Zwncc a MceT tXucsbav an jfrtfcav
VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, COX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1920
No. 80
WANTS TO KNOW
ABO! LEGION
Alliance Railroader Aks for a State
ment as to Where the Organi
zation Stands
The Herald is in receipt of the fol
lowing letter from an Alliance rail
roader, who wants to know exactly
where the American Legion stands In
regard to unionism and strikes:
ALLIANCE. Neb., Aug. 17. 1920.
To the Editor of The Herald: I
wish that you would kindly publish
the following in the Legion Notes,
and if possible secure response from
some one of the officers of the
Legion, publishing same. In advance
will say that there seems to be quite
an argument, both "pro and con"
among the brotherhood men, regard
ing the attitude the Legion takes re
garding unionism and strikes.
For some time past I have been
lorced to wage a strong argument
in defence of the Legion, and have
always done so willingly. It seems
that some of the brotherhood men
have the Idea that, to belong to the
Legion means that the members
were subject to be called upon to act
as strikebreakers at any time that
the officers in charge requested, or
in other words to act the same and
under the same principles as the
state militia. Have just read an
article in the July edition of the B.
of L. F. and E. magazine on page 24
where the Legion post at Great
Bend, Kas., mobbed five men and one
woman, Americans by birth, but who
happened to favor the non-partisan
league and who were to have ad
dressed the farmers of that vicinity
on non-partlsanism.
The league was explained to me
to adhere to neither religion or poli
tics, labor or capital. But the Great
Bend post, who possibly were not the
perpetrators, but who were instiga
tors in the mobbing. I thought tnat
the Legion stood for 100 per cent
Americanism and were for law and
order, but judging from this Kansas
report (and I happen to be a native
of that part of Kansas and know the
exact conditions that existed there)
aid sure that they have fallen con
siderably from 100 per cent Ameri
canism, for when a woman is driven
"in company with friends" into a
stockyards and, there jeered at by
300 Legionnaires in full uniform and
said Legionnaires are upheld and
backed by both city and county au
thorities, then and there I denounce
the American" Legion and the prin
ciples that caused me to put on the
uniform that afterwards made me
eligible to the American Legion. 1
still hold a card in the Legion, but
if I am not convinced that the Legion
is not responsible for this outrage,
it's the G. I. for my button. Now
some of you legionnaires who are up
to snuff on the by-laws and require
ments of a Legionnaire come out
with some dope and if it's worth
pulling for, ail right; if not, say so
Give the public the truth and let
them know what you are and what
.you are striving for, Respectfully,
B. H. SHOOFSTALL.
J. B. Miller, commander of Alli
ance post No. 7, has submitted the
following reply to Mr. Schoopstall's
communication: ,
Alliance, Neb.. Sept. 3, 1920. B
51. Shoopstall, Esq., Alliance, Neb.,
Dear Sir: Your letter dated August
17th addressed to the Editor of the
Alliance Herald was handed to me
today. I believe that you will agree
with me on sober second thought
that the proper place to correct
abuses, if there are any. In any or
ganization Is in the organization it
self and not through the public
..press. I know nothing about the oc
currence at Great Bend, Kansas, or
the action of the members of the
Legion at that place, but, even If
they were carried away by their feel
ings and did wrong that was abso
lutely inexcusable, that does not nec
essarily ean that the LEGION itself
is wrong. You undoubtedly noticed
the reports in the papers of the ac
tions of a mob in Denver recently in
which the Denver Post building was
almost wrecked, but I do believe that
you would ascribe that to the strik
ers although some people so do
You have heard of the actions of
some ministers of different denoini
nations who fell from grace and
broke the laws of God and man, but
did you remain away from church
on that account, or claim that the
particular religion to which that
minister belonged was wrong?
There is no accounting for the ac
tions of human beings when wrought
up to a high pitch by the eloquence
of some spell-binder or monomaniac
and the trouble at Great Bend may
have been started by some irrespon
slbla- character who carried the
crowd with him to results of which
they probably were ashamed of
themselves, afterwards.
As I stated above, I know nothing
al- the circumstances or trouble
at 'Vpolnt and, as yau are aware,
Ihex'W' 'nts published In the press
of the., ' are very badly colored
and are fo always even bordering
on the tk 'id we cannot believe
everything wear. I would be
very much fc d to have you
call at my offlc any time you see
(it and discuss tins matter fully and
freely, or come to the meetings of
the Legion and take this, and other
matters, of real and actual interest
up and go into them thoroughly. If
the Legion Is on the wrong track
the proper place to set it right Is
Inside itself. In any organization
of a large number of people there
are hound to be some goats with the
sheep and it is necessary to sepa
rate them and possibly expel them
from the herd or more properly the
organization, and I believe that you
will see that more good can be done
by going at a matter of this kind in
a calm and impartial manner, look-
ng info every detail, obtaining full
information from both sides and if
wrong has been done, to try and
right it, instead of getting Into an
endless discussion through the press
and not accomplishing any good
either for the order or for any in
dividual member of same.
