The Washington times. [volume], April 26, 1916, HOME EDITION, Page 6, Image 6

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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THE WASHINGTON TBIES; WEDNESDAY,' APRIL 26,' 191(5.
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leaBlimgtmt mejef
PUBLISHED 13VBRY EVBNINO
(Including Buadars).
By The Waahlngton Timsa Company,
THE MUNRKT 8UILD1NO. Penna, At.
PHANK A. MUNSEY, President
R. H. TITHERINGTON, Secwtarjr,
C H. POPE, Treasurer.
bne Tear (Including Sundays), list,
fit Monthi, tt.TtV Three Month. tOe.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1916.
BRITISH LOSS OP OFFICERS
inco the war began the British
ariny has lost 25,033 officers. The
disproportionate toll of ofilcers to
men began in the first days of hos
tflltiefl. Every effort has been mado
since that time to reduce it. Officers
have been Btrippcd of every indica
tion of their rank which would be
visible at a distance. Insignia on
Mps, sleeves, and shoulders havo
been removed, field glasses are con
cealed, rifles are issued to the ofil
cers, arid in every way possible they
are madd to look Uko private sol
diers. Yet the marksmen "get"
them.
No doubt detection is inevitable
when the troops aro in sight, becauBo
of their movements and bearing,
made necessary by their duties. It
is safer to be a private than his su
perior, notwithstanding tho popular
impression to the contrary.
Britain's loss in officers is 25,000;
ourvholc army avajlablo for service
in the United States and Mexico is
35,000. Wo might enroll volunteers
and make privates of them, of some
sort, in six months. But you can't
triako an officer in six monthB. This
is one of tho many things we have
to consider about preparedness.
THI IRISH "REBELLION"
Tho abortive invasion of the west
coast of Ireland by Sir Roger Case
ment in a German ship with German
arms and supplies; the combined
North Sea attack by German Zeppe
lins and - war vessels and the out
breaks in Dublin called, forsooth, a
rebellion all point to a German pre
arrangement for such strokes in con
cert. r Nothing, 'could havA been sillier.
Iff Sir Roger Casement had succeed
ed in getting ashore he couldn't have
djgie anything to arouse the people
ib rebellion: the Irish themselves
wpjuld have taken care of him. If
the Dublin rioters had been more
njjmerouB than they were they
couldn't have done anything; the
itish themselves would have taken
care of them', too.
'A handful 'of men could seize the
New York postoffice or the city
hjll or both. It wouldn't bo a diffl
cilt thing for a handful of men to
i tterfeiis with the telephone and
t slegraph connections of a big city.
But they wouldn't last very long
1 1 such business; and, with the Irish
people as strongly, as gallantly, as
splendidly against the German war
t tachino' as , the bravest and the
t oblesf'qf hll'the brave and noble
i ten who are on the battlefields of
Europe, Casement must have been
ijiad to let the German plotters use
Him for such a tool as they mado of
him to no possible purpose but an
indelible blot on his own name.
Tho German war machine plotters
must have been made to think that
GUch a puny, miserable affair as the
whole thing was North Sea raid,
west coast attack, ant! Dublin out
break could achieve anything but to
make laughingstockB out of tho vic
tims who were sent to such folly and
to arouse Ireland more than ever to
send her men and to shed her blood
in tho cause which is the causo of
all civilization, to which no people
have been more devoted, could be
more devoted, than the mer of Ire
land battling, 300,000 strong, in
France and Flanders, in Serbia and
Saloniki, in Egypt and Mesopotamia
wherever there is fighting against
German and Austrian, Bulgur and
Turk.
What fools these military in
triguers in Berlin always havo been
with everything thoyAhave touched
from the first day to the last!
SENSE AND NONSENSE ABOUT
TELEPHONES
Not all the gentlemen who believe
that tho price of a commodity or of
a scrvico can bo regulated by law
come from Kentucky. Ben Johnson,
sipostle of gasolene at so much per
nallon by act of Congress, has fol
lowers in various necks o' woods.
Even some citizens' associations in
Washington, deliberations of which
ticually aro marked by intelligent
understanding of causes and effects,
occasionally fly off at a tangent and
indicate that they regard tho law of
supply and demand as an archaic
economic furbelow.
J Reports state that one citizens'
body passed resolutions to urge the I
Public Utilities Commission to fix
the monthly charge for a telephone
tt $l,cnd a "minimum of 1 cent for
ach call. Contained in tho same
icsolution is n pica that the tele-
hone systems bo put on the same
1 asis 'eb other utilities, that the in
i truments be sold, not rented, to the
i sers, and, that meters be affixed to
1 he telephones, to indicate the num
1 cr of calls made.
