THE BEE: OMAHA. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1916.
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
FOUNDED BY EDWARD KOSEWATER.
VICTOR EOSEWATEB, EDITOR.
THE BEB PUBLISHING COMPANY. PROPRIETOR.
Entered at Omaha postofflceraa second-claee matter.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
Addreaa esnaranieatiaae relating ta nawa ana eed torts,
matter ta Oaiaan Baa, Mttorud -Department
OCTOBER CIRCULATION
. 53,818 Daily Sunday 50,252
Dwttrht Williams, etrenlatlaa manager af The Be
Pabhshing aemanr. being dolr aworn, says that 'the
average eii-enhrtMia ar the aaanta nf OoUesr, 4414, tana
44,418 dally, and (0,242 Sunday.
DWIOHT WILLIAMS. Circulation Manager.
Subscribed In toy presence and aworn 4a balara sat
this 4th dajr af Maeember, 1414.
C. W. CARLSON. Metery Publla.
Siihaarihara laariaa tha cil tsmBorSrily
efaauld have Tha Baa taaUad to them. AeV
alraaa will b chanfad aa aftan as raqolraaL
The high co4t of campaigning ii also disclosed
by the expense fond statements.
Nepotism run riot in public office is due for
a knockout from the coming Nebraska legislature.
Shoemen predict $15 and $20 shoe in the near
future. The spirit of the uplift properly grips the
sole of business.
Unless President Wilson it too proud to
imitate, gratitude bids bim writ a rival volume
on "The Winning of the West"
' Seats in the New York Stock exchange are
marked up to $74,000. Shearing lambs' wqjol
comes high as a luxurious indoor sport. ,
To the ultimate consumer the night stickup is
aif object of fearless indifference. The day holdup
leaves little room for additional trimming.
Kansas jackrabbits have jumped from 3 to
10 cents. . The institution of the political
somersault set all Kansas products on the jump.
'For a bunch who hare cleaned the platter,
those victorious democrats seem still to be about
as testy and irritable as if they had lost all their
bets.
Marseilles is bidding for American bottles by
the ton. Business foresight suggests extending
the French city an invitation to attend Nebraska's
May day auction. .,
Reports of campaign expenses steadily pile up.
These are not strictly a waste of valuable paper.
They are useful as an exhibit of the high qualities
of political forgeteries. .
Political hammers are working overtime in
California.. It is an uncommonly foggy day in
that section when the natives overlook a chance
to send some noisy hot ah over the mountains.
The country 'is officially reminded that the
national treasury Jiotds $2,700,000,000 in gold.
Doubtless the precious pile wears well and holds
its color, though deprived of the personal touch
which insures a change of air.
The winter campaign is on in the European
trenches. That means that everything is ad
justed to carry the war through tilt spring and
nothing but the wholly unexpected will interfere
with executing the plans adopted.
v-
Conflicting - statements of railroad brother
hood leaders reflect the ' confusion enveloping
the Adamson law. When interested parties can
not agree on the meaning, manifestly the proper
course is to secure a judicial interpretation.
That is what courts are for.
The Baltimore American points with pride to
the Montana congreaswoman as "a good republic
can. good suffragette, good cook, good fellow,
good spell-binder an all-round corker." Coming
from an elderly political warrior, the tribute ex
presses the ardor and heartiness of youth and in
sinuates Baltimore's readiness to give the Mon
tana bachelor-maid "a corking good time."
Blue and Khaki
-St, Laula Glial P aacral
In a passing way, and only on proper occa
sion, we have called attention to the fact that the
khaki uniform is less inspiring than the blue used
to be, in crowds which line the streets as soldiers
and "Old Glory" go by. There is enthusiasm,
of course, but it is for the fighting men and not
for the drab uniforms they wear. There is
nothing in the khaki to reflect a single one of
the hues ill the flag that floats above the march
ing column. Nor does khaki any better reflect
the predominant color in the British flag, which
the old-fashioned red coat, with all its faults
and dangers, certainly did.
