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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1961)
T1IK FRONT1KB, O’NollI, Nebraska, Thursday, January 12, 1961 Prairieland Talk "Horse Race on Main Drag'' By ROMAINE SAUNDLrtS. 4110 South hist 5*.. Lincoln 6, Nebr. 1 turn back the pages ot time to tbe year JH8b. His name was Hecker, a partner of J. P. Mann in the mercantile business in the growing town of O’Neill. It was the horse race age and along the main east and west drag through town there were daily horse races. Hecker had a nag he thought could run. Dan Conoly had a split eared j>ony from the Indian country to the north that Dan felt could outrun anything on four legs. Hecker tried to get a wager out of Conoly that his horse could l>eat Conoly’s in a race. Conoly would not put up a dollar as a bet probably be- Romaine cause he didn't have one. But Hecker tried again, have a race Saunders for fun. Frank Mann rode the Hecker horse, I the tlonoly nag. We started a little to the west of where now First street joins Douglas, raced east to the street now known as Third. There stood Dan and Mrs. Conoly smiling and clapping their hands as I came dashing to the finish a horse length or little more ahead of Frank and his mount. My hunch was that Frank was told to let me win the race, Hecker hoping thus to snag Conoly into betting on another race. * * • You had your ups and downs the past year. So have I, but not until the year was about to end the big-little event of the year came my way. I went to the door upon hearing a knock—there stood two small children from a home near by. They handed me a tidy arranged little gift, saying, “You give us candy, so we give you some cookies.” A treat from two young darlings. Childhood and old age walking the pathway of life and extend a kindly hand along the way. Ye«, a bit of candy, a few choice cookies, and age and childhood rejoice together. • » • Our state legislature is in session again. I under stand there are plans to redistrict the state for electing our state law makers, as well as other mat ters that will be considered. Senator Nelson is down once more at the State House planted in his seat at the front to do his bit. * * * A change again of district judges in the 15th judicial district. But we are pleased to learn that a native son of Holt county, Mr. McElhaney will con tinue to serve as court reporter. Ted and wife have a very nice modern home on Everett street in O’ Neill between Second and Third streets. Mr. Mc Elhaney’s parents lived in O'Neill in the 1890’s his father being in the J. J. McCafferty Store for a time. I recall five patriots that served as judges in the 15th district—Kinkaid, Westover, Harrington, Dickson and the now retiring Judge Mounts. m Out there in that notable city by me uoiaen uaie they met—clergymen of all church groups. They were gathered there to preach church unity. In one respect there has ever been unity of purpose on the part of the clergy, to seek and to save the lost in their way. But can there ever be unity that will unite all church groups under one roof? Hardly. Members of St. Patrick’s church in O’Neill will continue to walk up north Fourth street to their place of wor ship just as they did in the days of Father Smith. Methodists will go to their sanctuary over on Sixth street just as the pioneers did in the days of Rev. Bartley Blaine. And the Presbyterians will meet in their church at Second and Everett streets, to hear the parson pray and preach and Harry Clauson sing, as they did in the time of Rev. Lowrie and James H. Riggs. Other groups have come to remain; still others have come and gone. Anyway—Go to church! • • • I had a chat with him some days ago. His name is John Malone and he told me his parents were mar ried in O’Neill in the year 1880, the year The Frontier began to tell the news. He is a relative of the late county judge of Holt county, Clarence Ma lone whose remains are in the grave yard at In man. John Malone makes his home in the Capitol City in the community where Frairieland Talker lives. He said his parents went to Cherry county from O’Neill, he being born and reared on a ranch in the Cherry county Sandhills. Judge Clarence Ma lone died in the year 1932 or '33 while serving as county judge. He had lived many years in the In man community and was active in public affairs, a personal friend of this scribe. * * * A midwinter day—calm, cold and nature’s crea tive hand touches Prairicland to lay upon the land winters snow and ice. The sun’s unending glow may ere the night comes on soften a bit the blanket of snow. Yes, a cold January day, so by the window I may sit and look out upon another winter scene. No birds a-wing, no meadow lark out there to sing, but I see the pure white snow and long to be thus soul cleansed as traveling lifes highway we go. * * # It was hung on the wall of a small business place: Pay Cash and We will be Friends, Takes money to make