THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
TELEPHONE FEES GUT
-Btate Railway Commission Makes
Public New Schedule On Order
of Postmaster General.
Postmaster General Burleson's re
plied schedule of Instullntlon nnd
moving; charges for telephones, made
public by the stntc railway commis
sion, materially retluces tho charges
which were put Into effect by his or
der lust September, shortly uft,?r the,
government took over the telephone
system of the country. The new
charges run from $1.50 to $15.50, ac
cording to the extent of tho work
necessary. Jinny complaints have
reached tho commission on the orig
inal order, but It Is believed the new
one will be more satisfactory. The
'new rates for Installing telephones
nre: Individual or party line phone.
$".50; each extension, $'1.50; private
'branch exchange service, $.1.50; chang
ing name of subscriber, but not tho
telephone, $1.50; moving telephone,
$3.00 : clvuigo type or style of tele
phone, ?.'t.00. The lowering of the
charges followed a trip to Washington
by the Nebraska commissioners, who
protested tho old chnrge schedule.
To dispel fears of Nebraska farmers
that beeauso of ponce wheat crops
would no longer be protected under
the government gunrnnttcd price,
Charles T. Nenl of the food adminis
tration grain corporation at Omaha
'Issued a statement to the effect that
Uio purchase of whent would continue,
until June. 1020.
Beports reaching the ofllre of State
Superintendent of Schools Cleniinons
at Lincoln show that u large number
of teachers in rural districts and small
town schools are quilting their Jobs
because the boards of those districts
have refused to pay them for time lost
. when schools were closed because of
the Influenza epidemic.
It Is understood In Lincoln that
Governor Neville will submit the na
tional prohibitory amendment to tho
'legislature when it convenes .next
month in his retiring message. As
both houses are pledged to ratify the
, amendment It Is expected that it will
'be one of the first measures rushed
'through.
Boomer has nsraln been forced to
-put thn ban on piddle gatherings be
cause of the "flu" epidemic. Consld
crnble resentment Is manifested In the
town because tho order Includes
churches, schools nnd picture shows
nnd not pool balls nnd soft drink em
.porlums.
Prennrations are being made at
Omaha for h fitting welcome and en
tertnlnment for Nebrasku troops when
tliev return from service overseas. It
1s probable that men from this dis
trict will be mustered out at Omaha
Directors of the school at JIudu, Buf
falo county, which was completely de
Htroycd by fire recently, have ar
ranged to remodel a large bnrn nnd
use It until a new school building can
be erected.
, The State Horticultural society will
hold Its annual mooting in Lincoln,
January 20 to 25. A business meeting
of the Nebraska Potato Improvement
association will be held in' connection
Tha Influenza ban has again been
renewed at tho University of Nebras
leu S. A. T. C. at Lincoln. The qunr
nntlne will continuo until the unit Is
demobilized.
J. M. Tanner, publisher of the South
Omaha Democrat, was elected to tho
slate senate In the recent election by
six voles. An ofllclnl count was rt
quired.
Lincoln Is In the grip of another se
vero epidemic of tho Spanish Infill
f'lizn. One hundred new cases were
reported In a single day la8t week.
As a means for preventing another
outbreak of the "flu," temperature of
all school children at Beatrice Is be
Ing taken every morning.
All nntl-Jitney ordinances were ro
nenled hv tho city commission at
Omaha a few hours after the street
inr Qtrlkn whs called.
Tile Omaha Potash and Betlnlhg
company, a $1,000,000 company, has
begun tho erection of a $500,000 pot
ash nlant at Lakeside.
The state food administration has
announced that the permit system for
the shipping of coarse grain has been
discontinued.
imtinniil convention of the
Farmers' Kquity union will be held in
niniihii December 18 and 10. Two
hundred delegates are expected
The run of hogs at the South
Omaha market during the past month
was 280.187 bend, or 03,000 head more
than during November a year ago
When the government edict closing
nil breweries and malt beverage plants
became effective Nov. 30. to save
grain; four big plants In Omaha, val
ued at $0,000,000, and employing 1,500
persons, shut down.
