Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1913)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1913 PAGE 4. PLATTSMOUTH SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL. The Plattsmouth Journal Published Semi-Weekly re. -a. :CH, Entered at the Postoffice at Plattsmouth, Nebraska as second-class matter : - yi ;n PER YEAR IN ADVANCE . : " TRUE DEMOCRACY. - Announcement', by. President Wilson that then! will be jiu New Year's reception ; at the White house this season has", brought nut considerable criticism' from some sources.-' Little of this, however, has cyme , from the great mass of the American peo ple, the wage earners and tax payers of the "middle class," even though' thjs annual event really belongs to them jnore than anv other While house institu lion. Sop re perhaps 'have . sug gested, that the step is taken Wor effect," but the vast majority will openly or silently approve. v We do hope, however, thaU- lis.Hi-. clinalioji to shake. Jiaiids with such a large number' -of -"common" callers was .not, as has been suggested, one of Mr. Wil son's reasons for the action. Irrespective of political af filiations, and whether you agree that this 'ime particular informal reception should have been drop ped, it seems to us that .Mr. Wil son is worthy of commendation on the example of true demo- i eracy he is setting for the- iiatioif. Not since JefTergn rode on horseback -j ;and .unattended! to take the oath of cilice, perhaps, has there been a man elected to the highest office in the nation who could, or cared to attempt lo maintain the dignity of his olliee and si ill live so simply and so in harmony with the ideals of a nation which advertises lo be no re's peeler of persons or to have no tilled aristocracy. The ex'am'pVe t'hat Mr. Wilson is selling in his private life In I he White house . might eaily have as beneficial elTect on the national life as any official act he will -probably perform. The nation will be far better when the immensely costly entertain ments of the idle rich are made unpopular and cease, to be thought necessary, if any such thing can ever be brought about. The national disnitv can be as well maintained, we lirmly be live, without a vast amount of I he parade and pomp and "red tape" which has usually been considered highly essential. If Mr. Wilson can demonstrate this convincingly, as he seems to in tend doing, he will have done the nation a great service. :o: It's an ill wind thil blows not some good,- 'tis taid. And if this thing keeps on, in New York, it will make the work of the income tax collector a trifle more easy; for such collectors can certainly be sure that: the .man needs licensing and investigating as lo an income of over 3, 000 per an num, if, after breakfast, they see any traces of egg on his chin. . :o- Champ Calrk favors the nmii ination of candidates for presi dent ly primary elections. If primary elections had been in force all over the country in the last campaign ' Champ ' Clark would be president today. :o: The mayor at Atlantic Cily rt fused to issue a Thanksgiving proclamat ion because so many citizens had nothing for which to be thankful.. IJut could I hey hae not at least given thanks for having' such a mayor? . ;o: - If the women continue to grow bolder in their talk about equal rights, sooner, or later soine one of them will arise and proclaim that cleaning' out the stable is not a household duly. Things are not as my , as they were thought lo be, by a long shot. at Plattsmouth, Neb.: Publisher . It is in order that the currency bill will be pushed vigorously so the Christmas vacation can be enjoyed. Good! :o: Do , not judge by . appearances. The man whose hair is "sticking out through-holes in his hat may 1 refer poverty and the lack of a banker to . wealth and a bald head. :o: . Do your Christinas shopping at home and enjoy, a., merry Christmas in the thought that you have j done your duty to the lowii and the home merchant. -:o: ' Another thing what should it profit a young man to become the greatest foot ball kicker in the world and never be able to get into business where his feet would draw, a salary? ' :o: Montgomery; Ward, the mil lionaire nmil order house man, is dead." '"Bul; Sears and Roebuck still survive lo rake in the shekels of those . who prefer to buy of them to the detriment of the. home merchant. :o: With three poliliacl parties in I he field, old Santa Claus may be peeved and might forget to come this year. Judging from his whiskers, he has always been a democrat and will remember all 0 good democrats this year. :o:- William A. Pendergast, comp troller of New York and