Nebraska Newspapers

    D. H. CRONIN, Publisher.
O'NEILL, NEBRASKA
"Tell the Workers" Is brooming a s!o
CHti in England. Under that caption a
corr- spondent writes to the London Times;
_"Tne belief, is general among all work
men, that the less work a man does the
more work will there be for the unem
ployed. However, the result will be an in
crease in the cost of production and even
tually an increase of unemployment. To
#rct this belief out of the minds of the
workers is the duty of the government,
and the solution lies in the three words
"Tell the Workers."
There is more than one way of applying
democracy, evidently, for the local coun
cil of Wealdstone, England, is complain
ing that Dr. Addison, minister of health,
with a salary of $25,000 a year, is sending
his daughters to a public school at Har
'•row where the tuition is only $10 a term.
"People with $25,000 o year should not
monopolize a school which was intended
for the masses." It is said Dr. Addison
replies that he has as much right as any
other citizen to send his children to a
public school.
A Choctaw' Indian who was with the
artillery force which fired the first Ameri
can shots In the world war, and who, after
having engaged in the major operations
of Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and the
Argonne, was still "present and accounted
for" when the last guns of the war were
fired, has been selected as a mode*! by
the French artist Deverreaux for a por
trait of a typical American soldier.
An authority on government bonds says:
■•‘Tho- experience and history of social un
rest lias shown that a preponderance of
labor ‘strikes’ occur at the close of a
period of good times rather than at the
beginning of a period of business pros
perity. Therefore the present harvest of
‘strikes’ may be regarded as the harbinger
of manufacturing retrenchment ami in
dustrial reaction."
Werwicq, one of the Flemish towns
which suffered most from the war and
German occupation, has the world’s cham
pion tow’n pump. It is the sole source of
water supply for more than 6,000 refugee
residents of the city. Before the war
Werwicq had a modern water plant, but
Jt is now* a mass of ruins and shells have
ploughed into the water mains in scores
of places. The old system can never be
repaired. In the outskirts of the town
were once about 200 wells -They, too, are
gone.
Dr. Harry A. Garfield, former fuel ad
ministrator, used the highest estimate of
increased cost of living as the basis for
his recommendation of a 14 per cent aver
age increase to miners’ w'ages, according
to Itobert V. Norris, statistical expert for
the fuel administration.
Pan German newspapers are excited
over the prohibition by the Prussian min
istry of the interior, of the exhibition of
films presenting the former emperor in a
favorable way. The ministry suppressed
the film on the ground that it was Inartis
tic*, and showed lack of taste.
Dr. Naseher, of New York, specialist
in the subject of old age, lias gone to
Greasy Creek, Ky., to study the diet,
habits and mode of living of Jacob Shell,
132 years old. The doctor’s findings will
be embodied in a book. Shell recovered re
cently from a severe attack of pneumonia,
and i« apparently as well as ever.
Abraham, Shiek-Ul-Islam. is sorely puz
zled n reaching a decision whether Mos
lem children may pray to the "American
Santa Claus" for Christmas presents. The
question was submitted by children who
asked the Sliiek, in his capacity as su
preme interpreter of Moslem law, if such
prayers would be impious.
China is the only place in the world
where the exchange rate is seriously
against the United States. It is planned
to adjust the pay of American troops
there to meet the depreciation of Ameri
can gold, which is accepted at the rate of
61 cents In Chinese silver on the dollar.
Siberian peasants * have been given
credit to the extent of $5,000,000 by the
United States war department for the
purchasing of agricultural and dairy ma
chinery, and to aid in the general develop
ment of that industry.
'Hie value of the railroads of the coun
try are figured to be 41 per cent of tho
value of the industries of the nation. A
large percentage of the property of the
life Insurance companies of the country is
in vested in these stocks.
The first German ship to arrive at a
Canadian port since the war, came in on
December 1 with torn sails and batterel
bulk. Although almost fondering at sea,
f!ie could Induce no passing ships to assist
her after her flag was known.