We are glad to find so high an authority as
General Bell of the I'nited States army express
ing the view that khaki has its bad points. He
nays that, because khaki was adopted for the
reason that it does not show dirt easily, too
many men of the line, are prone to let dirt aceu
mu'ate on it. and contrasts that tendency with
tiie one prevailing among the boys In blue, in
earlier years, to keep their uniforms free of all
dirt and splotches. He broadly hints, too, that
llie men like the old uniform better than the
new, as shown in their admiration of their of
ficers, and even of flic United States marines,
who still cling to the blue and bVaid. '
ft was urged, at the time the change was
made, and as the particular reason for making
it. that the dull drab of khaki affords a much bet
ter protection against enemy attack than the
brighter blue. This objection may have had
force at a time when contending armies came
to closer quarters than now, and when re coo -noitering
in force was still possible arid frequent
Under the new conditions of fighting, with long
range weapons, and with aeroplane scouting
service making sudden attack impossible, the
weight of that argument against the colored
uniform would appear to be considerably re
duced.' At any rate, the blue might be used on
dress parade, and generally in times of peace,
even if it is thought necessary for the troops
to don neutral colors in time of war. We hazard
the guess that, with the boys put back in blue
when they are recalled from the border, the re
cruiting officers and agencies would And enlist
ments much more numerous than tbey ar find
ing them now.
Farmers and the Middleman.
The suggestion of President Wilson that the
farmers raise such crops aa will overwhelm the
middleman when he undertakes to manipulate
prices is the easy advice of an amateur economist.
It is hard, even with his record before us, to be
lieve the president meant wbat he said to the
Grangers. Certainly those practical men of agri
culture, who for the last forty-eight years have
been devoting the closest of study to the solution
of the middleman question, were not deeply in
pressed by the words so glibly uttered. Recent
experience rises up to confute Mr. Wilson's pro
posal. In 1914 a moderate crop was sold at
record low prices of recent years; in 1915 a
hamper crop went off at record high prices, only
exceeded by the exorbitant figures now quoted.
Not ia many years has the supply of food animals
been to plentiful as at present, nor were prices
ever so high. It will take something more than
a liberal supply to put the middleman out of busi
ness. The Grangers, with their co-operative tell,
ing and buying, have not been able in more than
a generation of well-directed effort to make much
of an impression on the system. It is all very
well for the president to jolly them along if he
can, but these men know something of conditions,
and they know the cause lies deeper than is in
dicated by the suggestion. Price manipulation
it not to be controlled by mere precept. It may
not be impertinent to inquire why Mr, Wilson did
not suggest a law to regulate dealings in "fu
tures" in grain and other food supplies, such as
was passed to stabilize the price of cotton?
Why a Water Board?
Appropt of the short ballot movement this
question suggests itself: "Why a water board?"
If there is any part of our local government
where the so-called general manager system can
be successfully applied, it is to the administration
and operation of a municipal water plant The
fact is, though we have a nominal water board,
the work it now all done by the general manager
tubject only to perfunctory approval by hit cot
leagues. For whatever baa been accomplished, to
Mr. Howell, and to no one else, belongs the credit,
and for any shortcoming upon him belongs the
blame. It may be safely taken for granted that
the present general manager will continue to run
the water works just at well, if not better, than
he hat in the patt with or without the assistance
or hindrance of a water board.
In no other city in the country (with pos
sibly two or three exceptions) is a separate water
board maintained like ourt but, on the contrary,
water works practice and experience generally'
favort putting one man in charge with full au
thority and letting him be responsible for results.
. If the five other members of the board are
superfluous, why then burden ourselves with
electing them? Why not do away with the extra
water district ballot and the needless names voted
on every two years? - ,
A Voice From Minnesota
Mianaapatla Jenrnal.
' v Greater Lincoln Consolidation.
Following the lead of Omaha's merger with
South Omaha, Dundee and adjoining suburbs,
Lincoln' is agitating for the annexation of the su
burban settlements that are an integral part of that
community yet outside of the present municipal
limits. With this ambition of our Capital City
friends wt art in full accord, but we will be in
terested observers of the maneuvers to secure the
necessary enabling legislation. - .
r Will it be "forcible annexation" down there or
will it be consolidation only "with the consent of
the governed?" We remember the tender solici
tude of certain Lincoln statesmen for fear a few
South Omaha pie-biters might have their offices
extinguished by merger with Omaha without due
consideration of their wishes and demands for per
petual segregation. The merger scheme finally
put through by Omaha, we admit, was nothing
but a gauzy cloak for forcible attachment, yet it
wet the' only way to do the job and we commend
it to our Lincoln friends if they find their worthy
project blocked by similar obstacles that stub
bornly refuse to "listen to reason."
