Prairieland Talk . . .
Trial by Jury Stands Test
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS
Retired. Former Editor, The Frontier
i_.ixnuul,xs— wno is next tnat must suDmii
to the call of the invisible and unknown? The
passing of Sumner Downey—he never employed
the name Charles— takes from the community
another native son. Born the winter of the big
blizzard out on the big prairie,
as an infant he was ushered
into a stormy world that later
years developed the man that
Sumner was. His life was cut
short of the full sweep of three
score years and ten and he now
lies at rest until awakened to
the mysteries of the life to
come.
Maybe Sumner dropped the
name Charles because he felt
that there was only one Charles
0 Downey. Prairieland Talker Romaine
knew his folks, pioneers with Saunders
the vision to see, the courage to dare. From O’
Neill to Minneola, on to Star, from there to Stony
Butte and then to Niobrara, was one daily stage
line of Charley Downey’s. Another reached from
O’Neill to Creighton.
Today’s high tension civilization has devel
oped educational privileges and home comforts
for young America who are thereby denied the
chance to develop self-reliance that taught the
youth of the pioneers to stand on their own and
forge on the anvil of life’s experiences a worth
while destiny. I never saw Sumner nor his broth
er, Lee, as boys loitering about the streets smok
ing cigarettes as we see kids today. The Downey
boys came from the Holt county prairies to make
their own way in life and succeeded, as other
sons and daughters of pioneers have done, be
cause of the background of early life.
• • •
There are no more Abe Lincolns maybe be
0 cause modem educational frills have robbed us of
the conditions that made a Lincoln. . . A member
of the state railway commission was fined $100
in municipal court where he faced a charge of
driving on the streets of Lincoln in a state of in
toxication, the municipal judge taking the posi
tion, we presume, that a state official is no better
than the rest of us. . . A county judge of Holt
county at one time was involved in a scandal
that smelled to high heaven, but he was permitted
to finish his term. He was no worse than some
others—just was caught at it. . . South of the
frame building that was O’Neill’s first depot
and across the tracks there was a log house, the
home of the Jim Campbell family. There were
three boys in the family, Homer, Ollie and Dick,
who now are living in the Seattle, Wash., com
munity, and their parents are buried there. . . It
is noted that the city of O’Neill started a lawsuit
a week or so ago against former citizens, long
since dead. Fear not—the ghosts of the John O’
Neil and Pat Hagerty tribal groups will never
come back to claim right, title or interest in the
city park.
• * *
What those reds of North Korea did as
peace negotiations were underway demonstrat
ed what sort of an outfit men of goodwill have
to deal with.
* * *
Everybody in the vicinity where my type
writer sits knew it was hot. Day following sun
burned day oppressive heat poured upon us from
the celestial furnace. Good corn growing weather,
as Mike Boldt used to say. Pretty much the same
the country over. Letters coming from West coast
points tell of hot days, and my son, Glenn, out
from Ohio a recent weekend, said Old Sol had not
overlooked them. Electric fans have been hum
ming, a new thing that wind has to be manu
factured in Nebraska. The weather bureau then
came up with the forecast of rains, possible cy
clones and a cooling off. A northwest gale drop
ped temperatures and the rain and cyclones were
omitted.
* * •
Thrifty citizens, loyal patriots, resent having
a representative from the courthouse coming to
their homes and asking senseless questions, are
the walls and roof insulated, what are the floors
made of and when was the house built? A trip to
the basement, a peek into each room and the
number of these jotted down. All of this a pro
duct of the latest in taxation assessment coming
from this present state administration, which may
spell the end of republican control at the state
capitol when another election rolls around. The
intent of the law is said to be to equalize valua
tions. Some see it as such, many feel it to be a
step dictatorward.
A gent came down from Canada to xen us>,
among other things not to his liking, that trial
by jury is obsolete. He is not the first to arise
and undertake to pick our representative form of
government to pieces. It has stood that test for
nearly two hundred years, during which time we
have grown to world leadership; and that could
ultimately spell the downfall, not trial by jury.
The idea is that one charged with a crime was
considered innocent until found guilty by a jury
of his peers. And if there is anything wrong with
the jury system therein lies the catch. It was a
bunch of his “peers” who saved Billy Reed (who
killed Sheriff Kearns) from a trip to the gallows.
Others in early days in Holt county, guilty as sin,
escaped with a whole hide because the guys com
posing a jury of “peers” didn’t know how soon
they would need some “peers” to keep them from
a trip to the pen. But now that the ladies have a
part in determining the guilt or innocence of one
accused of a crime, the accused not only faces his
“peers” but his superiors.
♦ * *
It is the considered judgment of the engi
neer of this department that what O'Neill needs
is sidewalks, not more paved streets.
