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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1914)
PLATT8KT0UTH SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JAHUARY 22, 1tH- PAGE . Cbc plattsmouth "journal Published S e m l-W eekly at Plattsmouth. Nebr. Entered at the I'ostofHce at riattamouth, Nebraska, as second-class mall matter. R. A. BATES, Publisher Subscription Price: S1.50 Per Year In Advance A NEW DILEMMA. Success of Panclio Villa in driving Huerta's troops out of tlieir last stronghold in the state of Chihuahua, and, with few ex ceptions, destroying the federal power in all the northern states of Mexico, brings the cloud of a new and threatening dilemma along our southern border. This dilemma is the attitude the Unit ed States would be compelled to assume should Villa capture Mexico City and set up a govern ment there far worse than tho!, of lluerta, against whom we have so strongly set our face for moral reasons. The contemplation of Villa as a substitute for Hueria would indeed create a dilemma, et, as things go in Mexico, ihat is what would follow the capture of the capital by the army of which Villa is the supreme com mander, not so by choice of cowi pelent authority, but by reason of his own power and military capacity. No one who is at all familiar with the Mexican char acter and Mexican politics for a moment believes that Villa would forego the power he would then possess to make himself dictator or president, in favor of Carrana or any other of the revolutionary leaders. Age-long traditions would not be so violated. Stronger than custom :n the matter is the character of I be man himself. At this lime last year he was a simple outlaw and bad been so for a long lime, lie gathered more of the riffrail" of the country about him and took up the cause, of the revolutionists, ar.d by reason of superior ca pacity quickly rose to be the head of the revolutionary army. This was not done because of any passion for constitutional or democratic government, but to promote his own ambition for power. All of his life he has been opposed to government that in terfered with his individual operations and ambitions. He is not now going to show respect for a government by the people under constitutional forms, save as it is represented by himself, with absolute and dictatorial power in excess of any that has been exercised by lluerta. . We cannot anticipate with any pleasure or approval the bloody excesses to which he would be likely to go under such circum stances. Wo may understand something of what they would be from the course he has pursued up to the present time. Having waited watchfully until lluerta was eliminated by thes institu tion of Villa, how much more watchful waiting could we en dure, and tiow much could we congratulate either ourselves or Mexico upon the result of our policy of condemnation of lluerta and practically paralyzing his power to restore order, without regard for what might come af ter? Villa begins, to look very much like a Frankenstein of. our own making:. :o: The following section from an editorial in the Lincoln Star will meet the approval of every true democrat in Nebiaska: "It was llichard L. Metcalfe who dis covered one of President Wil son's books in reference to the necessity of rewarding party workers' with patronage if that parly's principles are to be ex pected to prevail." Some demo cratic congressmen will be sorry before the election next fall that they did not appropriate this sen tence to their own use. It is very true and will be forever demo cratic. ; There has been such a thing in history as a man without a country, but Mexico appears to be a country without a man. :o: President Wilson will surely point the way to handle tho trust problem. And his way will be the right way. Don't forget that. :o: The marriage of a son of the House of Straus to a daughter of the House of Guggenheim in dicates a progressive-republican merger. :o: Ilarly announcements of those who intend to run for office next fall may be the means of keeping some who would like to run, out of the race. :o: The anti-suffrage women will stand by congressmen who voted against equal franchise. And these women are in the majority throughout the country. :o: William Alien White, the bull moose leader in Kansas, says the Hop of Senator Brislow is "the saddest tragedy in Kansas poli tics." Why so much grief? :o: : We don't propose to make any Hjsitive predictions regarding the weather until after the sec ond day of February, then we will have the groundhog, who is the infallable prophet. :o: liven the strike-breaker has his troubles. Government investiga