one of the founders of the" progressive parly, has announced his with drawal from the progressives. Mr. Pendegrast nominated Theo- lore Koosevelt for president at the progressive national con vention at Chicago in 11)12. :o:- Evidently the people of Lin coln do not want any new char ter. Out of about 2,500 votes polled, 1,870 voted against the proposition. Now they are after the hide of Commissioner King through the recall, and they'll get him, too. Oh, but this com mission form of government brings lots of happiness to the taxpayers of the cities that have adopted it. :o: Congressman Itarton has de cided that he will not be a can didate for governor, and K. I Metcalfe, already holding down a lucrative position in Panama, has about arrived at the .same conclusion. jueicane draws a salary of li,000 per year, and as member 6f congress Barton is receiving 7,500 a year. Barton, you . know,, is a son-in-law of Metcalfe, and the family ought to get along on $21,000 a year, for at least a while, anyway However, we believe Dick Met calfe would make, a good gov ernor, nut we uon i Know so much about Sf Barton. . :o;- In the passing of Phoebe Couzins, the people, of Nebraska are reminded " of the important pari she assumed in the battle for a suffrage amendment to the constitution of the state thirty years ago. inon sue was en thusiast io for female suffrage, but in later years she was just as firm against it. She was con sidered a very brilliant woman but died in St". Louis last Satur day night at fhe age of 73 years She died as near a pauper as anyone could possibly be, without being, an v inmate or the poor house She was the first woman lawyer-in (his country, first Unit ed Slates marshal of her sex and one of the - pioneer suf fragists. FALSE SENTIMENT. It is one of the easiest things in the world to interest peop!e:in something vvhicn is Veally none of their business. That sounds like a broad assertion, but we believe it is true. Moreover, we believe it is just as easy lo in terest many of them in the wrong direction, in a great many in stances as it is to guide them right. Probably no other power is so potent in arousing this in terest as the printed sheet. This "act, . incidentally, places a leavier responsibility on the man who says what shall and what hall not be printed in the news papers of our nation than ne requenlly appreciates. Back in Connecticut at Ihe present time a woman is under entence to be hanged for mur der. It seems to us a terrible thing to hang anyone, and even! more so to hang a woman, and a mother. Y'et the jury which found this woman guilty of be ing an accomplice in the murder of her husband, the judge who pronounced sentence on her un doubtedly knew the facts in the case and must have acted on I heir sound deliberate judgment. It would be a cruel injustice to accuse any men piaceu in tins position of acting otherwise. But in this situation some enterprsing newspaper man has seen an opportunity to create a vast interest by playing on the sympathies of the public. As a result of a series of articles pub lished in various papers all over the country hundreds of petitions are being circulated asking that this woman be not hanged. Thou sands of those who will sign these petitions will know less than nothing of what they are asking, other than it is that a woman be exempted from I fie punishment which a judge and jury of twelve men, sworn to do their duly, believe, s-he deserves. We often question tho: justice of capital punishment in any case. We would like to believe I hat no one is so bail, or has done society so great an injury. but that keeping them in Ibis world in the proper environment may not eventully make them belter filled to face a just eternity. Y'et we do feel that this mailer is to be settled by Ihe Ihe citizens of each slate for themselves, and we further feel that the people of any stale are the ones best filled lo decide on Ihe guilt of those accused of crime wilhin their borders and of the punishment the crime re quires. Is it not easily possible, even probable, that, the children of the woman in question will be far belter citizens if they are not raised under her influence? Are we sure if we knew all the facts we would ask Connecticut to turn her over to us to deal with? Is it not just possible that a state which has not hanged a woman for so many years must have more grounds than we know about, for taking such a seem- ingly ' extreme action? It is a terrible thing to demand Ihe life of an individual wrong fullv more especially if that in dividual be a woman. But at this distance we need to be pretty; certain that we have full