41
THE BEE: OMAHA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1918.
The' Omaha Bee
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DECEMBER CIRCULATION
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Get ready for the thrift stamp drive.
Kaiser Wilhelm tell the Poles he is the great
est living champion of human rights. If anyone
doubts this, let him ask a Belgian.
' --
Trotzky believes his peace plans will help the
Allies of Russia by removing his country as a
possible liability. He may be right.
German editors do not like Lloyd George's
epeech, so what will they say to President Wil
ton's few remarks on the same topic?
Pro-German activities in Argentine have
rought war between that country and Brazil
very near. This is right into the kaiser's hand.
. . J- . ,
New rules for unloading freight cars ought
to help some, but will trouble a lot of shippers
who have persisted in using box cars as storehouses.
r
Our oil wells produced a record number of
barrels for tha last year, and consumption took
21,000,000 barrels rnore than came out of the
wells. This may explain to you why the price
remains high.
, U-boat attacks pn hospital ships have been re
newed, despite pledges given by Germany that
this form of frightfulness would cease. It is
hard for the Hun to resist when he has a chance
to hit something that is helpless.
Delegates to the British labor convention in
sist on the abolition of the House of Lqrds as
part of the new political program, thus laying
up material for considerable future campaigning.
"End or mend the lords" is an old cry in England.
- A Boston sugar refiner says if it had not been
for Hoover's action sugar would have soared to
50 cents per pound, yet Senator Reed insists the
food administrator is in league with the sugar
trust. It would bt unpatriotic to print what most
folks say of Reed.
A coal pool, tinker which economy in use of
luel is to be enforced, will solve the shortage
problem in one of its phases, but it does not meet
the real question. More efficient use of coal is
the better way to conserve the supply. Every
smoking chimney jsan evidence of waste to that
extent, and until these are cured we are open
to the charge of unwarranted extravagance.
New Danger for the Soldier Boy.
Arrest at the instance of an army officer of a
young woman who had committed bigamy in
order to secure the allowance granted to soldiers'
dependents gives color to the warning issued
against this new type of "vampire." ,Young sol
diers are picked out by these women and de
liberately led into marriage, the one purpose be
ing to secure money from the government The
gamo is not a new one, nor does it exhibit much
modification in its details. It is reported from
some of the southern army camps that as many
as three and four soldiers have been wedded to
the same woman. Omaha has developed but the
one case so far as is reported, but it is sufficient
to mark the danger and put the boys on guard.
The young men who are away from home for the
first time, wearing their country's uniform,
should be warned that marriage is not merely
an enlistment for the war, and therefore to be
approached very seriously. Romance is part of
a soldier's life, but it may have consequences
that will embarrass h im in after years. The
"vampire" is one of his chiefest dangers, and one
against whom it is difficult to guard. How to
protect the young men in the army is a puzzle
for the authorities as yet, but a way .will be found
to minimize the danger now that its existence
is realized.
"Over the Top fdr His Country."
"My son went over the to"p for his country,"-
said an Omaha father when he got the news that
his boy had died in an army camp. Truly he
spoke, too, for that boy died for his country just
as manfully as if he had fallen in a desperate
dash across "no man's land," or had kept his
rendezvous with death on a "windswept hill."
He is but one of the many strong and lusty lads
who have gone out from good homes, called by
duty to answer to their God for the safety of
humanity. Into some of these homes comes the
message that brings sorrow for a son taken in
the glow of his youth, but with that sorrow comes
the consolation that the boy has given the full
measure of devotion to the cause of liberty. For
the parents all hearts yearn with sympathy, un
selfish and sincere, realizing fully the extent of
the sacrifice made and silently admitting the ob
ligation of the living to the dead who have died
for the great cause of all. "Over the top for his
country" is an epitaph any man may envy and
one that only a sojdier can deserve!
Trade After the War,
' President Wilson's program for peace con
tains a 'definite demand for the "removal of all
economic barriers and establishment of equality
of trade conditions among nations consenting to
peace and associating themselves for its main
tenance." The literal interpretation of this means
that free trade is to be established after the war.
This is not in line with other declarations of the
program, which contemplate the full establish
ment of "self-definition" for all nations.
