The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 04, 1916, Page FOUR, Image 4

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE AGE-HERALD
bl. W, UAUHUrr.Cdltor
Knierea ai the Bunungaam, Am., post
effico as second class matter under act
of Congress March 3, 1879.
£>aily and Sunday Age-Herald, year.. $0.00
Daily •without Sunday.*..,..*. 4.00
Daily and Sunday, per month.80
Dally and Sunday, throe months...* 1.60
Weekly Age-Herald, per annum. .60
^^^y_^A^e-Herajd^^er^annurn^^ 2.W)
ho communication will be published
without its author's name. Rejected
manuscript will not be returned unless
stamps are enclosed for that purpose.
Kemntauces can be made at current
rate oX exchange. Xbe Ase-lleraid will
not be responsible for money seat
through the mads. Address,
THE AGK-tiiSRALD,
Birmingham. Ala.
Washington bureau, 207 Hibba building.
European bureau, 6 Henrietta street,
Co vent Garden, Hondon.
Eastern business olfice. Rooms 48 to 50,
Inclusive, Tribune building, New York
city; western business office. Tribune
building. Chicago. The S. C. Beckwith
Special Agency, agents foreign adver
tising.
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting all
departments) Main 4900.
Something is rotten in the state of
Denmark. —Hamlet.
* * *
BEGINNING THE DAT—Lord, if I
have wronged any man, or taken
aught from any, or caused any soul
to suffer through fault of mine, show
me to forgive. In Christ's name,
that I may pay my Just debts and
be at peace with God and men. And
If any man has wronged me, help
me to forgive. In Christ’s name.
Amen.—H. M. E.
* * *
Notwithstanding the fact
that prohibitionists are so
numerous, the national prohibition
' party has never cut any appreciable
figure in presidential campaigns.
The national convention meets in St.
Paul in about two weeks and a “good,
safe man” will be chosen as standard
bearer. The regu
Prohibition Party lation platform will
Still Small Factor be adopted, which,
besides inveighing
against the liquor traffic, will con
tain generalities including “equal and
I exact justice for all.”
A few months ago there was talk
among the leaders of the prohibition
party of nominating Mr. Bryan, but
when the Nebraskan was approached
he made it plain that it was his fixed
purpose to support the democratic
ticket. It was then said that Hobson
would be offered the presidential
nomination, but he, like Bryan, had ■
elected to remain in the democratic ,
party.
It was thought that if either of
those gentlemen could be induced to
lead the national prohibition organi
zation, snap, at least, would charac
terize their campaign. As it is it will 1
be about the same as usual—sober- ■
sided and listless with a total popular i
yote of less than 250,000
>. * * *
A
S Mr. Hughes will not start on a
speaking tour until August and
his 'whirlwind canvass will not begin ,
until September the public will be
spared the exciting strain of a mid- ,
summer presidential campaign, such ]
as those that have often afflicted the
country in times past. A Six-week
campaign should
Short Campaign really be long
Pleases Voters enough to satisfy
both of the big
parties. It would doubtless more than
satisfy the average voter.
Before the day of the rural free
delivery the daily newspaper reached
only the more advanced country dis
tricts, leaving a large part of the elec
torate dependent upon the campaign
orator for enlightenment on the issues
of national politics. But knowledge is
so widely disseminated now and party
“literature” is so abundant that the
rural voter of today is better informed
as a rule than the city voter was a
generation ago.
Every intelligent citizen, whether
he lives in town or on a farm, knows
the main “arguments” of both the
great parties, and one campaign
speech is all that is needed to con
firm the voter’s opinion and arouse
his enthusiasm. Six weeks of cam
paign oratory would certainly be
enough to generate fever heat. But
as Mr. Hughes’ manager is arrang
ing for a campaign shorter than usual,
the country has at least something to
be thankful for.
* * *
GEORGE BRANDES, noted Dan
ish literary critic and publicist,
has been impressed, as many other
observers have been, by the inconsis
tency of the belligerents of Europe,
each one stoutly asserting that it is
carrying on a war of
Effect of War self-defense with
on Alien Races the sole object in
view of preserving
the higher things of life from being
ground beneath the heel of the war
god. But he thinks the claims that
none of the nations wanted war and
all are fighting strictly on the de
fensive are “fibs,” a mild accusation.