Assuring you that I will be glad
to co-operate with you in every way
to make the Legion right In every
way and asking you to meet me and
the other members in the same
spirit, I am, Sincerely yours,
J. B. MILLER.
Post Commander.
The Herald editor is a member of
the American LeRlon. He is also a
member of the typographical union,
and he does not for one moment
(Continued on page four.)
WOMEN ARE NOT QUITE
MEN'S POLITICAL EQUALS
Women will not be serving on
juries in the courts of Nebraska
"just yet," In spite of the passage of
the 19th amendment to the federal
constitution giving universal woman
suffrage, says the Omaha Bee.
,..This Is the unanimous opinion of
Election Commissioner Moorhead
and the judges of the1 district court.
'Amendment to the statutes pro
viding for the mode of operation of
Juries in this state will be necessary
before women may serve on juries,"
paid Mr. Moorhead.
"The statute plainly provides that
'all males' of certain qualifications
are eligible to Jury service. Of
course, this excludes all women
And, as the 19th amendment gives
to women nothing but the right to
vote, It may be some time before
they are given the right or duty to
serve on Juries, though I believe this
will come within a short time.
"Even men must be at least 25
years old to be eligible to Jury serv
ice. And if they are more than 60
they may claim exemption. There
are many provisions for exemption
from service. Judges and clerks of
courts, sheriffs, Jailers and ex-convicts
are not permitted on Juries.
Ministers, attorneys, physicians,
postmasters, mail carriers and some
others may claim exemption.
"In some states where women are
now permitted to serve on juries a
much wider range of exemption is
allowed."
Jury service In the district courts
pays only $3 a day and is usually
esteemed a duty rather than a privi
lege. A marriage license was Issued
Wednesday to Guestave T. Erlckson
and Miss Mary E. Brown, both of
Alliance, where the groom is em
ployed as a carpenter. Both of the
contracting parties were but eighteen
years of age. It was necessary for
the prospective husband to seeure
his father's permission, and the re
quest was made by telegraph. The
father, who lives at Rockford, 111.,
apparently is an absent-minded man,
for he thoughtlessly sent the consent
by mall Instead of helping Cupid's
cause by using the telegraph. This
delayed issuance of the license for
several days.
Occasionally Old Ed Howe uncov
ers a grouch with which we can
sympathize. A recent complaint is
the overworking of the term "pep."
Old Ed defines "pep" as the sort of
thing a Y. M. C. A. secretary has
when he urges a tired audience to
try the second verse again, with
more spirit. "The pep gentlemen are
mainly trying to do things that need
not be done," says he. B. L. T. in
Chicago Tribune.
Miss Alva Reed, formerly a teach
er In the high school, was visiting
at the home of Mrs. Fred Carlson
Wednesday.
! FIND BODY OF
CHARLES SMITH
Companion of "I ted Mike" In Alll-
iimc llin-gltiry Found Demi
Near Ardmore
Chief of Police Heed received
word Wednesday morning from
police officers at Ardmore, S. D., that
the body of Charles Smith, colored,
had been found dead In the weeds
along the right-of-way near that
town The body was badly decom
posed and physicians said the man
had been dead for . at least four
weeks. There were three bullet holes
In the chest and one through the
head. Smith was at one time a resi
dent of Alliance, leaving this city
the night of July 22 with "Red
Mike" another colored man. The
two were suspected of having pulled
off several robberies among their
colored brethren here.
The most spectacular crime with
which they were charged Is the rob
bery of two employes of Sam Shel
ton of $257 and $4 6, respectively.
The men were staying at the place
a mile or so out of Alliance where
Shelton keeps his horses and equip
ment. They shoved a gun in the
face of the older of the two men,
who answered the door when they
knocked, and took tne smaller roll
of bills from the pockets of the
other man's trousers, which were
hanging over a chair. They didn't
even awaken him.
The last night of the two men in
Alliance was n regular thriller. They
entered no less than four houses, and
collected a revolver In one and cash
of varying amounts from the others.
Before the alarm reached the police,
they had caught a passing freight
and were a good many miles away.
Chief Hoed, In company with
Charles Todd, Burlington special
agent, a few days later, made a trip
to Ardmore and other towns in that
part of the country following reports
that "Red Mike" had been seen.