, Cott t)f Running for Office. : :
' Publication of campaign expense accounts may
afford moralists opportunity for speculation, and
give to economists occasion for ttudy, but to the
lay reader they will convey little impression be
yond tht fact that politics is a peculiar game, and
that running for office is not to be lightly con
sidered by anyone who is not provided with a
long purse. The old-timers will find some justi
fication in the figures given. In days gone by it
was popular practice after each election to
accuse one or the other, of the contestanti of
making an inordinate expenditure of money. Pur
chased votes were always -alleged, no matter
which tide won. Now, with lawt to fix limits
on expense, we find that turns of money that
would have made the elder generation of politi
cians gasp are paid out in discharge of bills for
purposes admittedly legitimate. Candidates find
that running for office costs about all the place
it likely to bring in return, and that recompense
must be sought in the glory that eomet through
serving one't country. Election expense billt pro
vide a most eloquent argument for better methods
of choosing our officers, one of which will be
found in the shorter ballot
" Looking After the Lame Ducks.
President Wilson is back in Washington, mak
ing plans for hit immediate future, part of which
will have to do with caring for those of his
party followers who fell outside the trenches in
the late. engagement. Quite a few distinguished
democrats will not answer when the roll is
called in the next congress, and, pursuing a prece
dent set in the case of Chairman '"Jimmy" Hay
of the house committee on military affairs, the
president will have to make provision for their
welfare. This may explain why he has delayed
naming the tariff commission, the shipping
board, the board to handle workmen's compensa
tion and a number of other places into which he
will be happy to bestow "deserving democrat."
He has intimated his intention to push his pro
gram for legislation, that it may be all out of the
way before the new congress comes in with its
republican domination, if not control. This,
therefore, is notice to those who will write "for
mer" along with their names irt days to come
that the president will expect nothing but loyalty
from those who are looking for jobs. Otherwise
they may have to go to work. ', ,
mm mmm m I
The. same folks now charging the high prices
to redundancy of the gold supply onee upon a
time insisted that, unless silver were made the
primary money metal, increasing scarcity of gold
would soon work the utter ruination of all trade
and industry. And they persuaded themselves,
too, that they had their arguments backed with
incontrovertible facts and figures.
"I don't carry a label any more; I vote for
the best man, regardless of politics."
This is a typical utterance from many Minne
sota voters in these days of nonpartisan legis
latures, personal politics, and anemic party or
ganizations. Independent voting, long extolled
it a virtue, has grown in Minnesota to such a
degree that it has broken down the political
fiber of citizenship. Personality rather than
principle is what counts now with the great mass
of the voters.
The presidential campaign 'of 1916 has ac
centuated this condition. Not only is party
organization nearly destroyed, but a targe per
centage of the voters really belong to no party.
They claim no political allegiance. The reaction
against the old "political machine" has gone to
the opposite extreme, which is chaos.
Political conditions have been unsettled all
over the country this year, but probably worst
ol all here m Minnesota.
The once strong party spirit the party alle
giance that could give a reason for the faith
that wat in it is weak at dish-water in these
days. Real leadership has almost disappeared.
Young voters, for the most part did not align
themselves at all.
-"Thinking men," politically speaking, were
scarce, especially among the younger men.
Thousands-"made uo their minds" with the least
possible effort. They hadn't studied the issues
on their merits. 1 hey made their choices through
prejudice, through some whim or catchword.
"I'll never vote for a man who wears whisk
era," said one who had found "a reason" for op
posing Hughes. "I can't stand for a knocker
said another, forgetting that every opposition
candidate for president in the country's history
has necessarily "knocked" the administration in
power. Everywhere the same sort of trivial talk
wat heard 'from men who boast of their inde
pendence.
These men are not republicans, democrats,
progressives or anything else. The fact is, they
are nonpartisans, which means' "neither fish,
flesh, fowl, nor good red herring." Priding
themselves on their independence, they really
advertise their lack' ot political principles, the
lack of solid ground beneath their feet.