The white race is also destroying
its prestige. The black, brown and
yellow men have been called in to help
slaughter white men and have been
patted on the back for the efficiency
they have shown in battle. “This is
toj be avenged,” warns Brandes.
jpwever, we are becoming accus
to the idea of a clash some day
“Initial Episodes”
“Initial episodes in the increasing pressure of a vast offen
sive” is the way the French military observers characterize the
first three days of the great battle of the Somme.
The third day demonstrated that the French and British are
not repeating the errors of Champagne and Nieu Chappelle
by swarming to the second line trenches too soon. Careful prep
aration is now being made for each step in the advance. Ex
tensive stretches of the second line trenches were occupied yes
terday and artillery preparations were being made for the as
sault on the third line. Once through the third line the allies
hope for a great battle in the open—a battle which will have
more of the characteristics of the fighting on the Russian front.
Beset on the south, east and west the central empires, however,
seem as full of fight as ever, as some of the most desperate-ag
gressiveness of recent months was shown by the Germans yes
terday before Verdun.
The American Legion is mentioned in last night’s dispatches
for its conspicuous gallantry in the Somme fighting. This
corps is made up not only of Canadians, but there are hundreds
of boys from the United States who crossed to Canada and en
listed when the first call came for volunteers.
They wanted a fight and now they are getting it.
Welcome to Rural Letter Carriers
Birmingham extends a hearty welcome to the Alabama Rural
Letter Carriers’ association now in session here. These men are
the most active agents in disseminating modem civilization.
These are the men who are of vital assistance in carrying on the
world’s business. Rain or shine they are handling the nation’s
mails, keeping the furthermost corners of the earth informed of
events. They are the backbone of Uncle Sam’s great postal sys
tem and as such they are honored and appreciated wherever
they go. #
May their too brief stay in Birmingham be a pleasant one.
between the white and yellow races.
It is something that is more visionary
to some minds than to others, but in
either case is extremely remote. That
the so-called Christian nations have
made a sad spectacle of themselves
before the so-called heathen cannot
be denied. But when this world-mad
ness is cured and when peace returns
the white races will regain their lost
prestige. In fact, they will be saner
and more worthy of admiration than
ever before. The lessons being learned
now will not be forgotten soon.
The nations will emerge from the
war stronger spiritually and more
regardful of the rights of others. If
just now they belittle themselves in
the eyes of the black man and the
oriental, it is but a temporary aber
ration that will pass.
* * *
FROM all indications Colonel
Roosevelt is still bent on com
manding a division of volunteers in
the Mexican war—in the event such
war is declared. When he first inti
mated his readiness to offer his serv-J
ices to the
Roosevelt’s Desire President if
to Be Major General volunteers
were needed,
not all his friends took him seriously.
The colonel has buried the progres
sive hatchet. Only last Wednesday he
lunched with Mr. Hughes. He was in
the finest of spirits and pledged him
self to heartily co-operate in the re
publican campaign. His unreserved
tender was heartening, of course, to
the “old guard,” for when the former
bull moose takes off his coat in poli
tics, and he rarely participates unless
he is prepared to do his best, his
blows are terrific.
But he feels strongly drawn to the
sword and nothing would interest him
so much right now as an opportunity
for winning new fame on the field of
battle. He would enjoy the excitement
of the coming campaign, and if he
were on a speech-making tour he
would be quick in turning loose his
venom against President Wilson and
the democratic party. But in case of
war, if he could start out as a major
general he would ask to be excused
from campaign activities.
One of the newspaper reports had
it that his offer to the government
would be to raise a brigade. But that
was not correct. He will be a major
general or nothing, and the division
he proposes would be larger by three
thousand men than army law provides J
for. But the conditions which the col
onel will couple with his proposition
are characteristic.
The war department has been
sounded in the colonel’s behalf. While
nothing could be definitely promised
in advance of a call for volunteers,
President Wilson would hardly fail to
appoint him a major general.
