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. State Alstons
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PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1936.
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Judge Landis
Tells of Recent
'Prison Term5
rnmmitf With Snn r Own Pemiest !
to the Iowa Penitentiary at
Fort Madison.
Des Moines. Ia. A Nebraska dis
trict court judge, who served a ten
day "term" in the Iowa prison at
Fort Madison, told the.Iowa board
of control in a report made public
Tuesday that life in a prison cell is
not as horrible as "most people
imagine." His son, a University of
Nebraska senior law student who also
served a ten day "term" with his
father, added in a separate report
that: "The attitude of the prison
ers can be summed up in a state
ment made by one convict, who said:
'If you are out of isolation you have
it soft. This place is just an old
man's home.' "
The judge, Harry D. Landis of
Seward, Neb., and his son, Frank,
persuaded officials to commit them
to the prison for a ten day term,
starting last Aug. 21, as a "social
experiment."
"It was done," Judge Landis said
at Wahoo, Neb., where he was hold
ing court, "as an experiment to ob
serve criminal experiment to observe
criminal behavior for use by himself!
on the bench." In his report to the
Iowa board of control, the judge said
that the experience would be "of
real benefit to me."
During their "terms," the two men
posed as genuine convicts. They were
"dressed in" as the "Dewitts, second
time losers on a fraudulent land
deal." Only Warden Glenn Ilaynes
knew their true identities. They wore
prison clothes, ate prison food, spent
the customary first three days in
"solitary." Judge Landis then was
put to work in the prison chair fac
tory and the kitchen. His son dug
and loaded clay.
"The cells are comfortable," Judge
Landis wrote in his report. "They
are well equipped, have connections
for radio headphones, electric lights,
good beds and the inmates may
smoke, work, study and read within
reasonable hours. The occupant is
locked up on work days from 6:30
p. m. until 7 a. m.; on Saturdays and
Sundays longer. However, this need
not be depressing unless the inmate
makes it so of his own volition." The
food, the judge wrote, is "wholesome,
varied and satisfying."
Judge Landis also found it easy
to g:t books, said the guards are
"human, fair, yet firm," and de
scribed prison officials as having the
"confidence and respect of the in
mates." At one time in the prison yard, the
judge said, he saw 87 inmates
gambling for chips, matches or tick
ets representing pop and tobacco.
"The interest was intense," he wrote.
"There were all the aspects of real
gambling and these men were satis
fying an inate urge of gambling cus
sedness in a harmless manner." The
judge said he saw no evidence of the
use of liquor or drugs in the prison,
but advocated a "clean speech
lcag- to combat what he said was
the prevalence of "vile language."
During his leisure time in the
prison, Judge Landis' son wrote
"case histories" of 112 inmates and
concluded that a great number of
them should never be set free. He
disagreed with his father that the
prison was free from drug-s and per
version. "It is true," he said, "that liquor
was not in evidence. However, dope
was used that was made from make
shift ingredients found within the
prison itself."
SENDS FOR JOURNAL
Mrs. Julian McNatt, who recently
left for the west coast country writes
from Sacramento, California, to "re
new her subscription to the semi
weekly edition of the Journal. Mrs
.MCAait states in ner letter that a
great many forest fires have been
raging in the mountain and wooded
sections of northern California. She
is with her brother, Henry Warstadt,
who has made his home here for sev
eral years and they enjoy very much
receiving the paper from their old
home community.
REPUBLICAN BANQUET
AT WEEPING WATER
From Tuesday's Daily
J. G. Roberts of Youngstown, Ohio,
arrived in Nebraska by plane last
'evening to address the boosters gath
ered in Weeping "Water for a dinner.
Mr. Roberts, formerly a state sen-
ator and member of the American Le
gion speakers bureau, reviewed the
expenditures of the New Deal. He
closed his address with the words
"We are looking toward our plain
neighbor from the sister state to pre
serve the American form of govern
ment. Yandenberg's radio address was
presented in a recorded form and
talking movies were shown on New
Deal projects. Carl Tefft, county
chairman, introduced the speakers.
