Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1918)
THE SEMLWEEKLV TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. NEKraEGOHD HER WONDERFUL SHOWING FOR THE YEAR 1917. RESULTS T0BE PROUD OF Brief Review of Her Accomplishments and Achievements During the Twelve Months Just Ended. By Will M. Maupln, Department of Publicity Standing upon the thrcshhold of tho Now Year, It is well that Ne braskans pauso and rovlow tho ac complishments of the year that has Just disappeared Into tho Umbo of things that were. Tho record of 1917 Is ono to which Nobraskans may point with prldo, a record of things accomplished, physical, spiritual and mental. When 1917 dawned upon tho world this great republic was at peace with all tho nations. Ero four months of tho year had passed tho republic was a part of the great world war. What has been Nebraska's contribution to tho great struggle bolng waged for tho preservation of democracy? Let us briefly review tho record: Tho first great offort put forth was the mobilizing of men to bear tho brunt of tho fighting, and Nebraska was among tho first to respond with three regiments of National Guards men recruited to almost full fighting strength a brigade of Nebraska sol diers who had volunteered to light for their country. While this brigade was being mobilized and whipped In to shape, the selective conscription machinery was at work, not only in Nebraska but elsewhere, and in no other state was tho draft law better enforced nor tho machinery in smoother running order than in Ne braska. Under tho direction of Gov ernor Neville the selectivo conscrip tion worked so smoothly that Provost Marshall General Crowder paid to Governor Neville and through the governor to the state, the highest compliments for the good work per formed. Today Nebraska has nearly 20,000 of her bravo sons in army and navy, all prepared to go "over tho top" In making permanent tho idea that peoples and not autocrats shall rulo tho world. But It takes moro than men In arms lo win a war. Behind tho fighting men theromust be men and women mak ing the utmost sacrifices to feed Ihem and clothe them and provide them with everything necessary to their comfort and well being. Tho production of foodstuffs and material for clothing, Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. activities and Liberty bond sub scriptlons, ard among the greatest of war activities, and Just as essential to success as fighting men. How has Nebraska measured up in these things? Nebraska exceeded hor quota in tho first Liberty Bond drive by several millions of dollars, and when the sec ond Liberty Loan drive came on, No branka set out and greatly exceeded tho proud record made In tho first drivo. Nebraska's quota for Liberty Bonds was followed by the Y. M. G A... drive, and Nebraska came across with nearly double the quota assign ed to hor. This was immediately fol lowed by tho Knights of Columbus drivo, work similar to that of tho Y M. C. A., and forgetful of religious differences again, as always, Nebras lea proceeded to more than double the K. C quota. From a per capita stand poi'Ut.no other state has excelled No bravika In investments in Liberty Bonds or contributions to tho Y. M, C. A., K. of C. and Red Cross activi ties. Nor can any other stato excel Nebraska's proud record of volun teer enlistments and ready responses to tho selective conscription act. In the matter of contributions other than men and money, what has been Nebraska's record? Napoleon said that "armies crawl on their bellies," and Sherman said "armies move no faster than their wagon trains." In other words, food supplies for the soldiers are as essontial as soldiers themselves. .It Is to this great repub lie that our associates in this great struggle aro lodking for their supplies of foodstuffs, and nobly is tho repub lic responding. It Is chiefly to tho middle west, however, that tho allies must look for those supplies of food Only ton states In this American Union produce more foodstuffs than they consume, and of these ten only ono produces moro of the three great staple foodstuffs, bread, meat and sugar, than It consumes, and that ono is Nebraska. The five great soil prod ucto necessary to human lifo are bread, meat, sugar, wool and cotton Nobraska produces three of these In surplus, and ono other, wool, may bo produced in Burplus. No other state in tho union Is able to match Nebras ka'o record In this respect. When it was realized that tho mid dlo west must produce tho foodstuffs it was also realized that other states not capablo of producing a surplus What Constitutes Dependency Lincoln. Draft boards have been in structcd by Provost Marshal General f'rowder to use "common sense and sympathy in the facts of each Individ ual case," In determining what would bo adequate support for dependents of a man registered for war service Many boards have indicated doubt att to what should bo done when it ap pears that a soldier's pay and war risk allowance will provide support for dependents whose claims otherwise woufd outltlo the registrant to deferred classification. must economlzo In consumption in ordor that thero might bo enough to go around. Again Nobraska came to tho front, and no other tttao is bet tor organized for food economy than Nobraska. Under tho direction of Gurdon W. Wattles, ono of Nobrns ka's capable organlzors, Nobraska is setting a record for food conservation. Under tho direction of John L. Ken nedy, another splendid typo of No braskan, fuel economy Is being prac ticed with gratifying results. Thus wo havo considered Nobraska with