fvmjfy-mmmmpmmmvdmm dm- ft' EVENING L-EDGERPHlLADELPaiA", FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1914- ' " -- '- ' ' ' --' - ' '- ' '' !. i . I. i SW j .'. I,,, .,... W hf line's. ruMit qulpr ! Waoh-, Li ' JStfS,. flap' the eiNat "TUB , tranaf rtdr 14 tlcketl the 135,. front j, Mo pt - Ugh- i" m i fcn ' by J ut g "net . nnt f , ten f ,,, jBgf" TlJ -, ftho I "eon ,. -pfote ,. v Elder ' Ilahln . faclIlU public. . "If t? heed w of the othor - 11 i ' without tc "If t r ' both H, Compaq pany v IB acco1' ! aeatnsEr : to the, 1 ' loss of 1 "In t-f 1 Ing thA pelled H to cquls tern lrJ with of t u to co cci; the. thlhU. phln t holder rf in this lie full. atructlo, let. Tt; York. ' "As fl i very. cnpablel hlgh-sp ever, ti. Hon ca f?BUIlleJ ' uiaUfjjij BUI, lie ihW' ejfr ach riscer ells L t luh t &r$ ''T lamiftu; ffltllQtt TUBLtC LEDGnu COMPANY CYnua it it ornrtfi rm. .,... feee. tV Ochs. SeerMarjr , John r Martin. Treasurer; i H Luainstoti, Philip B Colling, John B. WI Directors. - - EDtTOnt At, BOARD I Craw lr. K Coaris, Chairman iWMALBY Bxecullvs Editor C MAUTIN . . . ,Clrner.t Sutlneas Manaref Published dwir at rcsue Laeata Building, Independence Square, Philadelphia. p-'jf- ;tl W ' rresa-tntoH Bulldlnir --fc -'J"w t 170-A. Metropolitan Toner 4 CnioAOO . 81T Homo Insurance Building ft LOkbo ... 8 Waterloo riace, Tall Mall, S. W. i NEWSBUnHAUSi " ' fei;w Bnarit) ..... . ..The Potrtot Building ' WamreTojr nutrxo The rot Building S5T YoJJK BMkau The Timet Building niuix Bdiud . ... co Frlertrlchtr g - Lpioon Bcxbd 3 Pull Mall Bait. B W, -i plw Bwuus 32 Buo Iiuli le Grand r stinscniprroTEnM Ml Br carrier, pin rptLt, ! cent. By mall, postpaid i' jmtilde of rhlladelfhla. except where forehrn postage net Js required, Daiit Ovit, one month, twenty-nve cent. Xutnt Oilt, j ear, three dollars ah man sui- venpuons paj-noie in niuance BELL, 8000 WALNUT KEASTONP, MAIN 8000 Bejr Addnse ell communication to Evening Ltdger, Indeten'dtnct Bquar, Philadelphia 11 ii. ZNTtasD it Tttc ntiLADEtrnu rosiorncn is second- ct.A uit. Mattes. ritiUADEUiiiA, rniiiAV, M)VE.MnEn 20, 1914. Put Air in tlic Tenements THE people of Philadelphia are not par ticularly Interested In what certain owners of tenements think of the constitutionality of the housing law- That Is a question for the courts. The vita) Issuo Is simply whether or not Councils shall nullify a law of Penn sylvania by the subtlo expedient of refusing to appropriate funds to carry It out. ' Thero Is nothing radical about tho law. It merely provides guarantees that tenants rights shall not bo trampled under foot and the health and safety of Philadelphia bo im periled by unendurable housing conditions. "It Is Impossible," says Director Norrls, "to nscrlbo a neglect to put this act Into effect to any other than ono of two causes either the sinister Intlucnco of slum landlords or a ,r willingness to sacrltlco comfort, decency and Hfo Itself rather than put In Joopardy the 1 positions of a fou favored officeholders.'1 It is probably a llttlo of both. But Mr. 'Connelly, as ho himself has often uald, favors the poor and loves to fight their battles. As chairman of tho Finance Committee, there fore, surely he will not permit those who ulo living under the menace of Intolerable con ditions to bo defrauded of the onjoymont of their rights ono unnecessary moment. Suroly Mr. Connelly will use his great Influence to Trocuro quick action. A window In overy room that is not much for oven a poor fam ily to have. It is only ono of tho things the new housing law would ussurc every tenant. Councils is cither for slums or against slums; for disease-breeding conditions or for health-giving conditions; for tho law or against the law. Councils Is either In favor of a Bquaro deal for tho poor or In favor of alum landlords, who wax fat on profits from Insanitary property. Obviously, Councils, when facing such an Issue, can decldo In ono sai m 'JmIM J " that mac. way only. Clearly Councllmen represent tho Jlshmcn'f,. people, not tho slum-owners; health, not disease; law, not lawlessness. Thoy will not let a few officeholders stand between tenants and their fundamental rights. That Is why citizens of all classes are looking to Councils quickly to appropriate money to put tho housing law Into effect. Honored by His Works OHIO Is making preparations to welcome home an American hero of the European war, Myron T. Herrlck, who, after working overtime under tho oompulston of strange and strenuous circumstances, is about to. re linquish his post as Ambassador to Franca to another Ohioan. It is altogether fitting and proper that Ohio should glva some special recognition to a native son who has done so much to honor his State, but when Ambassador Herrlck comes back to America next month he will be greeted with manifold evidences of the admiration and gratitude of the whole coun try. He has been something more than Am bassador to France in the trying days slnco the first warlike demonstration In Europe, and the exceeding efficiency and tactfulness With which he