E. B. Perry, in his talk, promised
that "We will keep every contract
which the new deal has made . . .
and we will cut the pay-roll 25 per
cent." 1G0 attended the banquet.
Death of Mrs.
Martha Baumeist
er. Old Resident
Aged Lady Passed Away Sunday Eve
ning at Home of Daughter,
Mrs. John Rutherford.
I Sunday evening at 7:45 Mrs.
Martha Baumeister, 87, passed away
at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
John Rutherford, with whom she has
made her home for the past several
years.
Mrs. Baumeister has been a resi
dent of this community for the great
er part of her lifetime, where she has
a very large circle of friends who will
regret to learn of her death and
sharing with the family the sorrow
that her passing has occasioned.
Mrs. Baumeister has been very ac
tive up until the last few months
and since which she has been bedfast
for the greater part of the time.
She is survived by two children,
a son, Walter, and a daughter, Mrs.
John Rutherford. There are two
grandchildren.
DEFENSE OF SECURITY ACT
Washington. Rallying to the de
fense of the social security act which
has become a major issue of the cam
paign, William Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
said it was a form of legislation for
which workers had prayed for many
years. In a letter to all state feder
ations of labor, city central bodies
and local unions. Green said there
was "grave danger that widespread
confusion and serious misunderstand
ing may occur in the minds of work
ing people and their friends regard
ing the provisions of the federal so
cial security act."
"The wage earners of the nation
are the beneficiaries of this act," he
added. "Thru the application of its
provisions they will be permitted to
face old age with a feeling of secur
ity because they will be guaranteed
the payment of an annuity ranging
from $10 to $85 per month."
LEARNS OF WEDDING
The announcement has been re
ceived here by friends of the George
Ackerman family, former residents
here, of the marriage of Miss Reta
Ackerman. She was married to Mr.
A. M. Parsons at Pasadena, Califor
nia, in which city the young people
are expecting to make their future
home.
The Ackerman family will be re
membered by the older residents here,
Mr. Ackerman having been engaged
here in the local Burlington shops
until their removal to the west coast
HERE FROM LINCOLN
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mockenhaupt
of Lincoln, were in the city Monday
afternoon to attend the funeral of
the late Fred Baumgart, an old time
friend of many years standing. Sir
and Mrs. Mockenhaupt were former
residents here and also at Sterling,
Nebraska. While here they had the
opportunity of visiting with a num
ber of the old time friends.
Hallowe'en novelties of all kinds
at Bates Book Store.
Three Political; Parties Mixed Up Here
I
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miiwwiyiw.,itiiirtiirititMiiBi
Tills unimposing building at Ipswich. Mass.. might
be considered a "hotbed of politics" in view of the
fact that jt is owned by a resident in sympathy
Who Succeeds
the State Land
Commissioner?
Does Amendment, if Carried at Elec
tion, Go Into Effect in
December?
State Land Commissioner Leo
Swanson, whose office is subject to
abolition at the coming general elec
tion, predicts the proposed amend
ment will not be adopted by a vote
of the people. "If it is adopted I will
have to consult an attorney as to
when the amendment takes effect,"
he said. "I do not think it can
shorten any term of two years which
expires next January."
The amendment itself does not
provide how the change shall be
made in the event it carries by a
majority vote of the electors voting
on the proposition. It merely strikes
from the list of executive state of
ficers the name of the commissioner
of public lands and buildings, and
retains the old statement that the
executive officers in the list shall be
elected for a term of two years and
until their successor shall be elected
and qualified. It makes no special
provision for disposition of the land
commissioner's office. It creates no
new office nor does it specifically say
what shall be done with the land
commissioner's office.
The statute provides for canvass
ing of the vote on constitutional
amendments by the state canvassing
board, after returns from county
boards are received. It requires the
state canvassing board to meet the
third Monday after election, which
will be Nov. 23, and provides for ad
journment awaiting returns. It is
usually not until far in December
that the vote is canvassed by the state
board. Within ten days after the re
sult is ascertained the governor "shall
make proclamation declaring the pro
posed amendment to be a part of the
constitution."