They were forced to return empty-
handed. It now develops that Smith
and two companions were In Ard
more the night Chief Reed and Todd
were In town hunting for them, and
It Is said that they took to the weeds
until the police had gone. None of
the men was again seen in Ardmore.
"It looks suspicious for the police"
Chief Reed declared, "but neither Of
us killed him.;' The chief didn't
say that they wouldn't have done it
if they had caught sight of him.
It Is quite probable that the two
men who were with Smith kllleu
him, the theory of the Ardmore
police being that the motive was to
secure his share of the spoils left
over from the Alliance robberies
"Red Mike" is not believed to have
been Implicated, as word comes that
he was seen In Kansas City about
the time the murder Is supposed to
have taken place.
BRAKEMAN'S HAND
CRUSH ED BY ENGINE
Sam II. Fink. Burlington brake-
man, whose home Is in Alliance, had
his right hand crushed last Tuesday
afternoon at Hyannls. He was fir
ing on a freight which was waiting
on a siding for No. 44 to pass. Fink
was sitting on a railroad tie beside
the engine tender. When No. 44
came In sight, the engineer, Fred
White, kicked the airbrake release
and the engine lunged forward a
foot or so, one of the beams strik
lug Fink on the head. He put out
his right hand to steady himself
and his hand struck the track, the
engine wheel running over It and
smashing it.
Medical attention was secured at
Hyannls, and the train conductor
secured permission to make a fast
run to Alliance, where Fink was
taken to St. Joseph's hospital. It
was found necessary later to ampu
tate a large part of the hand.
Mr. Fink Is now at the hospital,
and greatly enjoys visiting with his
friends. He has asked them to call.
F. M. Flakbina, prominent young
Des Moines, Iowa, business man
spent Tuesday in Alliance looking
after land which he owns in Box
Butte county. Mr. Flnkblne made a
trip over the tenitcrrv west of the
city while here and was much pl-a-
ed with the crous being raised. It
had been several years since be
visited Alliance and be wai almost
amazed at the change in the city
"Alliance Is going ahead rapidly and
will make a real city" he said. He
returned to Oes Mjl..;s Tuetday
night.
Jim Hunter was able to be abroad
Thursday, after an illness of several
days.
NEW CAR TAKEN
FROM REOMGARAGE
Thieve Effect Entrance Through
IhiNenieiit and Make (ietaway
With DemoiiHtrutnr
Thieves broke Into the A. H. Jones
company garage early Thursday
morning and made a clean getaway J
with a new Reo Six. The car had
been used as a demonstrator, and
was well tilled with oil and gas suf
ficient to make a long trip. Entrance
wai effected by prying open the
basement door, which was secured
by a wooden bar. The car had been
driven Into the garage shortly after
midnight and was directly In front
of the rear door. After the thieves
had selected their car, they return
ed to the basement and propped the
bar against the door.
The Ilulck garage was also enter
ed during the evening, presumably
earlier. Here the thieves pried the
rear door open but found a big O.
M. C. truck securely locked directly
In front of the door. The garage
was well filled with cars, and the
thieves saw that It would necessitate
moving several trucks out of the way
before they could secure a passenger
car. Apparently they feared that
someone might come before they
could complete the theft, and they
retired, leaving the door open. At
the Jones garage they found condi
tions more favorable.
The car stolen had been brought
back to the garage about 12:30 and
one of the employes debated for
some time as to whether he would
go home or sleep In the rear seat.
He even went so far as to get a robe
and place there, but finally decided
that he preferred the feather tick.
Whether this decision lost an auto
mobile or saved his life Is what Is
worrying him now.
During the past few weeks, car
thieves have come to life again after
iome months of comparative Inactiv
ity. At Chadron last week two cars
were stolen from private garages and
from other towns In this part of the
state similar thefts have been re
ported. H. A. Rust's Bulck was also
taken from his garage In Alliance a
f-w. days ago. It has not been re
covered. . , " r
A BIG PROGRAM
FOR LABOR DAY
Next Monday to lie Fittingly Observ
ed by Member of Alliance
Unions
Monday, September 6, will be ob
served by over a thousand members
of labor unions In Alliance. Begin
ning with a parade of organizations,
which will form at the depot at 1
o'clock, the afternoon's program will
""-'"" " et.7,
various races and contests. Follow-
i . a m a. 1
ing is me program ior me anei-
l,oon-
1 p. m. Parade of labor organl-
zatlons, led by members of the Amer-
lean Legion in uniform.
2 p. m. At the fair grounds. Ad-
dress, G. C.