* • •
The British and French have captured
territory from the Germans about equal
to the area ofsplirmingham. This achieve
ment can be better appreciated when it is
remembered that gains of a few yards
have heretofore been hailed as victories.
• • •
German women are criticised for wear
ing ultrafashionable clothes and indulg
ing in frivolous pastimes while the na
tion is fighting for existence. Even in
the fatherland there is more or less in
efficiency, it Beems.
• « •
It is claimed that a large number of
Austrians captured by the Russians were
intoxicated. An excess of "Dutch cour
age" may account for some of those re
cent Austrian defeats.
• • •
Henry Ford says the calling out of the
militia looks like politics, but Henry has
alreadp proved conclusively that he
doesn't know anything about politics.
The expiration of the justly famous
Hobson frank, as The Age-Herald's
Washington correspondent points out, will
lighten the labors of many a rural mail
carrier.
• • •
Mr. Hughes will not make any speeches
from the rear end of a train on his pro
posed western trip. The natives out there
will feel that they are missing some
thing.
The “spread eagle” orator had better
go slow this year in his Fourth of July
speech. Some of his heartless auditors
may ask him why he hasn’t enlisted.
» • •
A Scotr.fr* highlander wearing a steel
helmet and kilts may look rather comical,
but when be charges the Teuts don't have
time to laugh at him.
• • •
There are so many patriots abroad in
the land that the antinoise society might
as well rest on its laurels until a more
propitious time.
• • •
The art lovers of Venice have put their
trust in sand hags, but a close watch
is still being kept for those pestiferous
Austrian airmen.
• • •
Vienna says Petrograd's claims of vic
tory are exaggerated. Still, there’s
foundation for the buoyant tone of the
dispatches.
• • •
Britons mourn because Kitchener is not
alive to see the fruit of his toil. Maybe
he receives wireless reports in Valhalla.
• • •
The good women of El Paso were ready
with coffee and sandwiches -when the
troop trains rolled in. Preparedness plus.
• * •
According to Damon Runyon, Unfcle
Sam’s colored troopers are expert sharp
and craps shooters.
• • •
Incidentally, the mother who didn’t raise
her boy to be a soldier seems to have
changed her mind.
• • •
It is announced that skirts are to be
shorter than ever. Sad news, this, for
a blind man.
n • •
Even if there is a war with Mexico, it
will hardly be “heroic” enough to suit
the colonel.
• • •
The wear and tear of world-wTar is not
being felt to any extent by Portugal.
Properly pronounced, Kuty isn’t as friv
olous as it sounds.
A FOND FAREWELL
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Back in the 70s one of the appeals St.
Louis made to the popular imagination
was most often expressed in the short,
affectionate name, “Tony’s.” Parting
either in New York of San Francisco,
any two citizens of the world intending
to rejoin each other somewhere in the
heart of the country had only to say,
“We’ll meet at Tony’s,” to know the
place of rendezvous. Xt was not even
needful to say, “Meet me in St. Louis,
Looie.” “Tony’s” was ample and suf
ficing to convey the idea that St. Louis
was the city and Tony Faust’s far-famed
restaurant the place.
And this fine fame ran through so many
years that it outspanned a generation.
Delmonico’s at its best may have enjoyed
an equal fame. It never enjoyed an equal
affection, for there could never be felt
in it that indefinable atmosphere of ease
and restfulness which made Tony’s so be
loved a place; not to be called “home
like,” for “Tony’s” was always distinct
ly a high class res%rt, but one in which
the guest would feel himself at peace
with all the world, which he could not
always do in the New York resort. As
for menu, there was nothing to be had at
Delmonico’s which could not be had at
“Tony’s,” and for chefs, “Tony’s” has had
names written high in the bright galaxies
of gastronomy. Its guests have sat in
the seats of the mighty in all parts of
the world. There is a book in which
many of “Tony’s” famous guests wrote
down what they liked best. It is a reve
lation of great names and equally of a
wide variety of tastes.
Let us sing these glories of ’’Toney’s”
now, for it is a swan song we are sing
ling. The old place is to be closed. The
last effort made to save it has failed. It
must go the way of Delmonico’s, the
glory of which long since departed. But
as Delmonico’s old place is hardly now
remembered outside of New York, the an
nouncement that "Tony’s” doors are
closed does not mean that the old place
will be forgotten while one of its long
day and generation remain*.