tion disclosed that some of the workers imported into Michigan to break the strike of. the copper! miners were kept Iron) leaving by armed men. :o: Plattsmouth has over 5,000 population and is entitled to free mail delivery if we want it. Then why not make a move in that di rection? If we have a city, let us have it in the fullest sense of the. term. Blair, with but little more than half as many people as we have, has free mail delivery, and while we are up-to-date in many ways, let us have free mail de livery. . :o: The Ford motor company propose dividing $10,000,000 an nually, as a melon represent ing a part of its dividends, among its 22,000 employes. They will also pay all employes $5.00 per day wage, and work only eight hours a day. That is what reports say, but here is ventur ing the assertion that they never will do any such thing. :o: Omaha is now having some grief through the commission form of government. Commis sioner Ryder, at. the head of the police department, is ready to step down arid out, and hand over the position to someone else. And this is just a beginning of the trouble. Soon a demand will be made upon the head of another department. Oh, yes, the com mission form of government is a success in your mind, only. :o: Some of the opinions of At torney General Martin show weakness. Especially in that when he says railroads do not need the. consent of the railway commission to change the time in running trains. We suppose the patrons of the railroads are up against it, according lo the opinion of this "Bright Light!" This paper said when Martin Hrst ran for attorney general that he wasn't big enough for the office, and we have never changed our opinion, MR. ROCKEFELLER'S LOGIC. Mr. John D. Rockefeller being asked if rich men should regard their wealth as trust 'funds for mankind, he answered: . "How else can. he regard it? Heaven pity the rich man who does not so regard it. For that man and his children there is no peace That answer is, in a sense, a challenge to the contention, often levelled at the Rockefellers and Carnegie multimilliondom, that legislation should intake impos sible the" unequal divisions which can make a very few men benefactors of millions of aimon- ers. it runs directly counter to Bernard Shaw's recent silly pro nouncement that- absolutely equality of income is the only solution for social unrest. The impression that Mr. Rockefeller thinks that the new age of steam, electricity and a multitude of new mechanical de vices for an. infinite increase of product and of wealth, is for the making of a small class of rich men of an extraordinary endow ment, who will use their wealth as a trust for the benefit of man kind, grows by further reading of lis talk. His thought that high y organized corporation man agement is needod to get the most for the people out of the new facilities is unassailable in reason. Equally unassailable is lis conclusion as to the income tax that "When a man has ac cumulated a sum of money, with in the law, the government has no right to share in its earn ings." It is in the short phrase within the law" that his argu ment becomes tho most defective. This he himself practically ad mits, after extolling the superior cfliciency and economy of cor poration management, in saying: 'There has been this substantial basis for popular suspicion, to wit: There have been ill-managed and immorally managed corporations. But it is poor logic to find against the whole idea of corporations because of these few failures." That statement blinks the plain, fact that merely a "few failures" could not have turned into revolt the loyalty of a peo ple once so generous in corpora- lion subsidies and subventions. The evil is greater than Mr. Rockefeller is willing to admit. And1 his own logic is at fault in assuming, or seeming to assume, that remedies may be- found without a uniformity of law. He pleads that they are not all bad eggs in the. scramble. Certainly not. Everybody knows it. Fut this is another case where the unscrambling of eggs is not at all easy. :o:- General marching New York fragettes. sore feet. Rosalia Jones is through the state of with a lot of suf Most of them have It only shows how foolish women try to get into the limelight and, with an itch for nolority, undertake stunts for no other object in view than the advertising it brings. What pos sible good can it do the suf fragette question to tramp through the ice and snow and ruin their health does not appear. Some sympathizers got out auto mobiles and tried to induce these wretched creatures to ride, but no, they must walk, arid so they plowed along over the snowy roads in