THE BEE: OMAHA, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1917.
The Omaha Bee
DA1LT (MORNIN'O-EVENING-SUNDAT
FOUNDED BY EDWARD ROSEWATEK
VICTOR ROSEWATER, EDITOR
THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY, PROPRIETOR.
Entire it Omaha poUofflct as nemt-elm matter.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Br Curl. Br UilL
IHIIt end Similar mk ""?" ?!!!
IHU; without Sunday "
Cnolaf and tundar i ! ! 2S
Cnalol MlMul Suadar " " J
Hinda, Btt snlr " " J5J
Hall ul tuada Baa. tarae een ta eirreaae... ............ .JIMS
and eotlca at cd ant it hum at Inefiilertt Is SaUrer to (Hatha
Ilea, Circulation Daparuant.
REMITTANCE
ait t draft ejpreae t poaial order. Onle l-aert Mam lata ra
nvaM of amaU amunta. I'araoeal chaca. eieert OQ Onaha Hid
aaitara eicatnte, noi accepted.
OFFICES.
Omaha TM Baa atalldlns. Chlcaao Paplrt Oae BoUdl
South Omaha-UH N St. Haw Tara-11 Sine Aw.
r.mnrtl Sluffa-H . Mala la, St. laws- B'k. of Cjamjroe.
Lincoln LIUIe Bulldlm. WaHUiitoe-TtS Ilia St, W. W.
CORRESPONDENCE
ddreei flonaunleallona relating to aaa tad editorial Better a
Omaha Baa, Editorial Oapartaaaat '
FEBRUARY CIRCULATION
54,592 Daily Sunday, 50,466
vmaie otieolatlaa for the amine eubeerlbad and aeon 10 br DwW
Wllllapaa. ClroulaUo Haoarar.
Su
to team
laaTkat the efty aaanlat kaw Tho Boo awlloa
dreee caajafaa aa altaa aa raaaaataa
Keep the flag flying!
Will the home please rite ind specify "How
Dry I Am?"
A senatorial vote of 82 to 6 makes the decision
almost unanimous.
France and England alike agree that "a friend
in need is a friend indeed."
Two million young men for the army in two
yeart. " Tentionl Eyes front!" .
The borderland between loyalty and disloyalty
ia dangerous stamping ground. .Keep out of it!
The first Nebraska postmaster to be selected
by the merit test under the new order is overdue.
A leader competent to lead would save the
Nebraska legislature from an excess of unseemly
somersaults. ..
It is announced Austria is about to break with
the United States. Goodbye, Charley; watch out
for your crown.
i Valley county's man hunters took no chances.
In desperate case post mortemi are more effi
cient than trials. -
Unlets Uncle Sam leta Willie Hohencollern
play, too, Charlie Hapsburg is going to take his
marbles and go home.
To secure world-peace requires a fight Indus
trial peace we can maintain by exercise of pa
tience and common sense.
The speed of the big push on the west front
suggests that Americans must hurry if they would
unfurl Old Glory at the finish.
Colonel Bryan is misting chance to vindicate
his "talk-it-over-for-a-yetr" peace plan by trying
it out on the Woodmen Circle family troubles. ,
This tethering of President Wilson's address
through Germany by French and Brtiish aviators
is in the nature of forced circulation, is it not?
"The flowers tnat bloom in the spring, tra la"
have nothing on that ugly Welcome arch which
blossoms like a night-blooming cereus budding
out all the time.'-"'' ' '
Still, if we are to have an army, it cannot be
made up exclusively of colonels, majors and cap
tains. There must be a few non-commissioned
officers and high privates
Speculators in food products might profitably
meditate on the thought that prices may be
pushed to a point endangering the fabric of the
balloon. Continuous boosting makes for home
grown ruthlessness. . -
The thrilling light of freedom breaks over
Siberia. The far-flung gates of Russia's living
tomb and the liberation of the political victims
partly compensates for the ravages of wsr. The
balance of the account is on the way.
Anticipations of "big killings" in war supplies
in this country are doomed to disappointment
Federal law empowers the government to fix a
reasonable price whenever a holdup Is attempted.