If the amendment becomes part
of the constitution there will be os
tensibly no state land commission,
altho his term has not expired under
the constitution as it stood before
the adoption of the amendment.
There will be no provision for fill
ing the place until the end of the
term. The last legislature was of
the opinion the next legislature
could provide disposition of the of
fice and give the duties to someone
else.
It has been suggested that if the
amendment carries and goes into ef
fect upon proclamation of the gov
ernor the duties of the land commis
sioner proper can easily be taken over
by the board of educational lands
and funds. The legislature of 1935
passed a new act authorizing the en
tire board, instead of the land com
missioner, to handle all state land3
of an educational nature. It also
j repealed that part making the state
?r-A:: S : :.:.5 W-tf.,to.tU W 3???$.
1 ,
with the Union party, yet is the headquarters of
both the Democratic and Republican organizations
which occupy adjoining rooms in the structure!
land commissioner absolute secretary
of this board to the extent that the
board "may appoint a secretary who
may be either the commissioner of
public lands and buildings or some
other member of the board." It also
places all land records in the board's
office.
Another v statute passed during
Gov. Weaver's term makes the land
commissioner custodian of the cap
itol. If the amendment carries there
will be no land commissioner to hold
this office. The custodian is author
ized to hire a force to care for the
capitol. 1 -
L0EB SLAYER MAY GO FREE
Chicago. The state of Illinois
tried to claim the life of Richard
Loeb, "thrill murderer," and failed.
Fate was saving Loeb for young
James Day. Day was only 9 years old
when Richard Loeb and Nathan Leo
pold killed Bobby Franks in one of
the most sensational murders of the
century. He was too young to know
about murder and murderers he
who was to kill Richard Loeb. At the
time Bobby Franks was murdered,
Day was motherless, and his father
didn't show much interest in him. He
recalls that about that time he went
"somewhere in North Carolina" and
moved about a great deal, finally corn
back to Chicago to live with his pa
ternal grandmother.
Nearing his majority, young Day
felt that he was a burden on the
elderly woman, so he decided to shift
for himeslf. He later said that he
slept in parks and hallways for
months and finally met an older man
who "talked him into" participating
in a holdup.
They were caught. The older man
was freed on parole. The boy. Day,
was sentenced to serve from one to
ten years in prison.
At the state prison at Joliet Day
met Richard Loeb serving a life sen
tence for the Bobby Franks murder.
Once during that time his case came
before the parole board. Day was not
released, however, because there was
no job waiting for him on( the out
side. He and Loeb quarreled and the
latter was killed. Day said it was in
self defense. A grand jury called it
murder. Day was indicted. A trial
jury accepted his story and acquitted
him. But he went back to prison,
and there he remains, awaiting the
day when the iparole board will re
open his case and, perhaps, order his
release.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to take this means of
expressing to the many kind friends
and neighbors, our deep apprecia
tion of the many words of sympathy
and loving kindness shown us in the
death of our loved wife, daughter and
sister. We wish also to thank those
who sent the beautiful flowers and
who assisted in the funeral services.
John Beeson, Mr. and Mrs. A. L.
Huffer, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Huffer.
Phone tne news lo Mo. 6.
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Republicans
Report Five Mil
lion Expended
William Randolph Hearst Is the
Largest Individual Contributor
With Gift of $30,000.
Washington. The republican na
tional committee reported it had
spent $3,161,617 between Sept. 1
and Oct. IS, bringing jts total cam
paign expenditures since June 1 to
$4,949,42S.
The report, filed with the clerk of
the house, showed contributions of
?2,9S7,765 since Sept. 1, making a to
tal of $5,03S,419 since June 1. The
report raised the republican expendi
tures for the year to $5,6S6,o36.
Largest individual contributor list
ed in Friday's report was William
Randolph Hearst, who gave $30,000.
Donations of $25,000 each were made
by C. B. Goodspeed of Chicago; Fra
zier Jelke, of Newport, R. I.; John A.