and re liable information of the facts on which such action lias been de cided; on before we presume to oppose our opinions and judg ments to those who have been called upon to resolve on such action as demanded by the best interests of the society and commonwealth they represent. :o:- You can always depend upon pelting the newest and. cleanest Christinas goods from the mer chant that advertises. The other fellow brings his left-overs from last year to the front, and tries lo honswaggle the innocent pur chaser. But it can't be done. The best and newest things can al ways be found at the stores that advertise. . - Three- hundred ' members of Chicago's fair sex have applied for positions as policewomen. That's what might be called the lure of the billy. :o: Dr. Craig is being tried, at In dianapolis, Ind., for murder, to which three or four persons from different parts of the country have confessed their guilt. :o : A venturesome man may have Ihe most fun, but a prudent man will live longest. This applies to explorers, aeronauts, steeple- climbers and reckless auto driv ers. The Missourians who fear the egg-nog supply will be shut off on account of the high price of eggs might arrange for an ex change of ingredients with cer tain Kansans and Oklahomans. :o: Without discussing the merits of Confucianism, the most thoughtful students in the world agree that China does not need a state religion. A religion that must be upheld by statute has ittle vital force. :o: - The democrats have adopted Senator Hitchcock's proposal for an -insurance fund to indemnify depositors of failed banks. This is in Ihe currency bill as ap prised by the majority confer ence. :o: It lias been observed of oh!: "Who so bloweth not his own horn Ihe same shall not be blown." This may serve as a gentle hint to the merchant who expects lo get through the holi days without advertising and tio business. :o: The Plattsmouth Commercial club, among oilier matters of in- lerest that it is working upon, has taken up the question of a free ferry over the Missouri river at that point, This would open a large trade territory across Ihe liver in Iowa that were it not for Ihe river would be directly trib utary to Plattsmouth. Lincoln Trade Review. A differerence of half a cent a pound in large quantities between Australian meat and American, will not worry consumers very much. What they want to know is why, if the navy can buy meat from our home packers at 12.10 cents a pound, ihey have to pay from 20 to 10 cents for it. It is far more than a half cent they are interested in. :o: You don't have to be wealthy to be a philanthropist. Any old time you pat a kid on the head or smile at a baby in the arms of a faded mother, or tell a poor consumptive that he is looking line, or slip a dime lo a cripple, or send a few flowers lo a hos pital, or kiss your wife, you couldn't do more if you had three billion dollars. :o : Civic attractiveness always is a help lo any town. People like lo live where there is a certain amount of civic pride. Beautify your lawns by planting a few flowers ami trees not now, of course,. but when Ihe proper sea son arrives. It is a splendid sub ject lo talk about during the winter lime. :o:- An English scientist has dis covered what he declares lo be the missing link in a number of skulls which he declares are at least 500,000 years old. He de clares that they prove that the ape is a descendant of primative man. This bears out the theses on Ihe descendant of man in every cosmogony ever written and proves ihe contention of spiritists that if the "survival of the fittest" was actually the real movement in civilization that the cycle of man would be con tinuous,' but the contrary is the rule. HALDANE'S FELICITATIONS.' The felicitations of, Viscount llaldane, lord high chancellor; ;of Ihe British empire, onMhe rela tions now existing "between Un united States and England, his cordial acceptance of the Monro- doctrine, and his high tribute to the character , and qualities, of President Wilson, come at a most opportune moment and cannot help strengthening this govern ment's policy in the eyes of I be world. Lord 'llaldane was speak ing before the American Society in London on Thanksgiving uay when he made these significant remarks, and was responding lo Robert . N. Fairbanks, who had just proposed a toast to the king. says the Houston (Texas) Chronicle. Occupying the position that he does, Lord Haldane's utterance 4 cannot be construed otherwise I ban as an ollicial acceptance of the Monroe doctrine by the British government and an olli cial indorsement of our Mexi can policy. This should lend .o