senses by experts in propaganda who labor net for principles but for thumping salaries. These people may be said te be running the coun try at the moment. Up te 1014 nil political, 6ecial and moral initiative was In the hands of the people or their representative leaders voluntarily checn. These lenders were honorable spokesmen for principles, parties, business, education, religion, law and the like. When the war enme the United States was Intro duced te n novel nnd extremely complex system devised for the deliberate creation of opinion or mass emotion. That was propa ganda. It has been making chaos of our public affairs for the simple reason that there Is net In Congress enough Intellectual resistance te cope with It. Organized propaganda as it appeared In tills country during the war years was im ported from Europe. It was nn instrument of the old diplomacy enormously elaborated and operated for the first time in human history in the open. It directs shrewd and powerful appeals te hate, te fear, te sus picion, te prejudice, te high hopes, te faith, te bigotry but never te pure renen. It was a stupendous experiment In the direc tion of collective emotionalism for particu lar ends. We in America trained Innumerable propagandists for the wnr. We provided them with the means te create and color opinion. Had these men been deported te n faraway Island when hostilities ended, had their machinery been decently destroyed nnd forgotten, we might net new be In a state of anxiety and unrest. But the propngendiFts, trained at public expense, weic out of jobs. They had lest the tate for real work.' They wanted money and easy times. They were left like strayed guerrillas te hatch any sort of devilment that would pay. They were masters of a new science nnd nil their equipment was Intact. Se nil the terrible machinery, all the de vices for the manufacture of fear and hate and lelent suspicion which had been ere ntcd te exert n crushing pressure upon mili taristic Germnnv were turned 1j Americans upon each ether. Is It any wonder that as a people we are In a way te become disunited or that we seem sometimes te he at the center of a storm of fanaticism? If you were an expert propagandist nut of a job you looked up some richly endowed group with n rational or irrational purpeie and put jour emotional dynamite at its disposal. If no such group was handy you caused one te be organized. Yeu dug up old and for gotten Causes nnd breathed the breath of crazy and destructive life Inte them. Yeu hired out te de new wonders for capital or labor, te distort opinion, te poison It or te obliterate it altogether. Se It hnppens that many of the amaring "movements" of these times are kept nlivc seemingly for n great theory of some sort, but actually for the benefit of the profes sionals who organize nnd direct them. The "wets" nnd the "drys," the Ku Klux Klan and some of the groups that have been most aggressive in economic leferm or re action were brought into existence by prepngamln. A propagandist does nothing sc) crudely honest as the writing of real or imaginary news like the old-fashioned "press nge.nts." He is, en the ether hand, "a setter up of situations." He swurms In Washington, where he labors te get snakes Inte the news He is jour Klengle, flourishing in a field of suckers. He Is the person who has been working te reuse the deil of sectarian fanaticism in Americans with the cry of patriotism ! When Washington finds a way te check the giewing and enormously capitalized busi ness of propaganda there will be no need for a President or Congress te worry about the state of the Natien. WOMEN'S RIGHTS THE National Consumers' League Ik op posing the National Weman's Party blanket bill intended te renfer en women the same rights that men enjoy under the law. The Weman's Party is asking that the bill be passed by all the State Legisla tures. The Consumers' League favors the re moval of the disabilities of women by the passage of separate bills directed nt special disabilities for the reason that the blanket bill would create confusion that could net be removed for years. Fer example, the blanket bill provides thnt "Ne disabilities or inequalities en account of marriage shall exist unless they apply te bett sexes." The Consumers' League nstiH whether under such a prevision women would have a legal claim te support from their husbands and whether a deserting husband could be brought back and com pelled te support his wife. It asks nlse whether las granting pensions