If the president means that the" United States
will not engage In the economic warfare pro
posed by the Paris conference between the En
tente Allies before we entered the war, he will
have support. But if he means that all the na
tions included in the peace agreement are to
abandon the principle of protection for home in
dustry through tariffs, he will undoubtedly meet
with great opposition. Germany, France, Russia
and Canada, as well as the United States, were
committed to the protective tariff before the war.
President Wilson himself confessed that certain
features of the Underwood bill, aiming at free
trade, were mistaken in purpose and -recom-"
mended to congress that they be repealed.
Readjustment of commerce after the war will
certainly be on the basis of competition among the
nations, and will involve an effort on part of each
to retain and hold its own home market. To the
manufacturers of the United States this is a vital
point, for our home market is and haSbeen for
many years the most attractive in the world.
It was developed under the republican 'policy of
protection, and will be maintained under that
policy. That Americans will enter more largely
than ever the field of world commerce is as
sured, but prestige in thjs direction should not
be gained at the cost of sacrifice of domestic
institutions.
Competition and rivalry between nations in
commerce will be more keen than ever after the
-war, and business will be on new lines in many
regards, but this does not justify abandonment
of any advantage now held in the purely com
mercial field. Unrestricted use of the ocean
highways and equal opportunity for carrying on
trade everywhere should not be interpreted to
include opening our doors wide to every for
eign manufacturer to the detriment of our own
people. ,
Canada's Treatment of Returned Soldiers
Wounded Are Only a Fraction of Those Who
Leave the Front
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
Washington, Jan. 7. Out of 13,826 sol
diers that have returned to Canada from her
overseas forces, only 3,514 are classified as
wounded in a report of the Canadian Mili
tary Hospitals commission. The report is
especially interesting to Americans because
Canada's war problem is in many ways sim
ilar to our own. '
That those actually wounded should be
only a fourth of those who return from the
front is certainly- an eye-opener to the lay
man. "Over-age" is the cause which brought
home another 1,286, and this includes not
only men over 45, bat all those rendered un
fit for service by reason of their age. Those
returned because they were under age num
bered 580, tuberculosis rendered 670 unfit for
service and 180 were insane. But by far the
largest group of those returned are the 7,066
labelled "other causes." Some light is shed
on this classification by an analysis of a
group of 816 men who were returned for
other reasons than medical unfitness. "Stop
page of working pay," is given as the reason
why nearly half of them were sent home.
Some got commissions in Canada; Some
were sent home to complete their studies;
and some were classified as undesirables. The
proportion of the sick and wounded may be
gauged from the fact that 9,124 of those 13,
826 were sent to hospitals or convalescent
homes.
The Hospitals commission has also made
.an effort to tabulate in percentage form
the seriousness of injuries received in war.
Thus of the total returned, 7,418 or about
half arc either uninjured or only 25 per cent
disabled. Those disabled from 26 to 50 per
cent are 2,923; those disabled from 51 to 75
per cent are 927; while those disabled from
75 to 100 per cent are 1,975. This is getting
the statistics of war down pretty fine. By
taking the total number of men sent over
seas by Canada for a basis, a man going to
war might calculate by the law of probabili
ties exactly what the chances are that he
will be partially or completely disabled.
An interesting light on the war spirit in
Canada is shed by a table which classifies
the returned soldiers according to the land
of their birth. This shows that only 5,233
of the 13.826 soldiers were native Canadians;
while 7,418 of them were born in the Prit
ish Isles. It is well known that the native
French-Canadian is not going to war if hel
can neip u; dui mis taoic aiso 111u51rar.es me
fact that the native of English blood has not
hurried to enlist. It is the transplanted
Englishman who has made up more- than
halt of Canada's army.
way the wounded are . cared for.- Colleges
and charitable institutions have been "donated
or appropriated for use as ehospitals and con
valescent homes; and the best European
practice has been-followed in the matter of
vocational education for wounded soldiers.