• * *
A member of congress from Indiana proposed
the congressional investigation to ascertain what
the bomb explosions had to do with the epidemic
of cyclones, a pretty generally widespread sus
picion on the part of many not in scientific cir
cles being that the bomb is the answer, though
others say not. Out of the tragedy and destruction
of tornado-swept states comes a suggestion for
the revival of the storm cave, a safety zone that
just about every pioneer in Holt county provided
himself with. As to what produces a twister
among the clouds of a gathering storm, it is yours
to figure out. Maybe, as some believe, that old
cloven-footed troublemaker, the “prince of the
power of the air,” has something to do with it.
A big blow has beaten Holt county a good many
times. Chambers, the Little and McClure ranch
communities, down along Dry creek, and the
Page neighborhood, each has had a touch of what
real twisters can do.
* * *
Seated with a girl in a tavern, a Wisconsin
youth of 18 boasted that could drive his car 105
miles an hour “or kill myself trying.” He did just
that; his last ride was to the graveyard. . . . The
casualties of World War II are now reported to
have been 936,259, of which there were 234,874
killed. Ten and a half million saw military ser
vice. A Caesar has died in Hollywood, where
he was in the script writing end of the movie bus
iness, something of a contrast to the career of his
illustrious namesake. . . Miss Ethel Mellor is as
sistant cashier of the Omaha National bank, the
first woman to become a bank officer in Omaha.
. . . Mrs. T. J. Gist, born in Richardson county,
Nebr., in 1865, at the age of 88 is writing the story
of her interesting life. . . Mary T. Davis, a teacher
in the schools of Clay Center, has booked passage
for an extended tour of Europe.
* * *
In the book, “U.S. 40,” the author pauses
long enough in a sweep across the land from At
lantic City, N.J., to San Francisco, Calif., to say
this when he reaches prairieland: “In sheer gran
deur and massive scenic effect the most magnifi
cent mountains scarcely exceed the high plains.”
Prairieland is not only a picture of verdant
beauty to behold but it produces the stuff that
provides an abundant table three times a day,
while the “sheer grandeur” of the mountains
turns out mineral you might be interested i;i
once in a lifetime.
* * *
The night was hot. Calm but not hushed.
Children out in the open shouting at their play
and a boy counting loudly up to 100—10 at a time
—in a game of hide-and-go-seek. Activities dwin
dle. Across the street blankets are spread on the
porch and our group does likewise, taking pillows
also. Moments pass. All is hushed save now and
then the glare and rumble of a passing auto.
Morpheus has wooed to rest tired kids.. I spread
a quilt before the open door and drop to the
floor. Not a quiver of night air reaches me and I
sweat it out until midnight and then go to bed.
• • m
Just across the way he lies helpless on his bed
the victim of the tragedy of old age, cannot find
relief in either the sleep of death or restored
health. For more than a year the shadows of
life’s sunset have brought pain and suffering. And
when life shall ebb away none survive to mourn.
He once had a life’s companion but no sons or
daughters.
Editorial . . .
Nelson Eyes Unicameral
Bv FRANK NELSON. O'Neill
(Senator from 28th District)
(A Guest Editorial)
Your inquiry of my views in regard to
changes needed in the unicameral has just been
received.
Inasmuch as the governor is elected on a
political ballot and has certain platform pledges
to carry out it would be much to his advantage
to have the legislature elected on a political basis.
As matters now stand each senator is what you
might call a free lance with no party responsibil
ity and no platform pledge to help carry out in
unison with his group.
How far do you think a football team would
get if each player played for himself alone?
I believe in the two-party system and feel
that with a non-political legislature we are break
ing down both political parties.
It seemed that way to me in some of the leg
islation passed at this last session and other leg
islation advocated but not passed.
Your political conventions will be no better
than the delegates sent there by the people and .
there must be work to do or the people will lose
interest.
I believe it is easier to pass a law in the
unicameral than in the two-house system, as in
some instances 22 votes are not hard to get.
There were not many special interest bills
that got through this year but there are several
on the books from former years.
A large number of senators might help but
unless area was considered as well as population
some areas would be hurt as they were when we
changed from the two-house to the unicameral.
Then if more senators were added, unless other
changes were made in the constitution each sen
ator’s salary would be cut, as there is a certain
sum set up for salaries of members.
There has been much criticism of the 65th
session, such as too many laws passed, too large
a budget and too long a session. Of the 595 bills
introduced, 60 percent were passed. All were giv
en careful consideration and all were asked for
by someone.
K The length of the session was caused by the
great number of bills, many of which were quite
controversial, and no senator shirked his duty
but stayed till all received a fair consideration.
The two-house system would cost more moa
ey as there would be more members and more
help would be needed.
A sifting committee would perhaps dispose of
many of the bills without any public hearing so
the session could be shorter.