hat eplved the Innumerable difficult problems confronting him as diplo mat and relief worker entitle him to the praise and good will of the peoplo not only cf America and France, but of other nations as well. His splendid work has added both at home nnd abroad to the prestige of our whole dip lomatic service. Autocratic Prohibition VODKA has been the Russian national drlnjc for centuries. It is a deadly bev erage and its widespread use has had a dls- - datrous effect upon Russian health, commerce and morals. By Imperial ukaso Its manufac ture and sale have been prohibited. As the Government had a monopoly of the traffic, naturally the prohlbjtory law became In stantly effective, and, as the authorities still have the power to send offenders against the law to Siberia, there Is probably little effort to evade the Imperial will With the abolition of vodka there has come, according to reports, an immediate improve ment In social and moral conditions, particu larly among the peasant class. The Increase - lr efficiency and thrift Is said to be offsetting sorne of tho 111 effects of the war. Such a thing could not be effected in America be causa the people rule. Evils cannot be eradi cated by edict In a democracy. But the spread ;f local option sentiment la so steady and strong that there la no doubt about the ulti mate Issue In this country CojnipejisattQn That "Works Both Ways TTTTORKMEN'S compensation Is Included i , in the legislative program of Governor- elt Brumbaugh and la one of the vital sub- ', Jeets of dfiteusslon In the convention of tho 'm?rcan Federation of Labor and In tho industrial welfare ana Efficiency Confer onca at Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, in Jus tim to Itself and to its people, cannot lag m r behind the timua as to ignore the Utat neeewtty to which attention has thus 'ba called. That industrial avoidants have bees re- 4mm4 nearly one-half In Uja last six years t dkte partly, no doubt, to the workmen's ifpspeniatioB Jws waloh have, been enacted v, J SS of the States, and especially to these fftm which are so constructed, or so com- ' jiUnDt4 by auxiliary statutes, as to make mtgioyra and employe equal partners iu tM obHoua and advantages pt "safety fts." Wassacjbusotta tie succss&sd ls - tWw? e& a ortMMwfet- a &yrtmrM9 We? PffS &&L Qf r MWKQ&m wk. wMMi feasgjM-wtfteatly dMrd ttt f rfuiwrior emm of genial Mittf i cases, whl cli has made possible the speedy Adjustment of accident claims without the litigation so expensive to State and con testants, which has afforded Immediate re lief to many afflicted by poverty and worry, nrid Which has charged the cost of Industrial Insurance to the cost of production, with a total levy on IJie Consumer of only nine one hundreths of one cent for each dollar's worth Of product purchased. Frankfort! Sounds the Riilly T71RANKFOUD gave Us answer on tho rapid - transit situation last night. Town meet ings of this sort are nightmares to poli ticians. The comprehensive articles In tho Mvkninu LiiDdnn, disclosing tho Intolerable transit conditions existing In tho several sections which tho proposed new system will serve, hao prepared tho way for tho crusado which Director Taylor has begun; for tho Frnnkford gathering was but tho first of a scries of town meetings which will show absolutely tho practical unanimity of all Philadelphia: In support of adequuto transit facilities. Councils nnd tho Union Traction Company must act. The latter cannot defeat tho plans; it can only cauao a revision of them. Tho city Is amply ablo to go ahead on Its own account, build the now lines and then arrango for their equipment and op eration. Union Trnctlon participation is a desirable, but not a necessary, feature, of tho program. It Is Councils that must de cide finally whether or not tho people aro to have what they need and what thoy want. Philadelphia Is going to have rapid tran sit, comprehensive rapid transit, and Phila delphia Is not going to wait ten years to get It. That Is what tho Frankford meet ing meant and what tho other meetings will mean. Tho omens are worth tho study of obstructionists who think that thoy can de lay Indefinitely or prevent altogether tho progress of Philadelphia. New Schools a Good Investment UND13K the school codo of Pennsylvania a Board of Education has tho power and tho authority to meet any exigencies that muy arise In Its district. Tho Joint recom mendation of tho Department of Superin tendence and tho Department of Buildings for tho orcctlon of IT now schools and 19 addi tions In this city should be acted upon affirmatively and promptly by tho board. It such provision is not made to meet tho congestion, children will havo to bo excluded from tho schools or a doublo-scsslon plan must bo adopted. Tho first Is unthinkable. Tho second Is unjust to tho pupils and teach ots alike. It has been conclusively proved that good work cannot bo done on tho half tlmo schedule. To provide adequato class room accommo dation Is a matter of simple Justice and Is lndlspensablo to tho development