f
THIS BEE; UMAHA. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 1918.
The Omaha Bee
jOAILY (MORNING) EVENING SUNDAY
FOUNDED BY EDWARD ROSEWATER
VICTOR ROSEWATER. EDITOR
THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY. PROPRIETOR.
Entered at Omaha pottoffica si second -clasa matter.
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JANUARY CIRCULATION
59,964 Daily Sunday, 52,534
trrnat elrealatloa for tho month, ntworlbed and ooarn 10 by DvtaM
tviiliMBO. circulation Monuer.
Subscribers loovrnf tha city ebeuU bava The Baa auilod
to tnaea. AoUraoa changed aa aftaa a rasjneeta).
Here is a hope that "heatless" Monday be
haves better than the last one did.
A correspondent suggests the flare-up in the
senate is camouflage; all right, but what are they
hiding?.
It would be nice if we could send a little of
this fine Nebraska climate to the frozen-up east
along with our wheat and corn, j ,
The disclosures in connection with the opera
tions of the shipping board suggest further rea
sons foi closer control of war activities.
That U-boat "commander , probably had no
such intention, but his act made the flotation of
the next Liberty loan that much easier."
Two years ago the kaiser promised us he
would sink no merchant vessel till they had been
warned. And he kept that promise just like he
has all others. ' !
No generalissimo for the allied armies does
not mean there will not be close and careful co
operation between them. The lesson of Italy
has been well learned.
King George IV expresses his positive convic
tion that America's presence in the war wilj de
cide it. The third of his name had a vastly dif
ferent impression of our importance..
jaaBHHBMHaWtMaWM
Governor Morehead's friends express some
anxiety at his coyness in regard to the senatorial
race. The governor always has been prudent,
and maybe he can read the signs of the time.
Republicans in the senate again renew their
pledge of support to all real war measures. It
was hardly necessary; they would not be repub
licans if they did not stand by the country in its
peril. ' ,-' .
Von Hindenberg is wasting valuable time, if
he expects to take the lead in the spring drive.
He will discover that Pershing, Haig and the
others also have some notions about what ought
to be done. . - '
A St. Louis woman by aid of a "ouija board"
is invoking the spirit of, Mark Twain and has
Henry Ward Beecher as a witness. She' has no
real reason for troubling. Mark; her own efforts
are funny enough.
A regiment of road builders has been formed
for service In France. Let us hope they do in
troduce the wide variety of highway construction
that has been the wonder and despair of this
country for so long.
Demand is now made that Trainman Lee pro
duce bis proof that railroad managers purposely
misdirected operations of the roads to discredit
government management. The charge is serious,
and ought to be substantiated or withdrawn. ,
Daniel Rebukes a Critic.
Secretary Daniels has performed one real
service in his reply at Baltimore to the state
ment, of a representative hip builder. It had
been complained that the shipbuilding campaign
was delayed by the attitudejof labor. The secre
tary of the navy replied that while we hear of
strikes we forget the other side of the picture;
that where 10,000 men cease work 10,000,000 con
tinue to do things needed for the'wart He also
pointed out that during the recent blockade 60,000
men worked on ships in the cold, while their
critics sat in warm houses and complained. Ob
struction to war progress does not come from
the working classes -alone. The country needs
harmonious co-operation today as never before
and a cessation of criticism of class by class will
do much tOj establish that unity of purpose that
must exist if we are . to win. Secretary Daniels'
rebuke to the complaining contractor is well
timed. 1
, Psychology of the Tuscania.
German editors are entertaining themselves
discussing what they term the "psychological ef
fect" of the sinking of the Tuscania on the Amer
ican people. If these same editors ever realize the
truth of what they now are speculating over,
they will be amazed if not actually shocked. Only
in one way can the German's attitude be ex
plained. He realizes what the effect of pain or
terror is on himself, and concludes it must be the
same on other raen. Therefore, he argues that if
frightfulness faits it is because it was not fright
ful enough. On this foundation he built up his
carefully and diabolically executed plan of out
rage and atrocity in Belgium;' to this end he
sunk the Lusitania, bombed hospitals and hospital
ships, raided sleeping towns with airships and
did numerous other things elemental in their
savagery, but showing ultra-refinement in design.
And to what end? Instead of creating a whole
some dread of German power, born of terror of
its exercises, he has only engendered 'a stronger
determination on part of the free peoples of the
world to resist and destroy the machine built up
to exalt the kaiser and his associates. The
psychological effect of the Tuscania fate is al
ready apparent in a closer union and firmer re
solves on part of the American people. If the
Germans want to read aright the temper of their
foes, let them look up American history and dis
cover what the result of any sort of calamity has
been on our people. Then they must conclude
that the U-boat that sank the Tuscania did a
very poor service to the cause of autocracy and
military despotism.
j Control of Crime.
The acting chief of police of Chicago prom
ises that if given power he will rid the city of
criminals, and reduce crime to a minimum. His
program is simplicity, under the following head
ings: "Make gun-toting a ' penitentiary offense;
repeal the parole law; hang murderers, give stick
up men, automobile bandits, burglars and pick
pockets the limit the law will allow; increase po
lice pay, and fhus efficiency; put 2,000 to 5,000
more patrolmen on the force; investigate shyster
lawyers and bondsmen; prevent bondsmen from
receiving pay for furnishing security."