With the last portion of this plea
there may bo wido sympathy, and
the
lie suggestions are worth consider-
atlon by th$ utilities, commlssiom j
Whether the selling of instruments
violates patent rights, arid whether
the meter idea is practicable from a
mechanical standpoint, and whether
both these plans would not Increase
the charges too greatly, are matters
for experts to determine. But tho
principle on which the demand for
them is made, that of greater serv
ice, is sound. .
It is unfortunate that such a
plea should bo discounted by an ap
peal for a flat rato without any
knowledge about the expense of op
eration. Only by a valuation of tho
telephone company's property, the
investment and the costi of operat
ing, can the Public Utilities Commis
sion or anyone else say what is a
reasonable chargo for the telephone
service afforded this community.
DRAWINQ AMERICAS TOQETHER
It will not escape attention that
tho countries of tho Americas an
faBt being drawn together in a new
league of sympathy and common
purpose with regard to the Old
World's war. From Chile, Brazil,
and Argentina, especially, have come
repeated testimonies that tho leader
ship of tho United States in main
taining the neutrality and insisting
on tho rights of American countries
thoroughly appreciated. The South
American countries have come to
realize what it means to them to be
partners of the gveat northern re
public, which the worldfraturally re
gards as their leader and protector.
Brazil has been profoundly af
fected by the fact that its mother
country, Portugal, has openly joined
the causo of the allies. When Portu
gal seized the interned German ship
ping in its ports, there was a prompt
demand in Brazil that the same
course be adopted there. In the other
South American countries real nub
ile opinion has been getting a better
vocalization than it gets in Spain,
where the ruling class is to a large
extent of German sympathy. Tho
Latins of South America lean toward
the allies; Franco and Italy have
given direction to their sentiments,
rather than the decadent aristocracy
of old Spain.
One Rio journal flatly declares
that all indications point to the evo
lution of the neutrals toward war,
and that it is impossible that the
United States will back down. An
other says that solidarity of the New
World is now such that should oc
casion arise all the governments on
this side would without reserve sup
port President Wilson.
These are significant signs. They
tell us that real progress has been
made in establishing an entente, a
true understanding, among the
American nations. The United States
is no longer suspected or distrusted,
as for many years it was. Its good
faith toward the minor republics is
accepted as a matter of course. Its
preponderant sympathies, in the
world's crisis, are found to run par
allel to the Bentimcnts of the other
American countries; and from this
realization will assuredly flow conse
quences of high importance and long
continuance.
THE HUUB STB EL EARNINOS
The future of the iron and steel
industry of this country may be
imagined from its present condition,
as shown by the report, just issued,
for tho. first quarter of 1916. In
that three months' period the corpor
ation showed net profits of $60,713,
000. This is by far the greatest
quarterly showing of earnings in the
history of the company.
How great is the increase is shown
by those figures, giving the earnings
in the corresponding quarter of each
year since the company was formed:
V IIKX! L",715.7
1903 25.0S8.707
1901 13.445,232
1105 53,020,496
1908 3(.6J4,430
, 1907 39,12!,49i
19'JK J, 18,229,005
rjua - zi,m:xa
1910 37,616,877
1U11 i 23.619.203
1912 17,826.97.1
1913 34.4X.803
1914 ,17,994,382
1915 12.457.869
191U faO.713,624
Judge Gary, chairman of the cor
poration's board, declined to make
any statement concerning tho prob
able future of the steel business, bc
ai,s, of the uncertain international
conditions. But he pointed out that
the confpany now has little availably
capacity for the rest of 1916, while
orders have been booked for delivery
well into 1917.
It is worth while to consider how
the American iron industry compares
to others in the world. Before the
war Germany was producing as much
pig iron as France and England to
gether; she is now in possession of a
rrtuch greater capacity than those
two countries together, by reason of
holding the Belgian and French steel
regions. Yet the capacity of the
United States is equal to that of all
three countries together.
This, of course, docs not point any
definite conclusion a"bout what will
happen after tho war's end. But it
is very certain that Europo will, for
some time after the war, need all
the iron it can produce for purposes
of rebuilding and restoration; to
make new ships, erect new buildings,
restore railroads that will have bcon
worn down to tho last limit of oper
ating possibility. Tho United States
may be called upon to provide a good
deal of the steel for thes uses; if'
it is not, it will have to Jake care of
the world-demand in other quarters.
tliat commonly has been supplied
from Europe There Is every rea
son therefore' to assume that the
steel business 'of- this country will
go on expanding after as well "as
during tho war.
AS THE VERDUN TIDBTURNBD?
Almost all tho commentators aro
now of opinion that Verdun Will not
be token by the crown prince's Ger
man forces, mat much, onco estab
lished, would ncan a very important
French victory. If tho unparalleled
efforts put forth at Verdun shall not
break the allies' line, it may be as
sumed pretty safely that it, will not
bo broken elsewhere in any such
fashion as to make Paris' safety
doubtful.