inclement weather in order to carry a petition to Albany which, for all the good it will do, they might just as well have mail ed. History is full of these absured acts. People fancy that in some way if they mortify the llesh they win the favor of heaven, and so they llagelate themselves, starve themselves, do all sorts of absurd and idiotic stunts, with an idea that they will thereby be come moral heroes. Butler took off this sort of martyr when he described Hudibras as "a "'man who thought he was seeking the Lord when he was only hunting for a corskscrew." And then, too, it would be quite a relief to pick up a paper without having an admonition to "shop early" staring one in the face. :o: Gage county has employed its farm demonstrator for another year. The taxpayers down there seem to be well satisfied with the experiment. Why not try tho ex periment in Cags county? What proves " good for other counties would most certainly, prove a good investment for Cass county :o: A California undertaker was frightened the other day when the supposed corpse of a man he was starting to embalm awoke and turned over. If half the stories they tell about the heal ing properties of climate are true, such a scene ought not to frighten undertakers, because they arc supposed to be used to such things. :o: Advance estimates of the profits from the parcel post for the year 11)13 as given out at Washington, place the aggregate amount at $30,000,000, which is just double the estimates made by the postollicc department at the time the system was install ed. If the claims of the railways for compensation for the extra weight now being carried free were adjusted, the net profits ikely would shrink to about $20,- 000,000, which is still a hand some sum. The total income from the service for the current year is estimated al $80,000,000. It is an excellent showing. :o: Judge AVray, who is posing as the probable candidate for the; dlice of governor on the bull moose ticket, wants to abolish the collections of personal taxes ecause a man who recently died in York county was found to possess more property than what ie had been " paying taxes on. Thej jiwlge 'cvintly forgets that this condition will be found in all walks of life and if the same rule were to be applied to fellows who lave sat on the bench as actually lonest, a negative echo would re sound through the country that would be heard to its outmost imits. Law never yet made honest men, but a wholesome ear of it may make a few of them behave themselves. :o : Governor John H. Morehead is a self-made man, and his career since landing in Nebraska thirty or forty years ago, fully demon strates that he is practically a lusiness man of great ability. Ie has made every dollar he pos sesses by beginning at the low est round of the ladder, and by lis untiring energy and enter prise, connected with his natural ability, he has ascended to the front rank of the well known men of ability in Nebraska. Be be gan as a young man by teaching school, then farming, and from that into general merchandise, and so on until he landed in the governor s omce, where 'lie nas further demonstrated to the en tire satisfaction of his friends lis eminent business qualities. Governor Morehead is just such a man as would reflect credit up on the people of the First con gressional district as their rep resentative in Washington. :o: Wood row Wilson is making one of the greatest presidents of which this great country of ours ias ever boasted, ami is carrying out the parly pledges to the let ter. And 'we should not lose sight of the fact, however, that ie has received I ho loyal support of congress, many of whom "were on the job" before President Wilson was even thought of as a candidate for governor of New Jersey. While that is all very true we must all admit that he possesses a faculty of staying right with a job until he finishes it up in good shape, which cannot be said truthfully of many of his predecessor. AN UNFORTUNATE PROPHET. The fifth of the minor pro phets in the English version of the scriptures was the most un fortunate of the lot. We know not why it is, but Jonah has at tracted more popular attention than any other of the old lesla ment worthies. Although his name has become a synonym for hoodoo, implying an undereur rent of belief in the most strik ing part of his story, no fish story from the beginning of linn has caused such controversy. At one time there seemed to bt disposition to hang all the law and the prophets on the litera truth of the story of the whale, or the "'great fish the Lord pre pared." But of late years there has been a tendency among liber al