of good citizenship. If $4,000,000 Is required for tho necessary facilities. It should be provided without a moment's pause; If ten times that amount wcro needed It would be no Justifica tion for hesitancy. "What Philadelphia will be a generation henco depends upon the pro vision wo make for tho children of today. Adequate Military Defense TVyriLITARISM and Jingoism aro never JL.TJL. likely to craze tho American nation. In deed, anything that savors of lust of con quest for the sako of conquest must be abhor rent to a people who have ample room for expansion within tho bounds of their own country and who havo scarcely scratched tho surface of their own resources. In recommending that the American stand ing army be increased to 200,000 men, with the gradual building up of a second line com posed of 750,000 reservists, Major General W "W. Wotherspoon, retiring Chief of Staff of the United States Army, has simply spoken a word of caution. Our present military force, although unrivaled in quality, is little mora than a toy when compared with the vast armies of Europe. The position of America has changed within the past few years. From being an isolated and inaccessible unit we have taken our place in tho family of nations; our in sular possessions demand garrisons; the Panama Canal and our interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine necessitate a supply of forces readily available for distant service; our long coastal exposure requires stationary defense. These demands leave the nation with only a rump of an army In case of emer gency at home. The War Department will be sure of the support of the people a a whole If the present military force is brought up to a standard more proportionate to the vast interests that are at stake. National Range of American Movies TEN and twelve yearn ago moving pic tures they were "cinematographs" and not "movies" In the days when only vaudeville specialized In them were almost exclusively a French product. The'present war has com pleted in three months the Americanization that has been going steadily on year by year, Everything shown In our moving-picture theatres today unless It Is a few Italian films comes from American studios. Fortunately the war found the manufac turers and producers ready. The present high level of the movies is a tribute to Amer ica's complete mastery of the silent art Every sort of film is on the screens. The movies show romance, history, the progress of science They bring uS the natural won ders of the West. They are Invading educa tion and politics. They make a valuable toot of Instruction In social hygiene. The range of the movies Is nothing short of national. One thing is certain: The new subway elevated system should be "Made In Phila delphia," A year ago thero was a general exodus from Mexico, and now tt promises to be an exodus of generals. Perhaps the commuters would prefer to have the low rates instead of the extra crews. i" 1 ' mjiuiiii 1 There are tenants in this eity who would rather haTO the housing- law than ths (Jounalla. The "Know-Tour-Clty-Better" exhibit would be worth seeing If it etmt real money to iit la. Its value is not impaired in ths losM bcaus tho Admiarioa fee is nothing l0ti9, elm! to tl ast, a fct of few sutyam-w ? MM ft 9Ltatjaa "& taiiSP JJL ee& liiiiitBaaiiliaX wummmm. Mi mmw mim THE ART OF CONGRESSIONAL ORATORY AND SOME OF ITS MORE HUMAN SIDES Most of the Orators Hail From South of the Line Gallivan of Mas 8achu8ctts an Exception How Madden Maddens Mann, ' Paradoxical Mr. Kent. By E. W. f TJERHAPS Professor Draper, who wrote JTafo consolingly of Iho effects of soil, ell mato and food ori character, could havo ex plained In his excellent chapter on that sub ject why Americans born south of Mason nnd Dixon's line speak oratorlcally and thoso born north of tho line do not. That Is a generalization, of course, but you will find few exceptions to tho rulo; very few In cither branch of Congress. Under wood, a Southerner, to bo sure, does' not speak oratorlcally; Gallivan, of Massachu setts, is distinctly oratorical, nut one would have to pauso to think of other exceptions. Even Underwood, who usually speaks on tllo floor Of tho House nrf It ho wero talking to follow members of a board of directors, can, nnd upon raro occasions does, speak oratorl cally. But that Is When ho is making cam paign material for fellow Southerners to use. Then It Is a tour de force, a straining for effects he wad taught to seek when ho was doing hlB debating bit at the University of Virginia. It Is Interesting to consider tho change which will como In tho manner of leadership when Claudo Kltchln, of North Carolina, succeeds Underwood as majority leader In tho House. His manner of spoaklng Is dis tinctly oratorical, and his uncommonly rich volco and big wholesomo person help his ef fects. In his 14 years of scrvico In tho House Kltchln has probably mado fewer speeches than any other Southerner of even half that length of service But his speeches nre listened to and remembered. This