All restrictions on the sale and use
of sugar have been withdrawn by the
at nt food administration.
an... at n i ii suitremo court has ruled
n,nt ttni miirrnce referendum now
tinlns held ui in the Lancaster coun
t district court, may be submitted nt
the next state emotion, ir ine pemmn
Is found sulllelont.
Nebraska's road building program
for 1010 calls for 752 miles to cost
et rt.7.000. of which the federal gov
ernment nays half and state and local
half, ntvonilnj: to
umuwi m . - '
State Engineer Johnson.
Midland college nnd the Atehest t
seminary, two large Lutheran educa
tional Institutions at Atchison, Kus.
will be moved to Fremont, If tho rec
ommendation of the Nebraska synod,
which convened In that city Inst week,
is followed. According to n agree
ment with tho Fremont Commercial
club the property of the Fremont col
lege Is to be iwrelinsed for $S5,000. of
which the Commercial club will pay
$25,000 and the synod the balance.
The board of regents of the Univer
sity of Nebraska recommended that
the reserve olllcers' training corps bu
relnstltutcd nt the state college at
Lincoln following the demobilisation
of the S. A. T. C. In connection with
this matter tho regents moved to ask
the government that conditions for ob
taining uniforms nnd equipment for
infantry, radio, aviation and artillery
Instruction be Improved.
An embargo against the importation
of German potash, Intended for the
protection of American fertilizer man
ufacturers has been agreed upon by
Vance McCormlck, chairman of the
war Industries board, according to In
formation received In Lincoln from
Congressman II. P. Klnkuid and C.
F. Benvls, representing potash pro
ducing districts of Nebraska, In Wash
ington. Members of the State Association
of Commissioners, Supervisors, High
way Commissioners and County Clerks
(it their annual meeting at Hastings,
selected Omaha as the place to hold
the 1011) convention. The commission
ers went on record at the meeting fav
oring raising tho taxes upon full val
uations Instead of upon one-llftli as at
present.
The penult system of hog ship
ments from the country to the loading
markets has been removed by the
food administration. In removing the
permits, farmers are warned by the
food administration not to rush their
hogs in at an Abnormal rate as It
would defeat their best Interests.
Dr. W. L. Westermann, professor
of ancient history at the University
of Wisconsin, who accompanied tho
Wilson peace party to France, wns a
cadet at the University of Nebraska
under General John J. Pershing when
the latter was commandant nt tho
Lincoln institution.
The ten-mile Chalco-Yutnn cutoff
of the Burlington will not be torn u
on orders of the federal railway ad
ministration. The Slate Bnllwoy Com
mission has been advised that the need
for track material has been relieved
by signing of tho armistice.
F. O. Lnndstrom of Tekamnh whs
elected president of the County Clerics'
State Association: Gilbert H. Haasc
of Kearney, vice president; and A. S.
Mien of North Platte, secretary-lreas
urer, at the annual convention ot tne
organization at Hastings.
Statistics made public by the Omaha
Chamber of Commerce show that No
braska now leads all states in tlx
union In the production of hay. In the
past three years this state produced
10,910,000 tons, Including alfalfa.
Omaha Is making preparations to
entertain Nebraska school ma ms
every minuto of the time spent In the
city during tho annual convention ol
the State Teachers' association during
Christmas week.
Work has begun on the veterinary
science building on the university
farm campus at Lincoln. The general
contract calls for an expenditure of
about $00,000.
Lieutenant L. W. Balrd of North
Platte, aviator, was Instantly Kiuen
when Ids airplane fell from a great
height In si tall spin at Brooks Field,
San Antonio, Texas.
Investigation nuido by experts at
the college of agriculture at Lincoln
show that sweet clover is rapidly be
i.ninin.' noniil.nr In this state as a
........
pasture crop.
I'he Nebraska State Bankers asso
elation annual convention, scneiiuieu
to be hold at Omaha early this month,
has been postponed again because of
Influenza.
Because of the prevalence of intlu
onza In Chase county a district court
inrv. summoned at Iiuncrliil. was (lis
charged.
December 15 to IS the Nebraska
Farmers' congress will convene In the
Castle hotel at Omaha.
Omaha will hold its annual auto.nlo
bile show, the dates having been set
for February 21 to March 1.
KffnitK are beinc made at Omaha
to have Nebraska restored to the III!
nois and Indiana coal zone.