te wives or widows will neeewelnvslld, or whether widowers shall havs JmsIebs and whether I the dower rights of women secured by the laws of many States would be forfeited. The women of the League have appar ently been doing some thinking, which has led them te the discovery that women enjoy certain privileges under the existing law net enjoyed by men, privileges which as women they ought te enjoy. It wishes te preserve these white it at the same time removes whatever artificial handicaps there may be en the social nnd economic develop ment of women, The law cannot make a woman Inte a man, and it must take Inte account the differences between the two sexes, and it must protect women for the geed of the race In n way that men are net protected. Te tnlk about the same privileges for both sexes is te talk nonsense. GRADE CROSSINGS FURTHER progress in the elimination of grade crossings in Philadelphia Is auspi ciously Indicated by the movement for the removal of fourteen of th most dangerous surface intersections of railroads and streets along the line of the Reading Railway. At n conference this week between offl effl clals nnd engineers of this line, the Maya nnd representatives of various organizations, particular stress wns laid upon the perilous crossings en the Norristown nnd Rending branch In nnd near Wlssahlcken, Falls of Schuylkill nnd Mnnnyunk. On this division of the Reading, which wns net incorporated in the magnificent reform effected by the company between Spring Gnrden street nnd Wayne Junction, express trains still travel nt high speed through what nre new built-up, thickly settled sections of the city. The elevation or lowering of the tracks between Sixteenth street and Mnnnyunk is n subject meriting earnest practical consideration by the rail road nnd the municipality. The project te de nway with the Oregon avenue barrier te the city's growth Is al ready launched. But this plan is unrelated in Its particulars te the Washington avenue problem. There the Pennsylvania has Its responsibilities, which sooner or later must be faced. The burden upon the two prin cipal railroad companies here is still for midable, but the splendid Improvements that hnvp been made within the lat thirty or thirty-five years furnish hopeful signs thnt the reform can be made complete. Half n century age the surface railway sltunlien in Philadelphia was probably as pressing ns in any ether Inrge American city. In the early days surface lines were recklessly located en the surface of main thoreughfnres. Even Market street was thus disfigured and rendered dangerous. The process of betterment has been con sistently supported with Impressive results. Virtually the only express line new threat ening public security Is the Norristown brunch of the Rending, of which reconstruc tion is solicited. Having progressed thus far. it is logical te urgp reform until Phila delphia, with its network of railroads, is at ft co from their inconveniences nnd perils ns is Londen, where grade crossings were pro hibited in the pioneering days of railroad ing. -;--- LET 'EM TALK GOVERNOR SMALL, of Illinois, evl ently believes thnt democratic institu tions nre in no serieiiH danger ftem anything that agitators may say. His pardon of William Bress Lloyd, n rich Chicago radi cal, after the man had been imprisoned only n few days, prees this. Lloyd is n Communist, who was convicted under nn Illinois statute aimed at the propa gation of syndicalism. The conviction occurred a little mere than n year age, and it was net until it was affirmed by the higher courts that the man wns sent te jnll. The Natien win net nt war, and neither Lloyd nor the men cenWetcd with him weic accused of giving nid nnd comfort te n national enemy. They were speaking their minds in time of peace, nnd they were guilty of no overt nets subveisie of government. If their conviction hnd tnken place while we were nt war there might have been justi fication for it. Under such circumstances n freedom? of speech thnt is allowable in time of peace may become dangerous. If lndhidunN either attack the wnr alms of the Government or attempt in ether ways te interfere with tin- proscutien of the war they must he restrained. But in time of pence the widest liberty of speecli must be allowed. It is ue crime for n man te argue in favor of the establishment of a monarchy lieie, nor is it a crime for an other man te Insist thnt the establishment et a Sekt republic will bring te the people gii iter happiness nnd freedom