Is bocauso he Is recognized as an authority on tho subject he most frequently talks upon tho tariff. Senator Hughes' once told me, after serving years on tho House Ways and Means Committee with him, that Claudo Kltchln knows more about overy tariff bill over writ ten by Congress than any other living man knows about any single tarlfl bill. "Never Tackle KJtchin On Tariff" Tho majority loader-to-bo wns onco debat ing a tariff point when ho yielded to a mem ber uninformed as to somo things about Kltchln, and who in two minutes' had con troverted a dozen things Kltchln had stated and pretty directly accused him of misstat ing historical facts concerning ono, Item tho North Carollnan had discussed. Kltchln waited smilingly for the end of tho Interrup tion and then quietly, and without referring to any data, related the exact rato placed on tho article under discussion by overy tariff law, tho exact revenue produced by It under each law and the Industrial statistics of tho American manufacturers of the arti cle. Mr. Mann then whispered to tho dazed member, "Never tackle Kltchln on a question of fact relating to tho tariff. Tacklo any other Democrat and you may get away with It." "For what purpose does the gentleman rise?" the Speaker sometimes asks whon a member rises at a time when the Speaker does not care to recognize him. Not that the Speaker does not probably know for what purpose tho gentleman rises; It is only a play of parliamentary Interference. The House quickly learns for what purpose gentlemen rise In their places, especially those who rise merely to havo the record show that they took part In a debate. No one Is so skilful in this practice as J. Hampton Moore, of Philadelphia. I do not say this In disparage ment, because one quickly learns to appre ciate "Hampy" Moore's many amiable quali ties and his real abilities. On the subject of Inland waterways Moore la a recognized specialist. But he does not wait for any sub ject allied to that great one to Jump Into debate; It may be one he has little or no knowledge of. That does not feaze Hampy. I hnvo seen him enter the chamber when a debate Is on, ask what the bill Is, send for a copy, find the paragraph being considered, read it hastily, then rise, brow corrugated as by some well thought out objection to the position taken by the member talking. "Will the gentleman yield?" The gentleman yields. "Let me see If I understand the gentle man's contention," Moors begins, and pretty soon he has picked up some good point badly made, elaborates it, states It better, and lot" the Record next day shows that the gentle man from Philadelphia has taken part in a debate on an involved question and shone In it, too. What he has done is to take a lot of badly written copy and straighten it out Into good copy. He has adapted bis profes sion of editor to his occupation of legislator. Members with less quick wit and lacking Moore's newspaper training try his trick occasionally with sad results. Oratory May Be Handicap But I have strayed from my orators and non-orators. I doubt the value of oratorical methods unless they are employed to orna ment sound reasoning. Is It because a man has the art of painting pretty word pictures that he Is eager to speak, or the other way round, because he likes to speak does he learn to paint attractive word pictures? I should say, whatever may be tho answer to that question, that oratorical stye, even when skilfully employed, Is of no effective aid to one In present-day legislative cham bers, and may oven be a handicap. For example, once In the 63d Congress, Trlbble, of Georgia, offered an amendment to a bill under consideration, He la a radical, and a rapid, impassioned speaker. Ha con sumed his five minutes working himself up Into a passion, not attempting oratory, how ever, snd probably gained seme votes, but not eno.ugh. Tom Hertln, of Alabama, dis tinctly the orator of the House, came to Trib- CURIOSITY SHOP Hetzel, the French publisher who discov ered Jules Verne, Is dead. Hetzel began with Verne by a life contract, guaranteeing an annual sum of 94009, which seemed Immense riches to the unknown writer. It was not at all proportionate tu the rapid success and sale of bis bqokti throughout the known world. Jules Veive was content with his bargain, and for many, many years fur nished dutifully bis two volumes a year. At his death he left several mora finished, or nearly so, which explains the continued appearance of new works bearing his name. Hetzel took, pains to provide the writer who was laying golden eggs for him with a yacht and all pther appurtenances 'beeessary or useful to stimulate his Inventive powers. oe-Foo-Chao, a tg&m 1 Cfcln, is known as the "VH rf tta Suf feMp t Its wmuwnmn qhwupi u "P spSM vlaW VbjppiBliSf TOWNSEND bio's nld, but whon ho had used up his five minutes the amendment was tnoro In need of votes than when Trlbblo concluded. Tho latter asked for nnd obtained llvo minutes more, nnd ngatn passionately advocated his vlows. Samuel McCall, of Massachusetts, toso and