It Is estimated that about 35,000
Nebraska boys were enrolled In the
United States iltoys' Working Iteservc
last month.
insiireenis of the Nebraska State
Teachers' association, opposed to hold
Intr tho annual convention in Omaha
fii-e eiieilttled to meet December 20
at Hastings under tho name of tin
Nebraska Educational association. Tin
date Is the same as the opening da
of the annual meeting of the Nebras
l:n Stnfe Teachers' association In
Omaha.
Douglas county reprcscntntlv
elect If preparing a bill to introduc
at the coming session of the state le;
islnture to make all public school
imildliiL's in Nebraska available for
community gatherings.
It Is estimated that Nebraska's beet
sugar crop, produced by the four big
factories In tho western part of the
state. will aggregate 100,000,000
pounds. The acreage planted to sugar
beets this year wits the largest over
renorted. The yield averaged twelvo
to ft f teen tons to the acre. The grow
ers are getting around 1 n ton
1 British mine sweepers clearing the North sea of German mines, 2 American soldiers who were wound
ed in the St. Mllilel salient photographed on their arrival In New York. !t Dr. Joseph Pernlkoff, representa
tive of the atl-Uusslun government, who has Just come- to tho United States.
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
President Sails for France, But
Does Not Tell Specifically
What He Plans to Do.
Trial of Former Kaiser for Murder
Seems Assured Llebknecht and
Spartacus Group righting
Ebert's Government for
Control in Germany.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD.
With the cheers of thousands of
civilians and returning soldiers ring
ing in his ears, President Wilson sailed
away for Europe on December -I, on
his mission of world peace-making. As
the good ship George Washington,
made its way out of. New York harbor
all the shore batteries and war vessels
joined In the presidential salute and
off quarantine the steamship met Its
convoy, the battleship Pennsylvania
and live destroyers. It was a pleasant
coincidence that the presidential party
met several transports thronged with
American troops Just sent home from
I7r rrtt twl i twl 1Vn n nn '
Mr. Wilson, it was expected, woinu
land at Brest about December 12 and
proceed at once to Paris, where the
residence of Prince Murat lias been
prepared for him. The other delegates
and most of the rest of tho large party
will be housed In the Hotel Crlllon.
The president Is assured of a warm
and even enthusiastic welcome in
France, Great Britain and Italy. Ills
arrival In Europe will be scarcely less
welcome to the people of what were
the central empires. The governments
of those states, distracted and dishev
elled, look to Mr. Wilson to mollify
the entente powers and obtain for
them less rigorous peace terms than
the crimes of the Teutons have do-
served. Whether ho will be able to
accomplish this, or even will attempt it,
remains to be seen. The president has
not taken Into his confidence the con
gress or the people of America, pos
sibly because he could not guess, prior
to conferences with the representatives
of the entente nations, how far he
might dare to go In the way of human
Itnrianlsm. They are willing and eager
to confer with 1dm on all matters and
doubtless will defer to bis Judgment
In many things, but they have their
own very certain Ideas as to the treat
ment that should be accorded the Ger
man nation and people.
One of those Ideas Is mat tlie ox-
kalser must be put on (rial for murder
and, If found guiltythe "If" might as
well be "when"- -must be adequately
punished. The best legal authorities
of England and France agree that Wll
Ham can be extradited from Holland.
and there Is no doubt that in any
event enough pressure could bo
brought to induce the Dutch lo give
him up. From the beginning of the
war the English and French have do
tcriulucd that William should ultlniiiti
ly lie brought to Justice personally,
and there is ample reason for the de
pression from which the deposed ruler
Is sidd to be suffering nt Aiuerongon
The former crown prince, who. by the
way. says he has not yet renounced
his rights to the throne, ninj also lit
put on trial. He. in his Dutch retreat,
hit been telling how he and hN father
were torced mm all their outrageous
actions by the mililnr. clique and
Bethinaun-IIolweg. lie also tries to
shift to others the Idaiue for tho ler
rlllc defeats hi army sustained.