Since April 9 it has appeared that
the offensive has passed to tho
French; and today's dispatches from
Berlin pretty unanimously tell of the
repulse of French attacks. This is
decidedly different from the stories
that Berlin was giving the world a
few weeks ago; not only were the
Germans doing the attacking, but
they were making gains. Now they
admit that tho initiative is with
General Petain, and the French dis
patches insist that gains are making.
The French muBt have, by this
time, a considerable advantage in
available material, if not in numbers
of troops. Never has such a profli
gate use of war material been under
taken as that by the Germans since
February 21, In the Verdun move
ment. All reports save some occa
sional fragments from Berlin, have
agreed that the German losses in
personnel have been vastly tho
greater.' The French strategy has
been to conserve men and material,
even at the expense of Small conces
sions in ground; and it has been ex
ecuted as relentlessly as was a like
program in tho retreat from Mons.
The time seems to have come for a
turn, as it did at the Marne; and if
so, the world may see substantial
results from tho allies' offensive,
such " as were not possible 'at the
Marne because the allies did not yet
possess an advantage, nor even an
equality, in men or material.
THE ANTHRACITE SITUATION
After more than two months of
negotiations, the representatives of
the anthracite miners and the oper
ators in the anthracite field have
given up, for the time at least, the
effort to reach agreement of wages
and working conditions. The split
is on tho question of the closed shop.
The operators have offered to re
duce working hours from nino to
eight, and to increase wages 5 per
cent. The miners insist that in ad
dition to this the operators shall as
sume the business of collecting fines,
dues, assessments, etc., for the
union; and that these shall be col
lected not only from some 125,000
men who belong to the union, but
from 60,000 more who do not.
The question of the closed shop
was prominent in the arbitration in
stituted by President Roosevelt in
1902, and the decision was against
it. The operators are now; standing
by the terms, in this regard, that
were fixed at that time; terms under
which until now the industry has
been conducted to the satisfaction of
the men and the operators alike.
That settlement was generally re
garded as fair to all parties. The
present demand that it be modified
in so important a regard seems un
reasonable and unjustifiable. ,
A tie-up in the anthracite field
would be a calamity to the country,
for coal stocks available are very
low. The freight congestion in re
cent months has been jn part respon
sible for this situation. It will, be
a tremendous misfortune for the
country, the operators and the men
if a crisis is reached, in which the
miners walk out; and it is incon
ceivable that such a result will be
permitted. "'
This ought to be a test of Jap
anese friendship. The Waseda base
ball team invades the country about
the time the California issue shows
symptoms of warming up.
When all is done and said, the Lon
don insurance companies' guesses on
the war are backed by hard cold
mnzuma.
Now if some one will run on a
platform providing optional change
of your day off when it rains, we
know of one vote he'll get.
Villa probably realizes now tho
martyrdom of fame. Undoubtedly he
would like to retire to tho private
life of looting railroads and butcher
ing ranchmen.
One of the worst features of this
favorite son situation is the number
of speeches that will come out of
Chicago nominators.
Germany, says a dispatch, has a
periscopelcss submarine. That will
not do her "any good until she gets
a bronzelcss torpedo.
There is nothing so uncommon
these days as common sense.
If the styles hold out, the board-
I walk is going to be just ob popular a
I place to loaf as the beach.
MAIL BAG
(From The Times' Readers)
Communication jo th Mill Hag tnuit
bt wrltttn on one aid of th paper
only) inuit not exceed- SOO words In
length, and mutt b signed with nam
and address of under.1 Th publication
of Utter In Th Time Mall Dt doea
tool mean th Indorsement by Th Time
of th opinion of th writer. -Th Malt
Bar I an open forum, where th cltl
rcn of Washington can argu most
question.
Says Fire Automobiles Should Be
Provided With Bells.
To Ihe Editor of Till! TIMES:
At last tho expected has happened.
A rnan has probably lost hi )lfe be
cause of tho desire of the lire depart
ment to ice how high a speed It can
attain.
Whcn4ho chief and deputy chiefs of
our nre department had their hora
and little buggy they managed to got
to a fire In time. But now with their
Automobiles they must "fiyl" I have
seen deputy chiefs travel at such
speed they could hardly be dli
tinguished. Wow that our fire department has
sol far advanced that speed Is the
thing, at the risk of life, why not let
the nre department ana the various
chiefs use the old familiar bell, the
sound of which can be recognltod for
uiocks. instead of the horn wnirn is
confusing with other . automobile
horns. The adoption of the bell will
doubtless save many of such acci
dents as that of last week.
Please, why la it necessary for the
chief or deputy chief for that matter.
to travel at such speed? Do they
think the nremen who respond to &
n ro on the hose carriage or engine
When they reach the fire would sit on
the curb and await the arrival of their
chief before attacking the fire, and
likewise what good would It do for the
nre chief to arrive ahead of the ap
paratus 7 A. W. M.
