Prairieland Talk . . .
Petitioners Go at It Again
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN—The four Lancaster county district
judges in Lincoln ruled that the petition for calling
a grand jury to investigate conditions at the state
prison was all wrong because of a number of un
qualified signers.
Just what is it that “qualifies” you to attach
your name to a petition asking for a grand jury?
The fathers of our country had
something to say about all men
being created equal, not equal in
abilities and talents, but equal
in rights and privileges of citi
zens.
It appears from the conclu
sion of the four district judges
that some citizens are excluded
from the sacred right of petition.
Do these same citizens have the
right to vote for district judges?
The petitioners go at it again
circulating a petition to “quali- Romaine
tied” signers and this time both • Saunders
penal institutions at Lincoln come in for “investi
gation.”
And now Mr. Morris, the fired superintendent
of the reformatory, puts the board of control on
the carpet to show cause why he was let out of
the superintendent’s job. That is clear to most Ne
braskans — -he was maybe unduly critical of the
guys who hired him. And who would want to be
the warden of a prison or director of affairs at a
reformatory?'
* * *
“Everybody does it.” A family was on their
lawn as I passed by. And that statement was heard
as I approached, again in passing and was the last
echo of family discussion that came my way. “Ev
„ erybody does it!” How the power of example
sways human lives! Our fundamental human needs
account for it. Out limitations leave all strand on
a common level. Tastes desires, ambitions, hopes
and aspirations may differ; ability and talents are
neither identical nor equal in all. What is it, then,
which “everybody does?” That household patriot
who exclaimed so decisively was talking about the
guy at the steering wheel. t
* * *
A former prairieland maid, now a Rocky moun
tain beauty, Sharon Kay Ritchie, her parental home
at Grand Island, standing among the charmers of
the land in an Eastern center of culture and folly,
has been crowned “Miss America.” Dignity, grace
and pharm combined with the rare good sense of
the best of young America, she says she does not
smoke, touch firewater or have a “steady.” And
she has red hair. Out of a choice selection of blacks
and browns and blondes, along came a red-crowned
miss who captivated me in the long ago. Happy to
° learn that “Miss America” is a “redhead”!
* * *
Lincoln public schools opened Monday, Sep
tember 1, with an enrollment of 18,449. There are
private schools also that have a few thousand.
* * *
September 15. No frost on the pumpkir.; no
fodder in the shock; south wind blows a gale and
the flaming chariot of the sky comes out, veiled
lor a moment with threatening clouds that are the
hope of thirsty land. A rainless reach along the
highway of time spread across prairieland as in
other years now gone and forgotten. Present wor
ries, present pleasures, hang a curtan over those of
the past, but there is nothing new or unusual but
has been experienced before on prairieland. We
love not our fellow beings the less but nature
more as it teaches us to bear with fortitude the
ups and downs of life.
After the hot months of July and August, the
arrival of autumn is welcomed by most Ameri
cans.
Of all the seasons, autumn is the most nos
talgic. The first crisp days of fall, the bright
turning leaves which begin to cover the ground,
combined with new wool sweaters, football, the
smell of burning leaves, the brown fields and blu
ish smoke from country chimneys, are all familiar
impressions. The weather is perhaps the pleasant
est of all the year.
Because the flowers and crops are dying or
dead, however, fall is a melancholy time of year
for nature’s products. There is also the thought
that soon after the beautiful days of October and
early November will come the colder, harsher
weather of winter.
The end of the year comes into view, and this
tends to bring back memories and summations
for the year, thus lending another emphasis to the
nostalgic note. The days rapidly grow shorter and
the nights longer, and the result is that the earth
loses the heat stored up during the summer
months. But, until the cold weather is actually
upon us, and the days are at their shortest, the
! best days of the year and nature’s greatest show
should be enjoyed by all who are capable of ap
preciating the miracle of life and nature so evi
dent among us.
* * *
George Morris has not been the only critic of
the functionaries composing the state board of con
trol, but he was the one they could do something
with. So he was fired as superintendent of the
state men’s reformatory, not, as the board mem
bers give out, “in the interest of the institution,”
but rather as a revenging stroke. Mr. Morris, too,
was denied the opportunity to show his loyalty and
patriotism by talking to the rioters at the reforma
tory and advising them to submit to what the
board of control claimed was for their “best inter
ests” when guards refused him admittance to tie
scene of revolt.
* * *
The automobile took the lives of 36,300 Am
ericans last year. The air lines report 16 passen
ger deaths during the same period, and seven of
the country’s railroads had no passenger fatali
ties.