nsked Trlbblo to yield, and tho lat ter, assuming that any Ma-inchusctls mnn would bo opposed to him, refused to yield. I knew differently. As tho matter stood tho least experienced man on tho floor could sco that tho Georgian was beaten. I know that McCall would not ask permission to oppose n mail already defeated, nnd I whispered to Trlbblo to yield. Ho did McCall, who always had tho strict attention of the Houso, calmly pointed out that tho Trlbblo amend ment would Improve tho provision Involved, and quietly gavo his reasons, consuming his fivo minutes In n plain, straightforward talk ns ho might havo made tho samo argument at a dinner table. Trlbblo was tit surprised as pleased whon McCall, having concluded, tho amendment was adopted Tho orator had Injured his causo; tho colloqulallst had won for him, Three Members Who Interest There Is a group on tho Republican sldo of tho Houso I havo vvntched with Interest: James R. Mann nnd Martin B. Mudden, of Chicago, and William Kent, of tho 1st Cali fornia district. They all camo into political prominence ns members of tho Chicago City Council. Kent did prodigious work ns a municipal reformer In Chicago before going to California, und Mann nnd Madden wcro both In tho political drama cast, playing parts in the councllmnnlc upheavals of tho early '00s. Mann Is a stand pat Republican, Madden a soit of a go-as-you-ploaso Republican, nnd Kent nn Insurgent, unhappy unless ho Is Insurglng with nil his might and main Mann has two "mannors," ns thoy say of com posers, In addressing tho House. Ho Is hap piest In his Invective, denunciatory manner, when ho li telling tho Democrats what a 'futllo and generally useless crow thoy nre. But occasionally It suits his hand to pro pltlato Democrats and thus "After you, AI phonse," would sound rough-houso compared to his least mild expressions Madden, tall, whlto-halred, with a com plexion a bello might sigh for, seems to get more comfort out of his membership than nny othor mnn In tho Houso. Ono likes to watch Mnnn watch Maddon. Ho never knows what he Is going to do nnd that plainly gives Joy to Madden. Tho latter seems to watch procecdlnsg with a view to getting Into debate on an nnglo that will give Mann tho greatest surprise. A Republican amendmont Is up; many Democrats arc In their offices or doing de partment chores; Mann has whipped In all his supporters; there Is a chanco to carry tho point. Madden rises. "Mr. Chairman" (tho Houso bolng In com mittee of the whole), ho begins, with Just that tinge of Irish accent which used to de light James O'Neill's audiences, "It seems to me" Madden Smiles and Smiles Mann looks worried. Madden sees this and smiles. Ho proceeds with a wonderfully rich vocabulary to present his objects, art fully addressing his reasons to Republicans from somo section of tho country likely to be Influenced. He Is always smiling; the amendmont falls. Madden turns to Mann with tho aside, "Jim, I didn't quite llko that amendmont." "I gathered as much," Mann rejoins, and goes on with his endless task. Kent Is almost as hopeless for Mann, al though not as surprising as Madden. Noth ing that Kent does surprises Mann since Kent, who raises hundreds of thousands of pounds of wool In Nevada, voted for free wool; who feeds thousands of beef steers In Nebraska, yet voted for free beef; whose district makes millions of gallons of wine, yet he favors prohibition. Mann accepts Kent as l'enfant terrible of the House, lets it go at that merely praying for tho best. Kent is Intense. Not a bad thing, I fancy, for a politician. He would die for tho suo cess of the least Important conservation meas ure; die a thousand times for peace and fight at the drop of a hat if you dispute his translation of a line of Greek. Madden never tells Mann what he is going to do until he has done it, so to say, but Kent 'fesses up in advance. "I rather like this bill. I think I'll vote for It," he tells the minority leader. "All right. William," Mann replies, pa tiently. "But don't speak for It." "But, Jim. I feel that I should speak for It." Kent prepares carefully and Is yielded IB minutes for his speech. His friends beg him not to talk rapidly. He speaks a sentence or two deliberately, then his face turns white with eagerness; It takes too long to open and close his mouth and through clenched teeth and with a rapidity which Is the despair of official reporters, he fairly, hisses his views. He has finished In eight minutes. Ho notes the time on the dial of the big clock he faces, moans "I yield back the balance of my time," and retires to tho lobby, mut tering imprecations on his own impetuosity. But his remarks read like a carefully pol ished essay, The Record comes In for a deal of editorial nnlmadversloji, but In the making of so much of it as reports what Is actually spoken on the floor of the House there Is a variety of entertainment and instruction for him who likes the study of his fellowroan. HUM OF HUMAN CITIES Prisons, taking the outcasts of the cities, are ever a source of Interest to the