HOTEL LOBBIES
d°m Not Agree with Mitchell
Asked his views on the statement by
James Mitchell, president of the Alabama
Power company, in Sunday’s Age-Herald,
denying the displacement of much coal
consumption by hydro-electric power,
Frank V. Evans, auditor and publicity
agent of the Alabama Coal Operators’
association, said:
“I read Mr. Mitchell's statement with
much interest and think I understand its
purport. I a’so know of the condition
of the coal trade of this district, and the
causes of its present depression, which!
have been fully set forth in the interviews
with coal operators recently appearing in
The Age-Herald.
“Just one of Mr. Mitchell’s statements
seems to be absolutely correct, and that
is that he is president of the Alabama
Power company.”
Inoculating: Employes
“The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company is continually looking
after the interests of its employes,” said
Frank Hammond. “About one month
ago the company made arrangements
whereby each of them not only had the
privilege of becoming inoculated against
typhoid fever, but a strenuous effort was
made to get every employe to take same.
The company is offering this inoculation
free to its employes, and at cost to their
families.
“It is very interesting to be part of an
organization of this kind and to watch
the interest taken by the officers for the
welfare of the workers. Our organiza
tion, while one of vast importance and
of massive proportion, is, after all, noth
ing more or less than one big family.
There is always an appearance of good
social feeling one toward another.”
Beauty Means Tax Raises
President George B. Ward of the city
commission, who has done much in the
past four or five years in the city beau
tiful Tnovement, believes that his efforts
have resulted in impressing the tax equal
izers with false values on civic property.
“I have an old house,” said Mr. Ward,
“which I have to repair frequently to
keep it from falling over. However,
through my efforts at gardening and at
planting numerous vines, one cannot tell
:he age of my home. It looks quite re
spectable from the street, and these tax
equalizers could have been easily im
pressed with the thought that it was a
valuable piece of property.
“There are other homes in the city
vhich have suffered a like fate. Their
pwners under the propaganda of the city
beautiful movement have beautified their
bouses and the general neighborhood until
cassersby could easily believe they were
n the midst of a group of palatial resi
liences. Naturally the tax equalizers
vere also impressed with that thought,
ind I rather believe that quite a few
>f the raises in taxes came through the
ceautifying of homes.
“However, this is only an idea of mine,
ind it is possible that the actual facts
ire quite the contrary, sp I will continue
:o urge the beautifying of the city at all
;imes despite all tax raises.”
And Mr. Ward got out his little red
lotebook and jotted down the fact that
:here wras a dead tree at the corner of
Fifth avenue and Twentieth street.
To Buy Messenger's Shoes
“In these days of excessively high
priced leather and expensive shoes, the
Western Union messenger boys are
fortunate,” said W. D. Stead, manager
)f the Western Union here, yesterday.
“An arrangement has just been made
Dy which the Western Union is to buy
shoes in wholesale lots for the 8200
nessenger boys of the company, and
:hey will be sold to the boys at a price
slightly lower than the wholesale cost,
rhis means that the boys will be able
:o buy shoes at one-half what they pay
!or them now at retail stores. To the
average boy employed in messenger
service, the item of shoes is a large
)ne and this will mean a big net sav
ng to all of them. Of course the boys
jo not have to buy their shoes from
:he company, but from the thanks we
lave received from them for making
Lhis offer, It seems certain that all of
:hem will take advantage of the sav
ng. We will have shoes of a special
nake which are best suited for the
t>oys.
“There is an interesting little story
in connection with the inauguration of
this policy. One of the officers of the
company noted sometime ago that a
messenger who came into his office had
in badly worn shoes. He inquired or
the boy concerning the cost and the
number of pairs he had to buy each
pear, and discovered that there was a
chance for the company, by buying for
the entire number of boys, to save them
ibout half their shoe bill each year.”
Alabama Patriotic
“If there w*as ever any doubt about
the willingness of the men of Alabama
to take up arms in defense of the coun
try, the present Mexican situation has
completely dispelled that doubt,” said
W. A. Darden of Anniston, secretary
of the Kilby Car and Foundry company,
who was at the Tutwiler yesterd-ty.