Roebling, of Norristown, Ta. ; and
Col. M. Robert Guggenheim, of Wash
ington, D. C.
Altho the democratic national com
mittee has not yet reported expen
ditures for the last two months, it
Rnpnt. S1.008.S40 between Ju.'ne 1
and Aug. 31. Contributions during
that period were $7S2,693.
The New Jersey stata republican
finance committee donated $60,8 68
to the national committee, which
contributions of $30,000 and $5,000
were made by the Massachusetts and
Maine state organizations, respec
tively. The Nassau county, New York,
united republican finance committee
contributed $66,000 to the national
committee's total, while the union
league club, campaign committee of
New York City donated $8,000.
The good neighborhood league, sup
porting President Roosevelt, listed
contributions of $50,537 and expen
ditures of $47,7S0 between Sept. 1
and Oct. 21. It noted that its unpaid
obligations amounted to $42,757.
The largest single contributor to the
league was James W. Gerard, of New
York City, who gave $10,000. The
league included loans totaling $25,
250 among its receipts, attributing
most of them to the democratic na
tional committee.
DEATH OF BABE
From Wednesday's Daily
The death of the two day old in
fa-t of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sack oc
curred last night at the home south
of this city. The funeral services
were held this afternoon from the
home and the body laid to rest in
the Lewiston cemetery. The Sattler
funeral home had charge of the fun
eral.
Hallowe'en for the children with
Pumpkins, Horns, Rattles and Masks
from Bates Book Store.
A. AND O'S HONOR MISS SCHUIZ
From Wednesday's Dallr
Miss Helen Schulz was honored by
the A and O class at a shower last
evening at the home of Wilma Pick
ard. Miss Pauline Iionge was assist
ant hostess. Guessing games were
played during the evening at which
prizes were won by Mildred Cacy,
Mrs. J. Howard Davis, and Edith
Solomon.
I I.isrhts were turned out and orange
illumination from a huge pumpkin
in the center of the room threw
shadows over the girls as they
brought in the gifts for the bride-to-be.
Tart of the gifts were hidden in
the pumpkin.
Fifteen girls were seated at card
tables for refreshments. Small pump
kin nut cups and Hallowe'en decor
ations were used.
Traffic Death
is Heading to
a New High
National Safety Council Finds In
crease in Death Toll in First
Nine Months of 1936.
Chicago. The nation's traffic
death total pushed to a new high
level during the first nine months of
193G, the national safety council re
ported. Motor vehicle accidents thru
the first three quarters of the cur
rent year cost 25.S50 lives compared
with 2 5,3 SO for the same period in
1935. If the trend continues, Coun
cil Statistician R. L. Forney warned,
automobile crash fatalities in the
United States will reach an all-time
high oi 37,500 in 1936.
All of the increase in deaths this
year, Managing Director W. H. Cam
eron said, occurred in the age group
of five to 24 years. While the figures
represented a mathematical setback,
he added, the effects of the nation
wide drive to curb the slaughter be
came apparent when the increase in
automobile travel was considered in
the reckoning. He interpreted a 10
percent advance in gasoline Consump
tion as meaning American motorists
drove 15 billion more miles in the
first nine months of 1936 than in the
corresponding 1935 period. The 3,
420 deaths in September were 2 per
cent greater than in th same month
of last year and the upswing wiped
out gains made earlier in the year.
It was the fifth consecutive month
in which traffic fatalities exceeded
those for the corresponding months
of 1935, when a record total of 37,
000 were recorded. Forney, pointing
to the expanded traffic volume, pre-
directed the old mark would be sur
passed this year.
The council, nearing the close of
the first year of its five year cam
paign to cut the slaughter 8 percent
each year, contended the "cumula
tive effect" of the safety efforts spon
sored by states, citie,s police depart
ments, the courts and schools would
eventually "become very evident."
VISITS IN THE CITY
From Monday's Dally
Robert W. Devoe, one of the candi
dates for regent of the University of
Nebraska, first district, was here to
day to visit with the local people. Mr
Devoe is one of the well known mem
bers of the Lincoln bar and has been
very active in the political life of
that city. He is a cousin of L. S
Devoe, local superintendent of
schools.
