Evening public ledger. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, October 16, 1914, Night Extra, Page 8, Image 8

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EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, ' OCTOBER T'6, 1TOE,
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PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY
CTnCS It K. CtmTlB. TafSiDEKT.
Oto. VT Och. SfctMiiry; John C. Martin. Treasurer J
Chrii tt Luillnglen, Philip 8 Collins, John B. Wll
llm. Directors.
KUITOnUtllOAnD:
Cto II. K. Curtis, Chairman.
r. It. WltALBY s.. Executive EJ't0J
JOHN C MARTIN" . .77T.7!7onf ml Wndnw Manager
ruWIdhwI dally at Pent to l.rmra nnlldlng.
Independence Square, Philadelphia.
trnorn CrstnAt nrcmil and Chestnut Streets
AlUMic Cut rrai-Union Building
Nkw Yok 170-A. Metropolitan Tower
tillCAOO 817 Home Jnurnnee Dulhllnif
Lomjon 8 Waterloo Place. Tall Mall.
NRWsnt'ltBAUSi
IttRtanritn nmrAV The Pnirtet JIulMIn
WiantMsTot nrisKtu The I'ont HiilMlnu
New Yotik nenr.AU The Time llulldlng
Bimin HvitMii no Frle'lrlchetrajse.
Uimi IllRCAL' 2 Tall Mall East. S W.
Pahib Tjcaeav 32 Hue Louis le Urand
subsciuition terms
Dy rarrler. Oaii.t Om.t. six cents fly mall, rostrald
uttlde of Philadelphia, except nhere foreign postage
! required, Uait.v om.t. one month, tnenty-ne cents;
DAttr Ost.T. one year, three dollars. All mall subscrip
tions payable In advance.
nrti.r oi WAt-Mrr keystomt, maim anon
E7" .lfMrr.j nil communication fo Ktenlaff
Ledger, Independence Square, Philadelphia.
rxTERKD ai the rtut.Ann.rmA rostorriCK as seco.no
' CLASS SIAIt, UATtra
rillLADLlrillA.IRIDA'k.OCTOni.R 16, 101 i
Brumbaugh KcAiscs Tainted Funil
AS STRAIGHT and clean nnd firm as a
Xjl pillar of alabaster. Doctor Brumbaugh
Etands before the people of Pennsylvania.
All the campaign lies and libels of his oppo
nents leave him unmarrcd nnd rebound upon
their own heads.
"My hands are clean," says the Republican
candidate for Governor. "When the cam
paign Is over no man can question the
source of the funds used In placing my can
didacy before the people of Pennsylvania.
I have asked the State Committee to furnish
no funds for my campaign and they have
granted my reriucst."
Doctor Brumbaugh Is taking no money
from the Republican State Committee. That
Is his own emphatic decision. He does not
want any connection with the slush fund or
the whisky till. Penrose may use that
money, but Brumbaugh cannot and still bu
a man.
Personal friends of Doctor Brumbaugh are
paying his expenses. Many of the contrib
utors would rather go to the stake than be
affiliated In any way with Penrose. They
nre supporting Brumbaugh because they
believe him to be an absolutely honest, fear
less and capable man and the only ono who
can redeem the Republican party in the State
from the blighting curse that the Penrose
organization has put upon It.
Legislative Respite Thankfully Received
PRESIDENT WILSON feoH that the pas
sage of the Clayton bill forms the last link
In the most comprehensive program of In
dustrial and financial legislation ever enacted
or attempted. And the President Is right.
Never before, In any land or any nge, havo
the great Industries and enterprises of a na
tion faced so many frontal attacks nnd flank
ing movements. Big business, even whero
unmistakably contradistinguished from bad
business, will give heartfelt thanks for the
-truce.
Not less grateful will be all the little busi
nesses, the conscientious enterprises of ag
gressive Individuals who havo sought to
make a decent livelihood by their own Initia
tive. They have suffered from the uncer
tainty and Instability even more than the
great corporations. The corporations could
cut dividends, restrict output, force new
markets abroad and weather the storm. But
the individual producer had no means of
protecting himself and he suffered.
The entire business world will be benefited
by the respite, and America will have a
chance to grasp some nf the opportunities
abroad opened by reason of the European
conflict.
Annapolis Ventures Out
IF WEST POINT "won't play," the Navy,
at any rate, is ready to venture out into
the great world In an effort to spread the
football prowess of Uncle Sam beyond the
bounds of the backyard. Tomorrow the An
napolis eleven comes up to Philadelphia for
the first game ever played outside home
grounds except for the annual contests with
the Army. Penn must deal gently with the
little stranger, so far from home, mother and
his little playmate, West Point. But Penn
baa dealt In Just that way with everybody
else this season.
