Nebraska Newspapers

    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)
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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