Nebraska Newspapers

    Official Paper of Box Butte County
TWICE A WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
Official Paper of the City of AUkae
VOLUME XXVIII. (Ten Pages)
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1921
NO. W
'A
r
STOCKMEN'S
t CONVENTION
) ' IN SESSION
WESTERN NEBRASKA CATTLE
MEN MEET IN ALLIANCE
One Hundred and Fifty Cattle Grow
era Holding Meeting at Elks
Club Today
The annual convention of the Ne
braska stock growers' association got
under headway this morning: at the
jmks club, when the first business ses
sion was held. The executive commit
lee held an all-day meeting- at the
First National Bank building Mon-
day, and were entertained at the
chamber of commerce luncheon at
.soon.
Prominent stockmen from. all over
western Nebraska are in attendance at
the meeting. Seventy-five were on
Hand early this morning, and it was
believed that the attendance will be
double that figure for the closing ses
ion. Among the prominent visitors
-who are attending the convention are
Charles C. Jameson of Ellsworth, sec
Tetary; C. L. Talbot and W. B. Tagg
of South Omaha, and Leo C. Stuhr,
state secretary of agriculture. Practi
cally all of the delegates have an
nounced their intention of remaining
in the city for the rest of the week, to
take in the race meet and the automo
bile race3 Saturday.
The morning session opened at 9.30
with an address of welcome by W. R.
Metz. President Graham of i this city
followed with his annual address. Re
ports by the brand inspector, audit
ing committee, treasurer, resolutions
committee, nominating committee and
election of officers followed.
Officers elected for the coming year"
are: Kobert Graham, Alliance, presi
dent; Ed. H. Reid, Scottsbluff, vice
president; Charles C. Jameson, Ells--worth,
secretary-treasurer. The execu
tive committee consists of Ed. P. Mey
' erg, Omaha; Dan Adamson, Eli; E. M.
TJanks, Alliance; Ruben Lisco, Lisco;
F. Carrothers, Whitman; G. C. Carson,
Irwin; John Diemer, Hyannis; H. J.
Krauze, Long Lake; J. H. Bachelor,
"Valentine; Wm. McLaughlin, Lund; J.
1 Canford, Mitchell; A. R. Modisett,
Ttushville; E. M. Eldred, Orlando; W.
A. Metzger, Merriman and S. P. De
lstour, Lewellen.
Resolutions were adopted on the
death of Joseph A. Saults; requesting
reduction of freight rates on livestock;
urging congress to appropriate one
"hundred million dollars to be used for
extending credit to stock growers;
urging adequate import duties on live
stock and its product; favoring meat
packing legislation; pledging support
to Secretary of Agriculture Wallace;
urging the modification of the Palmer
consent decree to permit packers to
engage in retail sale of meats; thank
ing the citizens of Alliance and the
officers of the association.
The following program will be pre
sented during the afternoon session,
which opened at 1:S0. ,
Invocation, Rev. Stephen J. Epler.
Vocal duet, Mrs. Beat and Mrs.
flershman.
Address, Leo Stuhr, state secretary
of agriculture.
Address, C. W. Colling, member ex
ecutive committee national live stock
association.
Address, Secretary Tomlinsom of the
national live stock association.
Address, C. H. Withey.
Address, W. B. Tagg.
I President Graham's Address.
' In his annual address, , President
Graham discussed present conditions
in the industry, paying especial em
phasis to the need for reduced freight
rates and the increase cost in han
dling live stock at the markets. He
endorsed the appointment of a com
mission of three men to supervise
methods of trading, and urged the ne
cessity of regulating the packing in
dustry as well as to stockyards.
Mr. Graham said, in part:
"Another year ha3 passed into his
tory since our last meeting, a year that
has witnessed one calamity after an
other that has been disastrous to the
industry with which we are identified.
"We have seen prospective profits that
uiara nrmflrArit.lv ours, the result of the
great war, practically wiped out by an
unprecedented tail in me vaiue 01 our
herds. Conditions over which we have
mn rnntrol have reacted to our disad
vantage. At no time in the history of
the livestock industry nas tne siock
man met with such an abrupt decline
in values as fell to our lot during the
viuf wriirh has nassed.