Another Independence Day
WHILE talking about Filipino Independ
ence, why not secure a little more of It
In this country? Doubtless we can have a
larger measure of freedom when we are ready
for it. New Tork Is able to get along with
out Tammany rule Illinois should be will
lng to dispense with Roger Sullivan and
what he stands for. Pennsylvania can sur
Ylve the passing of the Penrose hegemony.
"We Americans can prove our competence
as citizens In no better way than by using
our votes for the promotion of self-government.
As to the Jones Philippine bill, it Is ex
tremely vague and seta no definite date when
the people of the Islands shall go their own
way! trot the Issue of Independence in Ameri
can politics Is clear and well-defined, and the
Inte of its determination In Pennsylvania
ehould be November 3.
) No Intellectual Slavery at Harvard
HARVARD will not hesitate. Years ngo
President Eliot fought the battle for
academlo Independence. He fought it under
difficult conditions, and he won it bo de
etalvely that never again at Cambridge will
influence or money drive from the university
(ts minds that defy conventions, leap Into the
unknown and cut the hawsers that bind hu
manity to the commonplace.
Professor Muensterberg, as the price for an
endowment, real or Imaginary, would be too
big a price for Harvard to pay. He has ten
dered bla resignation to relievo the trustees
of embarrassment; but they would as soon
barter the aoul of the institution as make
any such bargain with a purchaser. No, the
principle involved was settled years ago. It
s imbedded now in the very stones of the
university.
yrcf frsaor Muensterberg will never be ejected,
from b! seat in Harvard simply because
game individual does not approve or nis
Buntal processes.
There Were Pipes in Those Days
ARCHEOLOGY Is not the grubbing of
i."dry-a-dU8ts." It is the illumination of
present humanity by the light of the past
People of today have only to. look on at these
researches with the eye of Pan Interested
brother and the results are ar fcuclnating as
the discoveries recorded by the Harvard ex
pedition to Nebraska.
There, In a, recently eroded river bed,
they found living, everyday tokens left by
prehistoric America. The relics of thrco
towns testified to the humdrum pursuits of
man In periods centuries old. In the last nnd
the furthest stratum was found what? Not
any of the stupid commonplaces of "research,"
but the romnnnts of a deserted feast. And
there at the end of the menu were mute wit
nesses to the American man's oldest and
most modem of friendly dissipations, three
nsh-flllcd pipes. As a record of common
humanity they were worth searching years
to find.
Superlative Stupidity
THE lltiuor dealers of Pennsylvania havo
certain fixed rights. By the acquiescence
of generations they have acquired them.
They have Invested their funds In the manu
facture or sale of alcoholic drink. No ques
tion of mornllty faced them a hundred years
ngo. They cannot be expected now to appre
ciate the point of view of an era which de
votes lt ultimate efforts to the promotion of
efficiency, the mitigation of poverty, nnd
answers with action its dally prnyer, "lead us
not Into temptation."
But rights are forfeited and privilege
squandered when (he best of the liquor deal
ers Join with the worst of the liquor dealers
In n deliberate nnd undivided conspiracy to
prevent the people of the political entitles of
tho Commonwealth from exercising their
constitutional right to define nulsnnces. It
Is one thing for a candidate, on principle, to
appeal to his constituency to trent without
prejudice, fairly and squarely, a more or less
vested ' Interest. It is another thing for a
candidate to bargain nnd barter with the
outcast-breeders of society to trade per
petual license to thptn In return for their
united and unanimous support.
In practically every State where whisky
has been an issue. Its advocates have goaded
reasonableness Into fanaticism by their mad
endeavor tn subsidize the electorate. Tho
coalition of the liquor dealers of Pennsyl
vania In support of Penrose is an evidence of
superlative stupidity.
Medical Movies
EVERY day the moving picture machine
Invades some new Held war, education,
dancc-tcachlng, and now medicine. The
Philadelphia County Medical Society has
watched the nctlons of virulent germs mag
nified thousands of times. More important,
it has been demonstrated on the film by
motion pictures of patients that there are
ten symptoms which havo hitherto escaped
record In nervous diseases.
The films are nn Indelible record of scien
tific fact for ages to come. Cheap yet In
vatuable. humble yet mighty, the "movies"
defeat time and add their mite to the war on
disease. Where will they end'
Doubtless Somewhere, Sometime
THE Councilman who accepts a salaried
office from the Organization Invites scru
tiny. Is It not the old trick of tho Organiza
tion to pay Its servants with public funds, to
find places for the men whose votes It needs,
to trade its sinecures for Individual sub
serviency? It Is not a good time for dual officeholders.