Alfred Anderson, secretary of tho
Kearney. N. J., board of health, has re
fused an increase in his salary, which is
now $400 a year. "The job isn’t worth any
more money,” he said. ‘‘The hoard holds
only 12 meetings a year, and it would be
an Injustice to the towns people to accept
an increase in pay.”
"A curious commentary upon 'dry'
America,” says the Liverpool Post, “is
contained in the following cable which
was received from the states by a well
known British whisky firm: ‘Could dis
^ pose of 20,000 to 25,000 cases if they arrive
by November.’ ”
LAbor unrest in America Is said here to
have bene fit ted Welsh manufacturers.
The factories cannot keep pace with tha
orders flooding in. Iron, steel and tinplate
works are glutted with orders, and though
prices have h o forced upward through
competitive hi . ,ing by eager buyers.
A shipment of '.00 bolshevists booklets,
printed in English have been stopped by
the consul at San Antonio, Tex. They
were printed in California, for distribu
tion in Mexico, and show a clawlike hand
reaching from the United States over
Mexico.
A movement has originated on the
Pacific coa.^t for a national symbol to be
used b> blind pe* sons when crossing con
geMed streets. The symbol proposed is a
Hack and white flag, divided diagonaify
into halves
IT. Muck, who was Interned by the
* United State* even though leader of the
Boston orchestra, says he has not lost
many of his friends in America. He says
under no circumstances will he remain in
Berlin.
Abe rtueff, once boss of San Francisco,
and recently released from prison, was
known os the most brilliant undergraduate
the University of California Imd iu his
day.
The Austrian republic Is passing through
a “states rights’* crisis very similar to
that which marked an earlier stage of the
American republic, says a Vienna cable.
Freight ratei in Great Britain will soon
be increased by approximately 50 per
cent. Passenger rates were increased by
a like percentage during the war and have
remained at that level ever since.
About MOO Japanese “picture brides”
have entered the port of Honolulu every
yi ars for the past 10 years, according to
the statement made by one of the United
fates immigration officials there.
Kngland is vigorously punishing prof
iteers. A refund of 1* cents was ordered
to a man who complained that ho had
been charged 65 cents for tea for himself
and a f.i Prison sentences are com
-W*f r
»• .***•>
DRIVE FOR LOWDEN FOR PRESIDENT DELEGATES IS NOW ON;
ILLINOIS CANDIDATE IS LAWYER, FARMER AND EX-SOLDIER
Gov. and Mrs. Frank O. Lowden, anti
dairy buildings and grounds or
(heir estate at Sinnissippi farms
near Oregon, III.
The drive for Lowden for presi
dent delegates at next June’s Re
publican national convention is
now on. Governor Lowden's Illi
nois campaign committee announc
es that it is already assured of the
delegates from that state. Frank
O. Lowden was born at Sunrise
City, Minn., Jan. 20, 1801. He
[ served in the Spanish war, and
when not engaged in politics di
vides his time between farming
I and the practice of the law.
FAMILY HIT BY LATEST CHILD MURDER MYSTERY
James M. Blake, his wife Esther, who is charged with the murder, and James M. Biake, Jr., the drowned boy.
Specialists who have examined
Mrs. Esther Blake at the Atlantic
City hospital say the woman’s case
furnishes a psychopathic puzzle.
She is a prisoner at the hospital,
charged with the murder of her
five-year-old son, James M. Blake,
Jr. She states that the boy was
snatched from her by two negroes
the night of Dec. 12. The hoy’s
body was found later, washed up
on tne beach near the ventnor City
pier. The bov was a mute ana
police say. Mrs. Blake imagined
that her husband’s affection for
he : would be increased if the boy
were out of the way. The father,
an insurance broker of Philadel
&hia, is heartbroken over the
ragedy. He doubted the kidnap
ping theory from the start and be
lieved, until the boy’s body was
found, that Mrs. Blake had simply
hidden the lad while insane.