relation to its contribution of mon, its contribution of dollars and Its conservation of foodstuffs. What about its production. For tho first timo in history No braska practically lost a wheat crop in 1917. Tho crop of last year was less than 20 por cent of tho average. Was Nobraska discouraged? Not at all. Tho farmers answered tho ap peal of tho Stato Council of Defonso, and tho destroyed wheat acroago was sowed to oats and barley or plantod In corn. With farms hard hit by tho selectivo draft, tho farmers "speeded up" to the limit, and tho result was tho largest corn crop In tho state's history moe than 200,000,000 of bushols. Tho oats production was al so a record breaker, exceeding tho best previous yield by soveral mil lions of bushols. Hero Is a fact that can not bo dis puted: Nebraska In 1917 produced a greater surplus of foodstuffs than any other state, measured either by pop ulation or totals. Although tho wheat crop was deemed a total failure, No braska produced enough to supply her own needs for bread and seed, and had a tow millions of bushels to spare to the armies in the field. No braska raised enough sugar for her own consumption, and had almost as much more for her contribution to tho allies. Three years ago not a pound of potash was produced in No braska, and tho United States pro duced less than C por cent of the pot ash it consumed, tho remaining 95 per cent coming mainly from Ger many. Today tho United States Is pro ducing practically every bit of potash It Is consuming, and Nobraska Is pro ducing 75 por cent of it. Tho potash produced in Nebraska In 1917 was worth moro in dollars than tho gold mined in any one stato In tho Union. Following is a conservative statement of Nobraska production In 1917, based upon tho average of prices prevailing during the year: Corn $325,000,000 Wheat 30,000,000 Other grains 70,000,000 Potatoes 12,000,000 Fruits 8,000,000 Potash 18,000,000 Meat stuffs 100,000,000 Butter 25,000,000 Poultry 20,000,000 Eggs 35,000,000 Garden products 10,000,000 Sugar 9,000,000 Value added In manufact uring 30,000,000 Grand total for year.. $692,000,000 This means a wealth production of nearly $550 per capita for tho year a record that Nebraskr. challenges any other stato to excel. On December 31, 1917, Nobraskans had moro than $400,000,000 on doposit in the state and national banks of tho state, or approximately $300 per cap ita another record which challenges comparison. Nor Is the record of 1917 an excep tional ono, Nebraska has been going "over tho top" in tho matter of pro ductivity for twenty years. Tho Department of Publicity has recently compiled from tho reports of tho United States Bureau of Ag riculture a table showing tho product ivity of tho states covering a period of twenty years, 1895 to 1916, In clusive. It shows that In tho produc tion of wheat ,oats, corn, horses, cat tle, swine, and average farm values and, valuo of all farm property, Ne braska ranks third among tho states being excelled only by Illinois and Iowa. In the total valuo of corn, wheat an oats produced during that period, Nobraska ties with Illinois for first place. In the production of cattle and swlno Nebraska ties with Illinois for second placo. In, average values of all farm proporty Nebras ka is In fourth place, and In the same relative position In tho uverago val ues per farm. Measured in contributions of men and monoy to the great war, Nobras ka ranks alongside any of hor sisters. Measured on contributions of food stuffs to the great war, Nebraska claims first placo and is ready with the figures to substantiate her claims. Nor has Nobraska lagged behind In other activities because of tho "speed ing up" of war activities. Education ally this great stato still holds first place. For each child of school age within tho state's borders thero Is upward of $40 investod in interest bearing securities, tho rovenuos from which aro devoted to the support of the public schools. Tho stato docs not owo a dollar, either in bonded or floating Indebtedness. It owns 'prop erty exceeding $30,000,000 in valuo, Its future is as sure as its past do veloptnent has boon marvelous. Gathering the Income Tax. Washington. The great task oi gathering income tax and excess profits returns began Wednesday with the new year. Every unmarried person earning moro than $1,000 during tho last year, and every married person or head of a family who mado more than $2,000, must file with tho internal rove nuo collector of his district a roport any tlmo between Wednesday and March 1. He will be riotlflod boforo June 1 of the tax due, and payment will be duo by Juno 15, TELLS 1ST CAN BRING WAR 10 END BRITISH PREMIER MAKES SENSA TIONAL SPEECH IN LONDON. SMALL NATIONS MUST BE FREE Declares Alsace-Lorraine Must Be Re stored to Franco Germans Sus pend Negotiations With Rus sian Bolshevlkl. London, Jan. 8. Britain's answer to Count Czcrnln's terms of pence for tho central powers was emphatically nnnounced to the world' by Premier Lloyd-Gcorgo in a speech at tho Brit ish lnborltc "man power" last Satur day. Ho exposed tho annexation clauso of the central powers ns a bait held out by the mailed fist of Prussia rendy to strike tho death blow to free dom everywhere and gnrner In tho spoils of war. Onsuch "lip servlco" bnsls, ho said, lasting, secure pcaco Is Impossi ble. Then lie defined with grentor di rectness nnd nxpllcltness, every ono of Great Britain's war and peace alms, mentioning nil the vital disputed ter ritories by names. Ills basic princi ples arc thoso first enunciated by President Wilson, to whom the pre mier referred repeatedly. Ho said tho three main pillars of lasting pence must bo: 1 Sanctity of treaty. 