Moreover, price holdups involve the disagreeable
risk of penitentiary punishment
Potash in the United States
Wall StTMt Jauraal
War Debate in Congress.
Passage of the war resolution waa very ac
curately forecasted by The Bee before congress
convened, our statement being that if the presi
dent would make a definite recommendation he
would get what he asked for.
Debate in the senate preceding the passage of
the resolution was merely pro forma and in many
regards perfunctory. Senators who support the
president echoed his words, and reiterated state
ment! many times made; those who found them
selves in the opposition faced merciless tongue
lashings on the floor because of their expressions,
and have the certainty of being embalmed in his
tory as have others who set up their privite judg
ment or personal interests against the public's
verdict. Only six of the original twelve "willful
men" are recorded as still opposing the president.
For two years the United States has been mov
ing steadily to the point it has now reached. So
apparent has this been to close observers at all
times, that only those who could trust in the pos
sibility of a miracle dared hope for a happy
outcome. Facts on which the action of the presi
dent and congress is predicated, save the later
declaration of Germany in withdrawing its prom
ise, were well known to the public for months,
and nothing of surprise or novelty is found in
their present recital. Our people long have un
derstood the gravity of the situation and must
now fully realize the extent of the sacrifice to be
required. Selfish ease and comfort will have to
be laid aside and Americans, dedicated to human
liberty, will contribute in whatever ways they
can to the great cause they are pledged by their
birthright to uphold.
The path we have chosen is difficult and dan
gerous, but it leads to world freedom. Destiny
directs us and the future can hold no more of
dread than our fathers faced in launching the re
public. Forward earnestly and courageously is
the word I
Announcement has been made that a large
potash plant has been completed in the Death
Valley region of California, capable of turning
out 1,000 tons of potash salts a month. This may
not attract as much attention as would news that
St. Quentin had been taken, but to Germany it
muat be prophetic of future losses aa serious at
defeats in the field.
Potash is an essential for chemical fertilizers.
It is also used in glass-making, in metallurgical
work, soap-making, and for explosives. The pho
tographic ana pharmaceutical industries, ana tn
tact the whole chemical industry, must have it,
but practically none has been produced in the
United States. ,
Germany has almost a natural monopoly on
this industry. In 1913 our imports amounted to
13.400.000. The war baa finally cut off imports.
so that in 1916 we received a negligible amount
The result is seen not alone in the enormous in--rease
of price, but in lower yields per acre of
those crops like cotton and potatoes that require
"hemical fertilizing. In fact of the three prin
ipal plant foods necessary to supply to the soil,
notash is the most imoortant for notatoes.
The United Statea government haa been awake
to the fact that in peace or war, we must hsve an
' imple supply of potssh, secured from sources not
lependent upon overseas communication. A
treat deal of prospecting and investigating has
been done. Sources of iudoIv are to be found in
the kelp beds of the Pacific coast the mud of
the Searlea lake in California, the alunit of the
mountain states of the west and from other
sources, such as a by-product from aome cements.
The difficulty, however, has been to make the
industry commercially successful
The announcement .just made would give
promise that the problem ia being solved for one
of the sources, and that In the near future we
will be independent of Germany for thia essential
of agriculture and industry. Potash, however, is
only one. There are many others, like the dye
industry, which are proving that Germany has
no patent or monopoly on brains trained in chem
ical research, under tne stimulus ot necessity,
this country it malrintr bit advances in all such
tnattera, each at wilt break more than one Ger
man monopoly alter tne war.
Working Up Silly War Scares.
Many absurd rumors and ridiculous stories are
gaining full currency in these days of excite
ment and mental pertrubation, and none seems
too wild or too silly to fail of a hearing and
repetition. An example of moment comes from
the south, telling of German attempts to incite
negroes to revolt. This carries on its face evi
dence of Ita unreliability, but it will live long in
the minds of the unthinking. The accompanying
threat to revive the Ku Klux Klan to subdue the
blacks is just as unworthy, but it wilt also be
held in mind by those who ought to know better.
It is characteristic of Americans, though, that a
crisis of any tort it attended with more or less
foolish talk and print. This is the froth on the
surface of the stream and bears no relation to
the deeper undercurrent Working up silly scares
will not materially affect the course of the union
in meeting the present grave issue.