Speaking of the H. C. of L.
FYom the Chicago News.
He started out to buy a flivver. He
ended up by buying a limousine. It hap
pened like this:
'Tve a little nest egg," he told the sales
man confidentially, "and I figure 1 can
buy a little roadster or light touring oar
and not go Into debt.”
"Just the stuff," said the salesman.
“But while you're buying you had better
buy right. Put in a little more, you know,
and then when It is paid for, you’ll have
It Now look at this beautifu car, just
what you want, adapted to a man of your
station In life. It's only ’steen hundred
dollars.”
"But that price Is nearly $1,000 more
than the light car."
"You can’t afford to put up with some
thing below your station,” said the sales
man, eyeing him critically.
The bargain was struck. Out went the
purchaser, his nestegg on deposit and the
future mortgaged a year for a car that
wouldn’t run any farther or any faster
than the one within hts means.
BEWARE FLAVORED WELLS.
Does the well water taste sweet? Be
ware. It may be flavored with wood
pecker. Dr. A. E. Campbell, superintend
ent of health of Springfield, tells of a well
at a railroad terminal and serving a largo
restaurant. This well was not at Spring
field. The customers and neighbors boast
ed of the flavor of the water from this
well. It was the sweetest water In all
that section. They cleaned out the well
and got a woodpecker, a snake, a rat and
several mice.
This story Dr. Campbell followed with
another. He once owned a well the water
from which was so much the best in town
that the neighbors came for it from some
distance away. Early one morning a num
ber of neighbors were waiting for water
for the breakfast table when Dr.. Camp
bell pumped up a rat.
He supplemented these two stories by
tailing of one household where five people
were made sick from drinking well water
and a second where three were likewise
affected
Ordinary shallow wells draw seepage
from the surrounding soil for perhaps 100
feet. In this seepage there may be pol
lution from a yard privy, a stable, a cess
pool, or from slops thrown on the ground.
In this seepage there may be typhoid
bacilli or other disease producing bac
teria.
The merit of Dr. Campbell’s communi
cation lies iu his advice as to what can
lie done for some people who must use
shallow wells. They have no other water
supply. He advises that the well should
be located properly and that the top be
made rat proof and as nearly water proof
as possible. The novel part of his recom
mendation relates to the method of pre
venting seepage.
"You can prevent seepage pollution,” he
says, “by adopting the following: Clean
out your well and extend a three inch Iron
pipe to the bottom of the welf, having the
The Old Trick.
From the Boston Transcript.
Second Mate—The cook has been swept
overboard, sir.
v'aptaln—Just like a cook, to leave with
out giving notice.
A Knock.
From MeOraw’s Euuipper.
You can’t drive a nail with a sponge,
i no matter how hard you soak It.
Didn't Worry Him.
From the Boston Transcript.
Mrs. Grogan—Wake oop, ye foghorn! Ol
can’t shlape a wink on account av yure
shnorln’.
Grogan—Ye must thry an’ get used to It.
the same as Ol have. Ol niver notice It
mesilf, at all, at all.
Got Nowhere.
From the Boston Transcript.
"No, sah. Ah doan't neber ride on item
things," said an old colored lady looking
In on the merry-go-round. “Why, de other
day I seen dat llastus Johnson git on an’
ride as much as a dollali’s worth an’
git off at the very same place he got on
at, an' 1 sez to him, ’llastus,’ I sez, "you
spent yo’ but what you' been?’ ”
lower three feet perforated. This pipe
should Oxtend above the surface of the
ground about one foot. Assuming that
your well is 24 feet deep, of you think
water comes in at the bottom you should
have two or three feet of fine sand at the
bottom, then fill around the perforations
with broken brick for seven feet, then
crushed rock about five feet, coarse sand
four feet, and fine sand up to the surface
of the ground. Now put four inches of
white ciay over the sand, extending this
beyond the edge of the well. Over this
put watertight concrete which is four
Inches higher at the pump than at the
outer edge. Now place your pump In the
pipe. You need have no fear of any sur
face contamination getting into your well
water. All surface water that may reach
the perforation will be well filtered and
you will have a reasonably safe wator
supply.”