"One vear &eo we imagined the
bottom had been reached and our in
urmiU rprnnprate And intelli
j " r -
Kent effort would be rewarded with a
fair return on our investmets, but
nnVt Vina nnt hepn the case, instead
each succeeding market day saw prices
Ptill seeking a lower level unui ine
riii lwfiived for finished cattle in
vinnv rncpa rin not Tiav first Cost at tt
those who have been so unfortunate
have in addition not only sunered a n
nancial shortage from purchase price,
but have lo?t the whole amount repre
sented by feeding charges, such as
corn, hay, labor and interest on the
investment.
"The question that Is uppermost in
the minds of those who have followed
cattle-raising for a livelihood b: How
can we put our industry on a solid
foundation where a fair profit can be
realized on our investments and la
bor? In my opinion it will be some
time before conditions reach normal
and only by intelligent effort along
many lines can we nope for success.
One of the major causes that might be
mentioned in this connection is the
unwarranted and unreasonable freight
rates that the stock owners have to
pay for the transportation of their
livestock to the market centers. As
an illustration: The freight rates per
hundred weight from Alliance to
South Omaha in 1916 was 23 cents
today it is 44 cents per cwt., almost
an increase of 100 per cent; no effort
should be spared to compel the trans
portation companies to lower the
freight charges in keeping with the
reductions which we have been forced
to accept.
"Another item that enters into our
transactions is the increase in cost of
handling our stock at the livestock
markets: Commission charges, feed
charges, yardage charges, are still
maintained at war level figures, while
our products have gone down to pre
war prices and in some cases still
lower.
"Whoever has given any thought to
this question of markets, must needs
be struck with the absurdity of a sit
uation in which the man who pays the
bills supporting this entire structure
is not even consulted as to the rates
which he must pay. A little while
ago, in discussing commission charges,
a livestock paper at one of the mar
kets asked the question: Why should
the patron of the market be consulted
as to the commissions he would pay 7
I know of no reason why he should be
consulted, unless he objects to taxa
tion without representation. Of course,
our commission firms assure us that
their charges are entirely reasonable.
(Continued on Page 4)
REQUEST FOR
RESIGNATION
IS WITHDRAWN
DEAN DIXON TO REMAIN PASTOR
OF ST. MATTHEW'S
Formulators of Resolution Vote to
. Toss it Into Wastebasket '
- Peace in Church Family -
At a meeting of the vestry of St.
Matthew's Episcopal church, held
Monday evening at the parish house.
the members voted unanimously to
toss into the wastebasket a resolution
prepared by five of their number, ask
ing their pastor, Dean J. J. Dixon, to
resign, effective July 1. Two members
of the vestry were absent, and the
names of both were upon the docu
ment in question. Dean Dixon himself
brought up the matter of the resolu
tion, which was not formally presented
to the vestry. A friend of the pastor s
made the motion to withdraw, and this
motion was seconded by one of those
who had signed it. The other signers
voted with the majority.
The vestry also accepted the resig
nation of two of its members. One
other member has since resigned. The
session was said to have been rather
stormy in spots, but at its close was
apparently peaceful and serene.
F.G. Gurley Has Been
Named Superintendent
to Succeed G. L. Griggs
F. G. Gurley, now assistant superin
tendent at Wymore, will succeed
George L. Griggs as superintendent of
the Alliance division of the Burlington,
effective June 15. Mr. Griggs has been
promoted to the Beardstown, 111., divi
sion, and left to assume his new duties
Monday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Gurley
have been in Alliance since Sunday.
Mr. Gurley wa3 formerly a division
superintendent for a short time, but
was demoted to the rank of assistant
superintendent when the number of
Burlington divisions was reduced three
months ago.
Mr. Griggs was presented a thirty-
second degree Masonic ring, set with a
diamond, by the employes of the Alli
ance division Monday afternoon. ?pv
eral delegations calling at his office
to bid him farewell.
Burlington Special
Agent T. J. Smith is -
Transferred to Lincoln
Burlinrton Special Agent T. J,
Smith will leave this evening for Lin
coln, where he will succeed Bert Ely
as special agent for the railroad at
that place. Mr. Smith's place in Alli
ance will be taken by W. S. Short of
Sterling. Colo.