In a body with as few members as the uni
cameral many close friendships are formed and
each one must be extra careful to weigh each
bill on its merits and not let the matter of friend
ship affect his vote or poor legislation may result.
We are in a time where most farm products
have declined in price and commodity prices are
still high and wages still rising, so there is bound
to be unrest in an agricultural area until adjust
ments have been made.
Seven Nebraska colleges are to share in the
$9,000 allotted to this territory from the $150,000
the Standard Oil company invests this year to aid
independent schools of higher learning. Two of
these institutions are in Lincoln, Union college
and Nebraska Wesleyan university.
Communists abroad and sympathizers in
America are horrifed over the execution of the
Rosenbergs, traitors to their country, but bat not
an eye over the starving, enslavement and butch
ery of millions that crimson their hands.
Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St.
Address correspondence: Box 330, O’Neill, Nebr.
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
Established in 1880—Published Each Thursday
Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt
county, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter
under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This
newspaper is a member of the Nebraska Press
Association, National Editorial Association and
the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per
year; rates abroad, provided on request. All sub
scriptions are paid-in-advance.
Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,200 (Mar. 31, 1953).
Upped to Corporal
Donald Rzeszotarski (above), son of Mr. and Mrs. Gaines
Rzeszotarski of Emmet, was recently promoted to the rank oi
corporal. Donald is serving with the army, stationed in Alaska. His
address: Cpl. Donald E. Rzeszotarski, US 55251243, H & S Co., 832
E.A.B., APO 731, c/o PM, Seattle, Wash.
Newlyweds Will
Reside in Georgia
DELOIT— On Monday, June
29, at 7 p.m., Miss Shirley Bar
tak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.
E. Bartak of Deloit, became the
bride of Richard J. Sunderman
of Humphrey at the Presbyterian
church in Ewing.
After a short honeymoon the
couple will live in Brunswick.
Ga., where the bridegroom is
stationed.
The bride'graduated from high
school at Bartlett and attended
college at Wayne. She has been
employed in a bank at Norfolk.
Other Deloit News
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Bauer of
Neligh spent Saturday and Sun
day at the home of their daugh
ter, Vera Dell, and family in
Grand Island. Mr. Bauer is im
proved and able to be about.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Reimer of
Lincoln spent the weekend with
home folks.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Demaray,
Joyce, Carol Ann and Gene spent
last Thursday evening at the H.
Reimer home. They recently vis
ited Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Dema
ray in camp in South Carolina
and Mr. and Mrs. William Fritz
in service in Oklahoma.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller aU
tended the funeral services for
Mrs. Miller’s aunt of Silver
Creek on Wednesday, July 1. She
was a sister of Mrs. Miller’s
mother, who died a few weeks
ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Stearns
visited Mrs. Athel Fuller in a
hospital in Omaha Sunday.
Mrs. Donald Starr and Eliz
abeth of West Point spent the
first of the week at the home of
her sister, Mrs. Henry Reimer,
and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Funk and
Vera Dell visited Mr. and Mrs.
Kenneth Ziska and daughter in
Atkinson and also attended a
wedding. Mr. Ziska is a welder
in a shop in Atkinson.
Deloit is in need of moisture. A
very light rain fell Friday after
noon and evening.
Mrs. Zoe Huffman and two
granddaughters of Omaha spent
last Thursday at Stanley Huff
man’s.
Elayne Reimer spent Friday
and Saturday with Joyce Dema
ray and attended the Fourth of
July celebration at Bartlett.
Mrs. Ronnie Hemenway and
son spent Saturday at the Hem
enway home near Orchard.
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Funk and
Vera Dell were dinner guests at
the Swindt home in Neligh last
Thursday.
The Rays of Omaha and ’he
Tomjacks of Hastings spent Sat
urday at R. M. Tomjack’s.
The two oldest sons of Mr. and
Mrs. Leonard Bauer of Iowa
have been visiting at the G: A.
Bauer home. They are to be em
ployed by Bill Day.
WD—Robert Jensen to Frank
Wewel 12/11/52 $l-% Int Lot 13
Blk 6 Hallock’s Add-Stuart.
ROYAL THEATER
Thurs. July 9
OPERATION SECRET
Starring Cornell Wilde, Karl
Malden, Steve Cochran, Phyllis
Thaxter.
Family night $1.00; adult 50c;
children 12c; tax incl.
FrL-Sat. July 10-11
Luke Short’s Saturday Evening
Post story of fighting men!
RIDE THE MAN DOWN
Trucolor by Consolidated.
Starring Brian Donlevy, Rod
Cameron, Ella Raines, Forrest
Tucker, Barbara Britton, Chill
Wills, with J. Carrol Naish and
Jim Davis.
Adult 50c; children 12c; tax incl.
Matinee Sat. 2:30. Children un
der 12 free when accompanied
by parent.