“Not only did all the National Guard
organizations respond promptly, but
the membership of nearly all of them
was doubled by new enlistments which
were received in time to report to the
concentration camp in Montgomery
within one week after the President
called for the troops.
“Then there have been offers from
prominent business and professional
men from almost every city and town
In the state to raise additional regi
ments, companies, troops or batteries
to meet any further needs which the
government might have. And all this
response has been made promptly and
without any danger threatening the ex
istence of the country. Should a crisis
come such as has confronted some of
the nations now engaged in the Eu
ropean war, where the nation was
threatened with destruction, the great
er part of the able bodied men in the
country would offer their services, I
think. The Mexican situation has tended
to show up our weakness and re
sources of strength, and it has done us
good in revealing these things to us.”
“Hyphens” Will Help ’Wilson
“When the voters of the United States
are made to realize fully just what a per
nicious influence the German-Americans
are trying to exercise in our national
politics and the methods they are using
in support of Justice Hughes, it will tend
to further strengthen Wilson,” said Ralph
Quinn, assistant United States district
attorney, yesterday.
“The people of the United States do not
want to control the internal affairs of any
European country, and I do not think
they are ready yet to allow any European
country to boast that it has dictated the
election of our President, and thus in a
way taken charge of our foreign policies.
“The republicans who have engaged in
much sophistry concerning the fofeign
policies of the President are yet going to
find out that it will be a difficult task
to show wherein they could have im
proved on his accomplishments. There
has never been a chief executive of this
country who could speak and write more
forcefully than Wl’son, and we have
never had a presidential candidate who
could so plain!v show the fallacies of
false arguments.
“The generalities of the republican
c’aims will be demolished by Wilson when
the campaign gets under way. Mr.
Hughes will not be aliowed to hide be
hind his dignity and make vague criti
cisms concerning the democratic admin
istration. He will be forced to state his
position on all those questions accurately
and specifically and then we can trust the
President to take care of himse’f. Jus
tice Hughes is destined to find out that
the distance from the supreme court to
the White House is very great, and that
the road is rather rocky.”
ALABAMA PRESS
Talladega Reporter: The whole world
seems to have the war germ on the brain.
Let’s listen to Wilson, and keep cool
heads.
Slocumb Observer: Only two American
flags were on display at Slocumb during
the mobilization of the soldiers. The sup
ply of the national colors seems to be
exceedingly short in this town.
Huntsville Mercury: Senator Bankhead
rlcly deserves the showers of congratu
lations being sent him for the successful
engineering of his good roads bill through
both houses of Congress. Alabama’s
share of the fund will be over $2,600,000 in
the five years. This ought to stimulate
road building if anything can.
Florence Times: Savoyard, the versatile
and brilliant Washington correspondent
of numerous newspapers, remarks that
he is sometimes persuaded that Provi
dence has set aside the earth as a luna
tic asylum for the universe. Just at this
time it really appears that there is some
truth in what he says. At least it looks
like it is at present the devil’s play
ground.
Alexander City News: If you want a
variety of thought, take up the “blue
laws" of Virginia and the rapine and car
nage in Europe and Mexico. Certainly
one if not two very strong elements are
at work in the world. Nothing but the
universal education of the people in the
practical affairs of this life can overcome
the sentiment that justifies such condi
tions.
FATE OF UNTRAINED SOLDIERS
New York Correspondence Cincinnati
Times-Star.
It is to be hoped that there will be
nothing reminiscent of the first war
achievement of Mr. "Winston Churchill
in the results which follow the hasty
dispatch of the state militia organiza
tions to the Mexican border. When
Antwerp, according to the war sharps,
was “impregnable,“ Mr. Churchill, then
in the British cabinet, dispatched a con
tingent of the first volunteers raised in
England to assist in the defense of the
city. They were of the royal marine
corps, hastily equipped and almost un
trained. Here and there among them
was a veteran "noncom" who knew all
about service in the marines up to date,
but to whom a whole company appeared
a. large force and a complete regiment
a vast assemblage which would want a
couple of counties to maneuver in. The
rest of them were "rookies,” simply.