than they new enjoy. But if they tenspiie te over turn the existing Government outside the methods for reform provided by the Concti Cencti Concti tutien, ami ere guilty of nets intended te overturn it, then they become amenable te the laws and must be punished. fioierner Small knows that Lloyd was guilty of no overt nets aimed at the Govern ment, nnd he knows also that the wav te make smh propaganda ns he wns engaged in harmlces is te give it the widest latitude It any be thnt the Governer smiled cyni cnllv te himself ns he signed the pardon, while he reflected that Lloyd, in spite of the inei that he professes te be a Communist, retains possession of his en great for tune. Such a Communist lives se far removed from the actualities that he Is harmless, however much he may talk. CLEMENCEAU'S PROGRESS GRADUALLY, ns M. Clemencenu pro ceeds nbeut the country en his lonesome mission, sympnthv for the man himself in creases while sympathy for his political doc trine seems te diminish. One of our virtues is an Inherent disposition te ndmlrc courage, nnd the "Tiger" is magnificently courageous. He is passionately in earnest, and that ought te be enough te nssiire for him the admira tion nnd rcspict even of people who feel that his logic is menacing. The fact seems te be that Clemcnceau Is thinking of ideals that are even mere re mote than pence. Clearly he desires te bring old times back Inte the world, the old times before the war. He wants te re establish the sympathies and all the bends of intimate understanding that bound France and the United States together for genera tiens. Yet there is nothing te suggest thnt these bends ever were severed. Americans who disagree with French policy de net dls. agree with the French people. They nre disposed te disngice with the politicians at Paris. With these politicians great masses of the French arc at odds. Yesterday the "Tiger" visited Lincoln's tomb nt Springfield, III. Lincoln, tee, lived through the anguish of a great and bloody war that left his Natien tired nnd peer. But he could leek beyond the moment and he could consider his responsibilities te future generations. And Lincoln was the man who said that a house divided against itself can not stand. Europe is a house. Take away its in herited inciul hatreds and its terrible tradi tions of fear nnd vengeance and It would net be greatly unlike the United States in Its essential needs and aspirations. The in terests and tbe hopes of its plain people are virtually the same. Yet Europe is divided against itself new as badly as it ever was divided before. V AS ONE WOMAN SEES IT Girls of the Day Before Yesteriay Appear te Have Included Courses of Theological Lectures in Their Lists of Secial Fumtlens By SARAH D. LOVVRIB r I WAS looking ever a woman's aumery book net long age and 1 was amused te find among her dance programs, college commencement souvenirs and the flotsam and Jetsam of, three or four seasons Vout" a lecture program of a course of theological lectures given by Princeton professors here in Philadelphia en the "Confession et Faith of the Presbyterian Denomination. V It seemed odd, In the light of the present, that any girl of eighteen could have been interested enough In such subjects te attend these lectures and te preserve the synopsis among the ether mementoes of ber geed times. She assured me thnt she was net the only girl there, and that, moreover, it was the "thing" te go rte them thnt winter, and among Presbyterians especially therleus social event that counted, somewhat as the Friday concerts count new. , The discussions were concerning the In spiration of the Scriptures, the theological orthodoxy or heterodoxy of this and that theory regarding the Godhead, the sacra ments, the atonement, moral obligations, etc. Unorthodoxy wns believed te be en trial nnd te be judged and convicted hnd con demned. Orthodoxy was believed te be mere firmly established than ever, nnd its cham pions were the popular and much -lauded leaders of thought. One man in particular was regarded as the bulwark of orthodox theology, first be cause he had most successfully routed a fellow theologian who was deemed viru lently unorthodox with regard te the In spiration of the Scriptures at a public trial for heresy ; second, because he was net only learned in alt thnt touched en philosophical and theological religion, but he wns also immensely apt at turning bis learning te geed account en his side of a contreversy: and third, because be was both witty and