The evening world. Newspaper, September 3, 1920, Page 18

Soro, HSTABLISHED BY JOSEPH PULITZER. Daily Sunde; Company, Nos. 53 to 08 Park Row. pat SJ SHAW, tresses eb Park Row. PULITSER. Jr.. Seoretary. 63 Park Row. ~ ‘MEMEER OF THE ASBOCIATED PRESS. The Associated Pree te exctustvely entitled to the use for €f all news Geqpoiches credited to i or not stherwise credited ‘and also the local sews rubiished Berm. THE BALLOT IN THE UNION. . IDGE MAYER in outlining the terms on which the B, R. T. strike may be settled brings up the increasingly important question of how the unions may be made more responsible and their chosen representatives representative in fact. This whole mattér of union representation de- serves to be thoroughly gone into. B. R. T, strikers were called out by a vote taken ata meeting attended by only a small fraction of the workers affected. + | Moreover, the vote was taken by a show of hands -4nd in a moment of anger over the report of a lock- out by the company. No one can say with certainty what the result might have been had the workers voted by secret ballot after their anger had cooled. ' The B. R. T. strike is only one instance of many where the representative character of union action is in grave doubt. i jam the “vacation” strike in the anthracite fields there are charges that elected leaders do not repre- sent the miners, and that leaders have sold out to fhe-mine operators and are being paid to keep wages by the Press PubMshing Row, New York. 1 4n the “outlaw” strikes of early summer similar narges were made. “Kor all of which a sorely tried public has little or fo’ sympathy. The public mutely wonders why unionists do not elect men who will represént them and in whom they, have confidence. ' Unfortunately there is a measure of truth in some of the complaints of the disgruntled unionists. + Union history is not without instances where clec- tions have been packed. The steam roller has been fused. Political machines within the unions are no novelty. Labor leaders have “sold out” in some in- stances. ' “What is the remedy? . ‘The public as a whole favors collective bargain ing. But when a bargain is made it should be ob- sefved. When an employer deals with a representa- tive of labor he should have assurance that the men 3 tt behind the leader and will abide by the bargain stnakes. | When “outlaws” appear in union ranks the public bught to have a basis on which it cam judge whether * {hese men are no better than “welchers” or whether | they are the victims of crooked politics in the unions. * | All these considerations rest primarily on the worth of the ballot in the union. ' It is a question whether the time has not come when the State, acting-for the public, should step in and regiilate the elections and referendums of The State has laws for the regulation of political parties. It has made rules for the election of re- sponsible officers of corporations, which rules pro- itect the minority and are enforced by courts. “Analogous laws would recognize the importance of the part which labor organizations play in public a ee State guaranteed to every union member a iair expression of his will in union affairs there ywould be less excuse fdr “outlaw” movements “which injure the unions no less than they do the employers and the public, bree NO FREE WATERMELONS HERE. ATERMELONS for the asking at. Baltimore : and watermelons at $1.50 each in New : Yerk indicate something wrong with the marketing saystem, or else most of the water is in the price. ; eYesterday’s news had it that melons Sold in quantity at 714% cents apiece and that even at this price the Baltimore market was so overloaded that dealers gave away hundreds. Where were the buyers for the New York mar- ket that they did not divert a part of this glut to a port where the demand is practically unlimited—at ‘a fair price and profit? MORE BURLESONISM? fy 7 HATEVER the sins of the eleven postal clerks ’ discharged in Chicago, postal workers gen- _ @ally have ample ground for protest against the feasons Postmaster Burleson assigns for -their dis- charge. The men were. charged with “soliciting, or caus- ing to be solicited, sums of money from the public 4 fot publishing false and slanderous statements relat- ing to the postal service,” | » Soliciting money and publishing slander are two | distinct acts. Would soliciting money for the pub- : ligation of true statements be punishable? Would _ publication of the offending statements have been "+ permitted if postal workers had paid for the publi- out of their meagre earnings? does not differentiate, ‘ red clerks at Chicago deny they so- If money was voluntarily contrib- | f ere ployees to educate the public, their employer, to Postmaster General Burleson would have