Mr. Smith has been in Alliance for
a long time, and has made an enviable
record as special detective here. Not
only has he attended to his duties
with the company, but he has assisted
the city and county authorities in law
enforcement and his fervicea have
been required a number of times. He
has made a wide circle of friends here,
who are pleased to learn of his promo
tion.
DENVER TRAIN
HITS BOXCARS
AT STERLING
ENGINEER M'FALL INJURED IN
JUMPING FROM CAB
Several Alliance People Among the
Passengers Train Delayed Five
Hours By Accident
The C, B. & Q. train out of Den
ver last riday night seemed to have
a jynx right along with it, when it
struck a strip of box cars at Stirl
ing. Because of the washout at Union,
tne train was iorced to go over the
Union Pacific tracks, and because of
the high water, which for a consider
able distance was up to the ties and at
times over the rails, very slow time
was made. The train was about an
hour and a half late when it arrived
in sterling.
Leaving Sterling at 1 :30. the train
picked up more speed, the road bed
being safe, in an effort to make up
lost time, just as everyone, was set
tling down, satisfied that from there
on life would be easy, there came a
crash, hissing of air, and a jolt that
knocked people from their seats, and
against the end of the berths. Windows
opened, train men ran through the
aisles, people began to crowd out, and
lights nashed up and down the track.
Someone ran by shouting, "Where's
Mac ?" Mac was the engineer. McFall.
and had jumped from the cab. McFall
was found in a dazed condition, lying
just over the barbed-wire fence alone
the right-of-way. He had apparently
struck the fence in his leap. A doctor
and Harry Wells, Alliance undertaker,
headed home from Denver, where he
had attended a convention of funeral
directors, were on the train, and soon
got the injured man on a stretcher and
an ambulance started for the wreck
from .Sterling. On first examination
McFall was found to have the left arm
broken above the elbow, the same arm
out of place, a slight fracture on the
temple, and a mass of scratches and
bruises about the face and head. One
eye was badly scratched, but the eye
ball seemed to be safe. He was taken
to a local hospital for closer examina
tion, .but asked to be taken later to
Denver, as his home is there. Mr.
McFall wad an old employe, having
been in the service some thirty years,
His home was formerly at Alliance.
No one else was injured.
The fireman attempted to Jump, but
found his way blocked by a string of
box cars. He came through safely.
The engine had struck a long string
of loaded box-cars, which had been
kicked down the yards, and were part
ly on a siding and partly on the main
line. The car which seemed to be the
one most torn up was filled with lum
ber. The car was knocked from the
trucks, and the lumber scattered on
the ground. A tank car full of gaso
line was missed by a very few feet,
one of its wheels being mashed a bit
Fate was kind there, at least, for had
the gasoline exploded, no one would
have had to call Sterling and tell them
of the smash-up.
The wrecker, which had been used
during the day at Union, was in the
yards, and they soon were at work
cleaning up the track. The front end
of the locomotive was smashed badly,
having mixed with the car of lumber,
the left cylinder head put out of com
mission, and the parts were jimmed.
Another engineer was secured, and
the train left Sterling about 5:30,
nearly five hours late.
Several Alliance people were on the
train, including Mrs. John O'Keefe and
family, Harry Wells and
Most of the Alliance people had been
on the other Burlington train when
the bridge at Union gave away.
The only explanation for the string
of cars left standing on the main line,
when a train was known to be com
ing through, is that the night shift, in
a hurry to leave, kicked the cars down
on the siding and did not wait to see
where they stopped. Instead of stay
ing on the siding, about half went
over on the main line, where the pas
senger train struck them.
J. M. Miller Attacked
by Ilolstein Bull at
His Farm Last Sunday
J. M. Miller, proprietor of the Alli
ance Hotel and oWner of a large pure
bred stock farm four miles west of
the city, narrowly escaped being killed
or seriously injured Sunday afternoon
when he was attacked by a monster
Holstein bull in a pasture on his farm.