theologians wfio still profess orthodoxy to throw Jonah over board again, probably out of fear that he might cause a wreck of the theological craft. In their view I lie book of Jonan was a mere allegory, written to prove Yaweh's interest in heathens and he possibility of their salvation. Against this view the literalists urge the fact that it was a real city whose destruction was pre vented by his belated preaching that the city from which he took passage was a real city and that ie was bound for another. The fact that Jesus twice alluded to Jonah, once declaring that. Nine veh had repented at Jonah's preaching and again comparing his own approaching burial to Jonah's sojourn In the whale, made much of. The advocates of the allegory theory insist that Jesus merely made use of a pop ular story, even as a modern preacher might refer to a novel. Whether his hearers looked upon the story as true or as an alle gory niiyht elTect this explana tion, although ITiere are some rationalists who declare that Jesus did not attempt to remove a current belie? In demoniacal possession, although he knew it was erroneous. The Jonah myth was harmless compared to such belief. Others assert Ihat the comparison of the burial of Jesus to Jonah's experience must be an interpolation, since Jesus diii not remain in the tomb three days and three nights. Jonah was exceedingly cast down when Nineveh was saved. He felt that his reputation as a prophet was ruined. He went out to the east side of town and sat down in the shadow of a booth to see what should nappen and he complained bitterly to the Lord. The beautiful lesson of the withered gourd vine may have impressed him, although even to this day a prophet f dire dis aster sometimes seems more concerned about the fulfillment of his predictions than about the weal of the community. But little did he dream that posterity would ignore the Nineveh in cident entirely and attack his veracity on a different score. No question arose at the lime as to the truth of his story of the whale and he did not fortify it even with the testimony of Eski mos. He lived in an unskeptical age and it was well for his peace of mind that his prophetic ken did not embrace all the future. :o : A prominent republican paper says: "The democratic admin istration is entitled to great credit for this magnificent weather." Of course this is a piece of sarcasim. Bui, then, if the republicans claimed credit for all the good crops, weather and the like for prosperity, with plenty of "hot air" thrown in, why shouldn't the democrats be entitled lo the same? :o: Tho telegraphers on the Frisco railroad worked a strike, but the company suddenly put in tele phones and removed all the tele graph instruments, and the poor telegraphers are now wondering what is going to hit taeni next. The writer had the pleasure of atteililincr werviro.j nt Ilin fothn-" ist church Sunday and listening The Wall street alarmist, hav to a most excellent sermon from been basing their prediction up Rev. Druliner, the pastor. It was on the falling' off of orders for the first time we have had an op- portunity to hear him. There wai a large attendance, and his ser mon was one that had consider- able effect upon his auditors. Brother Druliner is a fine orator. and it was quite a treat to us to hear him. It matters not whether you are a Methodist, Presby terian, Christian or a member of any church, it does one good to hear a sermon delivered bv pastor who has the proper d livery, and it would be well for those Who love to hear a ironrf sermon, properly deliered. In d as we iliij, o and hear him. It will do you good. :o: nil - J ne ngures or the enormous business transacted in this coun try last year are a complete epulation of the charge of business depression; but, never theless, the politicians, with their own selfish ends o subserve, are busy wilh their calamity bowl. ing. :o : The citiens of Plattsmouth who favor free mail deliery to their homes should wake up and i iemand this right, which should lave been theirs years ago. Agit ate the proposition with your neighbor, and whereer there are two or three gathered together. alk about it. Eery progressive ilizen should favor it. :o: It depends a great deal upon I the action of the leaders of b.Uiri,, i.. i...,.,.. ,.. .,.,,.. success of the democrats at the we some democrats who will re- fuse to concede there are two I my belter than we do about the matter. But we do know this I mucn, thai I lore are more in-1 lependent democrats in Nebraska ight now than over has been known, and those who have the J eins in their hands will have to Mill them just right to keep a ot of fellows who hae generally vole,! Hot .l..m..f rnHi. lieV:. iti the straight and narrow path. nd it is just as well to Ihink ibout such mailers right now, md keep on their thinking caps for several months in the future. A word to the wise is always in order. :o: Our obi friei d Bow I by, of lb :rete Democrat, is a man after peak his sentiments without ear or favor. Here is one of hiliUai -unirj atesl, and cuts to the quick, which he no doubt intended that it should: "We believe there are some republican papers so mean that they would cause the over throw of business, the stoppage of all manufactories, closing of mines ami iuriiace ami no- . a .... I A I. 