cleared his skirts of the suspicion of bureaucratic ‘autoc- racy had he prosecuted these men in the courts and proved their charges false and malicious. It is right that Government employees should be forbidden to strike, But this prohibition carries with it a solemn duty on the part of the Govern- ment not to obstruct earnest and fair efforts of em- their need for fair pay and fair treatment. When the postal employees ask a national tri- bunal to adjudicate such controversies with Wash- ington officials they are asking no more than their rights. In simple justice, their demands should be granted. THE LARGER KIND. N AN address to the Canadian Bar Association at - Ottawa this week, William Howard Taft, emi- nent Republican and former President of the United States, said: “I do not think that those people who con- tend against the power of the United States to make contracts and enter into obligations witp other nations fully realize how com- pletely such a construction of the Constitu- tion would relegate jour great Nation and Government to the limbo of infants and trre- sponsible persons who may not undertake obligations that are: binding upon them.” Here again Mr. Taft is voicing the larger Ameri- canism. He is voicing an Americanism which does not | fear to play an active, participating role in the greatest international movement civilized humanity has ever started for the safeguarding of peace. He is voicing an Americanism that shakes itself free from the clutches of scheming partisanship and considers the League of Nations solely in the light of what ‘it will do toward furthering an aim in which right-thinking men of all parties have been in accord.” There are plenty of people, Democrats and Re- publicans, in the United States who have not for- gotten, and who will never forget, that William Howard Taft, Republican, was a big enough Ameri- can to stand on the same platform with President Wilson in this city eighteen months ago and earn- estly urge other Americans to back the League of Nations as something far transcending party politics. Speaking at Albany three months later, Mr. Taft said again: : “This is no partisan questton, We should be for or against the League of Nations without respect to whether we are Democrats or Republicans. Personal and partisan con- siderations of this kind are reasons which should have no influence with us in determin- ing an issue so fateful in the world’s history and so likely to affect the future welfare of the people of the United States and all mankind.” It was a profound misfortune for the country that Mr. Taft’s influence in his party could not prevail against the forces by which that party is now controlled. It was a profound misfortune for the country that Republicans like Mr. Taft could not have lifted the League of Natiors issue and established it once and for all on a plane out of reach of partisan plot and conspiracy. 5 Even in the midst of this Presidential campaign the eyes of the people of the United States ought to be turning toward the League of Nations as the brightest hope of mankind emerging from darkness and stress. Not fully realized, not perfect—but nevertheless a-practicable working step, the longest yet, upon which ALL Americans should be concentrating their best constructive thought and energy to make it succeed, The wisest, sanest thing American men and women of all parties can do at the present moment fs to find time to turn their gaze outward. Look at the world. See what is happening there and reflect how foolish are those who would have us think that in this twentieth century the United States can com- pletely separate its destiny from the destinies of other peoples. i See what is solidly good and promising in this League of Nations as against flaws a thousand times magnified by spite and prejudice. Above all, don’t relegate the United States, as Mr. Taft puts it, “to the limbo of infants and irre- sponsible persons.” This Nation is great and strong enough to trust itself with other nations in any high adventure that seeks to put the devil of war in heavier chains. The larger Americanism does not tremble or turn pale at the thought of such partnership. a publicity fund, would that change the and slandgr is punishable by law. — bee G. 0 P, MAXIMS TO DATE. “You cannot conduct a political campaign on a specifte foreign policy.” Senator Knox,” ‘i THE EVENING WORLD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 192 cnet TORE en tore et Soo greampernannaamiyn one Lnceingnn Coil What kind of letter do you pu | FROM EVENING WORLD READ -—--———- | » ERS || a most readublef isn't it the one that gives you the worth of a thousund words in a couple of hundred? Jay iking, ‘To the Eattor of The Evening World: I have noticed