Sun.-Mon.-Tues. July 12-13-14
THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE
Color by technicolor. Starring
Betty Grable, Dale Robertson,
Thelma Ritter, John Carroll,
with Eddie Foy, jr. The musical
that’s bustin’ out all over! The
happiest wedding of song and
dance in many a honeymoon.
Adult 50c; children 12c; tax incl.
Matinee Sun. 2:30. Children un
der 12 free when accompanied
by parent.
Letters to Editor
Enroute to Florida
from Butte, Mont.
Editor, The Frontier:
This is a true “It’s a Small
World” story that pertains to O’
Neill and may interest the few
remaining oldtimers who read
your worthy journal:
In the year 1906 I had gone to
Athens, Greece, as a member of
the American Olympic team and
participated as a discus thrower
from the San Francisco Athletic
club. When I returned from
Greece, I became a professional
boxer and in 1908 Tommy Burns,
heavyweight champion of the
world, took 'me to Australia
where he booked me for several
fights. After several months in
Australia, I was signed to box
in London, England, and shipped
out through the Indian ocean and
Suez canal. At Port Said, Suez,
the toughest town in the world,
I went ashore with another box
er while the ship was taking on
cargo. We went into a big bazaar
cafe that was filled with Arabs,
Turks, Egyptians, Lascar sailors
—the toughest looking polyglot
crowd that could be assembled
anywhere on earth. A man who
looked like an American came up
to us and said: “You fellows look
like Americans. Where are you
from? I am the manager of this
place.” I said: “I was born in
O’Neill, Nebr.” He said: “Holy
mackerel, so was I. I’m the grey
Carney from out on the Emmet
road.”
So even back 45 years ago you
were apt to meet someone from
O’Neill in some far-off place on
the face of the earth.
MONTANA JACK
SULLIVAN
101 E. Granite St.
Butte, Mont.
* * *
North Bend, Nebr.
Dear Sir:
I have finally established n
new home and I miss the old
Frontier. It was such a disagree
able day when I left O’Neill that
I overlooked renewing my sub
scription. So put me on your list
on a new renewal. I always en
poyed your paper and if it had
not been such a disagreeable day
I surely would have attended to
it before I left. I am sending you
a check so you can start me off
from here on.
EDW. A. EARLY
Respectfully,
Kleins Now Located
ai Denver—
Lt. George Klein spent the
weekend with his wife and chil
dren, Jean, Jimmy and Kenneth.
Mrs. Klein and the children re
turned to Denver, Colo., with him
where they will make their home.
They have been residents of this
community for five years. Their
new address will be 196 Pontiac,
Denver 20, Colo. Lieutenant
Klein, a reservist, recently was
recalled by the air force.
To California—
Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Quinn and
grandson, Jerry Verzal, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Verzal of At
kinson, left Tuesday for San Di
ego, Calif., where they will visit
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Quinn, jr.,
and family.
7 Lynch Children
in First Communion
LYNCH—First communion ser
vices were held in the Assump
tion BVM Catholic church of
Lynch Sunday, July 5, at 8:30 a.m.
Six girl communicants, Rose
mary Heiser, Sue Allen, Sharon
Courtney, Teresa Chvala, Susene
Lueken, Alvina Mulhair, and one
boy, Leslie Purviance, were led
to the Altar to receive their first
communion.
The leaders were Raelene Hav
ranek and Linda Courtney, who
were dressed as angels.
After church the participants
were guests of Rev. John Wiec
zorek at breakfast at the rectory.
Pictures were taken of the
group.__^
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— O'NEILL —
L. G. GILLESPIE
AGENCY
Established in 1893
Our Terrible Thirst
l
/
If your town doesn’t have to worry about its water supply,‘
you’re lucky. A lot of towns do.
Trouble is, some communities never dreamed that they
might double and triple in size, that new industries would
come to town, that citizens would use more water than ever
before. We’ve reached the point where we use about 1100
gallons per person a day in the United States.
Yet why should water be short when 25 times our needs
falls from the skies every year?
Unhappily, it doesn’t always fall when and where we
need it most. Many reservoirs were built with no idea that
towns would grow so fast. And 75% of our communities
rely on water from lakes and streams. Today many of these
are polluted and require treatment before use.
When faced with a shortage, cities suddenly discover to
their sorrow that new water sources take time to complete.
For years General Electric has contributed toward de
velopment of better and more efficient water-works equip
ment. This is not so unusual, since motors and other electric
equipment are important in water systems, large or small.
Some of the things we’ve learned about water supply, and
the related problem of water pollution, have been put to
gether in motion pictures and booklets, prepared in coopera
tion with the U. S. Public Health Service. Any town fathers
who are interested in what’s available can write to General
Electric, Room 123-2, Schenectady 5, N. Y.
/oa amuowi cenjfae/ice
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