The eyes of the community are on them.
They are marked mm. They are objects of
suspicion. Yet doubtless somewhere, some
time, there was or is or will be a dual office
holder honest nnd brave and Independent,
forgetful of tho Illicit Influence productive of
his salary and vigilant in the public service.
Bala Boy Scouts
SEVEN scouts of Bala, the Bucktnil troop,
have been enrolled In the Eagle Patrol.
This is tho highest honor that Boy Scouts
can win, tho supremo degree of their order.
Theso soldiers of peace have learned a thou
sand things that all manly boys should know,
and they can now exemplify their motto,
"Be Helpful," with efficiency and distinction.
Thus they have early become experts In the
art of living. Long may they live!
Fnther Mathew
THE anniversary honors paid to the great
temperance leader by the Catholic Total
Abstinence Society discloses another element
that will figure In the political situation this
fall. There are thousands of Father Mathew
men who will not be disloyal to the princi
ples of their leader by tolerating any alli
ance of politics and liquor.
From the War Smoke of Europe
TOLSTOY predicted the great man in Eu
rope. He has not yet appeared. That he
may rise up out of the tumult of war is not
an unreasonable hope, since this has been
tha history of crises. When he does come
he will probably not be recognized at once.
It la opportune for a master mind to appear
Just now, whose task it will be to gather up
the scattered fragments of society and gov
ernment and readjust them. It requires a
greater man to build than to destroy. Crea
tion Is more difficult than leonoclasm.
Whatever the outcome of the war may be,
a great mind must reconstruct and uplift.
The next era will likely be one of sober
thinking, not of violent and destructive fight
ing. An age of titanic forces demands a
Titan to rule them The great man some
Amos or Savonarola may confidently be
looked for rising up out of the war smoke of
Europe.
How can it be a Progressive party without
Quay?
If Senator Lewis was at home at midnight
when the sergeant-at-arms came to arrest
him, It is clear that a good many of the other
Senators were not.
Representative Frank P. Woods' Republl
can Congressional Committee -will soon be
explaining that the Clayton bill was added to
the tolls repeal as good measure for Hill and
Carnegie's support of the Administration
One Is about as likely as the other.
The poll of the State Federation of Penn
sylvania showed that about two of the dele
gates were for suffrage to every one against
it. Yet this vast majority refused to use
Its power to dedicate the convention to the
principle. Once upon a time men used to
argue that women possessed no self-restraint.
A city employe's first vacation in 3$ years
Is a record that the clock on Independ
ence Hall hung up yesterday, and that no one
need expect to see equaled In 38 more. Cer
tainly the old timepiece cannot be accused
of leveling the usual cry of "hands up" at
the City Treasury.
Today brings home the realization tht
the season ts over when rubbers, umbrellas
and overcoats are a matter of comparative
Indifference. And about the time Philadel
phia has bought its goloshes Indian sum
mer will probably take another Inning.
THE HANDS OF ESAU
Justice Waits on Politics in Reinnrkablc System of Magistrates Ward Leaders as
Judges Bring Their Courts Into Disrepute Competent Officers With Better Pay
and Courtrooms Suggested Place of Magistrates in the Organization.
"The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."
FOREWOKD
"Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible mid more
odilrrI than confident. Above all things, Integrity Is their portion nnd proper
fit tue. The place of Justice ts an hallowed place; and therefore not only the bench,
but tha lobby and precincts and enclosure thereof ought to be preserved without
scandal and corruption." Francis Bacon,
Better government In Philadelphia Is being slowty strangled. The Btankcnburg admin
istration of a few city office expresses better government Just as completely at an aiiH-Tnm-many
administration docs In Sew York. The cold fingers of "the Organization," Philadel
phia's Tammany, twisting dexterously through a pliable majority in Council and officials
under control, are pressing hatd on its windpipe. Unless pried off by the people themselves,
strangulation of better government must ensue. In the modest palaces behind the myriad
two-story red brick fronts of working Philadelphia dwell the real beneficiaries of better gov
ernment. They pay the taxes. It Is for them to say how the public funds shall be
expended. Their support alone means belter government. The worst that can be said of
people who toll Is that they arc sometimes too tired to study a public subject SOME
TIMES, XOT ALWAYS.
NO. VI-MAG1STRATES
PHILADELPHIA prides herself upon her
ruling Americanism and with full cause
She Is distinctly patriotic, Intensely Sabbath
kceplng, and almost wholly decent living.
Her Individual doorsteps nro spotlossly clean.