fortu nates (who do not go down In the struggle of urban life. And the prisons thmsetvs are rapidly Increasing the Interest by novel experiments. Of the 153 penal Institutions In tfye United States only two are self-sustaining. One is the Mlohigan State Prison. Eighty acres of string beatis were planted on the prison farm after garden peas were harvested. Un to September 26 a produot amounting to JzMl 60 had been canned from this acre age Tho Stat paid ?5 per acre for tha Greenwood farm of 316 acres the largest Single farm bought by the State or S3S -876. So the farm was paid for by this year's string beans pack and a credit balance left over of 1:699 60. Warden WMs, 0 Ht Kentucky State Prison, was haantty apptoutUg when at a rsetet Mion 0 tbs Amsrfann Prison As ssoiatlon ha delard felnuntf to be t favor 9t pwmuttetr wMomww to oNmma ith MMSkvtNc- Hl avowal, if UooulUaeird, would find an echoing response In the heart of every prisoner In every silent and lonely cell In tho land. For of all the methods em ployed to punish criminals, thinks the editor of tho St. Paul Pioneer Press, that of re fusing them permission to hold converse with their fellows Is the most cruel and blighting lo tho human spirit ever conceived. Ono has only to Isolato himself from his fnttnn, mnn IV, f n ,1av nr ttVO. SDealtlng tO and being hailed by no one, to bring him to a profound realization of the ftBolu, need of conversation In one's dally life. With a prisoner, tho prohibition against talking is Infinitely more depressing than It would bo with a free man. Cut off from converso with his neighbors, ho Is driven In on him self, tho sickening sense of his Isolation Is mado doubly real lo him, and brooding and moroseness become almost seciOnd nature to him. . If reformation, nnd not mere retribution, Is to bo the new noto In prison management, then It must Inevitably follow that conver sation If only In a limited way may bo Indulged In by tho prisoners. For how cart a mnn bo reformed If ho is forced to con sider himself so much of "-an outcast that ho cannot even speak to nnd bo spoken to by his comradcsV ' VIEWS OF READERS ' ON TIMELY TOPICS Contributions That Reflect Public Opin ion on Subjects Important to City, State and Nntion. To the Eddor 0 the Evening Lttgtri Sir If tho Philadelphia business men, who h.ive Imd occasion to find fault with trado con ditions during tho past months and many of I them no doubt have will take the trouble to look up at the statue of William Penn on Us lofty pedetnl nt tho City Hall tower, and will also stop long enough In their mad rush to get to nnd from their places of business to gaze nt the placid renturcs of Benjamin Franklin, on Chestnut street, In front of the Post Office, they will, no doubt, bo both surprised nnd pleased to scotthnt there la a smite 011 tho roiintcnnnce of both of these distinguished gen tlemen, who look such n pride In Philadelphia In their day, nnd whose spirits. If they hover about their earthly semblance (and who shall eay that they do not?), must be mightily pleased to witness tho splendid progress this1 fine old City' of Brotherly Love Is making. It Is justly entitled to be characterized as tho typical Amerlcnn city, In all that Is best and noblest, as also much thnt Is most attrac tive and dcBlrablc In any municipality. Philadelphia has recently been doing big things lu sucli a modest and splendid manner that It ought to make every citizen proud of her nnd eager to Bay a good word for tho city wherever opportunity presents Itself, cither nt homo or nbroad. Within the past tew days, for example, 60,000 line-looking, up-headed, pa triotic American worklngmcn and women pa mded down Broad etrect to the music of 50 bands; ISO Mnors of other leading municipali ties were here to study problems for the public welfare and advancement; one of the 12 Federal Roservo banks, which will hereafter bo the financial centres of .the country, was opened here; vast numbers of the citizens. Including many from long distances, eagerly subscribed for a city loan offered direct to them at a com paratively low rate of Interest; nnother new, splendidly enlarged hotel has been added to the list of hostelrles, not excelled anywhere elso In the world; one mighty ship has been loaded with life-giving provisions and sailed away to Belgium, while nnother ono will soon be ready to follow, nnd down, facing old Independence Square, there is being erected another splen didly artistic structure with great Grecian col umns, which, with the other buildings facing this sacred spot, make tt an even more Im posing National shrine than It has been for the past century and a. half all of which, and much more that might be mentioned of equal or even greater Importance, should bring pride to the heart of every citizen and a desire to sco to It that Justice Is done to this noble city of peace, prosperity and happiness to a degree equaled In no other city anywhere In tho New or Old World. Let's all talk up Philadelphia hereafter! EDWARD NEWTON HAAG. Philadelphia, November 