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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1915)
jiTnrfrf'f'T'ffj.'- , rt ,w v.Sfl .. ?,-? T J The Commoner JANUARY, 1915 .V 11 public life. . The race feeling is giving way, as it should. There should be no classin America to whom any office in the gift of the nation-is closed, when a representative of -that class is the best man- for the place." OPPOSES NEPOTISM IN SCHOOLS - An unusual situation, created by adherence lo a belief in the dangers of nepotism, is told in a dispatch from Chicago and printed in the New York Herald; as follows :- "By winning Helen James, daughter of Ed ward Janes James, president of the University-of Illinois, as a bride, George Enfield Frazer, con troller of the university and professor of public accounting, has lost his position. He has extend ed his resignation and it has been ncceptod by Professor James, who has frequently stated that he is opposed to having any relatives: of his serve on a faculty with him. " It Is my decided opinion,' said President James, 'based on long experience as high school principal, college professor and university pres ident, that boards of trustees and public school boards in general should be prohibited by law from appointing to .positions within their gift any person connected by blood or marriage to the fourth degreo with any member- of the- teaching, or admini&traiivestaff. " In my jjudgmenij. the appointment and pro motion of relatives of influential persons on the staff to positions in the university is one of the serious defects of American college and univer sity administration. " 'Nepotism is in its quality a more subtle and more corrupting influence than either politics or religion directed, to the same end, bad as these are. " 'The Vettefwirthschaft or system of cousin age in appointment, believed by many to be widespread in' German universities, is certainly one of the cancerous growths on that otherwise admirable system.' " THE MEANING OF "CHAUVINISM'' A "chauvinist is termed as a ranter on the subject of patriotism, and a "jingo" as a ranter on the subject of war. The qualities of a chau vinist are set forth by a writer in the Columbus (0.) Journal, as follows: "Chauvinism what is it? was asked of a class of teachers at Chicago, and was not answered. The term is used much these days, because there is much of it around. "We hear it every day and see columns about it in the newspapers. It means an exaggerated patriotism a feeling that we are the chosen people and all others are gen tiles and outcasts. It is a -poor sort of patriotism. It is grand for a man to love his country, but his love is. a very poor kind if it does not include more than himself and his family. "One sees many chauvinists these days. It is not a wholesome sight. It is a deformed patriot Win. To be a true American one needs to be under the sway of a broad spirit which recog nizes the virtues of others as well as his own. To be always boasting of one's merits, celebrat ing one's exploits and challenging others vir tues and achievements belittles one's life, both as an individual and a citizen. Because we love our country is no reason why we should not love other countries. In fact, if we limit our love to our own country it is a poor quality of love. Let us not be chauvinists. Let us ennoble ourselves by being world-wide friends.", GOVERNOR WHITMAN'S WARNING A warning of moral decadence if the spirit of lawlessness in all American communities goes unchecked was voiced by Governor Charles 3. Whitman of New York in his inaugural address at Albany, January 1. Declaring that the in crease of crime deserved the thoughtful atten tion of the legislature, Governor Whitman said: ."Disregard of law, impatience with legal and moral restraints, contempt for the judicial ana executive ministers of justice are phenomena ob servable in all American cpmmunities ana an classes," he said. "No material prosperity, no abounding wealth, ho progress in the sconces can save us from moral decadence and ultimate decay if this sipirt of lawlessness and contempt for legal authority continues. "There is but one way of meeting the danger, and that is through the creation of a dominant and pervading public sentiment in support of Hie enforcement of the law. Where that sentiment Is wanting no devices of the law can make up tor it.." The Work of the President's Cabinet DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT OF ONIONS AND CABBAGE Reports received from 290 shipping points in 16 principal late-onion producing states, show that approximately 18,934 carloads of onions were shipped from these stations in 1913. Of this number about 12,239 cars were moved dur , ing harvest time and-6,695 carloads were held in storage at those points for later sale. From these reports the estimated commercial onion crop for the year 1914 at the same points is 21, 623 carloads, and the estimated quantity going into storage at those points 7,879 carloads. These 16 states produce about 75 per cent of the annual crop. Reports received from 328 shipping points in 10 principal late-cabbage producing states show that approximately 18,694 carloads of cabbage were shipped from these stations in 1913. Of this number, about 14,465 were moved during harvest time and 4,229 carloads were held in storage at those points for later sale. From ' these' reports the estimated, commercial! cabbage; crop- fonrtheyear 1914 atAhesasapaintaisf-2?,: ' 390' carloads, -.of which number. arcHBAlSZ'4fc'' cars are being moved during harvest and about 4,645 cars put into storage. These 10 states produce about two-thirds of the annual crop. FOOT-AND-MOUTH ORDERS EXPLAINED Since the publication of various orders modi fying the federal quarantines declared on ac count of the foot and mouth disease, the author ities here have received numerous inquiries with regard to the exact meaning of the regu- lations now in force. The quarantines which were declared at the beginning of the outbreak prohibited the ship ment of cattle, sheep, other ruminants and swine into the quarantined area for any purpose save that of immediate slaughter, and prohibited ab solutely the shipment of such stock out of the quarantined area. Since then the quarantines in parts of some