* * *
An O’Neill news note in September, 1902,
ptated that Mrs. L. Cress was having a building
20x40, two stories high, erected on the south side
of Douglas street between Fourth and Fifth.
About that time G. W. Smith sold his novelty store
to Grant Hatfield and Sam Thompson. . . Joe Ry
an went to a community in Minnesota to figure and
submit bids on a large hay contract. . . John Zei
mer bought the building on Douglas street known
as the Masonic hall, built onto the rear and was
preparing to open a hotel.
* * *
He had spent three years in Sing Sing prison
for extortion, then strutted about as chief messen
ger of the Center of Peace Forum of the Truch
Church of the Royal Fraternity of Master Meta
physicians, head of the Cosmic Network of Secret
Givers, pretended to have access to the secrets of
peace, wealth, cosmic rays and immortality—and
ended up a suicide. Enough to drive most fellows
to it.
* * *
The state fair ribbon as a prize package and the
ornate bookmark as a token of achievement are
at least worthless reminders of heroic efforts.
* * *
Waiting for something to turn up? Somebody’s
toes turn up six feet underground everyday.
Editorial ....
Nebraskans Echo ‘Goodbye Bill’
Following Saturday’s debacle in Memorial c
stadium at Lincoln, in which the lowly Universi
ty oi Hawaii football team humiliated the Univer
sity of Nebraska, 6-0, the wolves once again are
biting at the heels of J. William Glassford, the
Cornhusker head football coach.
The anti-Bill feling was expressed by some
of the fans during the game when normally part
isan Nebraskans began cheering the Rainbows
from out of the Pacific.
Nebraska had been rated a multi-touchdown
favorite and some observers expected a 50-point
margin with liberal Cornhusker substitutions. It
was to be a tune-up and all hands were to see
action.
In January, 1954, at the time the Husker
players circulated petitions and asked for the dis
missal of the coach, many sob-sisters went to the
defense of BilL There were reports the players
were “cry babies” and Iron Man Bill was praised
in some quarters for putting down the “mutiny.”
At that time The Frontier in this column ex
pressed contempt for those recklessly using the
“cry baby” label. We defended Nebraska kids on
playing fields, in war and peace. We said they are
far removed from the category of “mutineers,” and
we suggested there must be extraordinary reasons
in the Cornhusker camp why so many boys drop
ped football—enough fall-outs (and good ones)
during J. William’s regime to make happy the
hearts of many coaches.
At that time The Frontier blamed in part the
metropolitan press for consistent defense of Glass
ford and continually reflecting the Wild Bill
“line.”
We said Glassford turned out one good team
after arrival here and the intoxicated regents at
the university let their enthusiasm overcome their
better judgment and they entered into a lorg
term pact with Mr. Glassford. Sure, he has won
some games, but luck will usually win a few of
them.
We pointed out nothing in Glassford’s tu
toring background qualified him as a big-time
coach and the record prior to the rebellion t.nd
since vindicates that stand.
The situation has been deteriorating rapidly
and something, obviously, will have to be done.
Nebraska was handed one if its most humiliating
defeats on record late last fall by Oklahoma. Then
came a substantial win over lowly Hawaii, re
garded in about the same league as Momingside
(Sioux City), Omaha university, South Dakota
» U., South Dakota State, etc. Finally, before a na
tionwide TV audience, the Huskers were miserable
in the Orange bowl on new year’s day and Duke
* university added further humiliation.
Comes now the 1955 dismal opener and, fi
nally, the metropolitan press is beginning to rum
ble. “Goodbye, Bill” is becoming a popular slo
gan.
Most Nebraskans are immensely proud of Ne
braska’s grid prestige of yesteryear and the loy
alty of these same patient people is wavering.
It will please us if these rumblings produce
factual reporting instead of “whitewash” and
speed a change in the football fortunes at dear
ol* Nebraska U.
©
>-■—-—
Record Speaks for Itself
No worse week, weather-wise, could have
been elected for the membership drive in behalf of
the O’Neill Community Concerts association. Not
unless it might have been a searing week in Aug
ust when the mercury stood above the century
mark day-after-day, the corn crop was shrinking
by the hour, and the pastures acquired a scorch
ed earth look.
But while the winds blew, dust swirled and
people were cinching up their economic belts a
notch or two, the Concert captains and member
ship workers made their rounds.
What happened?