Porter of Morrill coun-
ty.
3 p. m. Races and contests, in
cluding the following:
Shetland pony race.
Nursing bottle contest.
Fat men's race (over 200 pounds.)
Lean men's race (over 6 ft. tall).
Ladles' ball throwing contest.
Men's ball throwing contest (for
ball players only)
Girls' race (under 12 years).
Boys' race (under 12 years).
Married women's race.
Tug of war between shopmen.
Bicycle races.
Watermelon eating
contest for
colored men only.
Ball game between Alliance
team and Bayard.
Members of the American Legion
have been requested to meet at the
city hall at 12:30 p. m. for the pur
pose of marching In the parade. It is
planned to have at least two squads
in uniform heading the column, and
other members of the legion, with or I
without uniform, will follow. An
especially good turnout of legion
men is hoped for.
A committee appointed by the ex
ecutlve commitee in charge of the
celebration Saturday afternoon solic
ited the various business bouses fori
prizes to be awarded in the various
contests. Other expenses will be met!
by the labor union men themselves.
A. Segar, who has been employed
on the state highway this summer,
has resigned his position and left fori cloudy and somewhat unsettled to
his home In Scottsbluff, where be I night and Saturday; not much
will attend school this year.
Al tai x sons sr.i.L
THREE OIL STATIONS
Vaughn & Sons of Alliance this
week disposed of their gasollna'tfnd
oil business. Including the thue' sta
tions at Alliance, Henilngford and
AnMoch, to the Mutual Oll-'Cuinpany
' '? City. The consideration la
said to hfi re been well over $50,000.
The new owners will assume charge
Immediately.
I). McNItt has been appointed as
local manager and will have super
vision over the three stations. The
Mutual company plans to conduct a
strictly wholesale business, and will
secure local agents to handle their
product, featuring Samson gasoline,
Radiant kerosene and a complete
line of lubricating oils and greases
of all kinds.
(MH)I) SAFETY FIRST
KIXXHU) FOR MONTH
Today end ..he spt.'l ratnpalg"
on th-3 AH'anco ttiv.if ;.". to get
throu&b the n.j;h ,t ngust with
out a single lujur" to .in employer.
The score Is not quite pot-feet, al
though all Vit one of lh-' accident
were of a mlnjr nature. Up t.v ,M.t
ust 25, the on-y u.ui in Hire) was an
Edgemont marhlniit wh lost a f -tiger
at the first Join. Since h 25th
the score has been marred b tne cr
two slight injnriei. The me have
taken a great interest In the "no
accident" drive.
A man giving his name as F. J.
Moore and his residence as New
castle, Wyo., drew a fine of $10 and
costs, a total of $15, In police court
Wednesday morning. Night Watch
Trabert picked him up at the Burl
ington station along about midnight
Tuesday and helped him navigate to
the city Jail, where a charge of
drunkenness was placed against him.
THE HELL SHIP" AT
THE IMPERIAL TONIGHT
A thrilling tale, containing such
things as pirates and love. Is sched
uled for the Imperial tonight when
"The Hell Ship," with Madlalne
Traverse, will be shown. In this
play, Miss Traverse takes the part
of Paula, the girl captain of a "bell
ship," of which .she. . forcibly takes
command when ,her father Is kill fd
in a mutiny. She subdues a mutin
ous crew, but falls In love and finds
herself "merely a woman." Also a
comedy "The Detectress," and the
latest current events.
Nazimova, in "The Brat," Is the
attraction for Saturday. One preach
er told us the other day that he hud
seeu It in Lincoln and that It was
a fine play. To take the curse off
a recommendation from the clergy.
it's no more than fair to say that be
admitted It was somewhat spicy.
The story relates the experience
of "the brat," a nameless girl who
loses her Job in the chorus and who,
cast forth into a pitiless world. Is
first Insulted by a masher and then
uaie(j to
the Night Court on ' a
I trimmed un chare. There an tu
(nor n Bearcn ot OCSii color" and
I
specially for a heroine for his forth-
I coming novel, rescues her and takes
her to his aristocratic home. After
that things happen rapidly.
Six reels of love .thrills and ad-
venture are billed for Sunday, when
Houdlni appears in "Terror Island."