The "mugwump" of thirty years ago was a
thinking independent a force for progress in
political affairs. The honest independent thinker
in many campaigns has turned the scales toward
better things. But the unthinking independent
ia a ready tool of demagoguet, a dangerout factor
in the electorate.
It it merely a coincidence that this condition
hat come about in Minnesota, with its peculiar
nonpartisan system? Is tht weakness of party
organization a 'danger?
Party organization in Minnesota was weak
ened first by the direct primary. It wat fairly
strong, up to the time the primary wat extended
to ttate officert, thue doing away with gather
ings of party men in conventions. The state
wide primary sapped the Strength of party or
ganizations. Then came the nonpartisan law
and dealt them a death blow. First judges were
made nonpartisan, a move to take the judiciary
out of politics. Then came nonpartisan city
elections, looking to "business administration
of cities.
Then came a bill to extend the nonpartisan
law to county officers. There seemed no good
reason to draw party lines on these minor public
servants. But - unexpectedly the nonpartisan
legislature idea was crafted onto the bill. It
took instantly, was backed by the solid "brew
ery" influence, and was put through the 1913
legislature without a glimmer 1 ot the conse
quences. Nothing ia lefKJor the oartv ballot but na
tional and state officers and members of con
gress. No candidate running in a territory
smaller than a congressional district has the
party label. The local candidate, without ex
ception, is a pale-blue "nonpartisan," generally
fearing to say his soul it hit own and avoiding
party issues and candidates as if they were small
pox, i
Without local organization, there is no longer
any party solidarity, no propaganda, no com
munity leaders interested in preaching political
principles. As a result, there is little clear think
ing on the issues of the day.
The tariff is "too hard, and few -voters seem
to realize how it concerns them. It is "dry
stuff." They -no longer realize that the nation's
tariff policy is vital to the individual, that it is
a most practical business proposition, not only
for the business man, but for the farmer and
the wage-earner, that the nation's "trade bal
ance" is a vital factor in the prosperity of all
of us, that American labor cannot compete with
30-cent labor abroad and keep up its standard
of living and its purchasing power.
Instead of studying such questions and form
ing principles for themselves, many voters in
Eresent-day Minnesota take their politics from
illboards, headlines, campaign lithographs, or
mouthy street talkers. In thia way they lose no
time from the "movies."
Public men in Minnesota are beginning to
realize the condition and its cause. They blame
the nonpartisan craze for the political indiffer
ence and silliness of the day, and from all parts
of the state is coming a demand for repeal of
the nonpartisan law, at least as to the legislature:.
Coupled with it is another demand fot restoring
political conventiont to an extent that will bring
men of like faith together on'ce more to delib
erate, to voice their ideas, and as leaders to light
the way for the rank and file ot parties built on
real principles.
People and Events
One of the pioneer brides of the plains passed
away in the death of Mrs. Julatha Ann Richard
son, 90, at Junction City, Ore. She was married
on the trip across the plains in 1848 and home
steaded in Oregon. Fifty-one, descendants sur
vive her.
A California professor told his class of male
students that spooning is a watte of time and
that men should seek beauty of the soul rather
than of the skin. An impertinent youngster
asked how beauty of soul could be measured
without snuggling up and caused the professor
to switch the subject
A score of women, and several men who
loaned money to, or endorsed the notes of Annie
E. Sharpley, just naturally came together in a
Chicago court to look over evidence of debts
totaling $81,000, Miss Sharpley is a chicken
farm plunger, "an energetic woman of disarming
simplicity" and' demure glims. The pen-picture
is life-sire and fairly accurate, as is shown in her
ability to borrow money without security.' One
woman friend advanced $47,000.
The freak better presists in spots. At Findley,
O., a woman sport did the wheelbarrow act for
the winner. Another Ohio loser at Lorain walked
twenty-one blocks clad in bathing suit and straw
hat. An Indiana man shaved off one side of his
mustache, "and an Illinois man at Pana cooitd
his disappointment by jumping into a well. One
admirer of socialism in New York proposes to
tet his beard grow until Benson is elected presi
dent and a neighbor of J. Frank" Hanly promises
to remain dry until J. Frank hangs his hat in the
White House. So the saving grace of political
humor brightens the gloom.