Mr. Churchill thought that their expe
riences in the trenches of Antwerp’s
outer defenses would harden and pre
pare them. The story of how they blun
dered into the range of German artillery
and died miserably in half made trenches
without ever having seen a live enemy,
and were cut to pieces and scattered,
wiped out completely, when the quick
and unexpected and fiery end of the
Antwerp assault came, Is history. Since
that time, sturdy, stolid England has re
fused to send a man into territory where
he can even smell powder until he has
had at least 3500 hours of actual school
ing and exercise in the business of sol
dering. In the continental armies, the
period of training for all soldiers exceeds
4000 hours. And that means the most
thorough and systematic training. Mem
bers of our crack militia regiments now
on the way to what is the actual front
of war, have had, if they have attended
every drill and spent the full time at
each encampment about 140 hours of
training in the past year. It has been
the sort of training that our militia
gets—something very superficial and
wholly inferior to the European article.
But, granting that the training has been
all right, it has been administered at
a rate which would take 25 years to
make a soldier.
Having personal knowledge of the
tragic absurdities of 1898, when many or
ganizations of our army with no human
enemy to fight were licked by disease
alone, it must be that the regular officers
at Washington, who are rushing the mili
tia to the front, recognize an emergency
which is indeed acute.
Five of "Tom" Stanley's waiters, mem
bers of the Sixty-ninth New York regi
ment, have come to a quick appreciation
of the hardships of war. They have been
assigned to pursue their ordinary voca
tion at the headquarters mess—without
tips.
LESSON FOR PANTS-WEARERS
From the Montgomery Advertiser.
We are in receipt of a letter from a lo
cal citizen who relates an unusual expe
rience, and beseeches us to aid him in
his trouble. He relates that he was rid
ing down the street on a bicycle. Sud
denly he found himself sprawled and his
body bruised. He looked up in time to
see that a woman in an automobile had
run over him. He remarks that he does
not object to the bruises, nor to the loss
of the bicycle; he,does not object to
being run over by a lady, if it gives
her pleasure. But he does object to
having his pants knocked off and torn
up. He says he is confined in his room
and wants the Advertiser to ask for a
pair of pants to enable him to venture
forth again. He seems to reseat it very
much that his breeches were knocked
off. We confess our sympathy with the
man, but it could have been worse. The
Jostling incident might, under different
circumstances, have disarranged the
lady’s hat.
the lone aeroplane
From the Kansas City Times.
This government is found to have only
one serviceable aeroplane on the Mexi
can border. Its military efficiency is tre
mendously handicapped, of course. But
still, you can’t blame anybody.
They have been using aeroplanes in
military operations in Europe by the thou
sands for only two years, and it has been
only a few months since it has been ap
parent that we might have to intervene
in Mexico any day. So really it prob
ably has only just occurred to the ad
ministration that we ought to have an
aeroplane.
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
SOLDIERING.
The training camp makes "rookies” hard
And gives them appetites to eat.
But taking hikes and standing guard
Doth raise some blisters on their feet.
TOOK IT COOLT.
"You proposed to Miss Gadder in a ca
noe?"
"Yes.”
"That's dangerous."
"Why so?”
"Weil—er—an embrace or a kiss under
such circumstances is apt to upset the
boat.”
"There was no danger in this case. She
didn't even do me the honor to stop
humming a little tune while I was propos
ing to her.”
A LOSING VENTURE.
"Now, this is a play that anybody could
witness without a blush of shame.”
“I Judged so when you were buying the
tickets.”
“Why?”
"Those men in the box office showed
by their woe-begone looks that business
is bad.”
TOO MANY BIRTHDAYS.
"It certainly does cheer a man up to
have some friend remark that he looks
10 years younger.”
"True. But, somehow, the same sort of
*
compliment paid to a woman doesn't
please her.”
"Oh, that’s easily understood. You
have to add 10 years to your age before
you can take 10 years off.”
INTENSIVE POEM.
Tea. we are hoping.
Hoping for what?
That th enext four weeks
Won’t be so hot.
Will that be granted?
Ah! We fear not.
PA'S OPINION.
