-The Plattsmouth Journal-
CZ13 Published Seml-Weeklj at Piattsnioutti, He&rsska c5
R. A. BATES, Publisher.
Entered at the Postotfke at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, as Becond-clas
matter.
fl.SO PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
J. THOUGHT FOR TODAY. 4.
b
4 Could a greater miracle J
take place than fop us to J
look (drouth each other's S
eyes
fop an instant?
Thorcau.
:o:
Every sign directs -to plenty of
private inippovemenls in Platte
mouth this season, together with
a liberal amount of street paving.
:o:
The day in Nebraska that
doesn't produce a few fatalities
from automobile wrecks is sel
dom.. The moral Is "to slow up!"
:o:
Considering I he fate of those
who have pone before, surmiso is
that down in his hoots General
Huerla enlerlains a shakey feel
nig. :o:
The Iowa legislature has has
passed a "daylight" saloon law
that opens 'em at 7 and closes
'em at 7. Thai is one hour worse
than the Nebraska law.
:o:
The Uollen hill has gone glim
mering among I he things t hat,
were, the saint; as he wil go soon
after this session of the legis
lature. :o:
Evidenlly there are some old
sporls in the house of represent
atives who do nol care half as
much about base hall as they do
about playing poker
:o:
It now seems to be a lived fact
I hal there will bo no election next
fall. We know some fellows
around the court house that will
smile at this news, and they are
not all democrats, either.
:o:
Deposed rulers in Mexico shot
down while being conveyed from
the national palace for confine
mcnt in the penitentiary. It
would seem that Madero was
fated lo be killed. And the
revolution still goes on.
:o:
Washington and Lincoln were
I wo men given a great oppor
tunity. They "made good." Per
haps they did so because they
were eminently fitted to cope with
the situations with which they
were confronted, but if so this fit
ness was a matter of credit to
I heir own efforts,
:o:
There is no disputing the fact
that there is a telephone lobby in
Lincoln to defeat the bill to al
low could ies, by u direct vote of
I he people, to issue bonds for the
construction of publicly-owned
telephone plants. The, presence
of lobbyists should bo conclusive
evidence that the bill should be
come n law.
:o:
The State Journal (s warning
the house of representatives of
the pledges mftdo at the Grand
Island democratic, convention
The house is democratic, and oven
if this warning: does oome from a
republican source, it will bo well
for democratic mombcrs of that
body to "stand up and take
notice" before it Is everlastingly
loo late.
:o
C. A. Ellis of Sterling, recently
appointed by Governor Morehead
as commandant of the Soldiers'
Home at Grand Island, died last
Friday at Grand Inland of pneu
monia, following an attack of tho
XTippc. Mp. IGllitt had been in
Grand Island bat a week or ten
days and bnd not yet taken charge
of (lie home. The remains were
taken lo Slerling for interment.
is given a
Hood!
:o:
lift on (tie
Considering that
reared in Mexico his
seem so unkind.
:o:
Madero was
fate does not
The automobile show 13 on in
Omaha. Good time to see what
you want in that line.
:o:
Another brief cold spell. Ther
mometer down lo 6 degrees below
at the Hurlington depot Sunday
night.
:o:
Seven tragedies have marked
attempts of would-be rulers to
govern Mexico. And probably
others to follow.
:o:
According to 1L H. 19G, blood
hounds must be pedigreed to hold
down a job. No more fake blood
hounds.
:o:
Several slate legislatures de
mand intervention in Mexico. Our
own legislature remains silont on
the matters.
:o:
April 1 has been llxed by Presi
dent Wilson for the extra session
of congress. A long, hot summer
stares I he new congress in the
face.
:o:
Weal her prophet s assert that
moisture condilions generally
equalize themselves. Wherefore
we may adduce that the spring
will produce some good roads
argument.
:o:
"Make haste slowly" seems to
be the motto of the present legis
lature. They aro moving so slow
ly that we need not be surprised
if the doubled salaries for the
members also bring a term of
double length.
:o:
A Hartinglon woman was ac
quitted of a murder chargo be
cause she was insane, and now
she has just been acquitted of tho
charge of insanity, which re
leases her from the asylum. Cer
tainly she can find no complaint
to make of tho flexibility of our
criminal laws.