Washington, April 21.
Agrees With Times' Stand In Faror
of Using Schools as Meeting'
Places.
To th Editor of THE TIMEsr
I heartily concur In your editorial of
today entitled "Mistakes of the Govern
ment." The people should have tho
right to meet at any time In the school
buildings (when not In use for school
purposes) for the discussion of any and
all Questions affecting the public weN
rare, ana as you so aptly state It "the
community will settle the matter by
going to them or staying away."
One specific room (the children's play
room, psrhnps, would be best) should
be designated In each building for
I-orum purposes, when twenty or more
persons living nearest a particular
rciiuoi nullum snail apply ror use or
the same to discuss matters of Interest
to that community, and the necessary
expense of the tanltnr's nervier ihnniii
be borne by the persons present at the
inreunK. incy snouia proceed by the
election of a chairman and secretary,
who should be In charge and responsible
to the Hoard of Education for order
ana accorum
I hesitate to make comparison with
other organizations, such as the many
citizens' associations, but I do not think
thev are democratic enough; they often
reflect the personal views of only a
rew leaders in tnem, who control com
mlttees, etc., while a forum can be
made to voice the sentiment every man
and woman In each school neighbor
hood If conducted Impartially.
i wisn to commend The Times ror Its
outspoken advocacy of giving the people
these opportunities.
LOTIENZO a. WABFIELD.
Washington, April 17.
The Difference Between Work and
Labor.
To the Editor of THE TIMES:
I believe It Is nil right to pav un
skilled laborers S3 a day. but. unless
brawn Is worth as much na brains, a
skilled laborer Is worth more than an
unskilled laborer.
Bricklayers get more than hodrarrlcrs.
and plasterers get more than the men
who mix and deliver mortar. That Is na
It should he because brlcklavers and
plasterers arc skilled laborers and hod
carriers are unskilled laborers.
Someone mla-ht sav that bricklayers
and nlaaterera are mechanics, and me
chanics are not skilled laborers. .
A mechanic Is a skilled workman, and
there Is not much difference between a
skilled workman and a skilled laborer.
Labor Is "toll or exertion, physical or
mental." Work Is "physical or Intel
lectual effort directed to some end,"
Three dollars a day would mean a
raise amounting to nt least M per cent
of the salary of every unskilled laborer
In tho Government service, and some
of them would then set twice an much
as they are getting now. . Would It be
fair to give to the unskilled laborers a
raise amounting to from SO to 100 per
cent of their present salary, and elvo to
the clerks and skilled laborers little or
no raise at all?
I believe that every unskilled laborer,
man or woman, who la Kcttinsr iVJ nr
less a year ohould bo raised to at least
JW a year, providing they work seven
or clsht hours a day. six days In a
week: and that clerks and skilled la
borers who are getting more than SCflQ
n vear. working Beven or 'eight hours a
day. six dava In a week, should be given
a raise of JH0 a vear.
JOHN ANSCHUT7'..
Washington. April 17.
Laborer's Wife Plead's For Higher
Wages For Workers On Railroads.
To the Editor or THE TIMES:
While this great light Is on to secure
better wages for tho Government em
ployes, owing to the high cosUof living,
what Is to be done for the rallroddmen,
especially the car cleaners, who work
from tl a, m. until 6 r. m. for Itt cents
per hour, with no sick leave or vacation
tune miuwcu menu uuring me sum
mer months they are allowed to work
only nine or ten hours a day, Uut of
this small sum they am compelled to
pity JI.&O a month to the railroad In
Httrnnce. Nearly all of these men are trying to
ratso families on these starvation
WHRe.
Is It any wonder that the children or
the laboring class of people have to be
taken, out of school as soon as they are
any size to help mako n living? .It tho
laborera were given a decent salary we
would havo healthier children, happier
nomes. ana less crime.
Ktinday night I attended church, and
the preacher's text was, "A Question or
tho Times." one lino trom his sermon
vnu. "It la h to be poor." and t
cettalnly agree with him there.
I would nice to who my nat ore to air.
Nolnn for being the author of this most
remarkable bill providing that hereafter
this Government shall not pay any em
jjIojo less than S3 n day.
I sincerely hope this may come to pass
In tho near future.
1 wish that all laborers might receive
an honest wage for an honest day's
work. WIKB OK A U.VUOHKU.
vuehlngton, April 'a.
Washington Readers
To Honor Shakespeare
The Washington leaders' Club will
hotd u dinner this evening at the Uni
versity Club, to celcbrato the 300th anni
versary of Shakespeare's" death,
A nctahle'program has been arranged.
A nun.ber of the members of the club
havo been on the professional stage,
The' plans were In the hands of a com
mlttes mado up of Mrs. Claude N. Ben
nett, chairman; Mrs, William E. Cham-
berlfin, Mrs. J, I.eyJen White, Maurice
Jarvli, and Frank F. Maxwell.
la .