The modern idea that the convalescent time
should be made an eduaational opportunity,
and that a hospital should be as much a school
as a medical institution, has been carried out
as well as means would permit. In the
Guelph Military Convalescent hospital at
Guelrjh. Ont.. the Canadian srovernment has
an almost ideal plant for the rehabilitation of
wounded and sick soldiers in the modern
manner. This establishment was formerly
a reformatory. It has a farm of 830 acres
which is capable of great development, and
has also a woollen mill, machine shop, broom
shoo, tailor shoo, woodwork shop, creamery,
lime kiln, and equipment for many other in
dustries. The. Ontario Agricultural college
adjoins this hospital, and its teaching staff
will help in the work of re-educating the
men. An institution such as this may take
a man who is wounded and who has never
been anything ut a day laborer, and send
him out not only well, but trained to work at
a trade, or a profession whatever he has
the' brains to learn. Our own government
is now building and commandeering similar
institutions for the care of wounded Amen
cans.
1 Kenyon'i Call to the Country.
Senator Kenyon's warning to his countrymen
againsf the dangers of a patched-up peace should
be given closest heed. It is the solemn and de
liberate statement of a man of sound judgment,
who has recently made personal inquiry or, the
spot as to the needs of the Entente Allies wjth
especial reference as to what is required of this
country. His conclusion that German peace of
fers and stories of exhaustion are but camouflage
to hide the real situation is supported by testi
mony of others. Our people must not be misled
by these reports, nor lulled into inaction or delay
by hope that an early peace is probable. More
over, we must work harder than ever, give more,
and do more if we are to win in this war"It
is not enough to dp our bit," says Senator Ken
yon, "We must do our best. There is too much
grandstanding and limelighting; too much pa
triotic posing and not enough sacrifice." Until
we hive put forth our utmost effort we have not
fairly met the situation. It id good for our people
to keep this advice in mind, in connection with
the statement of war aims and . tentative pro
posals" for peace. The Germans arc losing, but
they are not beaten yet, and have shown no sign
of willingness to accept any form of peace that
will be acceptable to the United States and its
Allies. Therefore there must be no slacking
in resolution, no checking of preparation, for we
have a hard fight ahead if we are to win by arms
the peace the world wants.
Cutting down the traffic to fit the cars is the
biggest job the new railroad dictator has to face.
It is becoming evident to everybody that our
transportation system was not equal to the demand.
The Nebraska potash lakes have also provided
.considerable employment for the lawyers. It is
a mighty poor industry that does not afford
some pretext for a lawsuit.
The report strongly reflects the gener
osity with which Canada has treated her sol
diers. No soldier in the world has been so
well paid, so abundantly supplied with to
bacco and other luxuries, so enthusiastically
sent upon his way and received home again,
as, the Canadian volunteer. The recruits
have been relatively few, and "the country
.young, wealthy, and prospering as a result of
the war. '
This generous spirit is shown also in the
This work of re-educating the wounded
has been an undoubted success in Canada.
An encouraging aspect of thework is the
way in which the men invariably keep up
their earning capacity after undergoing such
training. One young man who has a severe
scalp wound was a farmer, teamster and
general laborer earning wages averaging $60
a month. He has now a commencing salary
of $70 and is engaged at a much more agree
able occupation. Another was a lumberman
and accustomed to earn $3.50 a day, but on
returning to the woods he took charge of an
engine, at $4 a day. Another man who
formerly made $35 now gets $65. All of these
men were Very badly wounded.
Individual cases full of interest are re
counted by the Alberta commission. Thus
Private Henry Gerrish, who was a teamster
when he enlisted, lost his entire left arm.
He studied hard in the convalescent hospital,
passed the civil service examination, and got
an appointment as a postmaster at $125 a
month. In addition to this triumph, he
persuaded one of the nurses in the convales
cent hospital to become his wife.
A report from Winnipeg shows how a
number of men bettered their position in life
as the result of vocational training in hos
pitals, thus turning misfortune into progress.
A metal polisher who made $60 a month
took a course in commercial work, and is now
earning $87.50 a month as a bookkeeper. A
private who. was a blacksmith's assistant and
made very little, tok a course in oxy
acetylene welding, and now makes $90 a
month. A general laborer has become a
wood carver and is paid $70 a month by the
Alaska bedding company.
United States Crop Values a Record
Notable Showing of Production in New and Old World
New York Journal of Commerce Annual Review.