The drive went over with a bang and officials
say that, when all the tabulating is completed,
the adult membership sales will very nearly equal
or exceed the number issued last year—the first
season of Community Concerts.
The just-ended campaign is an eloquent testi
mony to the appetite here for good music.
Music is noted for binding peoples and hearts
in good times and bad.
The record speaks for itself.
Father to his son: “When George Washington
was your age he never would have done a thing
like that!"
Son to his father: “When George Washington
was your age he was president.”
Tuesday morning’s exhibition by Jupiter Plu
vious demonstrates there is still water in them
thar’ clouds.
Taxes up and income down. And the confis
catory tendencies in government go on and on.
If you havn’t renewed your driver’s license,
it might be a good idea to do so now.
It’s not whether or not you win or lose, it’s
a matter of how you play the game.
FrontTfr
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
Editorial & Business Offices: 122 Sooth Fourth St.
Address correspondence: Box 330, O’Neill, Nebr.
Established in 1880 — Published Each Thursday
Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun
ty, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under
the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news
paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa
tion, 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 subscriptions
are paid-in-advance.
Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,463 (Mar. 31, 195S)
New Superior at St. Anthony’s
Mother M. Coronata, OSF (above) is the new mother superior
at the 38-bed, half-million-dollar St. Anthony’s hospital here. She
was born and reared at Alliance, has been in the Sisters of St.
Francis order 23 years and was chief technician at the large St.
Joseph’s hospital at Minot, N.D., from 1944 until 1955.—The Fron
tier Photo.
When You and I Were Young . . . i
T. V. Golden Puffs
Filipino Smoke
_
Electrical Storms Are
Numerous
50 Years Ago
September has distanced all
previous months this year for
electrical storms. . . Miss Mamie
McCafferty entertained a few
friends at a supper given in hon
or of Will Buckley of South Om
aha. . . T. V. Golden is puffing
Filipino smoke, Lt. C. A. Meals
having sent him a box of cigars
from the islands. . . Clifford E.
Smith and Dulcie A. Blakeslee of
Inman were married. . . Pete
Ward, who has been clerking in
Spencer for the last two years,
has been transferred to a better
positoin in O’Neill. . . Miss Ma- |
ble France, who has held cases |
at The Frontier office for the oast
few months, has accepted a posi
tion with the Beckworth - Corey
Printing Co. in Omaha.
20 Years Ago
Everything is in readiness for
the great O’Neill free day. If you
want to spend a delightful day,
do not fail to come here. . . A
lovely wedding was solemnized in
Emmet when Helen Cleary be
came the bride of John Turner...
The winner of the state public
speaking contest this year was
Mrs. C. C. Marr. Mrs. Marr was
formerly Helen Sauser of O’Neill,
a graduate of St. Mary’s acad
emy. . . Alvin Baker was thrown
from a rake in the hay field at
the Inez Valley ranch and was se
verely shaken up. . . The Busy
Hour club met at the home of |
Mrs. Ed Wayman. . . Fred Osen
bugh, 6, broke both bonps of his
left forearm in a fall from a
piece of playground equipment.
. . . Heavy firing on dark nights
south of here indicates that the
zero hour is here in the eternal
war on watermelons.
10 Years Ago
Clair Grimes of Chambers has
accepted the appointment as Holt
county war fund chairman for the
1954 war fund campaign. . . Dr. L.
A. Burgess was made chairman
of the nominating committee at
a meeting of the North Nebraska
Dentists at Norfolk. . . M/Sgt.
William Miller arrived to visit
relatives and friends. . . Mrs. Rob
ert Harvey entertained the Get
to-Gether club at her home with
17 members present. . . Sister M.
Florresa and her sister, Mrs. Ed
ward Johnson, were in the city
visiting relatives and old fiiends.
One Year Ago
The Lyndley Crumly farm home
near Page was the scene of a - c
fire. Extensive damage was done.
. . . The masquerade ball held at
the Country club brought out an
impressive array of costumes. . .
The William Krotter Co. will for
mally open a downtown store in
addition to the original store in
West O’Neill. . Rev. J. Olen Ken
nell.of Orleans has been Issued a
joint call from the First Presby
terian and Bethany churches.
TRENCHING!
Don’t wait until the ground freezes,
but call us now for . . .
• WATER LINES
• GAS LINES
Reduced Prices in
Well Drilling and Repairing
White Well Service
— O’NEILL —
WM. J. WHITE ROBERT J. WHITE
Phone 260 Phone 298-J
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