Continuous Service and Labor.
Omaha carpenters have adopted a resolution
aaking that) stores be closed on Sunday, the
ostensible reason being that clerks in some stores
are deprived of their weekly day of rest under
the present practice. All of the big stores and
most of the little ones do close on Sunday, but
aome keep open at leaat for a few hours on that
day to accommodate patrons. The elements in
volved are numerous and some of them .are
weighty. Continuous service is one of the factora
of modern social life. This is gradually extend
ing from those agencies, such as the public utility
corporations, the newspapers, hotels, restaurants,
livery barns and the like to other lines of business.
One of the first affected is the neighborhood groc
ery and meat market Convenience as well aa
economy has led many families into the habit of
buying food aa it is consumed, frequently from
meat to meat. The shopkeeper realizes this and
preparea for it, while the householder haa the
benefit of the storage service of the store. If
the stores are all to be closed one day in the
week, arrangements will have to be made at home
for the preaervation of milk, meat fruits and
other perishable foods that are now bought only
as they are to be immediately used. Well-to-do
folks can easily take care of themselves but for
those in moderate circumstances, this is a feature
of modern social economy not to be ignored.
The one day off in seven for the clerks can and
should be arranged, but the seven-day service
ought to be maintained wherever its interruption
entail a hardahip on the public.
Potash in the United States,
Several eastern papers are awakening the cry
of no potash in the United States. Even the well
informed Wall Street journal indulgea in a
gloomy moment over the situation. It ia true
that in 1914 the United States depended on Ger
many for Its supply of potash, and that for a time
after the beginning of the war some apprehension
wss felt as to effects that might follow the'eutting
off of the alkali needed for fertilizer, for the mak
ing of powder and for other Industrial processes.
Great was the rejoicing when a plant was erected
at San Diego to extract potash from kelp, and
much has been msde of reported discoveries of
deposits of the salt in desert regions.
It remained for Nebraska to come to the res
cue with a source of supply that Is almost un
limited, knowledge of which has not yet pene
trated the rarified regions of New York and
Philadelphia. In a recent bulletin the Bureau
of Mines reported the total potash output of the
United States last year as being in round num
beri 10,000 tons, of which 4,500 came from Ne
braska and only 1,300 from the kelp source of
California. In other words, Nebraska provided
almost one-half of the country's total and four
times as much as came from California. Word
from the region where this great induatry has
been developed wsrrants the atatement that the
Nebraska output will be greatly Increased during
the present year and that it will be long before
Its full production Is reached. The moral is that
whenever the nation needa men or material it
may turn to Nebraska, confident its requisition
will be filled.
'YouHave50,000,000 Nephews, UncUSam"
What We Sing
Bn Frederic J. Haikin.
Washington, April 2. This is the song that is
heard in every cafe, cabaret, movie house and
vaudeville theater throughout the entire country.
In Seattle, the newsboy whistles it; in New Or
leans, the cotton hands hum it; at Palm Beach
aociety fox-trota it, and in New York the hurdy
gurdies have mercifully substituted it for the
"Sextet from Lucia." There are othera, too. "I'll
Be There I" is also being sung with great enthu
siasm, and last year's patriotic songs, such as
"America, I Love You and "We're With You,
Mr. Wilson I" are being revived with tremendous
fervor. . .
The most popular thing in the United States
today is the patriotic song, which is a good indica
tion of the American frame of mind. For what the
public sings the public thinks to a great extent
so that the popular song has always been the best
barometer of public sentiment. You cannot force
a song upon the people which does not contain a
sympathetic appeal, and the most successful lyric
is the one that gives the public the greatest op
portunity for self-expression. Thus, a couple of
years ago, everybody was singing, "I didn't raise
my boy to be a soldier," because there was a
strong popular sentiment against war in this coun
try. Today. American parents, even in the west
and middle west, have changed their minds about
,the upbringing of their sons, and, instead, are
singing, "We don't want a war, that's true, but
we'll fight and die for you, Uncle Sam I"
So far as war and patriotism go, it is always
comparatively easy to determine what the public
wants, but with other songs it is largely a matter
of guesswork. A song may "take," and it may not,
but in either event it is hard to say just what
particular feature decided its success or failure.