clarify the situation perceptibly. for, though England has never assumed an inimical or hostile attitude in regard lo either, the acls of Sir Lionel Carden and th- presence and activities of Lord Cowdray have caused no little un easiness in Washington as to the iinirse she might pursue. It may be remarked in passing (hat the United Slates has never sought lo make English influence! a factor in the solution of Ihe Mexican problem, but has merely endeavored lo gain her negative support. Far from soliciting ?o operation, Ihe Wilson govern ment has only desired that Eng land and, for that matter, other European nations keep hand off in Mexican affairs. For a time it appeared I hat Ihe efforts of the United Stales in this direction might not be suc cessful. Even many of our own statesmen advocated abandon ment of Ihe Monroe doctrine and Ihe formation of a combine with all interested nations as Ihe most leasible and expeditious inclhod of settling the present difficulty. Many seem lo have labored under the delusion that such was Ihe purpose of the Wilson a 1 ministralion, but gradually the facts in the case have dissipafd such an absurd idea. The Wil son administration was negotiat ing with European goverumerls, not lo form coalitions, but lo se cure a frank statement from each of them that the United States would be given a free hand to do with the Mexican situation as circumstances might demand. Several of the European powers were very prompt in making such statements, but England was somewhat lardy, which caused more or less ap prehension on the part of ad ministration officials. Then came the unpleasant incident in which Sir Lionel Carden figured so con spicuously, and the reported activities of Lord Cowdray, who is known to control vast conces sions in the Mexican republic. These events, together with the dispatch of a strong English fleet in Mexican waters, which was interpreted as a friendly act by the Huerta government, in tensified the situation to a mark, ed degree, and for several weeks it looked as though the Wilson administration might have to re sort to strenuous tactics to eliminate British meddling. Lord Haldane's remark come as a most welcome expose of the English attitude, and cannot fail to strengthen, not only the American policy of I his govern ment but also the bonds of friendship and brotherly co operation which should, and do, unite the two greatest English speaking nations of the earth. :o: Even Senator Kern has to ad mil that democratic senators prefer a turkey dinner to a parly caucus, especially on Thanks giving. . Well,' now we"are enjoying real Christmas shoppmg weather. Do your shopping while the weather is fine. :o: A Pennsylvaniau has invented a musical fish bail, but confidence in bait of any kind' is so weak I hat the adept angler should con tinue lit take consolation in bot tled form. i :o : President Wilson's message was brief, but right to the point. The people like such messages and they also like Wood row Wil- on and his manner of saying things. :o: The supreme court has cut down the prison sentence of a former banker at Juneau, Alaska, from 280 years to 5 years. What percentage .of decrease would Ibis be, according lo the meth ods of the circulation expert? :o: When they get around to it the members of the American Wom an's Suffrage association who were in Washington iai wee demanding Iheir rights, will set tle fhe question of the scarcity of eggs. They will demand that roosters lay during the time of the year the hens loaf. . :o: Charley ;rims, our friend and former co-laborer on the Journal, will please accept our thanks for Sundav editions of the Dallas and Houston, Texas papers. We want lo say that they print some great papers down in Ihe Lone Star tale, and the Houston Chronicle and Dallas News are in Ihe lead. :o: A: subscriber who comes in these days and pays Ihe printer.' is blessed, and in lb' kingdom o come he will be gien a place a little higher than the angels. His name will be written at Ihe lop of the column next lo the read ing mailer and nothing in the house will be too jroo.l for him. He will pet' romps to all the harp recitals and have a reserved seal beside the editors, while all the delinquent subscribers will hae to carry water for the perform ers and sit up in Ihe gallery. :o: Ohio proposes lo construct 'J. unn miles of mad, connecting not only all of the leading cities, but all of the important towns and population centers of Ihe stale and giving not only a sys tem of direct-route thorough fares, but a network of roads calculated lo stimulate general traffic, trade and commerce. A decision of the supreme