Here Houdlni has the role of an In
ventor of a new submarine for sal
vaging wrecks. You can gueBs that
It'll abound with miraculous escapes
and baffling feats of every descrip
tion. A comedy, "His Naughty
I Wife," and another installment of
I the "Hand of Vengeance" serial
I complete the program
A. R. Rankin of Bridgeport, local
commercial manager for the Ne
braska Telephone company at that
place, came to Alliance Wednesday
evening after a day's automobile trip
I Inspecting the Bridgeport-Alliance
toll line. For a good part of the
Qlway, the toll line does not follow
I established roads, and after a man
has put In a day Inspecting It, he
I feels that h& has been somewhere
- 1 Mr. Rankin returned to Bridgeport
by train Wednesday evening
Miss Naomi Veach of Rushville
was the guest of Judge and Mrs. I
E. Tash Thursday. Miss Veach, who
was a teacher in the Alliance school
last year, was on her way to Mullen
- j where she has accepted a position for
I the coming term
For rent Furnished room for two
I gentlemen in all modern home.
Phone 279, 708 Toluca,
THE WEATHER
I For Alliance and vicinity: Partly
change in temperature,
NO EVIDENCE TO
. SUSTAINCHARGE
Judge Tah Find Fred ThompMoa
of Denver Not Utility of
. Ilootlegglng
Fred Thompson of Denver was
found not guilty of the charge of
bootlegging filed against him la
county court at the hearing held
before County Judge Tash at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning. Thomp
son was arrested by Chief of Police
Reed at Henilngford a week ago
Tuesday, following the confiscation
of a booze car and a five-gallon keg
of hootch. He was In company with
Allen A. Cox, who pleaded guilty
to havlug liquor in his possession In
a place other than his residence
and transporting liquor iuto Box
Butte county. v
No evidence was introduced in
court to show that Thompson had
anything to do with the transport
ing of the booze, or that he was the
owner of It'. He admitted being in
company with Cox, but denied any
connection with the traffic In liquor.
In whlca he was corroborated by
Cox himself.
Testimony was given by O. W.
Reed, c' lef of police. The chief said
that he had never seen Thompson
until he arrested him at Henilngford.
Mr. Reed stated that when he first
discovered the booze In the car.
neither man was anywhere near it.
Later he located Cox, who said that
the car belonged to a friend. They
went to look for the friend, and Cox
managed to slip away. Later the
two of them were arrested
The other witness called was Joe
Blake of the Lowry & Henry garage.
Mr. . Blake testified that Cox had
brought an automobile to the garage
for repairs, and had purchased gas.
lubricating oil and other supplies. At
Cox's request, Thompson gave a
check covering the expense.
Thompson has been released, hav
ing dug up the requisite $500 bail.
He left for Denver last night,, and th
folks up at the court house tigure
that he will arrange bail for Cox,
who is still being held. The two men
were taken before United States
Court Commissioner L. a. iri ust
Friday, pleaded not guilty, and held
for th federal grand Jury, bond be
ing set at $500. Cox has placed a
$200 check for collection with a lo
cal bank to pay his fine.
ELECTRIC SIGNS ARE
TO 11LAZH FOR (tX
Within a week or two the coun
try will be blazing with Crx electri
cal signs, erected by members of the
Cox electric league, which was form
ed a few weeks ago aim w ...... l-
ready consists of 9,000 members,
electrical workers, in all parts of the
United States.
The model sign, consisting of a
circle with an "X" In it, wa de igu
ed by George Williams of New York
who originated the idea of lighting
the Statue of Liberty and ca. lied out
the details of the work. - ,
First, three-quarters of the circle
are lighted, forming the letter "C,
then the entire circle, making the
'O," and last the cross In the center.
M. E. CONFERENCE
MAKES ASSIGNMENTS
The northwest Nebraska M. E.
conference, which met at Valentlue
last week, made the following as
signments, among others:
Alliance M. C. Smith.
Henilngford A. J. May.
Marsland To be supplied.
Crawford E. C. Newland.
Harrison Claire Van Meter.
Whitney J. L. Shaw.
Chadron Clinton Snneff.
Antloch and Lakeside C. H. Bur
leigh.
Mullen Edward MagUl.
Morrill- F. R. Williams, formerly
of Marsland.
The conference was entertained at
Valentine by Rev. N. G. Palmer, who
formerly held pastorates at Henilng
ford and Crawford.
The Nebraska territorial pioneers'
association will hold its annual sum
mer reunion Tuesday, September 7.
1920, in the parlors of the Grand
hotel, Twelfth and Q streets, Lincoln
Neb. The session will open at 10
a. in. and continue throughout the
day, with a luncheon and social boor
at noon. The association will also
maintain headquarters on the bat
cony of Agricultural hall on the
state fair grounds. All persons who
have lived in the state for thtrty
live years or more are eligible to
membership and. may register at the
Tuesday meeting or at the fair
grounds.
Miss Leila Nabb has accepted a
position at the Alliance Candy Store.