I ) \ Omaha* Where the West is at its Best THAT’S WHAT SPRING IS FOR. Almost two weeks yet remain before “the sun crosses the line,” and astronomical spring begins. Man’s thought eagerly outruns the almanac, and | spring has already come to Omaha. If you have any doubt as to the truth of this statement, just move along the streets through the retail district, and view the window displays. To call them gorgeous, to say they are artistic, to praise their arrangement, is cheap. What they really present is a high tribute to the zeal, the en ergy, the enterprise of Omaha merchants. The Oriental merchant keeps the treasures of his Stock far out of sight of the curious, displaying them only to those he feels assured have the means and the de sire to purchase. That is probably due to the work ings jof the eastern mind. In the Occident a dif ferent spirit prevails. Merchants of the West set forth for public view the richest of their wares. In opulent display they invite the observer to become a customer. One gifted with exact knowledge of the fabrics might find scope for his best talent in dealing with the showing now being made in the show windows of Omaha. An ordinary observer must be content to exptesa regret that he is not a slim young thing, that some one of the tempting creations might be donned to enhance the charms of nature. Yet hope and suc cor is held out even for those whom age or too as siduous devotion to the good things of life whose in dulgence is fatal to the svelte and dainty figure so much desired. These can find raiment, appropriate and costly as the purse will pay for, and be delighted in the result. Marvels of the modern loom and dye vat are worked up by skilled artisans into such garments as a hour! might not disdain, while the accessories are presented in such profusion of color and charm as amazes even the sophisticated onlooker. “Beautiful Windows" indeed are those that line the downtown thoroughfare* of Omaha. It is such an exhibition as must impress even the most casual with the import ance. of the retail stores of the town. It is the wel come to the turn of the year, the coming of that time when “the wanton lapwing takea himself a brighter crest.” That's what spring is for. AFTER MITCHELL GOES. “Busting” General Mitchell may solace the wounded feelings of some of the higher-ups, but it will not convince the country that General Mitchell was wrong. The experience the country had in the mattgr of airplanes during the world war is not a very good guarantee of an adequate airplane service now. Granting that General Mitchell was guilty of a breach of discipline, it is generally believed that be knew pretty well what he was talking about. That the country which produced the inventors of the air plane is lagging behind Great Britain, France and .Japan in developing air defense is well known. Doubtless General Mitchell, who Is intensely inter ested in that branch of the military defense system, was over-enthusiastic, but would not a reprimand have been 't punishment? Reducing him in rank, and ng him to a second-rate post is not calculated io make other officers enthusiastic in bet tering their arm of the service. Neither will it con vince the country that General Mitchell was guilty of anything more than daring to tell the truth despite the efforts of his superiors to muzzle him. THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who mismanaged Gov ernor A1 Smith’s campaign for the democratic presi dential nomination,’ wants to formulate plans for the resuscitation perhaps resurrection would be the better word—of the democratic party. One can but admire the courage of Mr. Roosevelt, however little one may think of his Judgment. Formulating plans for welding the discordant elements of the demo cratic party into one homogenous whole is easy com pered with the task of actually doing the welding. One auch plan failed when a Davis was aelected as the head of the ticket and a Bryan as the tail. Whan damocratic doctora like W. J. Bryan and Senator Jamea Reed ait on one side of the aiiing patient’s bed, and doctor* like Governor A1 Smith and Sen ator Mayfield sit upon the other, the chances for the patient's recovery are Exceedingly slim. “By adhering to principles rather than personali ties, for the next three years, we shall go far to wards success,” says Mr. Roosevelt. Aye, there’s the rub! Who among the democratic leaders will he com issioned to select the principles out of the amazing mess of alleged democratic principles advanced by democratic leaders in recent years? Will it be pos sible to bring A1 Smith and W. .T. Bryan Into agree ment? Perhaps Cox of Ohio and Underwood of Ala bama, or Pat Harrison and Tom Hcfflin could devise a set of principle* that would meet with the approval •f both the eastern, western and southern wings. The old recipe for cooking a Rabbit might apply here—"first catch