:o:
Uncle Sam is testing the newest
evice in field weapons, a rifle
that shoots G52 bull'.ds in a min
ute. One pull of the trigger
shoots thirl y shots, and with an
expert at I he gun t'O per cent of
I he r2 shots may be put into a
17-inch target at 500 yards. In
spectors say it is the most deadly
arm ever made for any govern
ment.
:o :
Ihere seems to be a great
sentiment in Nebraska in favor of
publicly-owned telephone sys
tems, and if the Fuller bill fails
to become a law, and telephone
rales ascend higher, the senti
monl will have gained such
strength that the next legislature
will be compelled lo enact, such
a law as will give tho people a
telephone system of their own if
they want it.
:o:
There is now a new Iowa idea
that of meeting the demand of
a number of women for the right
to vote. "Tho majority rules," is
the answer of the Iowa legislature
and it appears to havo agree.! to
arrange for a vote on the question
among the women themselves.
That's just the question that
should be settled in Nebraska.
Let all the women in the slate
have a voice in the matter. A few
headstrong old women want
everything their way, bul they
neer will succeed if all noble and
endearing housewives can have
their say.
Wheat
markets.
Open season for duck?
cidenls.
and a"
The Lincoln Slur, edited by
John Cutright, who, like the Jour
nal editor, has been there, says:
"Those who are preparing to
spend seeral hundred dollars in
going to Washington to hear
President Wilson's inaugural ad
dress will probably not be able to
get near enough to the stand to
see the president, and besides it
is predicted that the inaugural
address will be less than 2,000
words long."
:o:
Our friend, Mont Robb, former
steward of the penitentiary under
Governor Aldrich, has bought a
hotel at Sutton, Neb., and has
taken charge of the same. There
is not a more genial fellow on
earth than Mont Robb, and his
legion of friends tn this city, as
well as in Cass county, will join
the Journal in wishing Mr. Robb
an abundance of success. He will
make an ideal landlord, being a
most sociablo and entertaining
gentleman.
:o:
Those who go to Washington
to attend tho inauguration and
to see the sights will be all right,
but those who go there with the
purpose of doing business will
find everyone busy and they will
fail to get in a word edgew ise with
those they would most delight lo
see. We have been in Washing
Ion to attend two inaugurations
and know whereof we speak.
About two months after the
inauguration is the proper time lo
go if you want to do business.
:o:
President Wilson arose from
his seat in a crowded car a few
days ago and gave the place to a
woman. The act itself is not un
common. It has become uncom
mon, however, in recent years,
that a president or president-elect
rides in a car in which others
than his own parly are riding.
The act was one of a perfect gen
tleman, of which tho new presi
dent possesses all the genial
qualities, and firmness in his
official duties is destined to bo one
of the most popular presidents of
which this country ever boasted.
:o:
The most varied displays of
automobiles ever offered greeted
the visitors at tho Omaha
Automobile show, which is being
held this week. Cars of every
description, from the aristocratic
limousino to the little roadster,
often referred lo as a "road
louse," stood side by side vieing
with each other for tho attention
of the possible purchasers and
those who attend through curios
ity and whoso pockclbooks arc
not commensurate with their de
sires. The merits of tho cars
are being put forth by represent
atives from tho factories and the
Omaha jobbers are taking a back
seat and Idling tho easterners
do the work. More than 5,000 at
tended tho show on opening night.
It was the largest crowd that
ever inspected an auto display in
Omaha.
:o:
Thero is no douM that tho
country is full of fake reformers.
A fake reformer is nothing moro
than a hypocrite, and a hypocrite
is nothing moro than a "wolf in
sheep's clothing." The vulgar
saying that "money makes tho
mare go," outlines tho true deflni
lion of the meaning of a fake re
former. He is after tho money,
and that is all thoro is to his pur
pose. A man may be poor, but
if he is honest in his convictions
the community finds him out and
his standing will doublo discount
that of the man who pretends to
'.10 a reformer for the "money
Ihere is in it." Now, every honest
person believes that, even if they
are too timid to say so. If the
people generally were more out
spoken in their beliefs we all
would be happier, I he community
heller off, and the fake reformer
the country over would be out of
a job.
Dead men tell no tales. Neither
do they start any revolutions.
Mr. Urjan will be al head f
President Wilson's cabinet. That
is a foregone condition.
:o:
Mexico has only slight hopes
for immediate peace, as rebel
activity in the northern part of
the country seems to be increas
ing. Congressman Stephens of the
Third district has introduced a
bill lo legalize postolfice elections,
though the measure is not man
datory, but permissive in its pro
visions. "They may be held" and
"shall nol be held."