Another hxcu intention ot itio en
(elite powers Is to compel Germany to
pay to the limit of Iter capacity. I lei
ability to make financial reparation for
the damage her armies har done Is
undoubted. The measures to lie adopt
ed by the allies are yet unset tied. Gor
ninny's state-owned mineral, coal and
potash deposits and railways alone are
worth vastly more than the claims of
the allies will amount to, and It Is not
unlikely that those will be seized. In
money the country Is almost as rich
n. Si was before the war.
This question of reparation brings
up the matter ot n commercial boycott.
Many authorities assert that the only
way Germany can pay will be by ob
taining raw materials from the coun
tries she has been lighting and selling
her products In their mafkets. Very
lllcely the peace conference will declare
against the boycott Idea, but It will
not be so easy to persuade the peoples
of the allied nations to buy German-
made goods. Most of them would pre
fer to sci- Germany reduced to the po
sition she has earned for herself, to
have such money as can be taken from
her, and to let the rest of the tlnaticlal
reparation go by the board. Austria,
too, Is making the loud wall for raw
materials ami markets. Dr. Franz
Klein, who will represent at the peace
conference the so-called Austrian re
public, provided he Is admitted, Is re
lying especially on America to lie
"fair" and to solve the troubles of the
late empire so that all the republics
can llve'Iu pence nnd prosperity. Some
Job !
Ms
Conditions in Germany are almost
as uncertain as in Kussia after the
fall of Koronsky. .lust who or what
comprises the government it Is hard to
say. Premier Ebert nnd his moderate
socialist colleagues are still the nomi
nal rulers of Prussia, but Dr. Karl
Llebknecht nnd his Spartacus group
of socialists the German equivalent
of the bolshevik! are. vigorously
lighting to get the upper hand. They
nre ospectaly strong In Berlin, which
Is In a state of great disorder. It Is
reported that Llebknecht has 15,000
men well armed and Is planning u ter
rorist revolution. He reviles Ebert for
asking food from America, for, since
tills is conditioned on the maintenance
of tinier. It Is "yielding to a capitalist
effort to beat bolshevik alms." Lleb-
knechl's organ, the Bed Flag, demands
tin; dismissal of olllcers and the
choosing by soldiers of their lenders;
the Immediate arming of the revolu
tionary workmen anil the disarming of
all other organizations; (lie destruc
tion of capitalism, the annulment of
war loans and the socialization of all
business.
rlie soldiers anil workmen s coun
cils of Germany have deinauiled that
the ex-kalser be tried by a German
tribunal, which would probably la
the best he could hope for.
ta
in many parts of Germany there is
swift reaction against the bolshevik
movement, and It threatens to grow
into n counter-revolution, with the pos
sible restoration of the monarchy
Tills Is fostered by many olllcers and
supported by certain units of tin
army. That It will go far seems quite
unlikely. The soldiers and workmen
generally, however, seem disposed to
support the Ebert government rather
ttiuii the Spartacus group.
The leaders of the Bavarian repuli
lie have Induced the Berllners lo tie
maiiil tho resignation of Doctor Soil,
whose retention as foreign' secretary
lias been one of the puzzles to outsit!
ers, and to exclude Mathlas Erzbcrgei
from the peace negotiations.
The late leaders of Germany and
Austria are quarreling among them
selves concerning who was responslhh
for starting the war, and the present
leaders are demanding that tills ques
lion In- settled by un Inquiry nnd the
guilty ones punished. How much
chance I here is of a fulr Investigation
Is revealed by the fad, Just brought to
light, that the German foreign nllici
burned all the documents in the ar
clilves that might place the responslbll
lly for the war on the German govern
ment. Il Is Interesting to note thai
Doctor Soil' has proposed thai a ueu
tral commission Inquire Into tin- ori
gin of the War.
Tbe allied armies of occupation con
liiiue ihelr inarch Into Gemini) I err I
tory nnd are meeting with no resist
mice nnd llllli- trouble of any kind.
The Germans are not keeping up to
schedule In complying with the urmls
lice terms, but say tills is liuposslhli
In some Insinnces. For Instance, they
cannot gather Hie required number of
locomotives, and the airplanes called
for are being given up where they nre
Instead of being collected and surrcu
tiered In a bunch. The Inst of the Hun
submarines have been turned over to
the allied licet and the Germany navy,
who'!- iiersnnU'-l was denounced by
J
Admiral Beatty as beneath contempt
Is now no more.