The agricultural experience of the coun
try for the year just closed is without pre
cedent. Some phenomenal records have been
madd" in production, such as in corn and in
oats, and, while many of the minor crops
have exceeded those of last year 'and the
preceding five-year average, there have, been
some disappointments, particularly in re
gard to wheat and cotton. In money value
the result has been stupendous, being esti
mated at $21,00,000,000.
' In other words, the farmers have taken
out of the ground enough wealth to pay the
year's war budget; but such a comparison
is only of casual interest, for anything less
in the way of production would have been
serious in its relation to the war. Financial
ideas have to be revised with a nation that
has increased, its expenditures in the ratio
of 20 to 4. All the resources and energy of
the nation are being mobilized to win the
war and values may be judged only in such
a relationship. Hence there is cause for
gratification in the increased production of
various items, but there is also cause for
grave concern in the items that fell short
of expectations, the principal one being
wheat. This crop showed some increase
but fell far short of the heavy production of
the preceding years and of the needs of this
country and our Allies.
Cotton production was estimated at 10,'
949,000 equivalent 500-pound bales, a reduc
tion of more than 1,000,000 bales from the
last preceding estimate. ,
The final production estimates were:
Corn, 3,159,494,000 bushels;, winter' wheat,
415,077,000; spring wheat, 232,758,000; all
wheat, 650,828,000; oats, 1.587,286.000; barley,
208,975,000; rye, 60,145,000; buckwheat, 17,
460,000. Rice, 36,278,000; potatoes, 442,536.000;
sweet potatoes, 87,141000; hay, tame,. 79,528,
000; hay, wild, 15,402,000; tobacco, 1,196,451,
000 pounds; sugar beets, 6,237,000 tons.
Beans, 15,701,000 bushels; kaffirs, 75,866,
000 bushels; onions, 13,544,000 bushels; cab
bage, 502,700 tons; hops. 27,778,000 pounds;
cranberries, 245,000 barrels; applet, 58,203,
000 barrels; peaches, 45.066,000 barrels; pears,
13,281,000 bushels; oranges, 12,832.000 boxes.
The world's crop situation cannot be
gauged with the accuracy of pre-war years.
The statistics of the central powers naturally
are unobtainable and would be of little con
cern if they were, except as an indication of
the possible resistance of the enemy nations.
Hence, the only available data is the esti
mate of the International Institute of Agri
culture at Rome. This report, just issued,
gives the 1917 production of wheat in Den
mark, Spain, France, lreat Britain Ireland,
Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Holland, Swe
den, Switzerland, Canada, United States,
India, Japan, Algeria, Egypt and Tunis as
1,864,000,000 bushels, or 96.1 per cent of the
1916 crop itvfhese countries and 85.1 per
cent of a five-year average 1911-1915.
The 1917 production of rye in Den
mark, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxem
burg, Norway, Holland, Sweden, Switzer
land, Canada and the United States is given
as 160,000,000 bushels, or 96.2 pen cent of the
1916 crop of these countries and 91.7 per cent
of a five-year average 1911-1915.
The 1917 production of barley in Den
mark, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxem
burg, Norway, Holland, Sweden, Switzer
land, Canada, United States, Great Britain,
Japan, Algeria,' Egypt and Tunis is' given as
844,000,000 bushels, or 100.1 per cent of the
1916 crop in these countries and 95.9 per
cent of a five-year average, 1911-1915.
The 1917 production of oats in Denmark,
Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg,
Norwav. Holland. Sweden. Switzerland,
Canada, United States, Great .Britain, Al
geria and .Tunis is given at 2.740,000,000
bushels, or 122.1 per cent of the 1916 crop in
these countries, and 113.4 per cent of a five
year average 1911-1915. The 1917 produc
tion of corn in Spain, Italy, Switzerland,
Canada, United States and Japan is given
as -3,284,000,000 bushels, or 121.4 per cent of
the 1916 crop in these countries, and 113.0
per cent, of a five-year average 1911-1915.