The most popular song ever written, perhaps,
was "My Old Kentucky Home" a purely de
acriptive lyric with a pleasing melody and a
somewhat monotonous chorus.
It is estimated by an old music dealer in this
country that the combined sale of "My Old Ken
tucky Home" and "The Old Folks at Home" (by
the same author) has totaled 50,000,000 copies,
and the sale is still going on. These songs were
written by Stephen Foster, who also wrote about
fifty other songs, which on a royalty basis
of 5 cents per copy made the Foster family
wealthy. Alter the prescribed forty-two years
the copyright expired, but one musical authority
has figured out that if this had not happened,
Mr. Foster and his heirs would have made
$2,500,000 on his two most popular masterpieces.
There is, as might be expected, a great deal
of profit in song writing, but song writing is not
as easy as it looks. If you stop to think, you
will discover that the number of really big song
hits are comparatively few and their careers
brief. It usually happens that one success is fol
lowed bv a dozen other songs exactly like it;
the people tire of them, and one more theme must
be pigeon-holed for years to come. Then, the
public is so very fickle. One moment a waltz tune
is in high favor and the next moment it is a fox
trot; one week a Hawaiian song brings storms of
applause and the next week it will be forgotten
while the people whistle a new Irish tune.
Much discussion has been waged among ama
teur song writers over which was the most im
portant feature of song writing the words or the
music. But the publishers will teltyou that more
important than either ot these is tne idea lor
the song and a good title.
The song called "Gee. I Wish I Had a Girll"
was created out of chance remark heard by Gus
Kahn and Grace LeBoy, who saw its possibilities
as the basis of a popular song. It was on the occa
sion of a public wedding held by the management
of an amusement park in an eastern city. The
event had been widely advertised and a large
crowd gathered to witness it. At the last moment
however, the bridal couple tailed to appear, ana
in desoeration the management offered $500, in
addition to the housekeeping outfit offered the
missing couple, to any couple who would agree to
substitute. No one volunteered, but one freckle
faced youth near the edge of the platform ex
claimed with genuine regret, "Gee, I wish I had
a girl."
If the growth of the popular song reflects the
growth of the public appreciation, we have good
reason to congratulate ourselves upon our prog
ress during the last fifteen years. Ragtime in
this country is only about as old as the apanish
American war. At the beginning, while the mel
odies were good, the lyrics were extremely crude.
If they indicate the public taste of that day, we
must all have been a race of melancholy senti
mentalists, with no particular appreciation of good
fcngiish. riere is a good sample:
1 broke her heart when 1 bade her go;
She was a martyr, true to me I know.
I met her with another;
In vain was her reply
That the atranger was her brother;
Yet it parted Grace and I."
This song was accompanied by a dolorous
refrain, and was sung with great gusto by all
classes of people. It waa one of the most dra
matic compositions of the period. Today, it fails
to nave anything but a humorous appeal to the
public which sings "I can dance with everybody
but my wife."
Here's a shining example of municipal econ
omy that should not go unheralded: Anticipating
the merger with Omaha the little town of Flo
rence hat let itt village government hold over
until a way can be found for them to let go, thus
saving election expenses, It is up to Omaha to
take Florence in without unnecessary delay.
' Colonel Roosevelt standa ready to make good
his warlike preachmenta of the last year. Action
awaits word from Washington, If permission is
gives the colonel will organize and lead a division
to the fighting front and "do hit bit" to avenge
the spoliation of Belgium and France.
People and Events
Cheboygan, Mich., and Monroe, Wir., voted
strong against war. A submarine menace on the
ballots.
A division of the New York supreme court
rules that tips constitute a part of a taxi driver's
income and may be included in an award for
compensation for loss of life. A judgment which
covered the point was affirmed.
Some energetic Boston women flout the idea
of limiting war activities to "knitting sox for sol
diers" and insist on sharing the perils of war.
One woman lawyer proposes to raise a troop of
Amazonian cavalry for "active service at the
front."