"Pa,” asked little Sammy Twobble,
"what is a misnomer?”
"My son,” answered Mr. Twobble,
whose idea of having a good time is to
take a nap in an easy chair close to an
electric fan, ‘T should say the average
pleasure resort is a misnomer."
PARADOXICAL.
“There are all kinds of high finance,”
said the economist.
“Yes,” answered the humble hustler,
"and from what I hear, some of it’s
pretty low.”
SPEAKING OP THE WEATHER.
When thunder rolls and lightning flashes,
Signs that portend a coming storm,
Down on the page a big drop splashes
And turns to steam, the day’s so warm.
NO BLOOD SPILLED.
"The old-fashioned bad man used to
‘clean up’ town with a pair of six
shooters.”
“True. I think modern methods are
better.”
“Yes?”
"Nowadays when it becomes necessary,
to clean up a town we merely send out
a few fat Inspectors to terrorize our for
eign population engaged In the restau
rant and fruit business.”
STAND BY THE PRESIDENT
From the Christian Science Monitor.
IV addressing several hundred small
town newspaper editors composing
the National Editorial association of
the United States, in New York the other
day, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Dan
iels, himself an editor, struck a note that
should appeal with equal directness and
force to editors of the larger cities and
to all others who may be called upon to
write or speak with reference to public
questions of concern to the nation in this
critical period. It may as well be under
stood that the period is critical, in the
fullest meaning of the term. What the
United States may do, or leave undone,
at this juncture, with reference to issues
that are pressing upon It on all sides,
must have results that will greatly affect
its influence for good or ill through many
years to come. If the North American
union is to continue to be a factor of
importance in continental affairs; if it is
to continue to be a recognized factor in
world affairs, its standing in each partic
ular must be fixed largely by the prestige
it shall gain or lose in the present crisis.
That the country is in shoal water is
no mere figure of speech, nor is the state
ment that it was never more in need of a
skillful navigator purely metaphorical. A
mistake at the rudder now might be dis
astrous. A clear eye, a firm hand and a
level head at the helm, that the nation
may be kept steadily to a true course,
are essentials, not only to the welfare of
the republic itself, but to the advance
ment of democracy everywhere. Secre
tary Daniels revealed a comprehensive
knowledge and appreciation of the situa
tion when he said;
"I speak now in a day when national
questions are foremost; when there is no
room for politics in the discussion of
questions touching the honor and safety
of America. I love to recall how William
McKinley was criticized by certain news
papers throughout the country because
he tried with a patience worthy of Lincoln
to settle the great question of war with
out the sword. And how, when the time
came when it was not possible for peace
ful settlement, when negotiations had
failed, and there was nothing left but for
the country to go to war, he went before
Congress and asked for millions of dollars
to be used at his discretion. Today,
when delicate, difficult conditions con
front this republic, and the National
Guard in every state is mobilizing; when
dark clouds are on the horizon, among
the newspaper men of America and
among other political people there is no
politics. We are all for America and the
American flag."
As in the crises of 1861 and 1898, so also
in the crisis of 191, a patient man is
directing the affairs of the United States
government. In his judgment, It is be
lieved, the great majority of the people
have unqualified confidence. In his judg
ment, evidently, the great majority of
the editors of the United States feel en
tire reliance. There can be no question as
to Woodrow Wilson’s patriotism, no ques
tion as to his solicitude for the dignity
ind welfare of the nation. There are
somparatlvely few who, at bottom, would
deliberately undertake to thwart him in
his efforts to maintain the honor of the
flag while keeping the country at peace.
Unfortunately, too many are, ignorantly
or unwittingly, pursuing a course which
makes the way harder for him than if he
were confronted with declared and open
enemies of the nation and its institutions.
He has repeatedly asked the newspa
pers to cease embarrassing him and his
administration by the printing of unveri
fied news of a character likely to arouse
ill feeling at home or abroad. He ha*
asked that mere rumors be not con
founded with facts, that false premise*
be not set up for the purpose of support
ing false deductions or conclusions. He
has repeatedly informed careless or reck
less editors of the country that theil
course was calculated to lead his admin
istration into most embarrassing situa
tions. On the other hand, he has been
altogether plain in his remarks concern
ing those, in and out of the newspaper
offices, who have been conspiring to un
dermine the authority of the government,
and he has not hesitated to call them by
a fitting name.