She does not ape New York, llko Chicago, nor
simulate Paris, like New York. She Is a com
plete city in herself; a collection of whole
some, normal families, rather old-fashioned,
yet accustomed to good living, good times and
good thoughts.
"Yes," says the brain of a reader In self
satisfied accord. "Wo aro no mushroom Chi
cago, smudgy Pittsburgh, or malodorous New
York." Then perhaps, after a brief confabu
lation with tho soul, this honest brain ndda.
"It Is best to watch out though: we cannot
be absolutely sure even of ourselves."
Brains evolve conclusions from life as It
ts mirrored In personal experience. How few
of us go up tho rough bypath from tho sta
tion when a smooth, lighted sidewalk runs
to the front gate. Charles Dickens wrote
facts, interspersed with pathos and laughter,
Into fiction, so tho good people of England
would rend and learn of the wretched condi
tion of their public Institutions. Dickens
realized that respectability did not frequent
"Old Bailey," so he took "Old Bailey" to re
spectability. Here In Philadelphia wo havo conditions In
tho administration of Justice even worse than
"Old Bailey." If one were not sure of the
Philadelphia that lives in tho homes, one
might throw up both hands In despair over
our magistrate system; It Is such a disgrace.
Ono may speak out bluff and bold If one Is
sure of one's ground. It Is tho business of
a people's newspaper to level a finger of at
tention at every moth eating Into tho gar
ment of government.
The more closely we examine the local
magistrates, their surroundings and their
fitness for the Judicial role, the more clearly
we see that there must Foon be a radical
change In tho whole system. Justice Is only
a parody when It hangs on tho nod of a ward
leader. It makes no difference what party
the magistrate belongs to; whether ho Is for
or against "The Organization." If ho Is In
politics ho should not be permitted to bo a
Judge. Other cities have laws that forbid a
partnership of this sort.
In the First Ward Georgo K. Hogg cap
tains the majority party, and James II.
Toughlll captains the minority party, nnd
both aro Magistrates dispensing Justice.
They are the political team tho Vares rely
upon for election day results In South Phila
delphia. In the 23d Ward, Edwin K. Borlo
fills tho dunl role of Magistrate and minority
leader. T. G. Morris represents "The Organ
ization" ns central committeeman In the 29th
Ward, as does John Meclcary In the 31st
Wnrd and "William F. Campbell In tho 25th
Ward. All three aro Magistrates. Joseph
Coward. Leslie Yates and David S. Pcott are
presidents of executive committees for "Tho
Organization" In the 2d. 13th and 17th
Wards, also Magistrates. William H. Belcher,
Joseph S. Boylo and John J. Grells are Inde
pendent Democratic leaders In tho 15th, 24th
and 2Sth Wards, respectively, as well as Mag
istrates. John J. Harrigan Is secretnry of
the executive committee for Jim McNIchol
and the Vnrcs In the Fifth Wnrd, and a
Magistrate
There are nearly 400,000 former citizens of
Russia and Finland living in Philadelphia.
They are the overflow from New York.
These nlien people frequently get their first
Impressions of legal values In the new coun
try at the bar of the lower courts, where
they are often taken because of minor in
fractions cf ordinances, committed more
through Ignorance than otherwise. It Is im
portant that these stranger folk should be
made to feel that our laws are to be obeyed;
that freedom is not license.
Instead of finding the Magistrate to be a
dignified personage, clothed In a robo nnd
well versed In the statutes, these aliens, as
well as others, look toward the bench and
see what? Why, a politician! Often he Is
the wnrd leader. If not, he Is a man put
there by the ward leader, to whom a letter
from the ward leader Is magic. Out of 28
elected Magistrates at least one was a law
yer before hla elevation to the bench. Here
are the recorda of tho men:
Leslie Yates, ex-clerk In City Treasurer's
office; put In by 13th "Ward Leader John J.
Flaherty, of "The Organization."
James II. Toughlll, ex-clerk in Subtrees
ury; put In by the Varea throwing him
enough votes to win.
Joseph Coward, ex-deputy Internal revenue
collector, put In by 2d "Ward Leader Harry
C. Ransley, of "The Organization."
T. W. MacFarland. ex-clothlng salesman;
nominated by reform parties, but really
elected by 8d Ward Leader Harry J, Trainer,
of "The Organization," throwing him 1000
votes.
John J. Harrigan, ex-clerk In Municipal
Court; put in by 5th "Ward Leader James A.
Carey, of "The Organization," who was the
former Magistrate.
William Elsenbrown, ex-constable; an hon
orable Magistrate who cannot be reached by
Influence of any sort.
William Haggerty, ex-aaloonkeeper; put in
by 7th Ward Leader Charlea Seger, of "The
Organization."