The 1917 production of. rice in Spain, Italy,
United States, Japan and Egypt is given as
21.319,000,000 pounds, or 80.3 per cent of the
1916 crop in these countries, and 83.7 per
cent of a five-year average 1911-1915. v
The 1917 .production of linseed in Italy,
Holland, Canada, United States and India
is1 given as 36,664,000 bushels, or 86.6 per cent
pf.the 1916 crop, in these countries, and 67.6
per cent of a five-year average 1911-1915.
: The 1917 production of potatoes in Eng
land, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg,
Norway, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Can
ada, United States and Japan is given as
i:il9,000,000 bushels, or 136.4 per cent of the
crop in these countries, and 114.8 per cent
of a five-year average, 1911-1915.
'.'.The 1917 production of sugar beets in Hol
land, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and the
United States is given as 8,992,000 tons, of
2,000 pounds, or 92.7 per cent of the 1916
Crop in these countries, and 103.1 per cent
of a five-ytar average, 1911-1915.
The 1917 production of tobacco in Switz
erland. United States and Japan is given
as 1,289,000.000 pounds, or 105.5 per cent of
the ,1916 crop -in these countries, and 118.7
pgr cent of a five-year average, 1911-1915.
rrnrwi
One Year Ago Today In the "War.
German commerce raiders reported
in the Atlantic.
' Constantine of Greece endorsed
President Wilson's peace note. '
Russians extended their offensive
to Dvina river sector and along
Dvlnsk-Vllna railroad.
The Day We Celebrate.
Timothy J. Dwyer, physician, born
1873.
Clarence J. Canan, real estate
(Sealer, born 1351.
Charles r. Harrison, of the law
firm of, Harrison & "Morton, born
18k7.
Reed Smoot, senior United States
senator from Utah, born In Salt Lake
Ulty, 60 years ago today.
This Day In History.
17)7 Ethan Allen, who led the fa
mous "Green Mountain Boys" In the
revolution, born at Litchfield, Conn.
Died at Turlington, Vt, February 12,
1789.
-1762 Jullen Dubuque, famous
Iowa pioneer for whom the city of
Dubuqua was named, born in Quebec.
Died in Iowa,..March 24, 1810.
1871 Newhall House in Milwaukee
destroyed by Are, with loss of nearly
100 lives.
1917 Colonel William F. Cody
(Buffalo Bill), the famous scout for
whom the military camp at Demlng,
N. M., Is named, died in Denver. Born
In Scott county, Iowa, February 26,
3.845.
Just SO Years Ago Today
Tommy Miller, in his coming fight
with Ike Weir at Minneapolis on the
23, will be backed and handled by
Dan O'Keefe of St. Paul.
Fred Wilhelm presented a numer
ously signed petition to the council of
South Omaha, asking for an appoint
ment on the police force.
William M. Lorlmer, of the firm of
Lorlmer, Westerfleld & Manley, is
back again after a short absence from
the office.
The 11th meeting of the Railway
Surgeons Society of Nebraska . was
called to order In' the Hotel Barker
by Dr. Galbraith, the surgeon of the
Union Pacific railroad. There were
about 35 surgeons present
William A, Paxton has decided to
call the structure at the southeast
corner of Fifteenth and Farnam
streets the "Ware Block.'
Out of the Ordinary
An authority on finance has been,
investigating American millionaires,
and finds that all except 20 started
life as poor boys.
A 16-year-old boy has been con
victed of "manslaughter" in New
York. Now lie feels that he has
broken into the big league.
Major General Edwin F. Glenn,
United States army, commanding
Camp Sherman. Chllllcothe, O., born
at Greensboro, N. C, 61 years ago to
day. Brigadier General William P.
Burnham, United States army, an of
ficer who has risen .to high command
from a place in the ranks, born in
Pennsylvania, 68 years ago today.
The kaiseVa dentist," Arthur
Davis of Piqua, 0 is coming home.
Now we may find out whether or not
Hohenzollern kicked onthe bill.
An Illinois court has decided that
a husband's talking in his steep does
not constitute a cause for divorce.
Depends a good deal, doesn't It, upon
what he says in his sleep?
Connecticut high school girls have
taken a pledge to eat no more sweets
during the war. Practical patriotism,
not to say economical, such as this
should help to turn the thoughts of
Connecticut young men towards mat
rimony. The English government has so
curtailed the manufacture of "stain
less" steel, a rustless metal used for
cutlery, that its production is no
longer practicable. It is predicted that
American "stainless" steel will domi
nato the market in the future7.