geed tempered in his defensive und offensive strategy; and last of all, as president of Princeton University his worldly position was an asset for whatever side be chose te advocate. In fact, the name of Dr. Francis Pat ten, of Princeton, wns a great name te conjure with, net only among Presbyterians but among men and women of a responsible sort who preached or who taught or who sup ported Protestant doctrines of strict theo logical orthodoxy. AT THAT time it was enough te say of a doctrine thnt It was true in order te recognize it as important. "Important if true." wns the attitude then In vogue toward religious ideas. I nm remembering this, ns I write, with considerable astonishment, because- nowa days that is net the attitude of the public nor of the majority of nctive Christians. It might be said today that if a thing is important it Is proof thnt It must be true, but the accent is laid always en the im portance. A great muny true things arc net important te this particulunr day and gen eration. I was mere than ever nwnre of that when I listened the ether evening te that uue Dr. Francis I'atten delivering much the same lecture that he had given perhaps thirty jenrs age te an audience of some ."00 persons in one of the downtown Presbyterian churches of this city under the auspices e the leading Presbyterians of today in this vicinity. He wns just ns brilliant as he ever was, just as quick nt taking advantage et n lapse in his ndvcrrtiry, just us learned in fain sub ject nnd as fucile in making its difficulties apparently simple. But there were no young girls in that audience of perseL , mostly well ever fifty. THE subject under discussion was the origin of the conscience, or, ns Dr. Pat Pat ten put it, the origins of the sense of moral obligation in man. Very cleverly, ns well ns very learnedly nnd with charming flashes of quick descrip tion and been analysis, did this, great doctor of theology play with the theories of the origin of the conscience from the days of Hebbs te the days of Sedgwick in England and from the days of Descartes te these of Kant en the Continent; but when he had dexterously manipulated one puppet idea after another en the stage of his philosophi cal theatre, and as n grand finale suddenly flashed en the orthodox theory of the In herent nature of man's sense of moral obli gation und then hnd rung down the curtain en the tableau when he hud done nil this lie hnd net unsvvried the real question that the real world outside that church is nsking: Have I a conscience? What docs it say? IT DOES net Interest the modern young man or woman what the archeology of the censricme is, whether he get it as he get his liver or whether he get it as he gets buceu that is, whether he was born with it or found it waiting when he get here, or it grew in him like Topsy. What concerns him is which among the many voices that speak te him is conscience? And what ob ligation among the ninny that seem te clulm him is the most moral? And what is meant by "moral" duty te Ged? Duty te oneself? Duty te one's neighbor? And what difference is there between Ged's design and one's own predilection? And it' there is a conflict between one's own desiie nnd ene's neighbor's desire, who decides? Whnt is all this discussion of the quar rels of the doctors as te where and hew and when the conscience nrrlved te a man thnt cannot hear his conscience tick, or te n girl who Is net sure she hns one or te u whole generation thnt does net knew u "cntegeri-cat-imperntivc" from u "phylactery" ! A RCHEOLOOICALLY it is Interesting te i. listen te n brilliant resume of the ques tions that engrossed the attention of n past generation, but no Christian group of men nnd women can afford te rely en these pnst Impertnnec'H te buttress their present neeilH. Ged mny be the same yesterday, today and forever, but that is where limited humnns have te differ from Ged. They arc net great enough nor finul enough te be the Berne today that they were yesterday. They are working toward perfection, and each gene ration has its new fierce question. Thirty years age it was very important te most people bb te who wrote the Bible, Ged or men. Today it is very important whether Ged la en the side of labor or en the side of capital. Theological doctors who would take sides en that question would fill mere than the middle aisles of a church with listeners, and men and women under fifty would turn out te hear their arguments. Prpalflnnf nf i. ti-.i,- ... T . ""I lle Te, Fill Us ''ague