in your paper re- cently, particularly on the editorial page, some very good, and I think some very proper, editorials on the traMc condition in New York. At least, I think they are very proper as tar as they go, but they do not go far| enough. These editorials refer particularly to the fatalities and the accidents that occur in the streets between auto- mobiles and pedestrians, and I mean that they do not go far enough be- cause you only treat with one side of | the question. Every question, of | course, gias two sides, and if one/ wants #@ make a success of the dif- | ful way to do is to consider both the factors. ‘While it is perfectly proper, of course, that the careless and reckless automobile driver should be punished and ¢liminated as far as possible, yet the result that is desired will never be obtained unless the careless and reckless pedestrian !s also taught to share and made to understand e has @ responsibility to per- form as one of the factors, just the same as the automobile driver. Police records show that 90 per cent. of the accidents are ghe fault of pe- destrians and consequently no matter how culpable the automobile driver may be it will not be possible to mate- rially reduce these accidents even if every reckless and careless automo- bile driver were eliminated, which, of course, 1s an absolute impossibilty, although a decided improvement might be effected in shat direction, too. I would suggest, therefore, that your paper pay the attention to the pedes- trian's side of this question that that side deserves, It is probable that your editorials will not be as popular, but they will certainly be more effective. The Police Department is now recognizing that the pedestrian has got to be protected against himself by the control that they are putting on pedestrian traffic at 42d and ath Streets and Fifth Avenue to keep pedestrians from runifing heedlessly into the automobiles when the traffic officer gives the signal. This is a very encouraging sign of the times and will undoubtedly be followed by a larger effort in this direction because it ls wbsolutely necessa I from that Tf the proper strenuous action agains’ the careless pedestrian, iftalo, ordinance to the effect that pedes. trians must not cross the streets in There is fine mental exercise und a lot of satisfaction in trying to say much in a few words. Take time to be brie}. flculty that exists the only success- | jn also hear some very good newa It is the first big city ave heard of that is taking In Buffalo at the present time there is a city weeks, and they followed it up by making the arrests, and from what 1 ‘hear jt 1s having a very beneficial effect. They are doing even more than that. They call these careless pedes- trians “Jays,” and the street cars are carrying advertising cards appealing tc the pedestrians not to be “jay- walkers.” I jnderstand the sign reads “Don't We a jay when you are crossing the street,” or words to that effect. I have driven an dutomobile around the streets of New York myself for over twenty years. I also walk a great deal around town and I there- fore have a pretty good idea of both the factors in this very troablesoma | question. Pleasb give this matter careful thought, and write some editorials | about careless pedestrians and- ses | how they look to you when they get rint. | ‘ou will never make the proper) progress by your present course of | action; as a matter of fact It re- minds me very much of a man try- ing to lft himself by his boot-straps. SIDNEY B. BOWMAN. 1672 Broadway, Aug. 80, 1920, Editor's Note: A recent editorial, “A Jay Walking Town," made precisely the point which Mr. Bowman empha- j The Evening World has re- | peatedly pointed out the double fac- tor of responsibility in most, motor acetdents, | Why Worry? | "Mo the Bilitor of The Hrening World: To settle a dispute will you kindly decide the following question relating to table etiquette? A contends that any one possessing a left hand should not use the fork in his right hand to convey food to the mouth, while B insists that the reverse should be the case, Who wins? WATERS. New York, Sept. 1, 1920. No Jobs tor Him, ‘To the Baitor of The Brening World: It bas been of considerable interest to me to note the contents of your various correspondents with respect to persons who are out of employ- ment. Very recently I read the re- marks attributed to a learned judge. These persons all seem to voice the sentiment that no one need remain out of ‘employment through cholec, but will find positions and jobs hang- ing all around him waiting to be plucked, i It surely must have ocourred to such persons that there is a type of man who is not skilled in any of the trades, Who Is not of the type which does laboring