Americans in oerun
Always Pack Trunks.
Whenever Note Conies
Members of "Colony" Prepared io Leave at Once If
U.,S. Should Break With Germrfny-rMust Ever
Be On Guard Against "Treasonable"
J Utterances.
By GILBERT HIRSCH.
(Copyright, Mil. by h Nw York Bvnlng rt Co.
BERLIN, April 12. There has been another packing of trunks Jn
Berlin American trunks.
There has'becn a breathless waiting for the telephone bell to ring.
For it Is months now since Ambassador Gerard got 'the telephone
numbers of all the Americans resident in Berlin, r If he calls them up,
the trunks-will be locked.
So much have the Americans assimilated of German efficiency I
The trunk-packing always happens whenever a submarine note is being
considered.
u There is a great deal to be done when you have to leave a place
where you have been living for Hfteen years.
There is the lease on the apartment. t '
There is all your furniture to store unless, of course, you can
sublet.
MUSICIAN MUST
If you are a musician, there are the
contracts that, you will have to break,
the, lessons paid for In advance) and
tho uncollected bills.
There Is a sinking at the heart. It
takes no account of a state department
or a foreign office. It la the feeling
that the war has torn you up by tho
roots.
Among- the "American colonies" of all
the foreign capitals," from Paris to
reklnir, there Is a certain famjly re
semblance. Those who compose them
are "living abroad."
Ilut the Klorlous detachedness of the
"American colonist" abroad has suf
fered a cruel blow from this war. He
has become, whether he wishes It or
not, an unofndal representaUve of hta
country.
The colony diminishes; his power of
representation Increases automatically.
Ho becomes a person of Importance,
particularly If relations between Amer
ica and the country In which he nnds
himself are strained
If he Is living- In Berlin, he comes to
feel himself responsible for every Amer
ican note. And It does not end there
he feels himself responsible for all the
m.HMaI n.rtn.n rn1!ii.
He knows a oerman wnoe wur bib-
ter I related by marriage to a man
f ih. rMitr. AfflrA whn la aald to have
the confidence of von Jagow. Naturally
he feels it incumoem on nuuKu
make this German "understand the
American situation. He regards It as a
patriotic duty.
May Not Be Patriot.
He may not have been a patriot before
the war. Indeed, he may nave oeen a
continued exile, tho kind that Is "bored
and disgusted" by conditions In his own
country, and smilingly aceepU the taunt
of "expatriate!" nung ai mm tram
acroso the ocean, as If It were a aort of
honorary degree.
it., mnv have been observing German
conditions a Impartially as If he had
nm ther from Tlmbuctoo, or .he
Milky Way, or anywhere except xno
United States,
Uut since the outbreak of the war. no
has never, for a single second, been al
lowed to forget that he Is an American
an American In Berlln-sn American In
Berlin in war-ume.
. t... v,.n tmteht that the Alneri
can eagle and the Prussian eagle are
birds of two entirely distinct species.
He Is taught this by the Germans them
selves He Is blamd by the Germans
becanii- he Is an American, and by his
friends In America because he has stay
ed on In Germany. But at least he is
cured of his detachment.
The American business man In Ber In.
whin he found his country btowIuk
somowhat unpopular anions his beat
ruftomers. tried, at first, to awlm
agnlnst tho tide. ,
He organised luncheon clubs and meet
ings where tho other builness men could
Join him In a rhorus of friendly utter-
.i.u...v n.miinv. bonen of con-
timiH mnltv. and trado relation. He
had a sublime American faith In the ef
filclcncv of "all getting together;" and
ho stnrted swlmmlns: manfully, honing
for the tide to turn.
Artists and musicians staved on In
Germany because. In spite of tho war.
their work and studv wore not Inter
runted. One artist who had lived In
Betlln several vears actuallv had the
courage to exhibit the first time. He
had to run a double llro-from critics or
his art. which Is cxtremelv modern, and
from critics of his country, which had
been growing more unpopulnr day by
Another man. a slngor. whose first
name. sounded -BngllM and -whose last
nsme might have been anything, was
actually told that he had lost certain en
gagements because of the German feel
Inir. and was advised to sign himself
slmplv bv his last name, like princes
and excellencies.
' Art Still International.
Yet art docs remain International; npd
on of the most popular concerts given
In Berlin during the war hud. as its
special attraction, a French violinist
a womtn and an Italian planlst-who
was also a woman. And In the news
paper criticisms no mention was made
'of their nationality. . . , ,
Thi Hotel Adlon, two minutes from
the urapdonburgcr Thor. two """"Jf!
Horn Wllhelmstrassc, Is where tne
American newspaper men live.