:o:
This indeed has been a winter
of delights. When the balm of
spring and the drouth of arid
California has prevailed wo have
basked in tho sunshine and rode
in automobiles. And when it has
snowed it has benefited the wheat
crops. Oh, great is Nebraska.
:o:
Now let tho anti-tobacco so
cities go away back and sit down.
One of the rescue parties sent out
to look for Captain Scott and his
men at the south pole, reports
that its greatest suffering was
caused by the exhaustion of its
tobacco supply, forcing the use
of teawood to raise a smoke.
:o:
Aluminum hats for women as
a solution of the high cost of liv
ing are advocated by John F.
Henyon, Boston writer and pub
lisher. He says they would save
$100,000,000 every year in this
country and shatter the high cost
of living. These hats, says Mr.
Henyon, would be durable, artistic
and inexpensive. With a simple
turn of the wrist they could be
bent into the shape prescribed bv
tho latest dictators of fashion, j
:o:
Lincoln Star: An Iowa fanner
woman "cussed" her neighbor
over the telephone because the
neighbor's callle broke into her
field, and the Iowa supreme court
has just held that the farmer who
got the dressing down cannot re
cover damages because of "fright,
shock and humiliation." While
it may be true thai an Iowa wom
an's cussing may not be, supposed
to frighten any man, it does look
as if he might be slightly shocked
by it.
:o:
Tho board of control as it
stands now is Henry Gerdes of
Falls City, C. II. Gregg of Kear
ney and Charles Graff of West
Point. Two democrats and ono
republican constitute tho board.
If the senate confirms these three
gentlemen, Mr. Gredes will
serve six years, Gregg four years
and Charles Graff for two years.
There is some doubts expressed
as to the confirmation of Gregg
and Graff. The Journal's opinion,
however, is that Gerdes will bo
confirmed. There is no question
as to his qualifications and his
record in public life stands at tho
head of men in Nebraska.
:o:
Voting by mail has been ap-
proved by tho Nebraska houso.
The bill provides that anyone pro
posing to cast a ballot by mail
must first secure from tho county
clerk in his home a certificate at
testing his residence and
qualifications. This must be pre
sented to the election board where
he ogers to cast his vote, and ho
must take an oath that he has not
voted elsewhere. When ho votes,
the man away from homo encloses
his ballot in a special sealed en
velope and hands It to the election
board. It is sent to the county
clerk of tho same county and by
him forwarded to the clerk of the
county where the voter lives. All
such ballots are held by the coun
ty clerk receiving them and are
turned over, still sealed, to the
canvassing board of the county
when it meets. These voles may
be challenged on I he first day of
the board's session, bul nol. there,
after.
From Lincoln comes the report
that Nebraska will be without a
gowrnor or 'lieutenant governor
:'nr two or three days, beginning
February 28. On that date Gov
n nor Morehead will leave for
Washington to attend the in
augural ceremonies and Lieuten
ant Governor McKelvie will be
absent on a trip to Indiana. If
it becomes necessary in that time
to attend to business of the slate
as far as an executive is con
cerned, President Pro Tern Kemp
will be called upon to perform the
duties of the office. Should he be
absent the work would devolve
upon Speaker P. C. Kelley of tho
house of representatives. In tho
event that the latter should also
be out of the state the line of suc
cession would end there and the
state would have no official con
stitutionally entitled to fill the
gubernatorial position.
:o:
The Mexican situation is a far
different one than that which
prompted the United States lo her
last interference that in Cuba
and the Philippine islands. No
European nation was seriously
disposed to question the justice
of American intervention at that,
time. It is not so certain that the
same attitude would prevail in the
present case. The United States
should certainly protect the lives
and properly of her citizens in
any foreign country, but the
precipitation of the sort of a war
which would be certain to result
from armed intervention is not a
matter to be hastily decided on.
While no one would question that
the. United Stales could eventually
cope with the situation in the
event of an armed clash, il is a
much more serious question what
would be the final solution of the
problem. If we once get into this
mailer we might very easily find
ourselves m l tie same situation
with I lie boy who wrestled the
bear we would need a lot of help
10 turn loose. From the view
point of a disinterested outsider
11 might easily be admitted that
American control would mean a
great thing for the development
of Mexico. Hut American control,
even if we desired il ourselves,
would probably not be willingly
permitted by the European
powers. Moreover, with tho
revolutionary spirit so nicely in
stilled into the Mexican minds at
present we would probably bo lay
ing up never ending trouble
should we attempt to establish
permanent order in our neighbor
ing republic. Hut with all these
considerations against it, we are
still in favor of taking a hand if
conditions in regard to American
citizens do not grow suddenly and
permanently better.