work, who is refined, educated, bright, experienced and has accomplished noteworthy things; men who could be placed into most any executive or semi-executive position it arresting and punishing them fo! ani a the middle of the block, and they are ead, Nata with the utmost assurance that they UNCOMMON SENSE By John Blake (Copyright, 1920, by John Blake.) BETTER TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE THAN NONE, Overconfidence results in many and costly mistakes. But we learn By mistakes. i The overconfident youth is often a pest. ve a pest than a failure. The only way to find out whether you caahandle a job or not is to try it. If you find that you can’t handle it, after trying it as many times as you are permitted to, you can always tackle some other kind of a job. Often overconfideace will be mistaken for vanity, Often it will bring painful ridicule on you. But if you are of the sort which can be turned from your purpose by ridicule there will be no chance of your making progress anyway, so don’t worry. Overcoafidence is dangerous only when it is based on nothing. But even then the man who believes in himself will get further than a timid man who is afraid to attempt any task that may be offered him. The best cohfidence, of course, is eoafidence that is born of ability. But ability must be acquired slowly and painfully. If you feel that you can do a big job after you have learned, you are far more likely to learn how than if you nel shat you could never do it, no matter how hard you tried. Believe in your future ability, if you don’t believe in ur present ability. Don’t be afraid of overconfidence. The chances are that you won't have it, for few intelligent people have. £ Fs But evea if you are more confident than is justified by your present performance, you can make yourself live up to your confidence by and by if you are in earnest about your ambition. And remember always tnat in business as i life, a faint heart never won any prizés. But better. Ten-Minute Stadies of New York City Government. , By Willis Brooks Hawkins. Thig is the twenty-seventh ar- ticle of @ serieg defining the duties pa Sern ee and legisia- Moers an ‘da he York City Government SY rae Taxation. worn Board of Agsessors. ‘The chief duty of the Board of A&- | sessors ts the le¥ying of assessment# | to defray the original cost of local Im+ | provements, such as grading, curbing jane paving of streets the laying of ‘sidewalks and of sewers. The entire: |cost of preliminary street pavements j1# assessed against the property beng jfited. If a permanent pavement lis subsequently laid over the same are only the difference between the cost” of the preliminary and the permanesit pavements is assessed against the property benefited. When the cost of 4 permanent pavement has once bce) assess¢d repavings are generally paid |for by the city, excepting when the j with pavement is laid in accordance | with a petition of a majority of (he intefested abutters, in which case it is assessed against the abutting property. a Mia Coat of a lateral sewer is sed against the property drali by it, while the cost of an deordeaiy ate sewer is assessed against phe , property directly drained by it only the amount of the cost of a latefus sewer, the excess, being distribuied over the territory drained the locar sewers flowing into it. The cos outlet sewer is assessed against the entire territory which it drains, 3 aseessments for regulating, gtading and paving streets up to sixts feet in width are usually le: against the property in front of whch the improvement is mad but if Mhe! street is of unusual width: is a main’ artery of travel and is of expensive construction the assessment is ex- tended to the area locally benefited When an assessment for benefit ex- ceeds 3 per cent. of the value of the property, it may be paid in ten in- stallments with interest at 5 per cent. Under no conditions may an assess. tment exoced 50 per cent. of the value a 6 property as vhic! i crate perty against which it ig Notices of pending assessment are published in the City Record an in the corporation newspapers and the lists are open for thirty duys thereafter, when a hearing is given before the Board of Assessors, If the board is unable to adjust its differ- ences with an owner, the matter i jreferred to the Board of Refision of Assessments, consisting of thw Comptroller, the Corporation Counsel | and the President of the Department of Taxes and Assessments, fal If the grade of a street is change a property owner may file a claim f damages, which, if allowed, are added to the cost of the work and assessed against the property benefited. The Board of Assessors consists of three members appointed by the} Mayor, The present incumbents are William —C. Ormond, Simmons $5,500 a year, members, $5,0 that of the other SS REE AS AS ONE WOMAN | Serf By Sophie Irene Loeb } ‘The Press Publianing Ce Copyright, 1920, b five New York Evening World). HERE |s a movement on foot for the encouragement of movies in) the schools and to be made @ ® T part of the curriculum of school hi sent Already such visual instruction has been established in Chicago, Dettbity” ,4@] Los Angeles and Newark. ae As an aid to class room work this teaching has unlimited possibilities. The invention which re~ tards the motion of pictures will prove invaluable in teaching childrem exactly how various things move, ‘ For athletics and surgery this would be most useful. 