Spurred by a sympathetic heart and an eye
to business, a New York movie man offers
Nicholas Romanoff a job as film star at $5,000 a
week. With some experience in the line possibly
Nick might break into the Mary Pickford or
Charely Chaplin class. Moreover he may need
the money.
Kansas haa issued 131,802 auto tags so far this
year, and expects to run the number up to 150,
000 before the finish. Nebraska's total is well
over 100,000 and still growing. On the basis of
present prospects Nebraska looks good for one
car to every eleven people and Kansas one for
every twelve.
Just to show kids in neighborhood pastures
how easily an old youngster can do his turn,
Thomas Edwards of Viola, Wis., danced a jig
on the floor of a clothing store in honor of his
101st birthday while half the village looked on
and cheered. What'l the answer. Tommy: gave
it: "Never worry about anything."
"Men for war, women for the vacant jobs."
That's the slogan of several New York corpor
ations. One concern reports increasing its pro-
Jiortion of women to men from 16 to 50 per cent
n two years. Othera are moving in the same di
rection. It is aaid to be a patriotic move, hut in
one published instance the women receive less
wages than the men.
Just before the advent of Montana's political
belle in Washington, general courtesy hailed her
aa "Congresswoman Rankin." The designation
appeared too format. It lacked the intimate
touch. Having been tworn into active service,
admirers have switched to "Congressmiss Ran
kin." The amended title is clearly distinctive, at
tractive and auggests possibilities for romance.
But suppose events necessitate a change to. "Con
grassmrs. Rankin?" Forget it Nevertheless the
first title best fills the bill regardless of what
happens
Proverb for the Day.
A bad oath la better broken than
kept.
One Year Ago Today in the War.
German federal council set all
clocks ahead one hour, gaining one
hour of daylight
French ministry of marine reported
sinking of German submarine and cap
ture of crew.
German chancellor declared kaiser
ready for peace and blamed allies
for continuing the war.
In Omaha Thirty Yean Ago.
Charles F. Beindorlf obtained a ver
dict against Katz A Callahan, con
tractors, of 1 160 damages for personal
Injuries sustained by tailing through
a hole in the street unprotected by the
defendants.
The firemen'! dog "Keno," who for
twelve years has run to every fire in
the city, waa run over and killed by
No. 3's hose cart.
Judge George W. Doane and wife
have returned from Cuba, where they
have been spending several weeks
very pleasantly.
Work was commenced on laying the
double track for the street car com
pany on Park avenue.
Judge Stenberg drew a Jury for the
trial of the case against members of
the Salvation army, charged with dis
turbing the peace, consisting of the
following members: Martin Dunham,
John Caulfleld, N. J. Edholm, C. S.
Raymond, E. T. Duke and W. T.
Simon.
Mr. and Mrs. Moritz Meyer gave a
family dinner to their numerous rela
tives in this city. Those present being
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Meyer, Mr. and
Mrs. Max Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. H.
Rehfeld, Mrs. Fisher and Mr. and Mrs.
Jaffa.
Miss Mabel Fonda has left for
Sioux City, where she will Join Marion
Lowell and, under her teaching, will
take a course in Delsarte. -
This Day tn History.
1776- Continental congress ordered
the ports opened to all nations.
1789 Congress counted the votes
electing Washington as president and
John Adams as vice president
1809 England and Austria entered
Into an alliance against France.
1862 First day of the battle of
Pittsburg Landing, or Shlloh.
1868 First post of the Grand
Army of the Republic mustered in at
Decatur, 111.
1892 President Woodruff of the
Mormon church laid the capstone for
the Tabernacle In Salt Lake City.
1898 Congress adopted a joint
resolution recognizing Cuba as a belli
gerent power.
1910 North Pole discovered by
Robert E. Peary.
1916 Congressional committee re
ported the fortifications bill, authoriz
ing expenditures of 134,299,060.
The Day We Celebrate.
Captain Andrew T. Long, command
ing the battleship Connecticut born
tn North Carolina, fifty-one years ago
today.
Edward T. Jeffery, who recently
resigned the chairmanship ot the
board of the Denver and Rio Orande
railroad, born in Liverpool, England,
seventy-four years ago today.