states, notably Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Ken tucky, Iowa, and Wisconsin, have been modified that they now permit the shipment of live stock into these areas for all purposes and the shipment of live stock out for immediate slaugh ter at place where the federal meat inspection service is maintained. Certain counties, however, have been exempt ed in each of these states from the privileges granted by the modified quarantine. Into these counties no stock can be shipped for feeding purposes, but in some of them stock can be ship ped out after a preliminary inspection and cer tification by the federal authorities. In the areas under modified quarantine various restric tions governing the shipment of carcasses, hides, bay, straw, etc., have also been removed. DISTRIBUTION OF DEPARTMENT'S BULLETINS The editor of the department's division of pub lications has announced in his annual report tbat 1.152 new publications were issued during the fiscal year ended Juno 30, 1914. The total number of copies of these publications was 26,- In addition to these new publications, 11,494, ' 700 copies df publications issued in Previous years were reprinted, making a grand total of 38 186,392 copies published during the year. An important change in the department's pub lications was the abolishing of the series of bul letins nd circulars issued by the various bureaus of the department. The bureau series of bul letiw and circulars were superseded by a series CaliesVe th depart- ment now publishes four series of publications S Slace of the more than 40 series formerly is sued The four series are: Department bul letin periodical publications, annual reports, and farmers' bulletins. A new periodical publication was established, .v i .V. t-i nr Agricultural Research, In ?hteh are published the results of the strictly ntific and technical investigations of the de- PaTSedecisions, notices of judgment, and orders formerly Issued in separate form, have been Sought together in monthly service and regu latory announcements for each bureau or board charged with the enforcement of regulatory acts. The output tor the year of all kinds of print ed matter including publications, blanks, blank books, bound volumes, and mimeographed no tlcos for tho press reachod a grand total of 84, 650,458 copies. Tho demand for tho department's publications was so great that in addition to tho vast number distributed free, tho superintendent of docu ments sold 231,821 copies for $21,708.76. The demand for farmers' bulletins continued to Increase, so that tho number distributed was 44 per cent greater than In any previous year. During tho year, 55 new farmers' bulletins wore Issued editions totaling 4,730,000 copies; 284 of the earlier numbers wore reprinted to the total number of 10,230,000 copies, making an aggregato of 14,960,000 copies issued during the year. Of these, 8,309,659 copies woro distrib uted on tho orders of sonators, representatives, and delegates. NEW LINES OF WORK IN WEATHER BUREAU Several new lines of work for tho benefit of VJl.o public,, aad, especially ot- thofarrars.ac-c. feaHwer&;insiUKueatdfdriagtkeyer.' Othrs recently begun have been extended into portions of the country where the growing importance of agricultural pursuits have made them of in creased value. A special sorvice given f.o orchardlsts and raisers of tobacco, oranges, cranberries, and ccr jliin other crops has been rendered by means of frost warnings issued in spring and autumn. Closo attention Is paid by tho forecasters to the needs of these crops at critical periods, and the growers are kopt fully advised as to tho dangers of frost and are warned of tho necessity of re sorting to measures of protection through arti ficial heating and smudging, or flooding the bogs in the case ot cranborrles. The establishment of a "cattle region service," through which bulletins containing statements of weather conditions over the stock ranges of the Texas panhandle and adjacent regions are issued, constitutes a new feature of the bureau's work. This has been particularly effective as affecting the cattle industry of the great south west, having proved of such material value as to create a demand for its continuance throughout the entire year, instead of from April to October as at present. PROGRESS IN STANDARDIZATION OF GRAIN Satisfactory progress in the standardization of grain has been made In the past year, according to the annual report of the bureau of plant in dustry, recently Issued. Tentative grades for corn were first published by tho department in August, 1913. With some changes, these tentative grades wore promul gated In 1914 as "grades for commercial corn." The various states and commercial organizations which have independent grain inspection depart ments have either adopted these grades, or de clared their intention of so doing. Their great Virtue' is that they will enable the shipper to as certain for himself what grade his corn will re ceive at the inspection point, and at the same Itlmo permit tho buyer to discover whether or not he has received the grade he ordered. Hith erto all corn delivered at country stations has been bought at practically the same price regard less of its water content or soundness. For other grains commercial grades will be fixed as Soon as possible, and the work will be pressed vigorously, especially in the case of wheat. Preparation of official co'tton grades has also been continued, and good progress made, Spinning tests of the official grades have also been carried out. DEPARTMENT OP COMMERCE BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS During tho past few months, a general com prehensive survey has been made by tho bureau of corporations of the whole industrial field, with a view to .having immediately available to the new federal trade commission, If needed, the general 'facts of the processes of manufacture, organization, and dominant financial control In any line of industry. A large card Index system, showing the directors of the principal industrial, railroad and public utility corporations, insur ance companies, and banks, has also been com i J"! t I i i 41 J ww; r 5 H : $. he I H Xfv IIJC 1 1' "' .ftSsiSJ. '.J.r 7rset&bm&znapfa& ttid?JBW7rti .rzrjr" it, v t, rrtwrMM,, u 3K (- ;-'- At .V