your rabbit." Adhering to demo cratic principles would not he difficult if only there could be agreement as to what are democratic prin ciple*. But there’s the sticking point There seems te ha shout as many democratic principles as there •re Individual democrat*; certainly s* many ** there •re aalf-constituted democratic leaders. i»Ths man who spent,* lifetim* trying to davli# a method of extracting sunshine from cucumbers had j an easy task compared with the one Franklin D. Roosevelt has elected h'tnself to perform. Mr. Roosevelt's suggestion that the party’s lead ers should meet more frequently “to exchange views and to plan for united party action,” is worthy of national approbation. It would add greatly to the gaiety of the nation. But wouldn’t it be about as tough on the aforesaid leaders as the recent demo cratic national convention was on the delegates? Imagine, if you can, the results of a conference between the Bryans, A1 Smith, Underwood, Reed, Harrison, Heflin, Taggart, Connors, Mack, Ryan, Wheeler, and other democratic leaders. Donnybrook fair would be a Sunday school picnic by comparison. And that, gentle reader, is what's the matter with the once powerful democratic party. Too many leaders and not enough followers. Too many policies and not enough principles. Franklin D. Roosevelt is to be wished joy in his self-imposed task. He is also deserving of sym pathy. THE DOG POISONER. There may be a man lower than the man who deliberately spreads poison for do^,s. We say there may be a man lower, but it is extremely doubtful. It. is to be hoped there are none, for a man has fallen pretty low when he sneaks around in the stilly watches of the night to spread poison for the purpose of venting his spleen against dogs, or dog owners. It is true that dogs are often a nuisance, but there are legal methods of abating them. The man who would sneakingly poison dogs, no matter how much he may hate them, was probably the boy who pulled the wings from one side of a fly and then chortled with glee while watching the insect’s agon ized gyrations. More than likely he is the school bully who delighted in making life miserable for smaller boys and girls. A study of his life would probably reveal the fact that his boyish delight was to cripple cattle, whip the horses to frenzy, tie tin cans to dogs’ tails and do other little things of like nature. He was a moron as a boy, he is a moron now. ( The dog poisoner is the kind of a fellow w-ho would taunt the cripple and experience delight in watching for the victim of an epileptic fit. How funny it must be for such man to sneak back to bis room after spreading a lot of dog poison and gloat over the paroxysms of the canine playfellow of some little boy or girl. How his sides must shake with laughter when he contemplates the tears streaming down the cheeks of some little boy who watches the dying agonies of his dog. It is not for us to discuss whether there is or is not a hell. That is a question each individual must decide for himself. But it will be generally agreed that if there isn’t such a place for dog poisoners, there really should be. IF MAINE, WHY NOT NEBRASKA? The Maine legislature has just passed and Gov ernor-Brewster has signed the so-called Maine pub licity bill. It appropriates $25,000 annually for the next two years for advertising the resources of the statp. If Maine, why not Nebraska? Nine years ago the Nebraska legislature made an appropriation of $12,500 for the biennium to advertise the resources cf the state, but before the department could be come properly organized the country became in volved in the World War. The entire appropriation wa« not expended and the department was discon tinued. There never was a time when a state pub licity department was more needed, or when such a department properly conducted could accomplish so much for the development of the state. Recently a number of Nebraska daily newspapers inaugurated a campaign for publicity for their state, and it has performed a splendid work for them and for the commonwealth. But there is no rpason why the daily newspapws, or any other single industry, should be called upon to defray the expenses of a campaign that is beneficial to every industry within the state. It is properly a function of the entire commonwealth. Maine has less than half the area of Nebraska, only two-fifths as much taxable wealth, less than one-tenth the annual wealth production, only one city the size of Linc6ln, and no five cities that e arlety. T.adv (to grocer)—I want to buy some lard. Grocer— Pail* Lady I rtldn t know you could get it in i «o shades.- The Wtflos What we’d call a real mess ia a wife with an aversion fer house work an’ a husband with an aversion fer lookin' a livin’. Some folks are jest fine ever’ way, 'cept they won’t pay nothin'. (Copyright, list.} I \l>\ Rft I hKMK.NT. Speaks to Mothers | - j I Mils.