friends. * * * Asia, Africa, much of Europe, section of South America and those in island countries are in tur moil. We on Prairieland and these United States and Canada are at peace. Does the turmoil in these troubled lands mean that we are soon to hear the long and last roll call and then the reverberations of a wrecked and ruined world? In 1961 the world to an end may come, we hear it now said. Editorial Tax The Other Fellow Nebraska Signal After reading a column entitled “Don’t Tax Me” in the Nebraska Education News, we decided the ideas expressed in the column are too near the truth to confine them to readers of the News. The column is written by Archer L. Burnham, director of re search for the Nebraska State Education Association. He is a former school superintendent and NSEA official but we feel his viewpoint is broad enough for all of us to consider. He writes as follows: “I’ve been thinking about taxes. It would be a little hard to escape giving some attention to the problem these days. Everybody’s doing it. “Governor Burney wants a sales tax, but will accept an accompanying income tax as a necessi tous expedient for getting the sales tax. Governor elect Morrison wants to try his hand at ‘getting-more for-the-tax-doilar’ before accepting any invitation to revise the existing tax program. "‘Organized labor and the Farmers Union want nothing to do with the sales tax. They wrant a sharply progressive income tax plus minor excise taxes. Barbers, beauticians, physicians, hotel and motel keepers look with jaundiced eye on service taxes. Investment bankers want only a token tax on intangibles. Property owners and tenants, and highly capitalized industry want relief from the present demands of a tax structure topheavy with property taxes. “The Omaha World Herald wants nothing so much as the status quo-keep expenditures for public service down by keeping tax sources limited, tight and archaic—keep governmental activities where, and what, they now are while everything else is rampant with change. i ijc uu;iuicuu s uguu> up wiui iuiuvc gniici at the mention of a retail dealers’ occupation tax— and so it goes, ad infinitum. “Somehow this all reminds me of a legend telling of two mules tied together midway between two stacks of hay, each attempting mightily to get to the other mule’s haystack. They pulled and hauled and grew weaker and hungrier all the time—slowly starv ing because of their mule-headness. “All the while each delectable haystack re mained untouched, awaiting its destined purpose—to satisfy the increasing need of hungry mules, too mule-headed to compromise a little, and eat a little from each haystack in turn. “Shifting from the realm of legend to the field of folk song the story becomes: “Please, Mr. Taxman, don't tax me, “Tax that guy behind the tree. “Please, kind Sir, tax him enough “You won’t need to tax my stuff. “From burd'ning taxes leave me free, “Just tax that guy, but don’t tax me.” Norvin R. Greene writes in National Review Bulletin: “Our machinery builders are finding that to continue foreign sales in volume it is essential to have production facilities in low-wage European countries such as Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands . . . The combination of an out standing research-minded engineering group in the United States tied to low-cost foreign producers adds up to a competitive situation in world markets. In time investments abroad return foreign-earned dividend dollars to U. S. stockholders. They do not, however, create more jobs and wages for American workers who are pricing themselves out of the world market. Sic Semper Subsidies Families in the Canadian province of Newfound land generally are large ones. Large families, with many children to send to school, have to buy a lot of textbooks. To relieve the expense on parents, the Newfoundland government had been paying 50 per cent of the cost of the books. Last June it decided to increase the subsidy to 90 percent. The decision caused a near panic when school opened last fall. What happened was that thousands of school children began demanding new textbooks instead of digging out thumbed-over books of other years. A shortage developed, and there were cases of young sters obtaining new books and selling old sets at “black market” prices. “Because we tried to be generous, we got rooked,” Education Minister G. A. Frecker said. This is an old story with subsidies. Only the places, people and commodities change. When the U. S. Congress opens January 3, there will be many proposals for subsidies of many types for many groups. At this Christmas season it would be well to reflect that Congress isn't Santa Claus—and that whenever subsidies are involved, most grown-ups act like children. Gold—And The Wage-Hour Law Numerous factors contribute to the present balance of payments deficit, which has resulted in a substantial decline of our gold reserves. The deficit is the difference between the total