court upholding the validity of Ihe 1 1 i t mad law assures Ohio annually about 5, 000,000 f.ir the con st rucl ion of good roads. :o : It seems that a twenty-live cent piece is about the most un lucky article a person can carry. On Ihe American quarter dollar there are 13 stars, 13 letters in Ihe scroll held in Ihe eagle's beak, 13 marginal feathers in each wing, 13 I ail feathers, .13 parallel lines on Ihe shield, 13 horizonlal bars, 13 arrow beads, and 13 letters in Ihe words, "quarter dollar." These twrnly-five-cenl pieces, unlucky ami curse-laden as they are, grateful ly received at this oilico on sub scription. ; :o: The "old-fashioned boy hero used" to' be a lad who stole hi mother's butcher knife and went west lo scalp Indians. In Ohio now they lionize the lad who can raise a hundred bushel of corn lo the acre. . On tin? first or De cember six special train left Ohio for Washington city, carry ing, at the expense of the citizen of the slate, l.-'OO box s and -'on girls, winners or Ibis year's corn club and sewing and baking and canning contest. The people of Ohio contributed $10,toi for this purpose. At lb stale exhibit where these children showed Iheir product, they had a dat Hag formed of lo, 000 kernels of corn. ' CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. People never notice how great a change there ha erne to Him world so much a when Christ ina i approaching". There 1 something in Ihe season that makes one I .k. back to the g I old days" and buig f"r their re turn. In the long ago it seemed a if there was an age between one Christmas and another, and . few weeks before it seeme. lh.it Ihe coming of Yul-tid.- wa too good to be true, but 11 I fie J ear passes more rapidly, and even before Ihe day arrises we begin to l.k ahead lo the first of Jan uary, when the devil the cr-.li-or i lo pay. A a mailer ,f fart Ihe hmr. hae not changed at all 1 1 -change is all in the 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 t .1 ' . He has grown ..i old and t wise to enjoy himself, and to practical lo lay a-ide for a !! t season the scares of life and Spend a Week lit who!e.oM' pb-asure. In Ihe paf Chriofma was a great eent. becau I lie p.-oj.!. look a little Hiofe llllie to e lliail Ihe people of the pre.t-nt do, and lb" old filtered m!o the spirit oT (lie occasion as well a the joung. They mi-lit led h;ie been a wi-e a the people of Ihe preenl, measured by !oe standards, hut Ho t could be.tt 11 all hollow when it came ex tracting happiness from life. It i sure thai Ibis change 1 ind unieral. In many place i;i Ihe older countries, and in -one in Ibis. r.hrilma i observed in the sane- piril. th.if it alwa wtt. hut a a rub we hae come lo weigh lo. fnueli our com mercial ii'-i'i' and gradual! permit il In con-lime (fie lime of everything ee. In order lo enjoy (brilma properl, it i iiecesar ! b. -m early in making dontem for lie purpose o! doing more lb. in onr part Inward se.-mg that others have a good tune, and af ter Jon have given all joo tbniW vou can alfoid Jon lioi'. - back and give a lillb more. Every man imagines lie wotiM .ve o be charitable, and a!no-l lons Tor Ihe opportunity t help some pretty girl. Jree,j like a queen, but lboe kind of gins are married, and hi overflow ir g goodness must lind some other dace lo show- his chant. I'st.a!- ly a map can receive abund.i it return for all he give if h w.II it by the fire at night and in imagination some bil ! happy and full of devilment i n Christina morning on account or hi donation, where failure to . i hi part may bring lie pu lure of childhood toddling in roiilid-nf o slocking untitled. But it i equally important that a man ! hi duty by him self, and determine ! cheat Ihe lawver mil of Ihe slight rtiii of his estate that be os,s l.v ueglecting his business a Iit:b during tlie Christ mas mmii and hav ing a good time. Some men have ihe fault of neglecting" evervlhing the jrar round, and even at lhal lliej g.-t along pretty well, and if a man will lay a-ide h:s wisdom and his frown, and determine to hav a heller lime than Ihe kid on Christmas, he wilt suffer i" t n ancial !-. and hi d.i. will be buiger in Ihe land. :o: The merchant that dertj-e. i a!was Ho place .. d onr Christmas shopping. lie h gone In I' '1. .!,! lo i -. Wi lt lie thill's 'ile people want f..r Christmas, ami want- them o understand that he has n. -U-p-worn goods haiiN-d ul from th-..foer- of al Christina. Il-- meiiilier llll- When Voi go out shopping', and read over Ihe ad-erll-ements in tie J.ejnul be fore start in 7. Omaha i enjov jj g her ln of auto-banlll, robber. and it seems (he ale io re.peOtor- of person or sect.