Accompanied by Mrs. Miller and two
small children they were passing
through the pasture in which the bull
was confined when the automobile in
which they were riding became stalled
The bull attacked Mr. Miller when he
got out to fix the auto. He fought it
off with an auto crank and a large
piece of timber until Mrs. Miller and
the children escaped through a fence
and went for help. The bull then
drove him into the auto and was not
subdued until he succeeded in running
a chain through the ring in its nose
and gouging its eyes with his thumb,
Robert Atz will arrive thia evening,
from Casper, for a few days visit.
FINE PROSPECT
FOR SUCCESSFUL
SPEED MEETING
BIG CROWDS EXPECTED TO AT.
TEND THE RACES
Much Interest in Wrestling Events
Scheduled for Three Nights
of the Week
The stage is all set for the most
successful race meet in the history of
Aiuance. a tine string: of horses, both
for the harness and running events,
are on tn grounds. Among the late
arrivals is Charley Irwin with a string
of the runners that made racing his
tory last summer and fall, and there
are others that will be in the same
class. Ed. Gould of Kearney, the
largest breeder of trotting horses in
the country, was among the last ones
to enow up.
The city it taking on a holiday en
pearance today. The bisr stockmen's
convention ha3 filled the streets with
broadshouldered men. wearinar ribbon
badges and broad smiles. Already the
noteis are announcing that .hey will
not be able to accommodate any more
guests, and the cry for help hes
reached the chamber of commerce.
which is listing rooms for rent for the
three days. A number of hot dog
stands, doll racks and other carnival
attractions are being erected on the
streets, and tomorrow afternoon the
big show will be in full swing.
A number of the merchants have an
nounced tlieir intention of closing their
stores in the afternoons of the next
three days from 1 to 5 p. m., in order
to permit their employes to attend the
races.
Big Feature Program.
This year's race meet has more at
tractions to the minute tl.an any that
has gone before. There will be no
cheap carnival shows, but instead, for
the evenings, there has been planned a
fireworks exhibition, with spotlight
mule races and the like preceding. In
addition to this, there ure the bis
wrestling events, scheduled for all
three evenings. "
Wednesday evening, Pete Sauer will
meet Wrobluvske and give the mat
fans a spectacle they have been wait
ing weeks to see. Thursday evening
Fred Mortenscn will tangle with Zim-
mer, and this match, too, is expected to
be a hummer. Friday evening comes
the big wrestling feature, when Joe
Stecher of Dodge, one time heavy
weight champion of the world, will
wrestle with the winner of the
Wednesday evening match.
New Sunday School
Organized Twenty Miles
North of Alliance
In these days of automobiles when
most country churches are abandoning
their work and the country Sunday
school is almost extinct, a successful
new Sunday school has just been or
ganized at the Johnson school house
some twenty miles west of Alliance.
This is a prosperous ranching and
farming community with well equipped
public schools, but is located too far
from the nearest town for people to at
tend church services, and until re
cently, no religious services had been
held there for a number or years. On
the fifth of June, A. W. Marts, Sunday
school missionary for the American
Sunday school union came by request
of some interested residents, and or
ganized a union school, of which C. P.
Mann was elected superintendent
There are four classes, all good-sized.
Rev. Mean C. Smith was invited to
preach there last Sunday afternoon,
and reported a larger crowd than the
seats would accommodate, an unusual
occurrance in the twentieth century re-
igious service. Another, unusual feat
ure was that there were more men
than women present, a condition to be
found probaWy in only one other
church service in the state, namely,
the Sunday chapel service of the 6tate
penitentiary. The people of that en
terprising community deserve com
mendation for undertaking this much
needed work.
DeMolay Boys Out
With Challenge to
Lioos and Marians
The baseball game, scheduled to
take place between the Lions and the
Rotanans' some of these days, when
other events aren't crowding too
strongly, has aroused considerable in
terest. The boys belonging to the
Alliance chapter of DoMolay announce
that they will play the winner of the
Lions-Kotanan baseball game, thepro
ceed. as uual, to go to the Camnfifte
girls. The T. P. A. has already an
nounced a willingness to play the win
ner in this game, and it is possible that
a recrular series can be arranged. The
odds favor the DeMolay for the cham
pionship, but some of those older mer
still know how to swat the pill.