amount of money we spend abroad and the total amount others spend with us. Moreover, the problem could be made still more severe, and still more difficult to solve or alleviate, by certain actions which, on their face, seem to have nothing to do with international monetary matters. The Chamber of Commerce of the United States points out that the proposed increase in the federal minimum wage could make further inroads on the gold store at Fort Knox. And there’s nothing far fetched in this view. Increasing the minimum wage (and extending the federal wage-hour law to certain local businesses, such as retailing, which have al ways been exempt) would mean higher costs for many U S. businessmen. Capital would be en couraged to invest in lower-cost overseas areas, thus increasing the gold outflow. The higher minimum wage would set loose new inflationary forces all along the wage-price line. These increased costs would make it more difficult for American products to compete in foreign mar kets, where the competition is already extremely keen, largely because of our existing wage stand ards. Also, the increases would make it easier for foreign producers of many kinds of wares to expand their American sales. So we’d sell less abroad, others would sell more in our home market, and the pay ments imbalance would swell. Protection of the gold reserve has become a major domestic problem. It wouldn’t make sense for the government to aggravate it through legisla tion which would make it tougher for us to compete in the world’s market places. The Chamber of Commerce of the United States produces evidence that Americans are willing and able to continue improving local school systems without federal subs:dies. Voters approved in the first nine months of this year $1.1 billion in school bond issues, one third more than in the same period last year. Frontiers Ago 50 YEARS AGO John S. Gallagher, living eight miles northwest of town, will have a sale January 24. Mr. Gal lagher has bought a lot in O’ Neill and will build and move to town, having rented his farm. . .Frank Campbell and Ann Sul livan were united in marriage Tuesday by Rev. M. F. Cassidy. . .The Frontier is informed that twin boys were born Monday to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Spindler of Meek. . .Shoemaker Bros, have purchased a bone grinding ma chine and are now able to fur nish chicken fanciers with the best chicken food on the market. No need of sending away for your chicken feed now, just call at the New Market and they will be able to fix you out. . .C. W. Jones will have a public sale at the farm he recently sold six miles north and two miles east of ONeill on Wednesday, January 18. Mr. Jones advertises for sale seven head of horses and mules, fifteen head of cattle, forty ■ five head of hogs, harness, farm ma chinery and his household goods. 25 YEARS AGO Last week Henry D. Grady, for many years sheriff of this coun ty and later postmaster of this city, purchased a half interest in the grocery store of his brother, Ben, and the firm of Grady Bro thers started business Monday morning. . .Friends are glad to see Rody Adams, the southwest’s popular notary, able to attend to business in his Amelia office again after several weeks just about down and out from an at tack of a common ailment of the season. . .George T. Robertson who has been spending the holi days at the home of his parents, Mr. apd Mrs. George C. Robert son, left Monday for Hastings col lege where he is a senior. . .Delos Edwards, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Edwards of near Venus is here and employed driving the tank wagon of the Crabb service station west of the Chevrolet garage. 10 YEARS AGO Lt. John L. Baker, of O’Neill, has been recently awarded the air medal for having completed 10 combat missions against the enemy over Korea as a pilot of an F-80 type aircraft, it was re cently announced by headquar ters 5th air force in Japan. . . Chief Aviation Pilot D. W. Thorin, of Chambers, was the pilot of a helicopter which made seven trips to snatch 16 shipwrecked Thailand sailors and two Ameri can airmen from a Korean east coast beach Monday, according to an Associated Press dispatch from Tokyo, Japan. . .The tem peramental, unpredictable stork turned Holt county’s 1951 baby derby into a free-for-all and had almost everybody in a dither, in cluding prospective parents, doc tors, nurses and The Frontier’s first baby contest editor. Betty Jean Knoell said “hello” at 9:10 am. on Sunday. Jan. 7. 5 YEARS AGO Mrs. Floyd Spence, 25, and her infant daughter, Linda Lou, 2, badly burned about the face, chests and arms in a house fire late Tuesday, January 3, are making “good progress’’ accord ing to Atkinson hospital atten dants. . .First major improve ment in the Church of the Epiph any in 35 years was culminated Wednesday, January 11, with the consecration of the new altars. Rev. Francis Price, a native of O’Neill is pastor. . .The wives of the members of company D of the national guard met Monday night, January 9, to organize a social club. It was voted that meetings be held on the second and fourth Monday of each month while the husbands attend drill. Meetings will be held in the homes tuntil the new armory is built. . .Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Winter mote en tertained at a dinner Sunday in honor of the 25th wedding anni versary of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Thorin. The Long Ago At Chambers 50 YEARS AGO J. H. Sageser and family left on the stage, Monday, for Os mond where they will make their home. . .Mr. James Curran and Miss Lulu Minahan, and Mr. Miles Minahan and Miss Gertie Curran were married yesterday in Bur well. The two bridal couples re turned to Mr. Minahan’s last night where a wedding reception was held in their honor. , .John nie Walters has purchased the C. J. Barnum blacksmith shop. His father is here from Holt creek helping him inventory. . . W. D. and Harry Cooper, Dr. Bernard and Chaney Porter went after lumber, the first of the week, for the band hall. . .M. L. Wintermote and wife who have been visiting relatives in Kansas and Missouri for the past three weeks arrived home Wednesday. . .Porter, Cooper and Anderson are doing the inside finish work on the Johnson house on Cache creek this week. 25 YEARS AGO A very elaborate birthday par ty was given in the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Tihbets last Fri day night, January 3 in honor of Mrs. Cora Thomson’s 27 birthday. . .Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Coolidge are the happy parents of a fine pound baby boy, bom to them on December 20, 1935. Mrs. Julius Belew is assisting with the work there. . .William Russ, on last Monday met with a very serious accident, by having all the toes on his right foot smashed. On inter viewing Mr. Russ we find it was the fault of C. E. Tibbets, by letting the whole east side of his garage fall upon Bill’s foot. . . Leynn Fluckey returned home last Thursday evening from Dun ning where he had spent a couple weeks visiting a friend-? we for get what her name is. A Poem From Mrs. Eby ... A COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS PRAYER I ain’t much good at prayin and you may not know me Lord. I ain’t much seen in churches where they preach Thy Holy Word. But you may have observed me out here on the lonely plains. A lookin after cattle, feelin’ thankful when it rains. Admirin Thy great handiwork, the miracle of grass. Aware of Thy great spirit in the way it comes to pass. That hired men on horseback and the livestock that we tend. Can look up at the stars at night and know we’ve got a friend. So here’s old Christmas comin on, remindin us again of Him. Whose coming brought good will into the hearts of men. A cowboy ain’t no preacher, Lord, but if you’ll hear my prayer. I’ll ask as good as we have got for all men everywhere. Don’t let no hearts be bitter, Lord, don’t let no child be cold. Make easy beds for them thats sick and them thats weak and old. Let kindness bless the trail we ride, no matter what we’re after. And sorter keep us on your side in tears as well as laughter. Ive seen ol’ cows a-starvin and it ain’t no happy sight. Please don’t leave no one hungry Lord on Thy good Christ mas night. No man, no child, no woman and no critter on four feet. And I’ll do my very best to help you find ’em chuck to eat. I'm just a sinful cowpoke Lord and ain’t got no business prayin. But still I hope you’ll ketch a word or two of what I’m sayin. We speak of Merry Christmas Lord, I reckon you’ll agree. There ain’t no Merry Christmas for nobody that ain’t free. So one thing more I’ll ask of you Lord, just help us what you can. To save some seeds of freedom for the future sons of man. (Omar Barker) BAKER %ka-Fo4 Mounts on Hoy Sled ■ i i Now...One Man Can Feed 5 Tons of Hay in 20 Minutes! The Baker Hydra-Fork pay* for itself in one season! Mounts easily and quickly on any hay sled—auto steer, underslung, square-turn or stackmover type, or on the platform of tractor for baling operations. Hydraulic pitchfork handles 600 lbs. of hay with single bite, has 20 ft. reach, 18 ft. maximum lift and 90 degree swing. Powered by 9 h.p. Briggs and Stratton engine with self-contained hydraulic system—or can be operated from hydraulic system of most tractors. See us today for more information. Shelhamer Equip. Co. 225 E. Douglas O'Neill Phone 570 "The EDITOR" In years past our new year’s resolutions had usually been dis carded by the end of the first week of January, but not so this year. For one thing, we put off making and resolutions as long as possible and this year our re solutions were a great deal eas ier to keep. Since time and natural ability prevent our participating in ac tive sports, we resolve to applaud those who do perform. This re solution was further strengthened by this clipping from the “Nudes letter” the official