Some Germans go there, too-klnRs.
barons .nrlvv councilors, professors,
nnnv officers, millionaires. But America
Is In poeln- The Germans being
Inthctcd In the barber shop or Icanlnc
tip against the "American bar" acem
like outsiders.
There lr something about the lobby
of the Adlon that maWes every Amer
ican Want 10 ten wnai no rcany iuium
a hnni irvttilntr.
Sometimes he geta reckless. Then he
Is In dinger; for one phrase of slang
mlsuntlerctQod by a hard-working Ger
man detective (a plain-clothes patriot
who has forgotten his dictionary, and
must therefore give a frca translation n
his report), may lose him his clmnco vt
Interwew a prlnco. It Is a nervous life!
But thero is a' typo of American who
wilt s't there drinking .coffee with his
friends, apparently oblivious to the dan
ger of being overheard. To the horror of
lus companions, ho saya mentioning a
well-known German name: .
"Why. he Is the heart of all the In
tr'eruo In Germany,"
There I a shudder.
"Somo w Ilk hear you," says one of
the prrty.
"I don't give a hang who hears me,"
he renlles. "They all know It as well as
T An."
No cn says anything. Mo on dure
' n '
BREAK OFF.
to sar anything. Sidelong stances are
shot toward the next table, -where a pair
or ngiit-biue Prussian eyes seem to take
on a nard. cold light.
uut nothing over nappens to this not
uncommon type of American. Perhaps
It is because he Is known to gay everything-
he thinks, and Is, therefore, not
considered dangerous.
i met en American from the far West,
who l-dd come to' Berlin in order to give
his part of the country, in his words,
"the real dope" about Germany and
the war.
He had" come because he "loved Ger
many" and "had always stood by tho
under dog, anyway." His love of Ger
many was compounded In equal parts of
hatred of the Japanese, which he ex
tended to all their allies, and a weakness
for Bach fugues,, of which, to look at
him, you would never have suspected
him..
His conviction that Germany waa the
"under dog" grew out of his having
neen tne under dog -wnenever he had
tried to defend her.
He had come to stay until the end of
the war. To my surpriso, one day I
foun( him getting ready to leave.
I asked him why.
"Because." he declared, putting a pair
of corduroy trousers Into his steamer
trung, "tnese Germans can't distinguish
me from President Wilson. So I'm going
back. Tou don't mind If I go right on
packing?"
German Misunderstanding.
Ills next disappointment, It seems,
was that the Germans had miscon
strued that spirit of pure chivalry
which had brought htm half-way round
the world to stand by them.
It seems that when he 'first spoke, in
a perfectly natural way, of "loving
Germany," he had expected that they
would embrace him as a brother. T71?y
didn't. And one day a German he knew
took him 'aside and told him to stop
saying that he loved Germany.; explain
ing to him that his protestations of
affection made the Germans suspect htm
of being a spy.
lie tried not to be hurt. Indeed, he
tried to follow the man's advice and
show himself quite Indifferent to Ger
many. lie seems to havo succeeded. For tho
Germans began to say and he got wlni
of It ".Vow he Is snowing himself In
his true colors."
"And the worst of It is." he went on,
"that to hear them talk you wouldn't
know they were nt war with Japan at
all!"
At that moment there was a knock
at the door, and an official In a blue
uniform, currying . portfolio, entered
the room to ask If he were leaving
Germany, and. If so, by which frontier
and by what train.
When the mm had closed the door
buhlnd him. my friend came up to me.
Afraid To Be Trustful.
Tell mc now on the level did that
fellow loot: as if he thought I was lying
to hlrc.-or was It Just my ImaginatlonT"
I assured him it must be his Imagina
tion. "I suppose." he snld thoughtfully,
"they're afraid to let you know they
think jou're honest, for fear you might
not be. Then they'a-feel foolish."
The teal trouble, ho went on to say,
was that he did "take Issue with the
Germans on the relation of the state
nnd the Individual. They don't," he
roncluded with great seriousness; "they
'lon'l really respect my individuality
f think the real trouble with him
which he probably never admitted, even
tr himself was that Germany had the
silrlt of winning. He had come over
to stand by "the under dog." He re
sented being asked to rejoice "with Ger
many. There are many like him Americana
who have, mistaken the German appeals
for sympathy as appeals for their per
ioral help
There Is. howevor, a tvpe of American
who has fitted himself perfectly Into
the German Idea of the state and that,
too. without giving up In the slightest
decree his senso of his own Individuality.
These men spent a few -venra at a
German university; and the snlilt of the
German armv, of tho whole German na
tion, hns been to him merely an exten
sion or tnnt snirit he came to lovo at
Heidelberg or Bonn.
He has spent hours and days arguing
with his friends to prove that Germany
was Just aa democratic na America.
The social reform which thov called
paternalistic, he Insisted were forced on
the German government by the Foclal
Democrats the common people.