Webster’B Grave.
Neglect of Daniel Webster’s burial
place In Marshfield has evoked a protest
In the New York Sun rrom a sensitive
Jersylte, who is scandalized by Massa
chusetts indifference to a man who not
only contributed to her fame, but apos
throphtsed her In a passage which showed
that he appreciated her merits and
charms. One had almost made up one's
mind to be ashamed of the situation and
begin to apologies to the punctilious
visitor when along came Morris Gray
and cheerfully asserted: "Massachusetts
has neglected Webster’s burial place.
Let us thank God for that."
Wasn’t a Limited.
A ^honeymoon pair In a Crain
Kissed each other again and again j
Anda again and again,
Amla again and again.
And again, and again, and again.
Blightly, Londan.
A Mark of Progress.
From the Dallas News.
The demand that restriction* be Imposed
on the use of the strike, instead of sig
nifying hostility to organized labor or a
desire to circumscribe the freedom of the
Individual, in reality is a mark of social
progress. J
MB WORK JUST
FAIRLY STRRTEB
Nebraska Has Over $10,000,*
000 to Be Expended During
Next Three Seasons—Fed
eral Government Aids.
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—-I ess than
$1,000,000 of the $11,000,000 thaL is to
he spent up to and including 1922 has
been expended by the Nebraska high
way department in improving Nebras
ka roads. Jn more than half of the
counties, 48, not a dollar lias yet been
spent, but these will begin to share
next year. Each has had alloted to it
a definte share and sum and this
cannot be disturbed, even though the
road makers may not get around to
them until a year or two. Many of
these counties are located in norths
eastern Nebraska. They include, Da
kota, Thurston. Colfax, Cuming, Knox,
l’ibrce, Stanton, Merrick, Boyd, Holt,
Brown, Rock and Key a Paha,
The state now has 31 federal aid
projects under construction, which will
cost a total of $2,885,000, of which the
federal government will pay $1,352,000.
Federal aid projects have been sub
mitted, totaling $8,075,000, of which the
federal government will pay nearly
$4,000,000.
The state engineer, head of the VJ's
tem, has appointed five division engin
eers. These function through a high
way commissioner in eacli county und
such road patrolmen as may be neces
sary. The latter keep roads clean,
cleared and dragged, and do ordinary
repairs, the other work being done by
traveling repair gangs.
The state has been divided into tivo
divisions, with an engineer at the head.
The districts are made up of these
counties:
Division No. 1.—Douglas, Saunders, Sar
py, Butlei. Cass. Seward, Otoe, Saline,
Johnson, Jeferson, Nemaha, Thayer. Rich
ardson, Fiimore, Pawnee, York, Cage,
Polk. Lancaster, Hamilton.
Division No. 2.—Washington, Platte,
Hurt. Madison, Thurston. Pierce, Dakota,
Knox, Dixon, Antelope, Cedar, Holt,
Wayne, Boyd. Cuming, Keya Paha,
Dodge, Rock, Colfax, Brown, Stanton,
Cherry.
Division No. 3.—Clay, Furnas. Nnckoi.r.
Gosper. Red Willow, Adams, Hitchcock,
Webster, Hayes. Franklin, Perkins, Kear
nev. Chase, Phelps, Dundy, Harlan.
Division No. 4.—Boone, Blair, Nonce,
Custer, Merrick, Dawson, Hall (north ot
Platte river), Lincoln, I.ogan, Buffalo. Mc
Pherson, Sherman, Thomas. Valley. Hook
er, Garfield. Howard, Loup, Greeley,
Wheeler.
Division No. 5.—Sioux. Cheyenne, Scotts
hluff, Duell, Banner, Garden, Kimball,
Sheridan, I lawes, Grant, Box Butte, Ar
thur, Morrill, Keith.