19. CHARITY'S BIG MOVE To the Editor of the Bventng Ledger: Sir All Philadelphia ought to be glad to hear of the proposed co-ordination of our charitable institutions. The business man and the rich philanthropist, quite as much as tho poor per son, wilt benefit directly by any perfection of the organization. The man who supports chari ties will be able to figure out Just how much he can afford to give, turn It over to a general committee, and know that he will not be bothered further for a year, that the money will go to Just those charities that he wishes to support, and that by the economy of organiza tion thus effected It will go farther than Is now possible. H. I,. WHEELER. Wayne Junction, November 19. SHOP EARLY To the Editor of the Evening Ltdgerl Sir I thank you for the urgent request you make of your readers to do tlislr Christmas chopping early. It Is a slogan which nearly everybody adopts, but few live up to. Their pro crastination is more than the thief of their time. It Is the thief of the health of hundreds of clerks In the stores of every large city. I can tell you of an Instance where a girl, after working at top speed through the weeks Just before Christ mas, and eo tired at night that sometimes she simply fell on her bed and went to sleep In the clothes she had worn all day, suffered suoh In Jury to her health from overwork that, for six months she never got over the effects. GERTRUDE FLORENCE NORTON. Philadelphia, November IS. PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATISM To the Editor of the Evening Zedgert Sir In your editorial entitled "Progressive Conservatism" In today's Evbnino Ledosr (November la), you could have strengthened your position considerably by showing that among the thinkers, men who are progressive tn a conservative age are usually conservative lu a progtesslve nge. The reason for this Is that when every one Is contented with things nb they are the thinker sees the danger of stagnation and emphasizes what should be changed. On the other hand, when a progres sive movement Is Inaugurated the thinker real izet the danger of driving too fait and too far and holds back. It always has been so, F, L. JONES. Philadelphia, November 19. "IMPERTINENT COMMERCE CONFUSERS" To the Editor of the Evening Ledger! Sir When your paper started a few months ago I thought It might be a high-brow Journal devoted to setting forth tho views of the privi leged few. In discussing the Evbnino LEcorn with u circle of friends the other day we con. eluded that it stands for the best interests fof all the people of the community. Svhlle I do not agree with you on woman's suffrage, I am extremely gratified by the stand you have taken on the transit problem and also the decisive position you have assumed on behalf of the commuters a against the railroads and the I, C O., which Initials ought to mean the Impertinent Commerce Confuser. J. HURLEY BENNETT. Philadelphia, November 18. AN OCTOBER DAY Oh, the cool an' misty mornln', When the day Is jest a-dawnln', When the sun Is gettln luy An' a-cllmbln' kinder alow, Oh, the brown and ruddy grasses. An' the golden-red In masses, An' the riot of the snmao In the noontime all aglow. Then the big white moon aaallln' Fore the pinky flush, is paMri Kinder broodln'-lika an' tender On the sleepy fields bslow. Then the PucpJe night a-atealla' Brings that sorter peaceful feelln' Like when Mother kissed and tusked yer Into bad so long ago. Sua an- moon aad fifi tfimgur, flHromorln' mist and coloxfl gay 8mm as if Q4 Mtors4 A( UaavB 34t U wk a yarthnt stay. vs&wm SMITH. I SCRAPPLE The Army in the Cut And the great city sleeps, Its PvinweeV disturbed by the feverish activity of ths aimyoT darkness. Or If the city cahe a rumble 6f their movements and stirs in Its slumber, It Is only to turn over and go to sleep again. No hypnotic spe I will ac count for this Indlffercnco of a city of five mllllonV to the presenco of an army In 1 l w gas-lit Blrcets, It Is merely habit. If hero nnd thefo In tho cubical hives where thrt city takes Its rest an unquiet sleeper tosses In his bed and resents tho disturbance. It Is not to wish that these prow era o the night were caught and sent to Jail, Jut only o wish that they went about their business more dlscreetly-thls great host market men, grocers, butchers, milkmen, Phcart engineers nnd news vendors who have bcen engaged Blnco soon after midnight In the enormous task of preparing the eltya breakfast. Simeon Strunsky In "Belshazzar Court." Dad Business Krupp. tl German artillery rnanufaclurer, hT cut their dUldend from II to 12 per cent, this year. (.'Able Dispatch What tltno tho battle lino Is full, What tlmo tho merry cannon frown, Tho Krupp concern finds business dull, Their dividends go slowly down. A paltry 12 per cent, this year, Is nil tho Krupp gang can afford. Unless peaco comes, so much Is clear, Tills cannon game goes by tho board. He Just Dodges Mr. Straight How do you expect to moot yoUr bills? , . ,. Mr. Crook When I expect them wo dont meet. . Ho Wasn't Looking