Charles P. Rooney, ex-olerk In Magistrate's
Court, put in by "Buck" Devlin, of "The Or.
ganizatlon," who was the former Magistrate.
John Mecleary, ex-clerk In building Inspec
tor's office; put in by Dave Martin, of "The
Organization."
William J. Tracy, ex-labor leadrj put in
through Prank Feeney's influence' with Jim
McNIchol; Feeney looks out for "The Organi
zation'' at the Central Labor Union,.
George K Hogg, ex-clerk In the Recorder
of Deeds' office, put in by the Varea.
William H. Belchen ex-cnstable for his
predecessor. Magistrate O'Brien; put la
through "The Organisation" throwing him
enough votes to win; lately switched to antl
machine Democrats.
William F. Beaton, ex-notary public; put In
by "The Organization," fell out with Jim Mc
Nlchol; now Independent.
David S. Scott, ex-clork In Internal revenuu
office; real leader of 17th Ward for "Tho Or
ganization." Mnxwell Stovcnson, lawyer, put In ns an
Independent, now out for Boles Penrose and
"Tho Organization."
William Glenn, real cstnto dealer and cx
tlpstuff; put In by Davo Martin, of "Tho
Organization."
Charles Emely, ex-proprlotor of a chlna
wnro store; put In by Davo Martin, of "Tho
Organization."
Joseph Call, ex-boss painter In City Hall
and member of tho Legislature; re-elected by
Jim McNIchol over tho wishes of 20th Ward
Leader David H. Lane, tho veteran; his con
stables arc of recent ball scandal experience
with the district attorney's office.
T. G. Morris, cx-foremnn of the fire depart
ment; put In by Jim McNIchol.
Byron E. Wrlgley, backed by Working
men's League; put In by Jim McNIchol.
Edwin K. Borle, elected ns an independent,
but lined up with 23d Ward Leader David J.
Hart, of "Tho Organization."
Evan T. Pcnnock, Independent; people of
Germantown watching his course with In
terest. Joseph S. Boyle, ex-constablo and follower
of Postmaster Thornton.
William J. Harris, ex-deputy sheriff: put
in by 27th Ward Leader Edward W. Patton.
of "Tho Organization."
Robert Carson, ex-reporter; an Inde
pendent. James A. Briggs, ex-contractor supplying
teams ut gas works; put in by Congressman
Vare, whose active man ho is In tho 26th
Ward.
William F. Campbell, ex-clerk In Recorder
of Deeds' office; put In by Jim McNIchol,
John J. Grclls, put In through "The Or
ganization" throwing lilm enough votes to
win; lately switched to tho antl-mnchlne
Democrats.
Tho claim la made, supported by evidence,
that somo of tho magistrates, under the di
rection of tho ward leaders, aro boldly active
In behalf of the criminal classes. Director
of Public Safety Georgo D. Porter, nn ap
pointee of Mayor Blankenburg, shows that
in a single year there were 161 cases of sus
pended sentences, of which 40 prisoners had
previous pollcp records, yet they wcro per
mitted tn go scot free. Tho continued relenso
of old offenders encourages criminal tenden
cies, and Is discouraging to thoso called upon
to enforce the law.
The Mayor, however, took the hull by the
horns nnd appointed n representative to pre
side nights ns Magistrate at tho Central Po
lice Station. He selected Benjamin H. Ren
shaw, a lawyer unnfrnld, nnd without politi
cal strings working him. Whereupon the
28 regular Magistrates set up a cry that one
of their number must be nppolnted. Tho
courts have sustained the Mayor, both re
garding the right of nppointment, and the
right to appoint somo ono learned In the
law, oven If that Individual were not selected
from among the elected Magistrates.
In 1313 there were 103,673 nrrests mndo by
the police. Of these 39,300 were for ex
cessive uso of intoxicants, and 10,615 wero
for breach of tho peace and breach of ordi
nance, or nenrly 50 per cent, for minor of
fenses. Practically all of this human grist
passes through the mills of Justice controlled
by tho creatures of "Tho Organization." All
citizens are concerned, for present-dny social
conditions are the tomb of the future.
There Is only one way to remove a cor
rupt Magistrate. Impeach him before the
State Legislature. It Is a long, long way to
Harrlsburg, and under conditions as they
now exist In the capital, a citizen oven
with a clear grievance against a Magistrate
would think twice before kicking up any
dust.