PERSHING WILL END
LINCOLN VISIT SATURDAY
Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. 3.—1Gen. John J.
Pershing will close his holiday visit
with members of his family here Sat
urday when he will leave for Chicago
to resume his inspection tour of army
posts. His program New Year's day
included a woman's relief corps recep
tion, luncheon with Gov. Samuel R.
McKelvie, and dinner at the family
residence.
At night he was the guest of a re
ception at the home of former United
States Senator Elmer J. Burkett.
—4—
TEN STOLEN AUTOS IN
ONE LINCOLN GARAGE
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 3.—County au
thorities think they have uncovered a
nest of auto thieves in Lincoln and
University Place, its Methodist suburb.
C. H. Roper, one of the executives of
the automobile club, inspected a garage
at University Place, in which he found
11 cars, 10 of which had been mutilated.
Owners and employes of the garage
have been receiving the third degree
from the authorities, and it is under
stood one complete and one partial
confession have been secured.
FIND BANDIT AUTO
IN AN OMAHA STREET
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 3.—An automo
bile supposed to be the one used by the
bandits was found yesterday after
noon* standing in Chicago street be
tween Twelfth and Thirteenth streets.
NEARLY TWO BILLION
CARS MADE IN 1919
New York, Jan. 2.—Total motor ve
hicle production in 1919 including pas
senger and commercial, reached 1,891,
929, representing a wholesale valuation
of $1,807,594,580, establishing a record
in the automobile industry, the Na
tional Automobile Chamber of Com
merce announced last night. Passen
ger car production was slightly less
than in 1917, totalling 1,586,787 as
against 1,740,792. Truck production,
howeverfl advanced from the previous
high record of 227,500 in 1918 to 305,
142 in 1919. Motor vehicles exported
in 1919, aggregated $110,000,000 in
value.
IOWA MIDSHIPMAN IS
DEAD FROM ACCIDENT
Annapolis, Md.. Jan. 2.—Midshipman
Carroll Joy, of Keokuk, la., a member
of the second class at the naval acad
emy, died yesterday from the effects
of a bullet wound accidently inflicted
by M. G. Thompson, a classmate while
target shooting in the woods near here
last Tuesday. A third midshipman was
in the party.
Thompson had fired at the target
and while attempting to adjust the
safety catch of his revolver the
weapon was discharged.
fc I » I
MINERS NOT SATISFIED.
Fort Worth, Tex., Jan. 1.—Texas coal
miners are not satisfied with the 14
per cent settlement, according to Ed
Cunningham, former district president,
who was in Fort Worth today en route
to Columbus, Ohio, to attend the special
convention of the national organization.
A general strike of Industrial Workers
of the World, which it was reported was
scheduled to begin in the northwest on
January 1, lias been postponed indefi
uiteiy.
PLUME BUSY
Industry That Slumped With
Close of War Now Has
Bright Prospect In
Home Trade. i
By Floyd C. Thomas.
Alliance, Neb. Jan. 1. — A trip
through the potash district near Al
liance gladdens the heart of one who
has been in touch with the industry
during the past two years. A year
ago the plants were closing down willi
but little prospect of ever opening
again. Thousands of tons of potash
salts were stored in warehouses in the
east and south with but little prospect
of a market. Potash stock was selling
for little or nothing—when it could be
sold at all.
But now the outlook is different.
The fertilizer manufacturers learned
that Germany had only a small sup
ply on hand and that it would te im
possible to secure any for this country
for many months and perhaps years.
On September 1 of this year the total
stock of refined salts—muriate of pot
ash—at all the German mines was ap
proximately 35,000 tons, which in
comparison with the normal output, as
well as the normal demand, must be
regarded as quite small.
German potash will never be s*nt
to the United States as cheap as be
fore the war. The old prices of S15 to
$30 per ton will never ne approached.
It is very doubtful if the price being
paid the Nebraska plants of $2 and
$2.50 per unit will even be reached.