The outcome of judicial inquiries into the
whereabouts of the fortune of Edward W. Mor
rison, Chicago's millionless millionaire, confirms
early suspicions. Morrison was trimmed for $8,
000,000 and is considered a bankrupt. All kinds
of people of the crooked world worked on the
senile pioneer and knocked off chunks. The big
gest job of all was put up by his alleged attorney
and reputed guardian, James R. Ward, who se
questered $2,000,000 worth of Morrison's real
estate. The federal court has its hook on Ward
and is reaching for other crookt with the object
ot making them disgorge.
1 1 on a vi
Thought Nugget for the Day.
Perpetual punning and assurance
put a difficulty out of countenance
and make a aeerrrrng difficulty give
way. Jeremy Collier.
One Year Ago Today in tile War.
UulgHriaa offensive against Monai-
tir checked.
Vigorous bombardment of Ostend
bv Hritlnh warahiDH.
Lord Kltchemr had audience with
Klna- Constantino at Athena.
German guardnhip reported aunk
by Kumian destroyer near until.
French irunn destroyed German de
fonsoa at points in Belgium and aoutb
of Hcnime.
In Omaha Thirty Yearn Ago.
At an entertainment of the Wyman
Commercial College Kx-Oradnaten
ajasociation. the following assisted in
the program: Prof. K. I. French, O.
T. Zimmerman, Misa Nellie Rapp, D.
D. McDonald and Klla llcllride.
Dr. 1. A. Riggen of What Cheer,
la, was in trt city for the first time
since Sherman's march to the sea, to
meet hit old friend, O. K. Beswick.
Ham Jones, the evengeliat, lecom
panied by the singers, Kxcell and Max
well, indulged in little dissipation
in the stv e of a buegv ride. fcx-Kev.
J. W. Harris, formerly of the First
Kaptlst church, held the ribbons very
tightly over the backs of a very
worldly looking team. As the ex
Rev. Harris has graduated Into a real
estate man, it Is not unlikely that he
may Induce Jones to invest In corner
lots In Omaha.
Through his attorney. Park God
win. John Jl. Penman, the noted
jockey, has commenced suit in the
district court attaching the race horse
"Jack Gamble," which has been for
several montha past quartered at the
fair grounds.
C. J., Ryan of West Omaha has been
appointed notary public, and the
parchment upon which the authority
has been outlined has Deen rendered
doubtly impressive by the frame
which he baa placed around the docu
ment " v
Neil McLeod, one of Hlmebaugh
Taylor'a clerks, was married to Miss
Mollle McKennis. They will make
their home at Twenty-fourth street
and 8t Mary's avenue.
This Day In History.
1777 Forts Mifflin and Mercer, on
the Delaware below Philadelphia,
captured by the British.
1837 Queen Victoria opened the
session of the first parliament of her
reign.
1 848- Opening of the Galena &
Chicago Union railroad.
1866 First national convention of
the Grand Army of the. Republic met
at Indianapolis.
1870 Paris was engirdled by the
Germans with a second line of invest
ment. '
1893 Several prominent young
French Canadians were arrested while
preparing to blow up with dynamite
the Nelson monument in Montreal.
1884 Anton Gregor Rubensteln,
famous Russian composer and pianist
died In St Petersburg. Born 1830.
1899 The German emperor and
empress and their sons arrived at
Windsor castle on a visit to Queen
Victoria."
109 United States circuit court
decreed the dissolution of the Stand
ard Oil company of New Jersey.
1911 Ramon caceras, president ol
Santo Domingo, was assassinated by
two political maicontenus. wno were
captured and shot
The Day We Celebrate.
Frank L. Haller, president of the
Lininger Implement company, was
born November 20. 1861, at Daven
port la. He Is a member ot the
Board of Regents for the state uni
versity. , ,
Cv C. Troxeu, manager or the Ne
braska Mollne Plow company. Is
celebrating his fifty-seventh birthday.
He was born at Hagerstown, Md and
has been In his present position since
Warren 8. Blackwell is 60 years old
today. He waa born in Durant Ia.,
and devotes his time to the real estate
business when not looking after his
own property.
D. H. Marshall or tne western iron
and Wire Works Is 39 years old. He
was born in Boston.