General Dlcknian's American nrmj
has Its headquarters at Treves, anil
from It reports come that tiatly con-
tratllct the Itlea that the Germans nre
short of food and clothing. The poo-,
pie In the occupied districts are sludl
ously Indllieront to the Invaders oi
openly eager to keep up their trade
The French and British have been
moving forward In their zones with
little incident.
Among the loot .already recovered
from the Germans Is the $00,000,000
taken from the Busslan treasury. The
Huns nlso have returned a rich art
collection that was stolen from St.
Qticnlln, nnd other paintings taken
from Valenciennes.
The ull-Busslan government nt Omsk
appears to be gaining In. stability, but
the bolshevikl have not let up In their
trouble-making. An Irruption of Betls
Into Esthnnlu has alarmed the govern
ment there, murdering, burning nnd
plundering being unldndereih Livo
nia also has been invaded by them.
A call for help by sea was sent out,
and u few days ago a British tleet ar
rived at Llbuu. The vessels probably
will proceed to Bevel ami laud men to
stop the slaughter. The bolshevik nu-
thorltles In western Bussla have turn
ed back 1,500,000 Busslan soldiers who
have been prisoners In Germany, unil
It was reported that the men had selz-
ed four ships at Danzig which tho
British Bed Cross had obtained from
Germany for the housing of prisoners,
The Ukrainians and the Poles de
cline to stop lighting. They are chas
ing each other back and forth .In terrl
tory which both claim, and It Is dllll
cult lo say which has the advantage.
Recently the Poles occupied Brest
Lllovsk, the town where Germany ne
gotiated the peace treaties with Bus
sla and the Ukraine.
Ml
Before President Wilson left the
country lie delivered Ids address to
congress reassembled for tho short
session. He paid glowing tribute to
the forces of America, military and
civilian, which helped win the war, and
said he was going across to Interpret
his Ideas of world peace because he
considered that was his bounileu duty.
But he did not give any speclllc Infer
niatlon as to his plans, nor did ho so
much as mention his colleagues on the
peace delegation. In dealing with do
mestlc matters, the president said he
was convinced It would be wrong to
turn the railroads back to private own
ersbip under present conditions, bill
that unless congress solved the ques
tion In the near future he would relln
qulsli the roads. Other matters that
be asked congress to net upon quickly
were the revenue bill, the navy build
ing plan and woman suffrage. Secre
tary Daniels' plan for the navy Is for
steady and rapid Increase of the fleet,
for which he asks about fCM.tKHl.OOO.
The eslliiiies submitted to emigres?
by Secretary Baker provide for a regu
lar armv of approximately 500,000, but
certain items are Included that leave
the question of the strength of the
nrniy open until after the conclusion
of peace.
The American troops already art
coming back from Europe, the llrst tu
arrive, except for tho wounded, being
the aviation units Dint were training
In England.
As was expj'cted, the president ap
pointed Congressman Carter Glass ol
Virginia to succeed Mr. MeAdoo a
secretary of the treasury, lie has been
chairman of the house committee on
banking and currency and his selection
for the cabinet position meets with
general approval.
m
While the rest of the world Is turn
Ing to the ways of peace, Chile and
Peru aro preparing for war. The tin
dent quarrel over the provinces of
Tncnn anil Arleu has been revived, thu
people have been Insulting and provik
lug eacii other and the situation Is crit
ical. The armies of the two countries
have been ordered to mobilize, and
unless wiser counsels prevail hostlll
ties will follow before long. The
Culled States has no Intention of In
tervenlug In tho squabble, but a iiimi
her of our warships have been tils
patched to Valparaiso to protect Amor
It-it li IrterestH.
RED GROSS POLICY
Chairman Davison Tells of Work
Which the Organization Plans
to Accomplish.
NATION IS ASKED TO ENROLL
Week Preceding Christmas Will Ma
Devoted to Adding to tho Member
ship Problems of Reconstruc
tion Are Gigantic.