Ed Fletcher has Iwen ill for a few
days but is again able to be at work.
THE WEATHER
omewhat unsettled tonight and
Wednesday. Possible local thunder
snowers. boutheast portion continued
warm
Rev. MearlC. Smith
Announces Sermon on
Morality of the World
"Is the world growing better or
worne i
This has been called the most two.
sided question of the hour. There
probably never was a time when sen
timent was more divided on the ques
tion than at the present time. Re-
lurmera oi me past nan century nave
been working to make the world bet
ter, and have accomplished their re
forms. On the other hand ,vice has
Deen increasing in unexpected places.
During the month of May the Liter
ary Digest discussed this question,
with particular reference to two
phases, feminine attire, and the mod
ern dance. It quoted editors of college
student publications, college presidents
and editors of religious papers, giving
from all these sources the most diver
sified views, ranging from the ultra
pessimist to the extreme optimism.
Rev. Mearl C. Smith announces that
he will discuss the subject next Sun
day in the Methodist church, speak
ing or the deteriorization or morals at
the morning service, and in the eve
ning, the bright signs that the world,
after all, is growing better.
Leslie Glass, of Hyannis came to
Alliance the first of the week to work
at carpentering.
DISTRICT COURT
GRINDING AWAY
ATMANYCASES
PHILLIPS DIVORCE SUIT START
ED MONDAY AFTERNOON
Edbroke Secured a Judgment Against
the First National Bank Miller
' Given Verdict by Jury 7 '
District court is still in session
grinding away at a number of equity
ases and the like, no matter how hot
the weather gets. Prospects are that
court will not adjourn until the last of
this week or the first of next.
Among the cases that have been dis
posed of is that of W. J. Edbroke vs.
the First National Bank. A jury Sat
urday brought in a verdict for the
plaintiff for the full amount of his
claim, over $1100. Mr. Edbroke was
hired to draw plans for remodeling the
first Nationals building. Witnesses
testified that he had been instructed to
keep the cost within a limit of $30,000.
It developed that the cost, according to
D. W. Bowden, Charles fuller and
other contractors, would be nearly $10,-
000 in excess of that sum, and the
bank decided not to build, even though
they had purchased a carload of orna
mental terra cotta. The defendant al
leged that their architect had not in
tended to keep within the limit they
set. His fee was to be a percentage
of the total cost of the work. He had
been paid $C00 on account, and
brought suit for the balance. .
Volta E. Byrne, better known as
"Muggins," lost his appeal from coun
ty court, where he sought to evade
payment of a note by saying that the
consideration for it was a certain
quantity of whisky, which he failed to
get, the bootlegger delivering him an
entirely different sort of liquid. The
jury in the case affirmed the judgment
of the county court.
The Phillip divorce case came to
trial Monday afternoon, and a large
gallery of Hemingford citizens was
present. Mrs. Phillips went on the
stand, but before her testimony was
completed, Judge W. H. Westover dis
missed the case, saying that it was
evident she could not show grounds for
divorce. The court spoke at some
length to the couple, urged that there
was no reason why they should not
compose their differences; spoke of the
futiluty of old people denying them
selves in order to leave money to their
children the worst thing that could
happen to the children. The case was
dismissed without prejudice.
Airplane Makes Trip
Bridgeport to Alliance
in Twenty-two Minutes
Ted Powell, pilot of the Curtis bi
plane, owned by W. W. Howe, made
the trip by air from Bridgeport to
Alliance in just twenty-two minutes
Monday afternoon. He was accom
panied by T. C. McCamey of Bridge
port.
Powell will remain with the aero'
plane in Alliance during the race meet
and has mado plans to take passen
gers for trips through the clouds dur
ing the rest of the week.
W. II. Benn, traffic manager for the
S:oux City Stock Yards company, is
among the delegates to the Stockmen's
convention this week.
PHONE COMPANY
WOULD CONTINUE
INCREASED RATES
ASKS LEAVE TO RETAIN THE It
PER CENT SURCHARGE
Proposed Schedule Filed With Railway
Commission Requests More
Money for Toll Service
The Northwestern Bell Telenhena
company, which operates an exchange
in Alliance, has filed a request with the
state railway commission asking leave
to continue the rate increase of 10 n
cent allowed by the commission last
vecemoer. Autnority lor this increase
which has been collected as a "stW
charge," expires on July 1 of this year.