-o:
Public high schools fared
rather badly in a debate in tho
senate at Washington ono day
last week wnicn arose over a
small item in a local appropria
tion bill. Senator Hoke Smith,
who had held that "a largo high
school was unwise from both an
educational and economic point
of view," and that the small
country schools produced the best
results, was supported by Sen
ator Works, who declared high
schools "have been warped out of
all proportion as a means of giv
ing to the children of the coun
try, the useful education that
should be imparted through the
public schools. I think thero is a
very general protest in the public
mind against the extension of
the education that is imparted
through the public schools at tho
present time," Mr. Works said,
"and it is perfectly evident to
every observing man that a very
largo proportion of tho educa
tion for which we are paying mil
lions of dollars is absolutely
worthless to a large proportion of
Ihe children who are taught in tho
public schools. I do hope that
some time some restraint, some
restrict ions will bo placed upon
expansion of the public schools
through the influence of the
teachers who are allowed to have,
their own way." Senator Smith
proposed a commission of twt
senators ami two representatives
to make a general study of high
sclioid ciudi'i'-ois in cities, and
determine the relative merits of
large and sinali high school build
ings. It was no adopted, how
ever. :o:
When a public official en.
deavors to please everybody, he
makes a signal failure. The
popular official is he who runs af
fairs according to his own notion
and if he pleases it is alright,
and if he don't it is just the same.
Governor Morehead is doing his
duly as he sees it, and we glory
in his manner of performing that
duty, lie is the governor and if
his appointments don't suit you,
hold your tongue, al least, till the
administration gets in good work
ing order.
-:o:-
The chief affliction of Mexico,
whoso population is composod
mostly of uneducated and sub
merged peons, seems to be sys
tematic graft on the part of the
nations leaders. The revolutions
that have been suceeding each
other with kaleidoscopic rapidity
aro but secondary. In a nation
governed by loot, where . the
ignorant masses feel the result of
their exploitation, but are unable
to divine the cause of their
economic ills, they become ready
victims of rival leaders who
proffer remedies for tho condi-
lions that be. Thus it was that
Madero persuaded the Mexican
people that Porfirio Diaz was tho
author of their distress, and oa
I his representation ho was ablo at
last to ride into power on promise
of alleviating economic condi
tions. Madero failed to make
good his promises, an oppor
tunity the Iiaz parly was quick
lo seize upon. The seeds of the
present revolution have been
sown for months. The mutiny
among- the troops and the release
o.f Felix Diaz was the climax. A
people in whoso hands lies the
power of self-help without the
knowledge of how to use it pre
sents a sorry spectacle. Such is
Mexico.
:o:
BETTER PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
The sentiment for better pub
lic, highways has so crystalized la
certain portions of the country
that already wonderful improve
ment in the roads has taken place
without resort to the use of cost
ly methods. In localities where
the necessary material for bo
called hard roads does not abound
tho cost of building such road
has offered a serious difficulty.
Pending the solution of the prob
lem, better methods of dirt road
building have been stimulated in
the hope that the more ambitious
scheme may thereby be indefinite
ly slaved off.
If the advocates of hard roads
have done nothing more, they
have concentrated public atten
tion on poor roads and induced
local communities to improve
them. It is now proposed that
the building of good permanent
roads be aided by the state and
national governments. Tho last
regular session of congress ap
pointed a joint committee to
study the road question and l
make a report at a subsequent
session as to tho conclusions
reached. Various schemes have
been suggested, none of which ap
pear entirely feasible. Out of
tho study that is being given to
tho problem, however, will likely
issue a solution practical and
satisfactory.
Slate and national aid, as ha
been pointed out, is not onjy
nocessary to relieve thousands of
rural communities of road build
ing burdens under which they
would stagger, but it would dis
tribute the cost of constructing
Jand maintaining a general public
improvement more equitably
among all the people instead of
faslening it upon the people of
rural communities alone. Juslma
as well as the exigencies of lh
'use demands slate and national
aid.