But, these aside, the question resolves
itself into this: Are the self-respecting,
flag-rescpecting, law-respecting editors
and public men of the United States go
ing to stand by the President, or are
they not? If they are, they will discoun
tenance and rebuke, promptly and sharp
ly, all attempts to confuse the situation
and to embarrass the government. If
they are not, they will continue to en
courage the alarmist headliner, the sen
sational rumor monger, the disseminator
of false information.
Not alone those who wear khaki, and
shoulder muskets, and march to training
camps, or to the border, deserve the ap
plause and gratitude of their country.
There is a time for national defense, and
when that time comes, if It does come
again in the United States, defenders of
the country will spring, as it were, out
of the ground, not by the tens, by hun
dreds or by thousands, but by the mil
lion. What the United States wants now
is not war, but resort to every honorable
means for its prevention, and Tor this
work every man, woman and child in the
country can be a volunteer. The first
call is for support of the President, his
administration and the government at
Washington. What the next call may be
is another matter.
"In this day,’’ said Secretary Danipls
to his brother newpaper men, "when
Europe writes history with a sword, to
the south of us conditions prevail that
should make us pause and should make
every good man pray that the worst will
not come.’’ In this day, he might have
added, it is the duty of every good man
in the United States to strive to the end
that only the best shall come.
ORIGIN OF JUNE BRIDE
From the Indianapolis News.
And now It's June, the month of brides
and roses, and leaves everywhere that
leaves can grow. It was Coleridge, in
"The Ancient Mariner,” who called June
the “leafy month," but it was the Ro
mans who set the fashion of June mar
riages.
Among them May was considered an
unlucky month, and consequently the
brides held aloof until May had gone
its way and June had come. Obliged to
take care of the brides of two months,
June then became the month of the
greatest number of marriages.
The poets have sung of June and its
glories ever since poets learned that there
was something in nature to sing about.
It was an American poet, Lowell, who
asked a question about June, to which
there can be but one answer:
“What is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then heaven tries the earth if it be in
tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays.”
And another American poet, N. P.
Willis, in a poem entitled, “The Month
of June,” wrote:
It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses;
When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
And pleasant scents the noses."
OUR FOREIGN BORN
From the Youngstown Telegram.
One person of every eight in the United
States is foreign born, statistics compile^
from the last federal census show. The
number of immigrants is between 13,000,
000 and 14,000,000, or aproximateiy 13 per
cent of the population of the country. It
is a shifting sort of immigration, however.
In 1800 Germany led ail other countries
in representation here, with Ireland, Eng
land, Sweden and Russia following in the
order named; in 1910 Germany still held
first place but was followed by Russia,
Ireland, Italy and Austria. In the 10
year period the number of persons of
German birth decreased 310,000, the num
ber of Irish birth 260,000, and the number
of Welsh birth 9000. American residents
of English and Scotch birth increased but
slightly in numbers, while the number
of natives of Russia increased 1.025,000,
natives of Italy S60.000 and natives of
Austria-Hungary 6S0.000. Immigrants are
also most unevenly distributed. In many
parts of New England they comprise al
most one-ha'f the population, in the great
lakes territory approximately one-third,
in the central west and far west about
one-fifth, while in the south less than 5
per cent of the people are of foreign
birth.
WOMAN BARBER TOO SLOW
From the London Telegraph.
An Edmonton barber, who was given
temporary exemption, stated that he
had tried a woman assistant, but she
took half an hour to shave one man.
By Richard Burton. !
Not drowsihood and dreams and mere
idleness,
Nor yet the blessedness of strength re
gained.
Alone are in what men call sleep. The
past,
My unsuspected soul, my parents’ voice.
The generations of my forebears, yea
The very will of God himself are there
And potent-working; so that many a
doubt
Is wiped away at daylight, many a soul
Washed cleanlier, many a puzzle riddled
plain.
Strong, silent forces push my puny self
Towards unguessed issues, and the wak
ing man
Rises a Greatheart where a Slave lay
IN SLEEP
down.