James Allan Is 45 years old today.
He is In the ice machine manufactur
ing business and he flint saw the light
of day in Dysart Scotland.
Sir wnrria Laurier, rormer premier
of Canada and now leader of the
liberal opposition, born at St. Lin,
Quebec, seventy-five years ago to
day. '
Dowager Queen Margnenta, motner
of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy,
born sixty-five years ago today.
Archduke Franz joser utto, neir
S resumptive to the Austrian throne,
orn at Richenau, four years ago today.
Kenesaw M. 1 .an a to, judge or tne
United Suites district court for the
northern district of Illinois, born at
Millvlllo, O., fifty years ago today.
Cranston Brenton, president of the
national board of moving picture cen
sors, born at Jamaica, N. T., forty-
two years ago today.
Be ma Lagerioi. tne most iamous
of Swedish women writers, born in the
province ot Vermland, fifty-eight
years ago today.
James M. curiey. rormer congress
man and present mayor of Boston.
born In Boston, forty-two years ago
today.
Rt Rev. Patrick J .Hayes, auxiliary
bishop of the Catholic dicceso of New
York, born In New York City, forty
nine years ago today.
ueorre Btov&u. nrat naseman or tne
Toledo American association base ball
team, born at Leeds, Mo., thirty-six
years ago today.
Timely Jottings and Reminders,
The newly elected Mexican congress
Is scheduled to meet at Queretero to
day for organization.
William J. Bryan Is scheduled to
speak in Chicago tonight at the open
ing of a campaign for a "dry Chicago
by 1918 and a dry nation by 1920."
The house committee on naval af
fairs is to begin hearings In Washing
ton today on the new naval appro
priation bill.
wir KoDert noraen, prime minister
of Canada, Is to be the guest of honor
and chief speaker at a dinner to be
given tonight by the Canadian club
of New York.
The so-called transcontinental rail
road rate case, Involving rales on a
vast traffic In commodities between
the Pacific roast and the east. Is to be
reopened today with a hearing before
the Interstate Commerce commission
In Chicago.
Hearings by the Newlands con
gressional railroad Investigation com
mittee are to begin In Washington to
day with representatives of the rail
roads, state commissions, commercial,
farming and banking associations, em
ployes, economists and publicists in
attendance.
Demiirrage (ianae Just a Trk-k.
Richfield, Neb., Nov. 17. To the
Editor of The Bee: Yesterday s Bee
contains an account of railroad man
agers having a meeting and discussing
the "car shortage" trouble, laying
great stress upon the abuse shippers
give by the holding of cars too long
From some personal experience 1
think thst if they would look Into
their own bad management they
might relieve things some.
Three times within the last year I
have shipped hay to the Peters Alfal
fa Milling company, Omaha, and in
each case It has taken from two weeks
to twenty-ove days to get returns; the
milling company claiming that it un
loaded aa soon as the car could te
gotten onto its track, and then re
mitted at once. While believing the
company to be honest yet it looked
very strange to me that when my car
we art out of town along in the evening,
and had less ot a haul than fourteen
miles, they ought to get tt within a
day or so. and I asked our agent to
trace the last car and find out when
it had been unloaded after I had
waited two weeks, and he found that
the same day I asked for the Informa
tion the car had been run onto the
milling company s tracks and unload
ed and released. Think of it, two
weeks for a car to be held by the
railroad comoanv to make a transpor
tation of twelve tons of hay over less
than a distance of fourteen miles, we
could deliver It by team in less than
half the time. One neighbor told me
It took a month for one car he shipped
from the switch at Rumsy, which Is
four miles hearer, but of course, went
on the same freight as mine did.
Imagine a receiver of freight holding
a car that long, well, I guess he
would pay some demurrage. Now the
railroads talk of raising tne demur
rage. It is simply a trick by which to
bleed the public a little more.
W. D. STAMBAUGH.
that In the twentieth and last para," 1
graph of the otrkial argument by thai
Drv. or church. Federation, as sent
out by the secretary of state, Is this
seolenoe: "Religion declares the liquor
traffic to be its greatest foe." If the
preachers had been as "wise as ser
pents," as they are commanded to be,
hey would have omitted that consid
eration from their argument; it is a
give-away. '
Amplifying somewhat on Mr. Shot
well's argument. 1 think I have now
clearly shown that the Anti-Saloon
league, church federation aggregation
are traitors to our government.