Here Is some legislation suggested by a
conscientious Judge, who owes his high office
to a nomination from "The Organization"
the contractor overlords having needed his
strong presence on the ticket to carry in some
weak candidates but who clings fast to his
professional principles:
No person Bhall serve in the office of
magistrate unless he shall have been ad
mitted to practice as an attorney and coun-selor-at-Iaw
in the Supreme Court at leaBt
three years prior to the data of such ap
pointment. No magistrate shall engage in any other
business, profession or hold any other public
office; and none of the magistrates shall
serve as the representative of any political
party organization or political party asso
ciation, or act as referee or receiver, but
each of the said magistrates shall devota his
whole time and capacity, so far as the publlo
Interest demands, to the duties of hla office.
You exclaim that this is revolutionary. It
Is. Nothing short of a radical program will
detach the ugly claws of politics from the
ermine of the courts. Some argue that the
net effect will be naught unless the magis
tracy Is put upon an appointive basis, under
the control of the Mayor. Thts la a matter
of opinion.
Les3 than a decade ago "Battery Dan"
Finn, "Paddy" Diwer and other Tammany
leaders of their Ilk were officiating as magis
trates in New York. The great city revolted.
It now requires its magistrates to be lawyers,
unattached to any political organization. It
Is a passing commentary that New York,
with a population three times greater than
ours, gets along with eight less magistrates.
But It pays each magistrate $7000 a year and
provides him with a court room.
Here we have finally arrived at the double
layer of error which hides the kernel of the
case of the Philadelphia Magistrate. He Is
wretchedly -underpaid, and is given no court
room j'jiiars oi mo ii ?..,, w.
warmed and clothed at the State's xpenae,
I havo failed to reckon tho damage to
coav
munlty of a large number of cheap offices.
Instead of a small number of Magistrates
at good living salaries and court rooms, tho
Legislature provides a quantity of Magis
trates at 3000 each, out of which salary tho
Incumbent must rent a court room. Fout
teen conscientious Magistrates nt $5000 each
and a court room would do better nnd quicker
work than any number of political roustn
bouts at $3000 without court rooms.
We might go Into tho case of one Magis
trate who split his rent by charging half of
It to his ward organization for a political
headquarters; or another, who conducts a
private business at ono end of tho room, nnd
superintends tho Issuing of warrants nnd
hearing of complaints in the opposite corner.
But these arc facts any citizen an ascertain
for himself with slight exertion. Just look
nround; wo should never bo lacking In pland
for reform. Only Instruments for reform aro
lncklng. .
VIEWS OF READERS
ON TIMELY TOPICS
Contributions That Reflect Public Opin.
ion on Subjects Important to City,
State and Nation.
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger)
Sir I noticed a little stoiy In the : BvBNiKa
LEDor.n the other night concerning the Har
vard school" of playwrights. May I suggest
that the prowess of these Btudents has been
somewhat ovei estimated. Edward Sheldon is
practically Harvard's only really successful
piodtict. Tho other young men have few or
no successes to their credit, and Percy Mac
Kayo nnd Edward Knoblauch graduated from
Harvard long before the course In playwrlght
ing was established. As a Harvard man. I
appreciate what has been done there, nut i
don't think overstatement Helps it.
L. J. BROVt Wli.
Philadelphia. Octobef IB.
LOVE OF MONEY IN BASEBALL
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir-The World's Scries Is over, alas! but It
may not be too lute to call attention to the
high compliment Christy MnthewBon paid tho
Athletics In a recent magazine article, ine
veteran pltchor applies the psychology of baao
ball to tho case of the Giants, and explains
why they are so apt to go to pieces In icl
games. In the World's Scries of 1011. of 1912,
or 1913, "they nil thought of anything but tho
execution of the play of tho moment. Tliey
thought Instead what It mennt in dollars ana
cents." Verily money Is the root of many
evils. But of the Athletics and the series last
year he remarks: "They played that series with
the zest of college boys. They scmcd to enjoy
very minute of It, while the G ants made nbor
of it." The play-splrlt of tho Athletics will win
next year. You'll see. & HENSON.
Philadelphia, Octobef 15.
AMERICA THE FATHERLAND '
To the Editor o the Evening Ledger:
Sir Patriotism Is a virtue, and all good Ameri
cans should encourage It. T.Ameilca?r.e
Is but ono Fatherland, and that is America.
All who come here nnd profess to want to Uo
Americans should have sufficient strength or
purpose when they are benefiting by tho good
things of the land of their adoption to forego
the pleasure of Insulting our Fatherland.
W H. lltUla.
Philadelphia, Octobef 15.
THE TWO SIDEa OF THE WAR
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Slr-Somcbody has Just published an article
which hns the title. "Tho Human Side of tho
War." Tho other side, of cmiise, Is the in
human. 1- A- "ARRIS.