When they spoke of Oermnn efficiency
as being.. "merclv mechanical," he re
minded them that "efficiency" is an
American catchword, and naked them
why they blamed tho Germans for prac
ticing what we preach.
German Qvcr the Telephone.
Purlng tho war, Americans have had
to aoeal; German at tho tolcphone In
ordor that central might report what la
said to the police. Whenever nny ono
has dropped Into English, ho has found
himself cut off.
An American woman who loved Gtor
munv was telephoning ono daw Tho
mnld ushered a stranger Into the ad
joining room. When nh had finished
telephoning, he showed her his thdge,
nnd explained that ho had been sent up
from police headquarters.
"you are accused," said the dctectlvo,
solemnly, "of having spoken of tho Ger
mansover the telephone as 'dchwclnc'
(nlEsl!"
Hhe denied It.' angiliy. The detective's
manner enanged. lie had, lie told per,
stopped nt tho nearest pollco station and
made Inquiries. Tho local policeman
had spoken In her pralso.
"Besides that." ho added, gravely, "1
have Just heard ou speaking over tho
telephone. And I can seo now that a
telephone fill I might not understand you
1 exactly."
bhe enloicd It nil as a Joke oti her
pronunciation ot German.
But mere
MAT'S ON PR0GR1.
INCnPITMW
Meetings of Societies and Clubs,
Amusements at, Capital
Playhouses.
Today.
Illustrated lecture, Italnh Stene, ef flceteM
cal Survey.
lor Mneni or in
Franklin
Home and School Association,
Thornton
School. Twtlfth and V strMls northwtit.
I p. m.
IUcepllon, Woman's Evening- Clinic, 7J
Thirteenth street northwest, 1 to t p. Bl.
iltlns;, American Orlintal riocUty, audi
torlum, Nw National Museum, (;N a, m.
and 3 p. m.
Dinner, Myron M. Parker Lodge. Mo. 27, T.
A. A. M. for benefit of the building fund,
banquet room, Korthtast Uasonlo Tamp).
4:30 to 7:t0 p. m,
Leolure, "The Origin and Dvlopmnt ef th
American Trotting Horse." l. Rale. Col
lege of Veterinary Medicine, (:50 p. re.
Meeting, ColumblanOeorg Washington Law
School Alumni Association, University
Club, p, m,
Bltver anniversary reception, celebrating r
vice of twenty-flvs years of MUs Ljrdl,
Marshall as teacher In Calvary Baptist
Church Bunaay school, in scnool nouae,
P. m.
tfhaketpeare dinner, -Wsihlngten IUadrs
Club, University Club, 7M p. m.
Men' National Missionary Congrei. Mem
orial Continental Hall, t p. m.
Dinner, Washington Assoclstlon of Credit
Men, New Ebbltt, ( p. m.
Meeting, Ateno Hltpano Americano ds Wash,
tngton. TUucher, i p. m. 1
Eater dsnee, Sigma Delta high school fra
ternity chapters. IUlelgn. lit, m.
Masonic Harmony, No. II, School of In
struction; Washington. No. I, lUilthta
Templar.
Odd
Fellows Eastern, No. 7: Federal. No.
Harmony. No 1: Columbian. Kt. 1.
Encampment: Mount Pleasant. No. t. B
.bekaba. -.
Itoyal Arcanum Flag ceremony, ' 1101 H
street northwest.
Knights of Columbus-Spalding Council annU
vertary celebration.
Roclallat Tarty Convention.
Piano recital. Mlas Katharine McKeal, Horns
Club, S:U p. m. V
Addreas, "Ideals or (Knighthood, " Very nev,
Peter J. O'Callaghan, C. B. P.. at sevi
enteenth anniversary of Spalding Council,
No. 41T, Knlgbta of Columbus, In ball, t:V)
p, ra. -
Amusements.
National "Th4 Birth of a Nation." motion
pictures, 2:U and 1:11 p. m.
Delaaco 'The Lucky Fellow," 1:15 p. m.
Poll's "The Old Homeetead." i:M anl 1:15.
P, m.
Keith's Vaudeville, :U and 1:U p. m.
Oajety llurleaque, 2-.1S and S:ii p. m,
Loew'a Columbia MoUon pictures. 10:14 a. m.
to U p. m. .
i
Tomorrow.
Meeting. Washington Chapter. American In
stitute of Banking, Kit F street northwest,
p. m.
Annual meeting, Washington Center of th
tDrama League of America, children's room.
Public Library, t p. m.
Meeting, Daughters of ITU, New Wlllard, 11
a. m.
Meeting, National Missionary Congress, Mem
orial Continental Hall. la. m.
Minstrel and dance. National Tent, No. U
the Maccabees, benefit of widows and or
phans' fund. Old Masonic Temple, p. m.