CHARLKS WOOSTER.
Hughes Fought a Good Fight.
Council Bluffs, Ia Nov. 18. To
the Editor of The Bee:, I want to en
dorse every word In this morning's
Bee. "He Fought a Good Fight" Yes.
Charles E. Hughes certainly did fight
a good light The Bee admits mis
takes had been made and always will
be made. This is but human, but, con
sidering the great popularity of Pres
ident Wilson (and may nis second aa
ministration bring better results than
his first did), it is onen to argument, aa
The Bee puts it If any aspirant could
have done as well as Air. nugnes.
(While the writer is in love with T.
R.) I dop't believe he could have been
elected. Nor do I believe Governor
Johnson could have done any better
as a running mate than Fairbanks, we
might have gained California and lost
Indiana. There were too many voters
that really did not know the great and
rood aualit es of thanes js. nugnes,
one of the "greatest brainiest men" In
America today. I also believe had
Mr. Hughes stayed at home during
his campaign (like McKlnley) he
would have pulled through. I hope
the time will eome in the United States
when a presidential candidate will
not have to stump the country.
J. G. BLESSING.
, As to Churches in Politics.
Silver Creek. Neb., Nov. 18. To the
Editor of The Bee: In his letter on re
ligion in politics. Franklin A. Shotwell
says some excellent tnings wnicn can.
not be too often repeated, but In one
or two things rather overshoots tne
mark.
It la scarcely true to say the con
stitutlon of the United States Was
built upon the foundation of religious
liberty: that was only one stone. An
other stone in that foundation is the
principle of three great co-ordinate
departments or government legisla
tive, executive and judicial but the
structure of the government still sur
vives, notwithstanding that since
March 4. 1913. the legislative depart
ment to all intents and purposes, has
been absorbed by the executive. I think
It will continue to survive lor lour
years more, when, 1 - trust we shall
be able to elect as president some
level-headed citizen, content to keep
within constitutional limitation, and,
congress of men wno will nave
patriotism enough and virility
enough to see that he does that
whether he wants to or not.
But when Mr. Shotwell objects to
raising religious Issues in politics and
says we "should treat as traitors to
our government tnose wno oesire tor
political reasons to array the mem
bers of one religion against those ot
another," he Is treading on absolute
ly solid ground. But if that be true, we
should also treat as traitors those who
desire for religious reasons to array
politically the "members' of all, or
some, religions against those of no re
ligion: for, under the constitution one
citizen has just precisely as good a
right to no religion as another citizen
has a right to any religion. In either
case, it is Injecting religion into pol
itics, a place where tt has no-right to
be, whether the purpose -be to benefit
politics or to benent religion.
The Protestant churches, anas tne
Anti-Raloon learue. alias the Dry Fed
eration, with possibly a few exceptions,
arrayed tnemssjves together in sup
port ot tne prohibition amenament
and against the non-church people
non-church in the sense that in their
opposition to the amendment, they,
quite unlike their opponets, did not
make religion an Issue, either openly
or covertly. Of course many church
people were against the amendment,
and many non-church people for it.
but such were the exception and not
the rule.
if anyone deny, let me ask, how It
happened that they worked together
at all as churches. (The term "Dry
Federation" Is a misnomer; honestly
the organization should have been
called the "Dry Church Federation").
I would further cite the fact that the
Anti-Saloon league have said of them
selves "that theirs was a church work;
that the saloon was in their way; that
they wanted a freer field If they had
to light for It." (I quote from mem
ory.) Finally, as quite conclusive on
this point, 1 call attention to the fact
Simplified Spelling.
Omaha. Nov. 15. To the Editor
of The Bee: I was glad to aee you
deal editorially with the problem of
phonetic spelling in the wake of Its
advocacy at the state teachers' meet-
'"it would be a fine thing if we could
keep our roots alive, like Greek,
Latin and German. But like the
French we have drifted into idioms
and colloquialisms and go to the dic
tionary to hunt up the original or
derivation of our words. The word
owe once meant to own or Just the
opposite and we go to the dictionary
to find why. Still there are compen
sations, for idioms make a language
far more flexible and interesting, even
If it lose in scientific exactness. As I
understand it the words that we are
to use as a starter are tho, thru
thruout, thoro, thorofare, thoroly,
catalog, decaiog, pedagog, program,
prolog and' to spell all words that
end with ed with only a t Thus we
have drest and klst but how about
must from mussed, or guest from
guessed, or the old word buss, maaui
ing to kiss or smack. Would a man
say he bust his wife?