Philadelphia, Octobef 15.
BEST BASEBALL DISPLAY
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Slr-Your recent baseball pages with big por
traits of Mack nnd Stalllngs I thought tho best
baM'ball display I have ever seen. B. K.
Boston, Mass., October 13.
HUM OF HUMAN CITIES
Oregon has done more for pence than rec
ognize n single day of prayer. Tho activity
has centred tn Portlnnd. whence the Journal
reports a distinct effort at pence propaganda
every day of last week. Business men havo
stood with bowed heads. Joining In prayer
for the end of war In Europe. The national
anthem has been sung with fervor Intensi
fied by tho gratitude that tho horrors de
pleted, tho suffering described, thn loss In
volved have been kept at such a dlstnnco
that only tho echoes of conflict are heard.
Twenty-five thousand children In the pub
lic schools In one day heard the message of
pence. They were told that nntlons which
leurn war make war. It was suggested that
to learn Industry is better than to learn to
fight, that It Ib hotter to hnrdqn hands than
hearts. They wero told that war despoils
homes nnd pays only In tho currency of
misery.
Tho street cars prominently displayed
posters proclaiming that "Peace Means
Plenty"; the storekeepers havo exhibited in
show windows tho insignia of peace tho
horn of plenty, the dove. Even tho adver
tisements havo been subjected to the rhanco
that their power to mako sales would bo
lessened by using part of the space for the
Gospel of Peace.
Men who have prayed thn Prince of Peace
for cessation of war applauded to tho echo
the speaker who said, "I praise God ton
thousand times and more for tho President
whoso hand has guided us away from conflict."
CURIOSITY SHOP
Zoroaster instituted the arrow festival to
commemorate tho (.hooting of an arrow from
the top of the peak of Demavend, Persia, to
tho banks of the Oxus, causing tho whole In
tervening country to be annexed to Persia.
Another nrrow flight of olden times was
that In a trial of skill, when Acestes, tho
Sicilian, discharged his arrow with such
force that It took fire. Longfellow refers to
this nllegorical Incident:
"Like Acestes shaft of old,
Tho swift thought kindles as it flies."
Camilla, virgin queen of the VolsclanB,
could have taught our athletes much in the
way of sprinting, for of her It la said that
eho could run bo fast over a field of corn
that not a single blade would bend, or mako
her way over the sea without even wetting
her feet.
Loose Coat Field was at Stamford, Eng
land, and was so called becatibo at the battle
there In 1470 the men led by Lord Wells,
being attacked by the Yorkists, threw off
their coats that they might run away the
faster. Drayton in his "Polyolbln" Bays:
"Cast off their country's coats to haste their
speed away,
"Which 'Loose Coat Field' Is called e'en to
this day."
TIIE IDEALIST
It is a prevailing habit to seek consolation
for tho committing of an indiscretion in some
well-established slogan or proverb. No mat
ter what you do, whether It be for good or
evil, you can always find lying about some
where a gracefully put together collection of
words to Justify your act.
The trouble Is that the constant repetition
of these so-called proverbs results la mobt
people believing them to possess real virtue.
Old age does not make an error any less
an error
If some Insanely disposed Individual In
an era that is gone and forgotten gave voice
to a weak-minded bit of sentiment and tbe
saying by reason of a clever arrangement
of words, tpread and spread until It became
part of the language, then frequently it la
received in a later time as a thing of long
demonstrated merit.
The cynic who said "Eat, drink and be
merry, for tomorrow we die." has much to
anawer for It is not beyond the experience
of almoat any man or woman to know of in
cidents where the dead earnest promulgation
of the principle behind these words has
erved as a aUpping stone to a very serious
wltlmaU tiers. 'and physical condition.
IN A SPIRIT OF HUMpj
Ennui
Now that trouble has broken out tn South
Africa, was Is getting to be an awful Boer
for the British. .
Naturally
Said the soldier, returning from Lille,
"Of thin warfare I'm having my flllei
And this lead In my neck
It has made me a wreck,
For a fact, I am terribly Hie.
Coming to aii Understanding
An old gentleman who had a reputation for
ultra-polltencss won sitting ono day in a
crowded trolley car when a young lady en
tered. He Instantly offered her hid neat and
was rewarded by a bright smile, but as tho
girl was about to sit down tho trolloy gave a
lurch nnd she stepped squarely on the old
man's foot. .. . . ..,.
"Oh, I beg your pardon," Bhe gasped, I
didn't mean to stop on your foot"
"Not nt all, not at all," ho replied quickly.