Nebraska .Comment .
. Ainsworth ' Star-Journal: Evan
gelist Sullivan says a felloAV whodoes
not pay his debts witl not go "to
heaven. We heartily agree. If what
he says is true, therelwill be a lot of
deadbeats in hades. '
Grand Island Independent: 'One
great big thing Nebraska's ' farjrters
can do toward, standing up behind
these boys of ours who' have goB to
the camps and the trenches is to pro
duce just a little bit more this year.
Especially do the fighting forces need
.bacon, lard and sausage. Half a doz
en, more porkers for every 40!
Minden Courier: Nebraska has. to
acknowledge that the little village' of
Funk is right there when itcomes,to
.showing Its loyalty, every man, wom
an and child In that 'burg' being a
member of the Red Cross, 130 of
Funk's-ISO ' inhabitants having -fceen
taken into the' society" in the recent
drive. '
Kearney Hub: The' Council of, De
fense might pass a tip to the fuel ad
ministration that some. real conserva
tion could be accomplished by con
necting the Kearney water works en
gines with the power'.current at the
Kearney electric lighting station.
Electrical operation would not only
be cheaper for the city, but would
lessen coal consumption by many
thousands of dollars.
Loafing on the Job.
If the transcontinental train L 20
minutes late, it's all Billy McAdoo's
fault. He's been loafing over at the
Treasury department. swapping
stoma. Washington Post,
i
Twice Told Tales
Concerning Crows.
Peter Menkin Brown, Berlin corre
spondent, said in Baltimore in a lec
ture on the -blockade:
."The Germans are suffering from
our (blockade more than they'd have
us think. There's a real dearth of
foodstuffs, and there's a real pest of
profiteers.
"Think of it the Germans are now
eatlngi crows: More than that, the
profiteers have cornered the crows of
Germany, so that the government has
had to fix crow prices, which range,
I believe, from 60 to 85 cents, accord
ing to the weight and age of the bird.
"But imagine it! Cornering crowt
That is no way to help your country's
caws!" Baltimore American.
A Straight Hit.
''Do you know why money Is so
scarce, brothers?" the soap box orator
demanded,, and a fair-sized section of
the backbone of the nation waited In
leisurely patience for the answer.
A tired-looking woman had passed
for a moment on the edge of the
crowd. She spoke shortly.
"It's because so many of you men
spend your time telling each other
why, 'stead of hustling to see that it
ain't!" Chicago Heaid.
Accident Or Design?
"During our courting days I used
J to run across my husband frequently
downtown. He always prctenaea it
was by accident"
"Well?"
"Now I never meet him. I wonder
if that is due to the sa nn sort of accident"-LoulsvUla
Courier-Journal.
Also for Roosevelt.
Omaha, Jan'. 9. To the Editor of
The Bee: I notice with interest Mr.
Agnew's articles in your paper re
garding the appointment of Mr.
Roosevelt to the position of secretary
of war. Undoubtedly Mr. Agnew is
voicing the sentiment of a large ma
jority of the people of this country,
irrespective of party preferences; as
he is one of the ablest men of the
United States today, a man of large
experience in public affairs, especially
in military matters, and a most in
tense American.
At this critical time in the country's
history it is the bounden duty of
every one in authority to see that
every place is filled with the best tal
ent available. I hope this move may
continue to grow and spread until the
appointive powers at Washington will
recognize the necessity for the coun
try's good of such a. man at the helm
of military affairs.
In such crises as the present the
administration can furnish no greater
proof of its largeness of purpose, and
fairness to its people, than to call to
its aid the strongest and most thor
oughly tried men to bring this war to
a most successful termination, laying
aside any and all partisan Interests,
making everything subservient to the
welfare of the country.
- S. S. SWITZER.
Plea for Underpaid Clerks. .