Two fa?ts in connection with' the
German potash industry shed much
light on its future. One is the enor
mous advance in cost of production..
I,abor is from three to five tinn s
higher; coal, six to 10 times more
expensive; while steel and many other
supplies and requirements exceed the
pre-war prices 15 to 20 times. On the
other hand, the prices at which refined
potash is being offered for export to
America range from more than double
on low grade crude to three times the
1913 price on high grade refined salts,
exclusive of freights.
The other fact affecting the in
dustry is perhaps best expressed in
what might be called the democratiza
tion of tlie industry. Last April the
constitutional German national as
sembly passed a bill socializing the
business. Miners, office clerks and
other employers--n<iw have representa
tion on the board of directors and a
voice in the management of the prop
erties. This innovation is more than
a theory. One of thi German potash
kings, a leading director in the syn
dicate, gave a dinner last August to
which the heads of all the depart
ments, including the miners, were in
vited.
The Nebraska potash plants now
have orders sufficient to keep them op
erating until next summer. They have
passed up some offers of contracts un
til they learn, from present operations,
the profit which can be made at the
present prices. Potash will never again
pay the enormous profits of 191", but
it will be a permanent and profit-pay
ing industry in Nebraska. At the
present time all of the large plants in
the Alliance district are operating with
the exception of the National plant,
which lias been in the hands of a re-. ""
ceiver, and the Hord plant, at Lakeside,
which burned this fall and which is
being rebuilt as rapidly as the weath
er will permit. It is reported that the
offer of W. E. Sharp and his associ
ates, of Lincoln, for the National plant
at Antioch has been accepted. If this
is true this plant will undoubtedly again
start operations at an early date. There
are now in operation the large plant of
the Potash Reduction Company, at
Hoffland, the Western, Nebraska,
American and Alliance plants at Anti
och and the Stanard plant at Lakeside.
Their output is estimated now at 400
tons of salts per day. The addition of
the Hord and National plants will bring
the output up to between 500 and 600
tons per day. Estimated from the
standpoint of value at present prices
the plants in the vicinity of Alliance
should produce on the average during
the coming year of from $30,000 to $40,
000 worth of s>4ts every 24 hours. Quite
an industry that.
Ed. Note—The Pioneer plant, owned
by the Pioneer Potash Company, in
which many Sioux City and northwest
Iowa people are interested, will be re
opened probably within a month, said
O. B. Olson, of Sioux City. The Pioneer
plant has an output of 15 tor.s a day.
"FAINTING BERTHA" AGAIN
PULLS ERRATIC STUNT
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 1. — "Fainting
Bertha” Liebecke, who enchained the
interests of a. good many chiefs of po
lice during her meteoric career as a
pickpocket and criminal, but who has
been confined for several years, is
again in the limelight. This time she
is charged with having attempted to
destroy the sight of Mrs. Ina E.
Sprecher, a nurse at the state hospi
tal for the insane at Lincoln.
The assault happened several months j
ago, but under the new rules of the
board of control the fact did not be
come public until the filing Tuesday
of a claim by Mrs. Sprecher with the
state labor compensation commission
er. She seeks' for compensation at
the rate of $12 a week for from 25 to ®
60 weeks. Bertha used formaldehyde
on her.
The woman was sent to the peniten
tiary several years ago, but the ward
en was glad to get rid of her when
the doctors pronounced her insane, as
she was a terror in prison. The
nurses sight is said to be permanently
injured.
STATE TO REGULATE
SALE OF WOOD ALCOHOL
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 1. — The state
department of public safety is to take
steps to regulate the sale of wood al
cohol in Nebraska. Although the pres
ent law requires that selling poisons
shall be restricted only to registered
pharmacists and these must keep a
record of all sales. It has been dis-,,
covered that practically every garage
keeper in the state keeps wood alcohol
in stock, it being generally purchased
to prevent water in uutomubles radi
ators from freezing.