2 Government by the consent of the governed. 3 International limitation of armaments. Tho premier's speech came ns a tre mendous surprise. Though It had been rumored for several days that such an utterance was forthcoming, It had not been expected to come so soon. The speech 'was nddressed to tho peoples, rather than tho government on tho quadruple alliance. Pnrtlcu' lnrjy did It contuin n virtual henrt to heart talk with the people of Ger many. Tho premier said that Britain and her nines are llglitlng: Not for the destruction or dlsrup tlon of Germany. Not to destroy Austria-Hungary or Turkey. Not merely to alter or destroy tho imperial constitution of Germany. Not to take Turkey's lnnds that aro predominantly Turkish from them. But for these principles : First Complete restoration of Bel- glum. Second Reparation as far nB pos sible for devastated towns and cities Third Neutralization nnd nationali zation of tho Dardanelles. Fourth "Reconsideration" of tho "Great wrong" done to France in 1871 referring to Alsace-Lorraine. Fifth Establishment of nn inde pendent Poland "comprising all gen uinely Polish elements, because this is necessary to tho stability of western Europe." Sixth Arnbln, Armenia, Mesopota mia, Syria, Palestine all entitled to separate national conditions. Seventh Of Russin, tho British statesman left tho future decision of tiie liussinn peopio tnomseives. Eighth Inhabitants of African col onies to be "placed under nn admlnls tration acceptable to themselves for tho purpose of preventing exploitation for tho benefit of European cp'iitnllsts nnd of European governments. Suspend Peace Parleys. London, .Inn. 8. Tho pence negotla Hons between the central powers nnd the bolshevik government In Russia have been "temporarily suspended" by tho Germans. From advices from Berlin It appears the rock upon which a continuation of the pourparlers split was the demand of "the Russians that the conference be resumed nt Stockholm, Instead of at Brest-Lit ovsk The decision of the Germans to dls- continue- the sittings was arrived at during a crown council held In Ber lin Saturday, which was attended by Field Marshal von Illndenburg and General von Ludendorff, first quarter master general. The Germans' reason for the re furnl to consider Stockholm a placo where peace might bo advantageously dl.eon5.od was tho fear that British French and Amorlenn diplomats In tho Swedish capital would by Intrigue render nil endeavors futile. May Take Over Mines. Philadelphia. .Tan. R. The United States government may take over the meat Industry of tho country In order to control tho throe principal neoessl ties of wartime moat, oonl and trans portntlon. This was plainly Indlcntod nt Saturday's session of tho federal trade commission here. Food Scarce In Eurone. Washington, January 8, The food ltuation in tho allied countries of Europe Is graver than It has been nt ny tlmo since the beginning of the ivnr and Js giving American govern nient officials deep concern. Official reports picture extroimt fond short- ngos In England, Frnnce and Italy The fact that conditions In Germany and Austrln are far worse offers tho only grounds for optimism In viewing tho situation. In England and Franco the sltua Ion Ik described as critical. FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF CAPTURED AMERICANS IN GERMAN CAMP u This photograph shows the first American soldiers taldu prisoner In Franco bolng questioned by their captors in a Gertuuu camp. It was published In tho German propaganda organ, "Wold lm Blld," and reached America through British otficlal sources. ilPERO The kaiser paid a visit to his ally, tho sultan of Turkey, recently, and this most unusual photogrnph shows their meeting. WOMEN RUN VETERINARY HOSPITAL HEADS SERBIAN MISSION In many districts English women are taking tho plnces of tho men who nro at war, and now a big veterinary hospital In London Is run entirely by women. The photograph shows fho horse doctors removing tho shoos from a patient. ARMY TRUCKS ON THEIR WAY TO SEABOARD v..x yr? .MfOTTTUOH y I ' A military freight service has been established by the quartermaster general to carry ammunition by army truck and relievo the railways of somo of the congestion. Tho first truck twiln of 80 machines Btartod from Detroit to tho Atlantic sou1)onrd, tho trucks also to be shipped to France. Two of the machines carry supp' The photograph showa tho leading truck on a difficult bit of road IV Mllanko Vesnltch, Serbian min ister to Franco, who heads tho diplo matic and military mission to the Unit ed States. Doctor Vesnltch represent ed his country ut tho Interallied ccuv ference In Paris. Study the Vords. ' Noah Webster started with 70.00Q wordsv That wus in 1828, when thcJ first odltlop of his dictionary was pub-, llshed, says tho Now York Times. In the next edition, that of 180-1, tho list had grown to 114,000, Nouh had died In the meantime, but his heirs and as signs continued his work. In 1800 n total of 175,000 words wero listed Since then tho number has more than doubled. It Is now about 400,000. Of" course, nobody could bo expected ta lcum nil these words, nor is It neces sary. Whenever In your rending: yoa coiuo across a word the meaning or which Is not entirely clear to you (lroj your book or newspaper, as the case muy be, and consult tho dictionary. Don't delay, If you do probably you will never look tho word up. It la surprising how many words ono may add to ono's vocnbulnry by this slmplo method.