publication of the nudist colony in Oakdale, Calif. “Our soccer team made a fine showing in a recent match.” I feel sure I’d enjoy seeing a good frisky game of soccer - yes indeed, that will be the day! A second resolntion is to be more honest in my thinking. No accepting other people’s verbal propaganda against my better judgement. For instance: I’ll be so bold as to say that I do not like Mona Lisa’s smile. I think it is unbe coming, tricky and assumed and if she “smiles to tempt a lover” she might as well knock it off. No lover worth his salt would be taken in by such a smirk. And in addition she’s a little old. I refuse to drool over Picas so’s efforts and I wouldn’t trade “Snowbound” for a whole book of Dylan Thomas’s poems, “My birthday turned around” and “The long men lay graveward,” bosh! I made a promise for the fu ture too: If I am to make a speech of any kind I will follow the Malayan rule; “Stand on one leg while speaking and finish be fore the limb gives away.” That would reduce the time to consider ably under one minute, and any way, I will have told all by that time. —BJR— We thoroughly enjoyed the governor’s ball Thursday eve ning. Frau Rehberg made no disparaging remarks about a certain senator being younger than I. In return we re frained from commenting on how well the senators and their wives seemed to manage on $200 a month. —BJR— We read a description of some bandits involved in break-ins at three Saunders county business places in which blank company checks were taken. The Wahoo Newspaper called the thieves, in order. “Two-bit thieves who apparent^ ly aren’t as smart as chipmunks,” “scared jackrabbits,” lollipop bandits,” “these nonentities who dabble in crime,” “yo-yo band its,” “chessy (check) writers,” “peanut-brained crooks,” “ama teurs with not too much upstairs,” “snailheads” and last but not least, “goofheads.” I Do You Know Your Neighbor? "Know Your Neighbor” is not a contest. There arc no prizes given for correctly identifying the person pictured. The only reward is the satisfaction of knowing your neighbor. Last week’s Guess Who was George Morlang of the Ideal Cleaners. We imagine this description de flated the bandits’ ego somewhat, but what about the police, who so far have not caught the thieves. —BJR— So far no reports have been made in Holt county by people suffering from the new space age disease—The disease where peo ple are afraid they will fly off the earth and go into orbit. We heard of several cases where there were some symptoms of the disease but these were apparently minor cas es for the symptoms had disap peared by noon the following day, January 1. Servicemen's Notes . . . O’NEILL— Fred R. Snowardt, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred R. Snowardt, sr., of O’Neill, gradu ated December 16 from nine weeks of Recruit Training at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif. Apprentice petty officers are chosen from the ranks of the sea men recruits to assist Company Commanders. The selection is based on individual aptitude and leadership qualities. ATKINSON—Marine Pvt. Rich ard C. Brooke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clair J. Brooke of Atkinson completed recruit training Decem ber 14 at the Marine Corps Re cruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. The 11 -week course included in struction in all basic military subjects and infantry weapons. Upon completion of training new Marines are assigned to a unit for further infantry training, or to one of the many Marine Corps schools. The Frontier— Thelander's Chrysler — Dodge Here’s a choice lot of used cars that will fill the ne !>1 of any purse any home and any job. You pick out the car and we’ll make you a deal you can’t refuse. Stop in today and ask for Fritz or Chuck. 1957 PLYMOUTH 4-Door V-8 with standard transmission. A special of the week. <685 1957 MERCURY 2-DOOR Hardtop with full power, new tires. Drive it, price it—you’ll buy it. 1956 CHEVROLET 4-DOOR Bel Air with V-8 automatic transmission. A beautiful black and white car. i 1956 FORD Customline 4-door V-8 with automatic trans mission. Mechanic’s special. Needs a little body work. *380 1959 OPEL 2-DOOR Standard transmission and radio. Absolutely per fect and way below book price. 1957 PLYMOUTH 4-DOOR Belvedere V-8 with automatic transmission, pad ded dash, radio, near new tires. Only 35,000 miles. Just like new. I 1958 FORD STATION WAGON 4-Door V-8 automatic transmission, new tires. Local one-owner car* gm f \ y with 40,000 actual miles. Below wholesale price. THIS WEEK ONLY J. 1955 CHRYSLER WINDSOR k Windsor with near new motor. Real nice. 1956 PLYMOUTH WAGON _ 4-Door with V-8 engine, automatic transmission, 1954 PLYMOUTH radio. Power steering and brakes, luggage car- 4-Door, standard transmission. Local one rier, new tires. Local one-owner car with only owner car. 41,000 actual miles. 40,000 actual miles. ^ Theland r Auto O'Neill DODGE - PLYMOUTH - CHRYSLER Orchard