3 Colored photography for educational purposes is also most interesting*as well as the animated drawings, which would be of great value in the teach- ing of many branches of science, such as biology, chemistry and physics. In a word, the opportunities are) many, especially ‘since children grasp* things perhaps more readily by ac- tually visualizing them. # In New Orleans, where there were no funds for the purpose, the chikirea raised the cost of screen work by salvaging newspapers. However, it ts an education feature that ought to be encouraged. Ricscesescreseeimieionet ‘ method of “That’saFact” By Albert P. Southwick , *1920, by The Press Publishing Co, York Brening World). | Richmond Hill+was really a bill, the southwestern outjut of the low range called the Zandtberg (that: is, “sandhills"), which swing in w long curve from the present Clin- ton Place and Broadway to whe Varick and Van Dam Streets are course, expect to obtain employment at any of the various trades. He cannot do laboring work; mainly be- cause he ts obviously not of the receiving absolutely no pay mea: to the winds many of the prospect laboring type; his prospective em- ployer will try to advise him on the way he should conduct his future. Place him in a minor position, and he will be tortured by the fact that he Is obtaining a meagre salary which does not nearly make ends meet at home, Besides, he ts generally work- ing alongside of dumb-bells, foreign- ers, illiterates and semi-educated boobs whose main amibition seems to be watching the clock, discussing where they will go that evening and wishing Saturday were to-morrow. This is @ fine place to put a man who has more knowledge and expert- ence than the gwhole batch of’ such fellow employ@s, At that, it ts mighty hard to get eyen a minor sition; so much “experience” seems to be required in the particular line of business under discussion. pects the man to wait thirty days earned. With your correspondents, I am coming the conclusion that there is no one this God-forsaken town who wants ploy, type, and therefore must remain ANONYMOUS. New York, Aug. 29, 1920. And Worne to Come, ‘To the Diltor of The Brening World: I have been informed by the Ni Yotk Tele) have a tel r | would make good. | refer to men who doing 80, just the same as they arrest} have met with considerable success 4 punish law-breeking automobile} and find themselves suddenly suffer- A bay Beet vga man of this type cannot, of nia Plait nine! ese ‘There seems to be @ joker here. Hi He can obtain jots of positions as salesman (on commiesion), No mat- as y'Gs, he fe, expoced. to work has may @ wor) to further intereste, he ee ae by the Public Service Commission? New York, Sept, 1, 1980, te eR ee ee ot nln RI eee 8 while until he has developed trade His employer cheerfully will throw worked up, and in many cases ex- more for the money he has ectuall: the utmost respect to the opinion of Magistrate Norris and of jake a chance on a man who obvi- ously seems to be a good one to em- I know, because I am of this one Company that I could phone installed by sign- ing @ contract for $40 @ year and up. about the 8 per cent, discount ordered Victim. M, Ca ' (A } now The boys of a century and more ago had their winter sports witi out ‘trouble. They could put ony their skates at the Stone Bridge, Intersection of the present Cana Street and Broadway, and glide” away over tlie flooded meadows around the base of Richmond Hill; and up the Minetta Creek, across the marsh that has since been trans- formed into Washington Square, and then to the present Fifth Ave- nue and 14th Street. ts, or iy to in to ‘The Minetta (also spelled Man- etta) water expanded into a large point at the base of Richmond Hill, and “from the crest of this small eminence was an enticing prospect; on the south, the woods and dells, and winding road from the lands of Lispenard through the valley where was Borrowson's tavern; and on the north and west the plains of Greenwich Village made a rich prospect to gaze on.” ow rs Meadows” was the ig- renunciation of TAspeno