Debutante Ho said ho would go through a raging flood Just to look Into my eyes. Chaperon Whon, last night? Debutante No; last night ho phoned that It was raining too hard for him to call. Judge. Setting the Date Mulligan OI want wan ov thlm holgh hats yo can smash oop without hurtln 'cm. Clerk Opera? Mulligan Slvlntcenth av March. Roused to Fury Wife (avvnkcnlng) Ooo there's a burgler getting In. . Husband (sleepily) Nonsensol Go to sleep. Wife (as a last resort) Maybe he's got n bill. Husband Woopt Where's my gun? Shy lock "Can any ono In tho audience lend me a ten-dollar gold plcco?" asked tho prestidigita tor. "On what?" queried tho pawnbroker In tho third row. Exciting Times "Woll," mused 6-ycar-old Harry, as ho was being buttoned Into a clean white suit, "this has been an oxcltlng week, hasn't It, mother? Monday wo went to tho Zoo, Wednesday I lost a tooth, Thursday was Lily's birthday party, Friday I was sick, yesterday I had my hair cut, and now hero I am rushing off to Sunday school." Llp plncott's. Disaster Tho careless, clumsy waiter with a bowl of steaming soup Was 1 ushlng toward tho table at a reckless, rapid gait; When suddenly ho caught his foot and did tho loop tho loop, And dropped the heated liquid down upon a fashion plate. Couldn't Turn It "Brudder Perkins, yo' been flghtln', If heah," said tho colored minister. "Yaas, Ah wuz." "Doan you' 'memboh whut de good book sez 'bout turnln' do odder cheek?" "Yaas, pahson, but he hit mo on mah nose, an' I'so only got one." Livingston Lance. Hope Deferred The frontiersman was hanging to tho sharp, Jutting edge of the cliff by one hand; tho other was at his efhpty holster. Above him, an upraised tomahawk in his hand, fiendish glee In his eyes, knelt a painted redskin. Two United States army officers stood, mo tionless, and looked on. Their faces betrayed a total lack of Interest. Thoy looked almost bored. Ono of trem puffed lazily at a cigar ette. The other flicked a speck of dust from his Immaculate uniform. Finally they mut tered something, turned and lounged away. Sighing, the artist replaced the picture on Its easel. Hail, Friendly Snow The blizzard Is a friend to me. It makes my next door neighbors, Who pound a bum piano every night. Close up their doors and windows so tha thunder of their labors No longer comes to mako mo want to fight. Rheumatics grumble at (he snow that may be with us shortly, And e'en the young person oft complains. But I have found a Joy In storm, though I am slow and portly, In that it halts the hurdy-gurdy's strains. Not Certain "What Is this malady which has sud denly attacked the nations of Europe?" "There Is some doubt as to that. Soma say It Is the German rush, others that It is the Russian germ." Christian Register. From the Cub's Notebook It was on the Saturday of the second game of the world's series. Plank and Rudolph were pitching masterly ball. Neither side had scored. In a saloon In the, southern section of the city a group of men wero clustered around a ticker, breathlessly watching tho story of each play. Bets on hits wero exchanged as the players cams to bat, In the crowd there was an Indi vidual whose clothes and actions marked him as the professional gambler. Ha won frequently. As the sixth Inning came to a close tho saloon door swung open &nd a swaggering Individual of the skilled workman class, with drink-marked features, entered. Ho ordered a drink, drank it and Joined the ticket throng. Soon he became boisterous and arrogantly declared he would bet any oua In tha room $!0 the Athletics would win Ha said he knew they would because a friend of a friend of Connie Mack's had told him so. He offered ridiculous odds because of the dependence he had In his friend. "I don't want to rob you, friend," tho gambler-like man said quietly, "but I'll take your bet at even money " The money was placed Jn the hands of the bartender. It was noticed the workman's came from a weekly pay envelope. WHh the end of that soul-stirring ninth Inning In which Boston won, tho gambler collected his winnings and turned to go out. In tha doorway a touseled headed, dlrt-be-grlmed youngster almost ran into him "Say. roister." he said. "Is my daddy in there? He works only half a day on Satur day's, and he hasn't come home yet Mom a afraid he 11 lose his money It's pay dai fo eat" needS U bUy US kIdS 8omethlnS Then, as tha door swung open to let an. ?iheJptton .ul' th9 cW,(l tuahud fn and throwing his chubby arms around tha bettor who had lost, ho shrilly shouted. "Daddy coma home, mom's waiting for you." aay' Ths gambler lwd M w fat wallet, took ot the M he had won! rWh, '?4 it with aaathw yellowback bm d walked or to the lad. "8m." h said, "your daddy last his nav as I found It Hro It is Y take t h, Mjp. ttM, who HS- turned ay wntstUuf M &i?fr- -teiKrfiiift' iniii basil ussBHHaaaa wMlVlki jtt' Y rt Jfe - J - W .J i - . dfe -, . -ufiasafli' '".. & JJ3LSiCMiWiMnWcBnaSa. tiTWrfmwtirrir-niiCsgmTi n lllslii wBTi j"Biitf"'"W 'JrjferjffeBrjr'tirSf p rrj TTiiii' , ,i JJKit, wimmIi ibiiM 'ifUfiifrtM