'stablishment of free soup ounters in every town in Hie United states, if by so doing, they ould restore to power the cor- upt old party, which has fosler- d every combine, trust and stock rambling exchange the last .. ears. They gloat oer the fail- ure or a naiiK or nusuiess imuse, the walkout of employees in fac- ories, tne reiluciion m price oi properly or any other change that might have a tendency to ause dissatisfaction among the people, and try to mislead them y falsely declaring ihat sueh hanges are solely due to Un democratic administration. That s one kind of polities, fitted only or skunks." :o: When a majority of the wom n of the country, or of any slate, hall have declared lhr.l hey vant the po.ver and the re- ponsibility of the franchise, it it.. .iany men win very maiei nni modify their opinions in .he matter, and be ready to Tnt ulTrage for the unit :iaiioti or tate evidencing the demand. DISTRUST DISAPPEARING. steel, but the la?l market report shows that the Steel corporation will show an increase in iiufilb J tonnage in January, for th first time since December, Th- company repons au .o I . I r m in the volume of orders since me first of January. Several of th trunk I in' are still actively negotiating for their railroad re quirements this year, which, if all placed, will mean abut 3"". ooo tons. Steel price are firm. "t foiil I per Ion lo ?i-.-r ton aboe the low reported n lh last three month. Mr. B.-al, the superintendent .if the Ilinois steel plant, wlnrli i the largest steel plant in the world, sajs: "Practically all th- men laid otf la-t month will ! '' v,ini" " w I ... . i. . r i . . t .. have some large orders in and by February practically every de partment will be running again. The Wall street effort to pro duce distrust seem to have been abandoned. The lark return from the nop which the people are ready to expend made i? a dinicull matte- and leide h.f. the outcome of the curreiiey measure seem in ie perferuv atifactory to them. In reply to the republican croakers in Mo hou of rep resentative, who haw been in tu b a dismal state of mind. .Mr. I Ilderwood said: "Before I lie election next fall there will ! an i n.l i t r i a 1 awakening that will ing broker who cry diater in ... .:.. WI,. ,i..rif. ... I - - a I p lle All this would perhaps haw h.,.,.n t.ianu,.,, if lIirr,. h .,. a i..;i.,r.. ..f i n i. . i Ii i . . , in. I I 'I . Alt.t. ' " j .1 'lave oro.Inee.l ,l,,lr.. :..! .1 LuM ,,aw.a ,, ,,,.,. a,riJ,te,l to the democratic ndmiiii-tr.il i.u. It cannot be too often state! that uceesful agriculture i Mi" basis of all prosperity.- t, I J- j, .raj,j :o:- uil.erian.I, of .V!"n, I . . . ... " mail.V Iriemls in Nebraska ar pusnmg rum r..r the lnioeralir nomination for gov. crnor. He i a g.o. man. and ha he qualities to make an aide I governor. ;o: It is to hope, tti.i. thr syndicate that leased f.c.n large? warehouse jn New York f-.r MrinK beef from Argentine irt took the precaution ,, ;,r,j n.lt I i """ oniroi uie peef supply n 1.1. A - . :o: 11 ,s ieuee.i pv n,,. world 'p"t forecasters that Od. R, ''It will ho.) out boiger than any oilier prngre.jf ari,j nil n W1pj refuse lo make any overture for straight republican support prir to I'JIO. :r:- Following anti-cikarette legis lation by the ,-,y council of Moutrie, ;a.. an ablation for an ordinance a-'am-t hikh lo-eU and corsets ha begun, candidate f,.r appointment a inspector bein especially active. AIa the way with the American pe..pe ,. extreme follow another. o: Oovernor Morehea, ha ab..ut made up hi mind to run f.,r con gress. If he nominate. and elected the i v ,tf Fir,t district will know they have a man in Washington represent them. :o: There is of cash in U. I'n it e. I State, or 35.lt ror every man. woman and rlild in it. If everybody ha k t theirs, we wish they would rir? across with our. :o: The jotmsr teacher who can g't "next to" th.. boy ,n the,r -port a weji a? ,h,r Work jn thJ school room will prove H great succes ju the pe,a?0gical world.