Charles L. Beach, president of Con
necticut Agricultural college, born at
Whitewater, Wis., fifty-one years ago
today.
Rt Rev. Nicholas Mats, Cathollo
bishop of Denver, born In Alsace-Lorraine,
sixty-seven years ago today.
Rt Rev. Joseph M. Francis, Epis
copal bishop of Indianapolis, born at
Eatlesmere, Pa., fifty-five years ago
today.
William H. Schofleld, Harvard uni
versity professor and president of
American - Scandinavian foundation,
born at Brockvllle, Ont, forty-seven
years ago today.
Timely Jottings and Reminders.
Birthday greetings to Edward T.
Jeffery, noted railway executive and
financier, who entered upon his seventy-fifth
year today.
Observance of Good Friday, mark
ing the end of the penitential season
which precedes the great Christian
festival and holiday of Easter.
At sunset tonight Jews in all parts
of the world will begin the celebration
of the Passover, commemorating the
deliverance of the children ot Israel
from Egyptian bondage.
In a proclamation which urges
Kansans to adopt a program ot pa
triotism, Governor Capper has desig
nated today for the observance ot
"Loyalty day" throughout Kansas.
Colorado farm and commercial
organizations are to begin a two-day
eonference In Denver today to discuss
the food situation and remedies for
the high cost of living.
Nine hours shall be the limit for
a day's work for women employed in
factories, offices and stores in Kansas,
according to a ruling of the Kansas
Welfare commissioners which comes
Into effect today.
Stozyette of the Day.
Sir Robert Ball had delivered a
lecture on "Sun Spots and Solar Chem
istry," says the Chicago News. A
young lady who met htm expressed
her regret at having missed the lec
ture. "Well," he said, "I don't know as
you'd have been particularly inter
ested. It waa all about sun spots."
"Why," she replied, "It would have
Interested me exceedingly. I have
been a martyr to freckles all my life."
Boston Transcript
A BOY'S TRIBUTE.
Bditar A. Oueat tn Detroit Free Freae.
Prattltat arlrl I've over aaea
la Ma;
liOvollar than mny quaan
la Ha.
Olrta with curia to walkins by,
Painty, graceful, bold and any,
But tha ona that takaa my ayo
Is Ma.
. Bvary strl mmda into on
la Ma,
twaatoat slrl to look upon
Ia Ma.
taan 'am ahort and aaan 'am tall,T
But tho flneat ono of all t
la Me.
Beat ot at) the tlrla on earth, v
la Ma:
One that all the net Is worth
Ia Ma.
some have beauty, aome hare trace,
aome look nice tn eilk and laoe.
But the one that takee flret place
la Ma.
tweeteat alnter la the land
Ia Ma.
the that haa the tofeet hand
Ia Ma.
Tendareat. tentleat nuree la aha,
.Full of fun aa ahe can be,
Aa the only girl for me
Ia Ma.
Bet if there' an antel here
It'a Me.
If Qod haa a sweetheart tear.
It's Ma.
Take the sirla that artlala draw
An' all the atria I ever aaw. .
The only on wltaoat a flaw .
Ja Ma.
Competition in Patriotism.
.... XT. Anvil t T tViA
Ldll.-OJ, t U., AH" -
Editor of The Bee: We read today in
your paper mat uroaen pun nc
most patriotic town In the United
, . a.B..i i.h than i nnA nnnii.
DWin, aa iiaviB ....... -1 - - - r-r
latlon and sending eight recruits.
Callaway nas - aoout ouu iiupuaaaiu
and sent twenty-three recruits and
hundreds were at the train to see them
off. STELLA DRUM.
ULLJ1S IturBKi.
Callaway, Neb., April J. To the
Editor of The Bee: I wish to correct
you on what was said about Broken
Bow being the most patriotic town in
the state, for indeed it isn't. Calla
way had from twenty-three to twenty
five young men leave last week. For
proof of this please write Jim Nay
lor of Loup Valley Queen, as the re
cruiting station is there. Callaway is
a small town of about 1,000 people.