But what Is more Important than
the etymology of words is, that w
should insist upon holding them to a
logical meaning; that is, the thought aa
represented by the word or terra should
help us make correct logical propo
sitions and Judgments that we may set
up. syllogisms for proof: and In this
way free ourselves from dreams and
delirium tremens and this Is what is'
meant by consciousness. Since thought
at once embodies Itself in language
and this, that is known as a conception
(and made up from perceptions) then
takes the form of a word or term aad
a term then is the expression of a con
ception, and here is where the scrap
between logicians begins.
The question is whether the name
of a thing is the thing Itself, that kept
the Middle Ages busy at the time of
the scholastics, under what Is known
as the metaphysical philosophy of
nominalism.
Realizing that thought Is real, or,
better, that some kinds of thought are
real and that it Is the only reality that
we have any knowledge of, so far as
our minds are concerned, I should like
to try and tell where modern science
Is today upon this awful bugabfio and
to say that it is not clear yet. but
still in debate.
Here it is: We- say that a word or
term stands for a conception as a
symbol if you like. That would seem
to be so If the conception stands for
an outward object, for then the word
stands for the conception and Indi
rectly the thing or object. But sup
pose the word answers only to an
abstract conception like a dream, is
It real then? The abstract ideas of
Plato were that such Ideas were as
real as things objective; that virtue
and piety andAJustice were as real as
an objective watermelon. To use the
expression of the recent prohibition
campaign, "Think it over," and the
worse of H is that while we know
what Is the truth in this matter
somehow, yet to this day no one has
explained it satisfactorily In words
and that is one of the reasons why it
is so easy to start a religions cult
nowadays, or medical, either, for that
matter. '
oeorge p. Wilkinson;
Plea to Forget Party Differences.
Crete, Neb.. Nov. 18. To the Editor
of The Bee: Now that the election is
over with and we are to enjoy four
more years of democratic administra
tion, a review of the campaign ckme.
and its effect on sentiment at home
and abroad, would seem to be la
order.
Any Intelligent person, with otM
grain of horse sense, knows that tha
high cost of Wilson" is not due to tha
present Underwood tariff, but is
caused by the increased demand for
our products abroad; and the shortage
In this year's crops. We wonder if
our revered friend at Silver Creek
wilt be able to stand the existing con
ditions for another four -years? .
But as to tne sentiment aoroaa trtsx
has been created by this recent elec
tion. Are the people of war -stricken
Europe too busy to think of America,
and the United States? The policy of
the present administration, with its
faults and virtues, has been highly
successful in Its foreign relations, and
we as a " "nation, are to be con
gratulated upon having the services
of Woodrow Wilson for another term.
The divided front and lack of con
fidence, that would have been shown
by a republican success, would hsjre
caused a mighty reaction at home and
abroad.
As united- Americana and one peo
ple, let us support the present ad
ministration, forget party differences
and petty dislike, and help to keep the
United States, a peaceful, benevolent
and honorable nation.
NEIL R. BAKER.
SMILING LINES.
. f
'Now that cone-rena, te to have woman
member, what do you auppoaa one will dd
when she seta on the floor?""
"Order a new rur for It and have It at
stained over fresh." BalUmoro American
They sat looking- at her ensacemsnt ring.
"Did your friends admire it?" he tendertr
Inquired.
They did more than that, aha rennas.
"Three of them recognized it." New York
Times.
'Son," BAld the old man, "I think reaM
better change the wlndowa.'
Huh 7"
"Dress 'am differently.
"Aw. whata' the use?"
"Time to show winter stork." deelarail
the old man firmly. "The windows are full
of dead files. Pine samples, but files are oat
of season In November." Baltimore American.
GROTTE BROTHERS CO. Ii.
1
General DsttMnn
Omaha, Nebraska
I