Omaha, Jan. 5, To the Editor of
The Bee: As a constant reader of
The Bee. whose policy and views I
usually agree with, and whose edi
torials help to keep my thinking
straight on public matters, I write to
express my appreciation of your views
as expressed in editorial under head
of "Justice to Underpaid Clerks." It
does appear true tha any number of
employes unorganized in any business
in this country are underpaid, and
this regardless of ttle financial evident
and prosperous condition of that busi
ness. I need only instance the dry goods
business. The employes in this line
generally are fairly educated, bright,
well-mannered. The qualities of sales
manship are acquired after years of
study of merchandise and calls as well
for a study of men and women in
dividually as they step up to the coun
ter so that a high intelligence and
tact is necessary in the performance
of their duty. Since the development
of the department store the salaries
of dry goods clerks has steadily de
clined, while the owners of these estab
lishments' have prospered and grown
fat, not only in this but all other
cities of the land. This state of things
should not be if Justice and righteous,
ness were given a chance to govern or
direct men's actions toward each
other.
The average salary of experienced
salesmen in stores today is not, I'm
sure, more than $15 per week. How
can a man take care of a small fam
ily and dress as he has to dress on
such a pay? Recently In this city I
met a salesman employed ,n one of
our stores. In course of our talk he
told me he found it very hard to keep
his family and self on $15 per week.
This man was eight years wjth that
nrm, a very obliging and competent
dry goods man. Shortly after I called
to see him and found he was dead and
buried, and I learned that his fellow
employes had to take up a subscrip
tion to bury him and get food and
clothing for his wife and children.
Oh, sir, the tragedy of it all! And
still our merchant princes go merrily
along even in war times, very patriotic
and very generous in a public way,
while the men and women who do
their jiusiness, when they fall out have
to be buried by their co-workers, be
cause of low wages and they were
"unorganized" too proud to organize,
just as our president was too proud
to fight but, like him, may hav.e to,
so as to live.
AN EX-DRY GOODS CLERK.
Strong for T. R.
Omaha, Jan. 8. To the Editor of
The Bee: It is to laugh. The temp
est in a feapot raised by Mr. Agnew's
nomination of Roosevelt for secretary
of war. Mr. Agnew, makes no men
tion of partisanship o.r politics. His
whole,, rather lengthy, article could
be boiled down to one small word,
"pep," and his opponents not being
able to deny the pep can only come
back with partisanship and politics.
And as usual with that bunch their
strongest argument is their biggest
wnistake. Consideration of Mr. B. P.
Peck-and Laurie J. Quinby will suffice.
Mr. Peck says Roosevelt assailed
Mr. Wilson's Mexican policy, cast the
progressives adrift and jumps at con
clusions. The less said about Mexico
the better; the American people take
rto pride in that fiasco. Roosevelt
assailed Mr. Wilson, not as president
but as a political opponent in a man
ner perfectly admissible during a po
litical campaign.. He declined to lead
the progressives because ho had the
"hoss sense" to know when to quit;
over two years..ago Roosevelt jumped
at the conclusion it was time to get
ready and said so, and Quinby, Peck
anoV'company called him "jingo."
Mr. Quinby does not specify, but
says Mr. Wilson has given rtany re
publicans positions of honor. This
is doubtful and truly wonderful in
view of Mr. Bryan's wail for places
for deserving democrats. But Quin
by says Abraham Lincoln had no
places for democrats in his adminis
tration and asks why should Wilson
be asked to divide the honors. Fbr
rthe same reason, Mr. Quinby. that
Lincoln did divide the honors. Edwin
M. Stanton as a democrat assailed
Lincoln with all the venom of which
Roosevelt is capable, yet in, 1862 Lin
coln made Stanton his secretary of
war because he was honest and capa
ble and had the pep and to show the
south that it was not partisan war.
Lincoln could rise above party and
divide the honors with Stanton, be
cause his interest in his country was
greater than his Interest in his party.
Roosevelt in . the war office would
deepen the chill around, the kaiser's
heart and trf&ke every man in France
stand fltraighter, step quicker and pos
sibly fight better.' Mr. Quinby wishes
to go on record an .-standing with the
president. He will not be conspicu
ous in that position: he will only be
one of a crowd Of 99,000,000 and the
appointment of Roosevelt would carry
the news to the kaiser of a people
united as never before. The 1,000,000
out of accord .being composed mostly
of Mr. Quinby's erstwhile political
idols whose strongest arguments, like
his own, were generally their biggest
mistake. JOHN G. FISHER.