Broken Bow Is more than twice aa
large and within twenty-five miles of
Callaway. Please correct but don't
mention my name, but, Just tne same,
I'm a very patriotic girl and can't
stand any such a story as that when
there's one to beat it. Write and
tell me where I can send my name to
be a Red Cross nurse. L. M.
Always for Taxing Land Values.
Omaha. April 5. To the Editor of
The Bee: In President Wilson's
splendid address to congress upon the
war he makes a very wise sugges
tion with respect to the revenue for
it. He hopes congress will provide
for the cost by taxation rather than
resort to the, old scheme ot issuing
bonds.
To borrow would be equivalent to
lncreaslna our volume of money. To
do this would do more than add an
interest bearing obligation upon our
people. As the volume of money
were In effect increased, It would tend
to an increase in the price of com
modities, which are already high. As
it would be an artificial and tempo
rary increase, it would not result in
the stimulation of enterprise.
At the same time, an unwise appli
cation ot the taxing principle could
effect the same thing, with none of
the benefits that might possibly arise
from an inflation of the money vol
ume. If congress should lay the bur
dens of taxation upon commodities,
its Immediate effect would be to cut
down the production of wealth and
by that process the tax would be
added to the cost of production. By
checking the production of goods it
would still further limit the field of
employment and that would tend to
cut down wages. In turn this would
mean a reduction in the ranks ot pos
sible consumers, and business as a
whole would suffer.
Congress can avert this difficult, if
It has sufficient statesmanship to do
It. It can Increase the tax upon large
Incomes and provide for a war tax
upon Inheritances. But better than
either of these proposals, it can take
into consideration the fact that in the
United States there are about ninety
billions of land values which do not
pay one cent In taxation to the gen
eral government Let congress tax
this source ot revenue, and It would
not increase prices of goods; it would
encourage enterprise, Increase demand
for labor and thereby wages, result
ing in general prosperity.
L. J. QUINBY.
Some Pertinent Remarks.
South Side, Omaha, April 4. To the
Editor of The Bee: After giving my
many approving friends and a few dis
approving enemies a rest of a few
weeks I am back again and will again
say some things that will meet with
approval by aome and by disapproval
by others.
In the first place I will say that if
we cannot protect ourselves from our
own people who have manipulated the
prices of necessaries of life this last
winter, we had better hang our heads
in shame.
If men whom we elect to legisla
tures and to congress cannot find some
means to meet the situation when men
deliberately buy up potatoes by the
millions of bushels and hold them
while millions of people have to skimp
along to get even enough to eat; if
they cannot find some way of meeting
the situation when eggs are bought up
and stored away by the millions of
dozens to force prices up; If they can
not meet the situation when all neces
saries of life are manipulated by rob
bers who are the cause of the high
prices we have to pay; if they cannot
meed: the situation when men buy up
potatoes in the fall and let them re
main In the ground to freeze and rot;
if they cannot meet the situation
when men buy up apples in tha tall
and let them stay sn the trees to
spoil; if they cannot meet the situa
tion when meats by the hundreds of
millions of pounds are stored away
for yeart to as to force prices ud from
year to year, then it is time the gen
eral puouo were taxing a nand, and
If there Is no other way of meeting
the situation caused by the highway
robbers, to take some good shotguns
and go gunning for such people. It
an example was made ot some of them
with good sized bullets it might help
some.
If no other means can be found, the
government should take charge ot
affairs and see if there Is not some
way of relief from the robbery. We
are preparing to protect ourselves
from the ruthless and Inhuman war
fare forced upon us by the tyrannical
government of Germany. We should
at the same time prepare to protect
ourselves from the pirates within our
midst
If we cannot protect ourselves from i
pirates in our midst, then Indeed our '
boasted free American institutions are
a failure.
A way out has always been found
In the past, and there is no reason
why the present unwarranted and un
called for situation cannot be met and
the ruthless robbers of the general
public dealt with as they deserve. If
there is going to be war with Ger
many, then the general government
should step in and take charge of ail
food supplies to see that the manipu
lators do not rob us still worse than
In the last few months.