Meeting, Gaelic Society of Washington.
Comstock Studio, 1M0 New York avenue
northwest. 1p.m.
Meeting, Federal Suffrage Association of the
United States, Public Library, ' P. m.
Meeting, congregation of. St. Paul's Luth
eran Church. In church, t p. m.
Annual meeting and exhibit. Christ Child
Society of Washington, nauscher's. a p. in.
Address. Mrs, Flora McDonald Thompson, be
fore Credit Men's Section ot the netall
Merchants' Association, grill room, Raleigh,
u:10 p. m.
Entertainment In honor ot -wives of members,
Washington Centennial Lodge, No. II. F.
A. A. 11.. Italelgh, t p. ro.
Lecture, Cornelius Lehane, under auspices of
the Socialist party. Odd Fellows Hall. J
Beventb street northwest. 1 .15 p. m.
Masonic The Now Jerusalem, Xo. 1; Temple
Ko)n, No. ; William F. Hunt, No. It,
. Eastern Star.
Odd Fellows Columbia, No. 10: Rxcelslor,
No. IT; Salem, No. n: Covenant. No. 13.
Knlzhts of Pythlss Harmony, No. 51.
National Union Bancroft Council. DahlgreH
Council.
Socialist Party T. P. 8. L. msttlng.
Home Club chorus rehearsal, Home Club. 7:19
to till. Auction bridge. Home Club. :X
P. m.
Lecture. "From the Crimean War to the!
Present European War," Prof. Theodore P.
Ion. assembly . hall. College of History
nulldlng, Atrerlcan University, 1:40 p. m.
Conference of business association, to con
alder procuring the convention cf the Con
federate Yeterans, In Chamber of Com
vtnerce rooms-, IS noon.
Meeting. National Mtsslonsry Congress, Mem
orlal Continental Hall. 10 a. m.
was another member or "Tho Colony'
who did not take a similar experience:
In the same spirit.
She, too, was falsely accused of speak
ing against Germany, and was twice
given official warning, 'ihe second
lime she was told that. It complaint
against her wcro .repeated, she musl
prepare for the worst. She did. Bhe
at In a window where she could see
airy one coming toward the house some,
distance off. She had decided that. II
she saw a policeman coming to arrest
her, sho -would commit suicide.
Aa It turned out, tho policeman did
not come. Instead she received a lettei
from a very high source, apologiilnd.
for the mistake that had been made.
And later her feeling was somewhat
softened when she learned that the
whole affair had 'sprung from the mal
Ice of a personal enemy.
"But." risked a Prussian friend after
ward, "If you had a clear conscience,
why should ou -hitvo taken It all to
trairlcnlh ?"
He n minded her of all 'he gierit
Prusa'nns who had been under surveil
lance by the police, from Schnrnhntst
and Gnelsenau, tho generals -.vho h'd
created the nrmy wt.lch defeated Na
poleon, down to the Socialist, and oven,
not ao very lone ago, to the Liberal
Belchstag leaders. Ho neemed to have
nn Idcn that she should foel flattered
nt being In such dlHtlngulshed company.
Her attitude appeared to him to bo an
extravagant exaltation of the idea of
personal privacy.
One Important American.
Thero was a man who came to Berlin
not long ago. I don't know what hl
bunlnes.8 was. . But for the purposes of
this visit, he was not merely an Ameri
can, lie was America.
Not that he swaggered and boaatel.
On the contrnry, he was almosUtnojiuc
llke. He spoke so little that the Ger
mans soon got to fcellt that evey
thlnjr he did say must be highly lin
nortnnr. Thov couited him as If h!
wcrs President Wilson himself. They
argued with him for homo about tin
uernmn-American situation,
it.. nnvir .ireucri. Ho listened. Ann
whenever hla acquaintances among t!'
German officials anil npiomar wouiu
score what they considered an effective
point, he would reply, with a sympa
thetic Miillo:
"Yes, of course. I can see your point
of view. But you see In America they
would reply to you by pointing out -'
And then, In a deliberate manner thai
combined the most Impicsslve charar.
terlsterlca of Mottcrnlch and Disraeli,
ho would state tho American point ol
view in the most offensive form to Ger
man pride. And tlicy listened polite,
lyl with n humility that was almost
touching. He was from the Middle West.
There Is still another type of Amer
ican In Berlin. One of them, with a
most un-Gernmn name, got to the fir
ing lino and went Into battle. He had
been wounded atid had received ntt Iron
cross before tho proper authorities
caught up wiin mm.
They told him, us he lay on his back
on the hospital bed,, that officially
speaking ho was not theie. For tin
lazaret was only for German soldiers,
and he again speaking officially hud
liecr been a German soldier, since II
was foi bidden for forelcners to sent
In the Geimatt army.
But they didn't take uway hit lroi
cross not even officially. .'
r
- t