LEAVING FOR THE SOUTH'
Archie Baldwin, of Kansas City,
Missouri, is here enjoying a visit at
the country home of his aunt, Mrs.
A. D. Asch, near Murray. Mr. Bald
win is expecting to leave on Wednes
day for Florida where he will spend
the winter season in that state and
enjoying the various winter resort
centers.
PINOCHLE PARTY
Friday, Nov. 6, Murray, Nebr.,
Crosser Hall, auspices, Nehawka unit
American Legion Auxiliary. Prizes
for highest score. Refreshments. 8:00
p. m. Adm. 25c.
o29-2tw
Need printlna? Just call P.O. 6,
and you'll find us on the Joa.
Plattsmouth
Contributes to
School Exhibits
Woik of Children in Schools of This
City to Have Place in State
Teachers' Meetings.
Plattsmouth schools will have two
outstanding exhibits on display at
the State Teachers' convention this
year. Art projects from the students
of St. John's parochial school will
be shown at Lincoln, while an Intor
national Correspondence exhibit from
the junior high school will bo shown
at the Omaha meeting.
The Parochial Display
Students of St. John's parochial
school of this city have made a splen
did contribution to the exhibit being
shown at Lincoln this week end in
conjunction with the state teachers
convention meetings there and in
Omaha. Probably the outstanding
contribution from the local school is
the large size soap carving of the
Nebraska state capitol building, dor.o
on an accurate scale and with full
attention to details, including tha
statue of the sower atop the dome.
This carving was made by Margaret
Rea, a seventh grade pupil, who ha3
been engaged in the work ever since
the opening of the present term of
school. In all some twenty bars of
soap were used. The face of the
carving, representing the north sido
of the building with its long tiers of
steps, is some two feet in length, and
the top of the dome some IS inches
above the front elevation level. It
is a masterful piece of carving and
will without doubt attract much at
tention among the various school
exhibits at Lincoln.
Another feature of the exhibit pre
pared by the local school is a replica
of the "Mass," including a true to
scale altar, which was constructed
and carved from wood by boys of the
eighth grade, while the altar cloths
and vestments were fashioned by the
girls of that grade. The scene is com
plete in every detail.
. Other items in the exhibit, which
was taken to Lincoln yesterday by
William Woolcott, include maps and
scrap books, together with a series
of Civics, Health, Safety and Humane
posters prepared by the art students
of the school.
Preparation of the display ha3
been supervised, by Sister Celestine,
principal of St. John's school, aided
by the other Ursuline Sisters who
comprise the teaching force.
This group of teachers will attend
the state teachers' meeting in Lin
coln Thursday and remain for tho
parochial school conference to Le helj
on Friday.
International Correspondence
From the junior high school goes
a project on international cor
respondence. Letters from young
people in Mexico, Japan, Canada,
Central and South America, Ireland,
England, Wales. Hawaiian and
Philippine Islands, Palestine. Sweden,
Germany, France, Australia, Porto
Rico arc in the exhibit. A large map,
around whose border are the en
velopes sent from the various coun
tries, has guide strings leading from
the letter to the location cf the home
of its sender.
Pictures of children and scenes
from these various countries are also
on the exhibit. The title of the map
is "Lets Go Traveling."
Miss Jessie V. ru lan, who lias
guided the work on the project in
the seventh and eighth grades is to
be one of the speakers at the Omaha
convention. She found the students
of the adolosence period in the ex
planatory veriod of development and
anxious to explore no smaller space
than the world. The international
correspondence served to fill the stage
set by the study of geography with
living characters.
MYNARD COMMUNITY CLUB
The October meeting of the My
nard Community club has be: n post
poned until Thursday evening. No
vember 5th. Program will', be in
charge of the west side committee.
w&d
See the gooas you buy. Catalog
descriptions are flowery enough,
but how about tne gooes when
you get them7
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