If all of us who have any chance
to use some ground to raise articles of
food would take advantage of tha
chance, then it would help in meeting
the situation caused by the food ma
nipulators. It would pay much better
than all the sports and weekly outings
that could be gotten up. As I said
before, the members of an organiza
tion of youths would do themselves
and their own folks lots more good
by raising gardens this year than they
will do by wasting time In scouting
and hikes and camps. And you in
The Daily Bee approved of that posi
tion in one of your recent editorials.
I stand by my guns on that proposi
tion even though some of the ones
Interested in the youthful organiza
tion took it upon themselves to send
me a number of anonymous letters.
If they are the kind of people to have
the say about affairs, then we are In- (am
deed in hard linen. As I said before,
if anybody does not like what I write
they do not have to read It.
These are solemn days in this re
public and it will not hurt us to let
drop some of the sports and fun until
the present situation is at an end.
We should all work to produce what
we can this year for at best it is go
ing to be an expensive year for all ol
us. Let sports go to the winds and
let us all, old and young, work to bet.
ter the present situation. When soma
are idle, when there Is so much that
can be done, It affects all of us and
it is to the interest of all to' eee thai
everyone else does their part in meet
ing the high cost of living proposition.
FRANK A. AGNEW.
What Did Nebraska Vote For?
Superior, Neb., April 4. To the Edi
tor of The Bee: Kindly permit me
space to answer C. F., whoever he
may be. When I write I sign my
name in full. C. F. says he is a
Nebraska voter; so am I, and as far
as kaiserism and czarism is concerned
It was not the senate of our state legis
lature but the house with Its dry
bone bill that misrepresents the ma
jority voters of Nebraska. That over
whelming majority C. F. writes about
I think I can speak for as many other
voters of this state as he can, and it ia
my opinion that if it had been a ques
tion last fall of voting for such a law
as the house tried to put over it would
have been overwhelmingly defeated,
with a capital O.
We voted to put the saloons and the
breweries out of business, but not to
sign away our personal rights or our
home liberties by laying ourselves
liable to search of our homes without
even a warrant by any appointed
breath smeller who might see fit to
do so and wanted to come into our
home. That in my opinion, be kais
erism and czarism and so I say It waa
the house and hot the senate which
has tried to misrepresent the vote of
last fall; and sign my name to it.
P. O. LEWIS.
SMILING LINES.
" " ". anew i j ing m. Illtail in 109
ven In ot Ufa Ilka old Orumley."
ua tjvsjmri; ui mo ( B lUTiner aiOtlf
than that: I should mttv mi-.v In K
morning." Louisville Courlor-JouniaJ,
XAR MR. - -
toVCHTWm IT .ML BREAK
NW W1FC3 HEMQT IF l SHOULD
2IHK BLWITt
1Y VilLL BRSMc foUR POCKET
Nc,IF6HEWM)UrVil)
CooKri
Mrs. Morton Why are yon crying to bit
terly, Mrs. Miller?
Mr. Miller I always ween when I haa.
music. My late husband uaed to blow the
whistle at th factory. Puck.
Our Special Baths for
Rheumatism
Include the latest Improved equip
ment obtainable and the most
complete Electric Massage in thit
section of the country,
TRY THEM
Tha famous Sulpho-Cblorlne
Mineral Water is delivered in
fivegallon iugs, at $1.66
60c refunded when jug ti returned.
BROWN PARK
MINERAL SPRINGS
28 th ud O Sta, South Side.
Pa ona South S79,
DR. JOHN A. NIEMANN
Oeieepathie Physldaa t Char fa.
AUTO FINISHES
Make Your Car Sparkle
Hake it harmonize with the newness of
Spring br using KwicKworK Auto Finishes.
Easy to apply quick to dry. Renew your
car in an hour drive it tomorrow. Nine
hades to choose from.
Ask Your Dealer
Booklet "Your Car Ita Regeneration" sent
on request. Address our nearest office.
SAWrMWClfBO SASH fjtRMN IRUtSCU WCXSOUftNl
ALTERNATION Al VARNISH CO. UtalsW TORONTO
IMeUV M VM ePQaXtj H FtltT tV tMstktlB Mfsertl taWaalt't' tMsMMt
Pwmwmm fswtie imtmnmtiimmt tiWiR, 191$