The company sets out in Its petition
that it has made but 5 per cent on ita,
investment during the six-month
period, and that during that time U
has had to pay as hieh as 714 per cent
on borrowed money.
The railway commission has sent to '
the chambers of commerce in the citea,
and towns affected, notice of a hear
ing which Is to be held June 27 at
Lincoln, and inviting them to send
delegates to make a showing why the
request should not be granted, if they
desire to do so. The matter was
brought up at the Alliance chamber of
commerce noon luncheon Monday, and
after some discussion, it was decided
to appoint a committee to Investigate
and prepare figures, if possible, and if
this committee succeeds In digging up
anything that will be of value, dele
gates will be sent to Lincoln to join,
in the protest which will be made.
Clay Harry, local commercial man
ager, made a few remarks at the.
luncheon and pointed out that the,
granting of the petition will not mtaa
an increase in local service charges.
but only on toll line business, and thai
very slight. The increase asked foe,,
is intended to push the use of station '
to-station calls, the lowest priced Ions
distance service. The company flad
that this greatly increases their Ca
pactty for service.
Several of the merchants present e .
pressed themselves on the subject, th
concensus of opinion being that otha
lines of business had taken their losses,
and" that it was up to the telephone.
company to do the same. ' It " wm
pointed out that very few busiaeai
men could show a profit during tb
past six months.
Besides asking to have its 10 per
cent surcharge on exchange rates con-
tinued after June 3, when they would
otherwise expire, the Northwestern
Bell Telephone company is requesting
an increase in some of its toll charges.
ctl uvuiai i jf vix3 sci ruu vv ct dvi
rates and those involving "appojjaV.
ment and messenger service."
Its proposed schedules filed with the
state railway commission shows th
same toll rates as at present on "tA
tion to station" calls up to 25 mlhuu
and an increase of 6 cents on all ea.11
for a longer distance up to 300 mitea
On "person to person service, the
initial rate of 20 cents for distances
up to 10 miles is left unchanged; but,
for 15 miles the new scale showa
5-cent increase, and the same for 2Q
and 25 miles. At 60 miles, the charge
is increased 15 cents; at 75 miles, 20i
cents; at 100 miles, 25 cents; at I'M)';
miles, 30 cents; at 00 miles, 4U cents,
at 300 miles, 80 cents.
The proposed "person to prson
rates are 20 cents for ten 'miles, i.
cents for fifteen; 30 cents for twenty.
25 cents for twenty-five; 65 cents for.
fifty; 85 cents for seventy-nve; 91.10
for one hundred; $1.45 for one hundrodt
and fifty; $2 for two hundred and $3.21
for three hundred miles.
Gradations begin at ten miles, In
upward steps of six miles each to a
certain point, and then eight miles.
These steps mark the approximate,
distances between towns in Nebraska.
Forty Per Cent Differential.
Instead of a 25 per cent differential
now existing between "station to at,
tion" and "person to person" rates, the
new scale fixes a 40 per cent differ
ential, within a minimum of 10 cent
between the two classes.
The company is asking to have Map
pointment and messenger" charge
fixed 70 per cent higher than "station ,
to station" rates.
Report charges on long distance
calls are to be the difference between
"station to station" and "person to
person" rates, varying from, 1 to 3S
cents.
The 10 per cent surcharge now bein
collected by the Bell company in addi
tion to its exchange rates was put into-
elfect by order of the railway com
mission last December.
A hearing on the present applica-.
tion will take place on June 27. In a.
statistical showing which accompanied
its request, the company says its net
earnings for the first four months this
year were f 218,776, or less than 5 per
cent on its Nebraska property,
Mm. W. E. Caldwell of Rushville,
has been vi-sitincr at the home of her
daughter, Ms. Mearl C. Smith. She.
was accompanied by Morris Caldwell
who has been attending the Nebraska
Wesleyan university. They returned,
home Thursday.
P. I. Beach made a business trip t
Omaha last week. .
J