Washington, Dec. 4. Henry P. Dnvl
son, chairman of the war council oi
tho Bed Cross, today Issued to the
H.854 chapters and tho 22,000,000 mcni'
hers tho following statement outlm
lng tho future policy of the American
lied Cross:
'The whole American people will lit
Invited In tho week preceding Christ
mas to enroll as members of the Beo
Cross. It Is conildcntly bellovod there
need be no further campaigns for Ited
Crass funds, but Instead the annual
roll call will constitute thu foundation
of the Bed Cross. Tho people should,
therefore, know as definitely as pos
sible the plans ot this their national
humanitarian society.
"Wherever our soldiers nnd sullors
may be, tho Bed Cross will stay with
them until they aro demobilized.
Nothing which wo may do will bo loft
undone, cither for tho men in tho war
zone, for those returning, for those In
tho camps and hospitals or for their
families at home to whom will con
tinue to bo devoted thu ministrations
of tho Bed Cross homo service.
"The problems of reconstruction, in
volving feeding and caring for the dis
tressed civilian populations of Europe,
aro of iiuch magnitude that necessar
ily they must bo met very largely by
tho governments of our allies, with
whom our own government will co-operate.
'Tho war program of tho American
Betl Cross will thus steadily and rapid
ly merge Itself Into a peace program.
While tho plans In this direction can
not be formulated speclllcally, In ad
vance of the general relief program of
tho allied governments, the American
Betl Cross Is nevertheless planning to
develop Its permanent organization In
this country upon u scale never before
contemplated in tlmo of peace. Tho
commissions which aro now conduct
ing tho activities of tho American Hod
Cross In foreign countries, us well oh
tho temporary war organization In tills
country, will as n mutter of course ul-
Umately merge tholr energies with
thoso of tho permanent organization
0f tho Bed Crass.
"There may bo, therefore, perfect
confidence that tho peaco activities of
the Bed Cross will bo conducted un
der able and Inspiring leadership. Tho
chapters will maintain their organiza
tions upon a scale adequate to tho
new demands to bo nuido upon them.
I-oenl committees will Indeed appreci
ate moro nnd more tho value of having
In their midst strong and efficient Bed
Cross chapters. The divisional organ
izations, with honorary nnd permanent
staffs, will bo malntalnetl nlwayB
reatly for service; and national head
quarters will hnvo a largo and elllclent
personnel to direct tho activities of tho
organization as n whole.
"Study Is being given by tho na
tional organization not alone to prob
lems of International relief, but to
plans In this country for enlarged
homo service, the promotion of public
health education, development of nur
sing, tho care nnd prevention of acci
dents, and other correlated lines, which
may contribute to tho health nnd hap
piness of men, women and children.
Such plans when developed will, It is
believed, provide both for world relict
nnd for homo community service, and
thus constitute a channel for the con
tinued and useful expression by Bod
Cross workers nnd members of those
qunlltles of sympathy and love which
our whole people have poured out so
unstintedly during tho war.
"For the completion of Its war work
nnd for tho Institution of Its penco
program, the Bed Cross Is fortunately
In a healthy tlnanclal condition, Abun
dant occasion for tho use of largo
funds of money and great quantities
of garments and other supplies will
continue to arise, but It Is believed
that, there will be no further need for
Intensive campaigns for funds, Thu
work of supplementing governmental
activities, which the Bed Cross will
be called updn to do In all parts ot
the world, will be upon a great scale,
but It will call for human service rath
er than for largo expenditures.
"What the American Bed Cross
needs now is not so much contributions
of money, as the continued devotion
and loyalty of Its members. This is
peculiarly truo nt this moment of
transition from war to peace. Annual
membership Involves tho payment of
only one dollar. Tho moneys thus re
ceived not only defray all tho adminis
trative expenses of tho organization,
but leave a substantial balance, which,
together with all funds subscribed dl
reetly for relief, nre devoted solely to
that purpose. The roll cnll of tho na
tion Is thus to bo called at Christmas
time, that through enrollment In their
Bed Cross the American people, may
send a message to our soldiers still
overseas nnd to the peoples of tho
world that we ure not only merely con
tent with seeing our arms united with
our allies In victory, but that our abid
ing purpose Ih that tho love, tho sym
pathy and tho Intelligence of all Amer
ica shall be retledlcatcil to tho perma
nent service of innnklnd."