explnlns that With Amaze the radio distance from the Pacific Coast te England is net much greater than from the Atlantic Coast te England because the radio travels the shortest route ever the top of the world. It may seen be possible te make the trip by airship. Saturday's football Medem games were broadcast Weaders by radio with ewy play described nnd every cheer heard, borne day it may be possible for n man te alt in his own home and see moving pictures of the distant game, nt the moment it Is played, with radio accera- panlment of cheers and comment. Ste?"1 nn"m" that Hkjellerup has dlscov dlscev cred u comet. It ran't be seen bv t in .,i...i Cemet'sTall and Others eye. The eye, we surmise, must be clothed with imagination. But n camera wns able te pick it up. It grasped the nebulous mass, as it were, one! made It Skjell. Fur be it from us te doubt the Skjellerup's tale, though, for all we knew It we mean he may be a mad wag. V vir3'Lr ' ' AluKv J J-SfrTTlaBBBBB apSSSSBk ASs7gLIBB9'MBBaBIBlgKKr . Smb aaaaaaaaaaav rJLmTin'- j npjI HsHigaflgBa SsTaraiafllSBTaB nPawNgrgsV. vjiVr',tfT- jJsi-Tliaf asm S9xl -feL.gj 'jftu!!nrtf 'peTspt"' ' vJHitVeBtlnjL 4 Vam. r kt," OHkCrVvsV if'l-lj"'lTxrTM VTnr yJwgsrw lBsJ?MgsV V sF ggagMBBBW tTf tllTrdiLaLMlJV'ltlirrMrwiiJ gaagaKgaWaa sBBbE .BBBSBBW j9l 3PH flBsHgflgBBaaSlhi &v9 ff'gaw Js Mfr. sSg3awgMCTsBgBgssaaT!!S, ", f, Sui JSb7 sW k jw 1 i-"m a m rfffsrTri Mi -r sBa 1HLJi-'- . TitaKgJMgggaaB'- u ,.JrmS' .asSSK Jrjr tM USSTjr.Swiciiaf-fc Tim,. aassalBBBaaL ggsHBP Iwv jt NOW MY IDEA IS THIS! Daily Talks With Thinking Philadelphians en Subjects They Knew Best DR. LOUIS LEHRFELD On Fallacies in Vital Statistics VITAL statistics may be designated as the compass of progress. They lndente the nssets nnd liabilities of n community in the terms of human lives, hut, like any record compiled In nilmbers. there is likelihood of great error, depending upon the eriglnui source of information, methods of computing nnd the resulting conclusions reached by statisticians, xays Dr. Leuis Lehrfeld. ! I.,ia kmin fAiiiBnr1tT nuts Ail " anlrl Tit. Lehrfeld. "why the crude denth rate for Philadelphia has been nnd has continued te be grenter thnn thnt of New Yerk nnd Chi cago, whose population is mnde up of similar people. Philadelphia, widely known ns the 'workshop of the world' and the 'city of homes,' Is certainly net mere sus ceptible te disease than the ether large cities of the country. s- The Real Reasons "The sanitary equipment in this city is certainly net respentilble for the differences in death rates compared with ether commu nities of like size; nor nre the housing con ditions such ns te be unfavorably cempnren with these of New Yerk or Chicago, where n laige part M the population is housed iu tenements. "Statistics, of course, should net be taken at face value unless they are uccenipnnlcd by comprehensive explanations. The com mon dentil rate used as nn index in all our cities, small and large, in taken ns the means of comparison. This rate, or index, does net tnke into consideration the detailed composition of the types of people nnd the age groups involved, "Fer Instance, in Philadelphia 22 per cent of the population is composed of persons forty-five yenrs of nge or mere. In New Yeik this percentage Is 10.2 nnd In Chicago 10.30. The death rate in this age period comprises nbeut one-half of the total deaths among nil ages. In ether words, Phila delphia has a greater population of elder persons than New Yerk or Chicago. The period of expectancy for persons ever forty five being less than for these under that age, it is immediately concluded that Phila delphia as well as any ether city with n large population of elder persons will have a higher ciude death rate. "Furthermore. nn.v community having n larger percentage of persons between the ages of fifteen and forty-live yenrs will have a larger birtli rate, nnd thus n greater mul tiplication of population, which always tends te lower the general death rate. According te the census of 1020, New Yerk City'a population in this group is 52.4 per rent, Chicago's ri2.,i5 per cent and Philadelphia's WMI per cent. While these differences in percentage de net appear great, jet when applied te populations of 2,000,000 nnd mere, the total numbers involved seen become apparent. "The infant mortality of the three cine approximates 15 per cent of the total mor tality, but this nge group will net nffect the general death rate te the same extent as a community having