SAID IN FUN.
"Did he break the newe of her husband'!
death trently to the widow?"
"I should eay to. He told her ahe was
now In the position of cralmlng his 5,000
Insurance.'' Baltimore American.
'Would you call Mrs. Gowltt a good con
versationalist?" "Tes and no. She makes you think of a
lot. of good things to say, but she talks so
incessantly you don't get a chance to say
them." Boston Transcript.
You spend a great deal of time In your
automobile.''
"No." replied Mr. Chugglns: "not as much
as I spend outside, fixing It up." Washing
ton Star.
"I'm glad they drafted Titewad. Mayba
at last he'll learn to buy when his turn
comes."
"I don't get your line.
"Well I understand one of the first thing
they teai.li a toldier is setting up exercises."
Judge. -'
I saw somewhere in Cairo that men In th
native tailor shops iron clothes with their
f6"Thcn I suppose It would not be proper
to call the employes of such shops, hnda.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
How was It the girl didn't get any dam
ages in her breach of promise suit?'
"Her lawyer proved to the satisfaction or
the Jury that he wasn't worth 30 cents.'
Baltimore Amerlcaru
'In the old days a girl used to keep hubby
on his good behavior by threatening to go
back to her mother."
"And now?" , . .
"She threatens to go back to her Job. -
Kansas City JournaK
First Mermaid What on earth la Curly
Locks so busy about when It la time for
her to be sitting here on the rocks with her
golden comb? '
Second Ditto Oh. she's got the Hoover
fever from some shipwrecked humans, ana
she's down in the coral cave putting up
Jellyfish. Baltimore American.
"Well, how's conservation at your house?"
"We're doing our bit. But these meat
less days are pretty rough on the dog. '
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Clcsing of the Graduating I
Piano Sale
At HOSPE'S
-Lowest possible terms,
One Dollar per week. Pi
anos selling fast. First
come, first served. Our
books close January 10th;
this sacrifice is 'made to
prevent inventory of same.
Twelve Pianos
Upright Piano,
$79.00
Gruenwald &QC fift
Upright Piano, (POJ.UU
Emerson QQ Oft
Upright Piano, P7IUV
ct",$io9.ao
STpu-119.00
BCaW, $149.00
Werner j 1 Q ff
Upr. Piano, 41UI7.UU
Schaeffer QQ f(
Upr. Piano, P 1 WW
Fraser & Son tOOQ ff
Upr. Piano, ipAiAJ.UU
Cable-Nelson, (jJOOQ A A
Upr. Piano, ipOJJ.UU
Upr. Piano, $249.00
Upr. Piano, $259.00
ONE DOLLAR
Per Week Pays for One
Piano Stools $2.50
Piano Scarfs $2.50
Player Rolls 25c up
Pianos Rented. . . .$3.50 Month
A. HOSPE CO.
1513 Doug la St.
Apollo Reproducing Piano
1
Locomotive Auto Oil
The Best Oil We jCnow
55c Per Gallon
The L V. .fcttholas 0i o...,..iy
GRAIN EXCHANGE BLDG.
TmldmL
Skin
Comfort
For Our Boys
Found In
Cuticura
The Soap to Cleanse and Purify
the Ointment to Soothe and Heal
These fragrant, super
creamy emollients soothe,
and heal eczemas and
rashes, stop itchine. cleai
the skin of pimples, the
scalp of dandruff and thi
hands of chaps and sores.
t or cuts, wounds, bruiS'
es, bites and stings of
insects, sunburn or
windburn they are
most effective.
Sample Each Free by
Mail. Address post'
card: "Cuticura,
Dept. D, Boston."
Sold everywhere.
Soap 25c. Oint
ment 28 and 50c
en rf
y Kr J I
XW n
THE OMAHA BEE INFORMATION BUREAU -
WathiDgtOQ, D. C.
Enclosed find a 2-cent. stamp, for which you will rjleaup nonr! m
entirely free, "The Navy Calendar." P 6 6Cnd me
Name. ........
Street Address.
City
.State.