"I don't mind a bit. Why, I slop on It my
self about a thousand times every day,'
Justification
"Why did you Jilt that poet friend of
"Ho wrote a verse dedicated to me and
called It 'Lines on Janet's Face.'"
Classified
"He's a gambler, puro and simple."
"Especially Blmplo."
The Chance
They met bcsldo the changing sea In June,
And when tho moon was shining in the sky;
'Tuns not surprising that tho twain eheuld
spoon,
'Twas not impossible that each might He.
And when the moon was shining In the sky,
It was not Btrango ho called himself a duke,
Nor that the girl In wonderment Bhould sljh
And disbelieve, but give him no rebuke.
Twas not surprising that the twain should
spoon,
Nor that the lass should claim a rich papa;
For thoy wcro by the changing sea In June,
So he controlled his rising "ha, ha, ha."
Twas not Impossible that each might He,
In telling tales to each, this lass and youth.
And 'twas not strango that later both should
On learning that tho othor'd told the truth.
Woman Suffrage
Most married women would make good
Congressmen. They are so apt at introducing
bills in tho house.
Reversed
"The last shall be first" when a girt starts
to read tho flnal chapter of the latest beat
seller.
Just Like That
"Even the walls have ears," they say;
And even the floors must prate, i
For I found In n dwelling house today
That the rooms communicate.
The Fate of the Kicker
Dr. S. A. Faulkner has been Bllghtly dis
abled this week from a fracture In one of hli
feet caused by kicking an unruly cow.
Blum, Tex., Bulletin.
The Fly in the Ointment
"Thank goodness," said the fly, "the
swatting Benson is ended. I don't know how
I survived It. I'm sore from head to foot."
Then, sighing gratefully, he Jumped Into
the ointment.
Only ns Vote Holders
No, Gladys, tho piggeries of South Phila
delphia have nothing to do with the cele
brated pork barrel not directly.
The Limit
"This Is carrying caution to extremes.
Brown has been accused of violating our
neutrality."
"What did he do?"
"Nothing; ho merely had a foreign sub
stance In his eye."
The Poet's "If M
If I could put the murmur of the limpid brook
in words.
If I could catch and hold its plaintive tune;
If I could make translation of the singing of
tho birds
Antl the whisper of the budding leaves in
June.
If I had but the power and the golden words
to wrlto
Of how a sunbeam sparkles on a leaf,
While tho dew to it is clinging when the dawn
hns chased the night,
And tho earth 1b young and very far from
Krlef.
If 1 could write the lyric of the mating robins'
call.
If I could but transcribe the cricket's chirp:
If I could only put In words the woodland
music nil
And Its subtle charm for the whole world
usurp!
If I could only learn to tell, so they would
sound the snme,
The secrets told to me in forest dell,
I'd wrlto nn ode to Nature that would make
for mo a name
And would have at least a flghtlns chance
to sell.
Mislaken Identity
A little girl with a nickel and an appetite
for ico cream walked Into a confectioner's.
"Cones?" she asked.
"No," said the storekeeper, "O'Hara's."
Oh, Certainly
Peace hath her bickerings no less re
nowned than war.
Unnatural
"What put that flne'inew theatre out of
business so quickly?"
"There was too much room between the
seats."
The Finishing Touch
The young man hesitated to believe the
statement of her little brother that the young
lady was not home. He repeated the ques
tion, nt the aame time displaying a quarter.
Tho boy oyed it longingly and again replied
In the negative.
"But didn't Bhe leave a message for me?"
aBked tho disappointed swain.
''Yeealr." said the lad and nothing more.
As one who Bees a great light, the young
man tossed him the coin. "Now." he said,
"out with the message."
"She said she's not gonna see you any
more, and you're not to give me any money."
THE BABBLING FOOL
A Chinaman makes use of the doctor when
well to keep from getting sick. Others enjoy
the doctor when sick to prevent them from
setting well. The logic Is on the aide of the
Chinaman. The man la an exception who does
not get the cart before the horse, or at least
lock the stable after the horse la miles away.
China ia much better trained Jn manners
and morals than America. Manners are vio
lated here, as In the case of the king's Eng
lish. As to morals, there are none except
among the undiscovered.
Missionaries ought to be sent to the top of '
society at home, not to the bottom of aocletyf
In China and Japan. There is no such thtoj
ns a Christian nation. It ia still to come.
The art of living Is a lost one In the pcclr
dent, Orientals know the trick of living. '
American society Is rotting at the top. The
poor are better than the rich, and the "poor
haven't much to boast about. - a
If civilization keeps going down the, tobog
gan as it has started, the yellow man will
ride as king through the streets of Berlin
and live in the White Houses at Washington
within a century.
'Ok
WMM