a larger population ever the nge of forty-live, with n mortality of nearly 00 per cent of the totel. "If Philadelphln actually hnd n higher geneial death rate than Chicago or New Yerk, why is It that the number of deaths under one year compared te deaths from nil causes and nil ages is lower in Philadelphia than in New Yerk and Chicago? The Infant Mortality "The New Yerk Milk Committee has issued statistics en infant mortality from 1000 te 1017 and the Henlth Departments have furnished data te the present time. Briefly nnalyzcd, the figures show thut from 1000-10 the New Yerk rate wns 22.03, Chicago 21.1 and Philadelphia 10.0. Frem that time the rate gradually decreased in nil cities until in 1021 it steed s New Yerk 15.1, Chicago 10.30 and Philadelphia 14,. At all times since 1000 the figures for tni-a city have been lower thun these of either New Yerk or Chicago. The figures also bIiew that there Ise correspondingly 0lvcr mortality In the higher nge groups In the ether two cities. "Mortality statistics te be comparable, should take into consideration the relative, composition nf the population. Fer faV basis of comparison, the general death ni- should be. corrected and standardized, usltt the population of u certain city as norm j A standard should be adopted for cities of ieij, rn .., i m ercena ernes and for IN BAD communities within a certain range of popu lation. "Our present-day methods of computing death records are iu need of revision. The statistician usunlly takes the cause of denth en the death certificate at its face value. Practicing physicians pay little attention te the accuracy of a statement of the primary and contributing cause of deaths, and a large proportion of deaths occur In hospitals where the Internes who make the records have little knowledge of them nnd whose Ideas are net yet clear as te the primary and contributing causes Statistical Inaccuracies "Fer many years heart disease held first place in Philadelphia, giving the fnlse impression that this was the most common disease. Frem 1017 te 1020, pneumonia headed the list. Regardless of the primnry disease, pneumonia is often u complicating condition nnd is the terminating factor, Physicians ate therefore apt te place en the list the terminal condition rnther thnn the principnl or primary factor. "Fer instnnce. during the epidemic of influcna in 11118 n Inrge number of death certificates rend 'cause of death, pneumonia contributory, influenza.' The average statistician would naturally attribute the cause of death te pneumonia, while the true condition was influenza which terminated ns pneumonia, the reul disease being influenzal pneumonia, which was the principal cause of death during thnt epidemic. The point nt issue Is that the stntlsticinn should interpret the death certificate se as te ebta n proper statistics. A case mav be reported as influenza and appear en (he death certificate as pneumonia, giving faulty stn tlstics by indicating a very high case death rate from pneumonia and n very low case death rote from influenza. Primary Causes Given Preference "The chief error in statistics lies with the original record by the physician. Registrars of vital stntistics should inaugurate n cam paign among physicians, explaining the difference between the primnry cause of death and the contributing cause. Inusmucn as the mortality stntistics nre based nn the primnry cnuce. this should be accurate. i1'n 'lVn"m' ', ,,m.tl(,nt 1,UN dinbetts com cem plicated with Bright'H disease the nrimarv cause should be diabetes .! net Wright's disease, wh eh is t he terminal factor. , , The point nt issue, is that many nay. SICiailM flP.i MUlliO ,1... ....!... .1. ' " the cause rather thnn the primary i-eiiclit ; , i"u n-iiuinni disease as ion. I i S. 7 . "l, ,,r ""' "' that pne nia and Bright'), disease ure the two le causes of death. euniu- adlng "Persons de net die of old ege any mere because the physic-Inns are required te assign ZJT" of,,1;,' ' Heme disease , heart disease Is frequently the one of c helce lull one. ti rd of the deaths from hear disease in this country ure among pe"?iW of mere than seventy. A false ImpresMeu that heait dsease is increasing iscrea" among the laity but in lenlity It is nothing mere than senility n one J,,., ,,'" instances old persons must ie of uZl cause i and heart disease Is the easiest. " "'loe frequently physicians nre requested by families net te make nubile ti,.n ,.e' cnuse ei dentil, sometimes for the cellec cm of Insiirnnnn n.,,1 . . ""iccuen reasons. The ncciirnev . .i:.i.,"r.V"ni In cPliernl ln.u l,,... ;...:'"" sCTUIK'ntt l n"-.an pTnWt.w he'cS'f S.inn!;k! "' emllicntc core ?.?! ... iiiii iimiuigH et tlie pest-mortem f'nr rectlnn of these conditions rests largely Whh the influence of tie lecnl re..i..!i ,,n the phi aidant of Vhelr cSmnffift?. "P"n EMBALMED JESTS . Uritihli explorers have discovered m ci -nt Thebes u gem-studded tlirene flJ u' n" who reigned in Egypt about IW 1J fpki"8S Mere Important is the declaration,.. papyri nlse were found. ""'""itlen thnt We have uq reason te li..iu,. . . . articles therein ,ent ne? d J '"' . tllp by their first lines m "Inith'en , 'ere U Didjn ever hear of the Caiman te who - "Why does a chicken" "vvlieii is a deer" I'Ulnli . It l.f.l .. dead ,..-." u ' be a lm. ,., . ,"ur,p'! "ingung urges circus .. . abolish inidwuy faks? But mii i '"'. ,0 will net wueli; vanish whlleVnt LT Charles Rlnglin ' remains. Pink leuieiiadf SHORT CUTS We assembled net te praise turkey bat te cranberry It. By, by, Thanksgiving Turkey I Wel come Christmas Seal! What Secretary Denby might cultivate te ndvantage is a geed fergettcry. It was the men who condemned Greek statesmen te death who lest their beads. When a man hns dough nnd acquires some crubt he usually lenfs awhile. Ship Subsidy is sailing Inte harbor, but she hns yet te be guided te her picr. Scnnter Couzens says Henry Ferd will run for President. Yes, but hew far? The renl song of thanksgiving sheulu go up from the turkeys thnt nm still alive. Annapolis is new determined te turn out henceforth only material for n dry navy. Net Fech but Ilalg wen the war, say two British officers. Ne, net Ilalg and Haig. Greece continues te give a faithful imitation of it man butting his head against a stone wall. Chicago can never quite make up her mind whether tn be prouder et her art gal lery or her abattoir. Dr. Cail G. Denney says slang should be abolished. Right. Dec! --Can it! And Eche queries, Can it? War Isn't everything. Olemenceau, having seen Chicago stock yards, new knows the last word in tcientlfic killing. Time was when both were esteemed swift and sure, but nowadays Jersey justice seems ns uncertain as Jersey lightning. England says she will scrap no mere warships until ether signatories te (he trcatr de likewise. Why this distressing lack of confidence in the world's geed fnith? la the dove developing bpurs again? Hnvlng been duly grateful for the fact that we nre better off than some ether folks, we, of course, will new proceed (e prove (hat we deserve (he geed things Fate has bestowed upon us. ()r shall we be modest instead? What De Yeu Knew? QUIZ 1 Wittncl S "' 1USt SaXOn Kln of E,,r 2 Distinguish between the two Ited Itlvers of the United States. e rein what Iuikuiire Ih the name Edna V When did icter Stuyvesant surrender i-CHii .rh ('New Amsterdam) te th LngllBh? 6. In wlmt State does tlin law forbid th granting of divorces 6 Hew many shillings innke a crown la - ,k"R"',n money? i. why Ih the ruinous pnlntlng, "The Mena e TJ'lhn', ."Li" cnllcd "'-a Glocendn-V f. When did Napeleon Hi become Emperor , of the French'.' 9, Hew many drama make an ounce In . , avoirdupois weight? 10. Who discovered wdle nctlvlty nnd wheat Answers te Yesterday's Quiz 1. Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1606, 114 years after thu discovery of America. I. Allce Muynell was a noted modern Ens ' n J11.11. 1'00t' She died In November, t9Jl. 3. The Pcace Cctiunlsslenera te , Ilia TarH lonfeience In teiti wete. Woodrew Wilsen, Rebert Lansing, Henry Whit and Tusker If. Ullas, 4 Thetis In cIuhkIciiI mythology was the mother of Achilles. 8he niade her son Invulnyruble by dipping him iu th 1 liver Styx, save for hhAeel, by which she held htm. 0. Feet-pound Ih the unit of result In estl mutlni work dene by machinery. Thus, If we tuke ctie pound mm the unit of walitlit and one feet as the unit of distance, a root-pound would i be oiie pound weight raised one feet, i tfl t. 1'u.l.llll ..III. J .iu ..ml... .. .. I.. Iml, ... 4 , .... uM.tvva lliunu a puuu , i,v n 7. The charattcristle feature of the dreis ' of the Fusclstl In Italy Is a blsck t K. isinglass U a preparation of nearly our b Kc-latln, inade rrem the vlsceri of fish. M v, ii'MJcn uriuKCM m me present poet ia . . ,rt'u. et Kmilttnd. , i ),, 10. Lake I.UI1IUH H another nutne rer LaMsi Jeiieva, tit th western nd et BwltseT-Wf ? .' !nd. Part of IU southern coast Ml ' '41 l M ii H v, . 4 n I 1 t r. s . ( rncn territory. f ( y y .KLM :.A&