In plain words, he would return to the old
time practice of severity of punishment, relying
on terror to restrain the criminal. This was long
ago exploded. Certainty of punishment is more,
effective, and yet it is only a palliative and not a
remedy for crime. The Chicagp chief's program
might drive some of the more timorous or less
crafty of his present pest of criminals from the
city to prey elsewhere, but he should look up
some of the facts in connection with English ex
perience in the eighteenth and nineteenth cen
turies before committing himself finally to his
present plan. The British authorities found that
neither extermination nor deportation worked a
cure. '. ,
, Causes of crime v?ill not be removed by pun
ishment of criminals. It is reasonable that so
ciety be given every possible protection from the
vicious and ignorant, and that humane laws be
fairly and justly administered. But the impulse
to crime lies deeper than dread of law in human
nature, and will not be removed by threats, how
ever dire.
Seeds for Future Wars.
In every announced arrangement for separate
peace between the Germans and the countries on
their eastern front may be discerned the promise
of future war, Peace with Russia, with the Bal
tic provinces left in German possession; with
Ukraine, looking to a further partition: of Poland;
with Roumania, at the price of Russian territory;
all these moves are announced, and none of them
but promises trouble to come. In each1 the im
position of the power of the conqueror ou the will
of the conquered is the basis on which order is
to be restored, all on terms finally of advantage
to Germany. In the struggles between the
smaller peoples, sure to follow such a settlement,
he German would have little or no interest, save
to renew the profitable practice of selling arms
to both sides. Those provinces left under' Ger
man domination may find in the past a promise of
their future. This is why the German plan for
peace is impossible. America is concerned in the
map of Europe only to the extent that its ar
rangement will affect the stability of whatever
adjustment of world relations follow this war.
German plans as t present outlined do not fore
cast such stability, and very likely will be so re
garded when the time for "settlement comes.
Salt Lake City's chief of police apparently has
a definite notion of what he wants to do, but his
method of going about it is open to , question.
To require all girls to prove themselves innocent
under pain of being deemed guilty js a reversal
of the humane principle of law on which Ameri
can justice rests, and it is doubtful if the morals
of the city call for1 any drastic step. At this
distance it looks like the Salt Lake City's chief
had added another to the growing list of bone
head moves made in the name of the army.
John Phillip Sousa sold his baton for $120 in
Chicago and gave the money to buy base balls for
the Great Lakes naval station. The connection
between music and base ball is not easy, but
kindly sentiment will link up a lot of otherwise
dissociated things.
War and Insurance Business
Distinguishing Features of 1917 in Various Lines
Insurance Press Annual Review.
One of the most momentous years in the
history of the fire insurance business closed
December 31, 1917; and yet it was a year
which' underwriters would be loath to call
back. The war brought forward in the past
12 months a variety of problems for fire in
surance men never anticipated by the most
astute minds in the business. No one could
foresee the largr increase in waterfront fires,
or the destruction of piers and warehouses in
various sections of the country, in many of
which cases incendiarism by enemies was
suspected, but seldom proved. Aside from
the effects of the war the loss records of
nearly every company, when .compiled, will
undoubtedly show a heavier loss than for
1916, which was not ..generally considered
even an average favorable year. This is in
spite of the fact that premium incomes have
been good and the war risk coverage cam
paign of last spring and summer brought in
thousands of dollars in extra premiums. Jin
fact the amendment of the insurance law in
this respect was one of the most notable de
velopments of the year respecting changes in
thejorms of contract."
The coverage against insurrection and
riot, as well as explosion, and against bom
bardment, something which had never been
possible under the standard form of policy,
made the year notable. In this connection
it should be recalled that on January 1, 1918,
a most comprehensive revision of the stand
ard form of fire insurance policy became effective.
Life insurance in 1917 experienced one of
its mbst unusual years in a decade. The year
started with large increases in business and
with many large policies written. Agents
found business good, and big increases were
made during the first eight months by a ma
jority of the companies. Business was not
so good for the closing months of the year.
The entrance of the United States into the
European war brought out a large variety' of
war clauses, which were written at an in
creased premium. Late in the spring the
state insurance commissioners decided to at
tempt uniformity, but after a series of meet
ings, in which the companies took part, it
was found that a sufficient number of com
panies would not agree to a uniform war
cause.
One of the most notable developments
of the year was the great lemand for group
insurance. The pioneer company writing
that line reported that its new business for
the year would be about $100,000,000, which
is about equal to the group business which
it had written in the four-year period pre
viously. Other companies reported an in
creased demand for group policies.
The developments of the workmen's com
pensation and liability business in 1917 were
probably more important than they have
been for several years past. At the end of
the year there were few states which did not
have on their statute tooks some form of
workmen's compensation law, and the few
that had not were preparing to make enact
ments during 1918. The great increase in
industral production of all kinds due to the
exigencies of the, war had an important ef
fect on the business, both through increasing
generally the payrolls and also adding to the
costs through accidents. The speeding up
processes and the extra hours, worked in cer
tain industries kept claim records mounting,
and thereby prevented any profit from un
derwriting by a majority of the companies.
In fact, the compensation and liability busi
ness, taken as a whole, was most unprofitable
duritig 1917, and it will likely continue to be
so for the period of the war. The S per cent
increase in compensation rates, permitted the
onmnonloa it fh r1-C "lf thf VMf Wilt CO
only a short way in making up the havy
cost of operation and overhead which the
compensation writing companies are facing
iu common with all other kinds of business.
Conditions of unusual prosperity and ac
tivity prevailed in the fidelity and surety
business during 1917, owing to the unusually
large number of bonds of various kinds re
quired by concerns which had undertaken
war supply work. The fidelity business was
also active on account of the employment in
banks and financial houses of many extra
clerks to take care of war work. Losses
were no heavier than usual in fidelity lines,
and supply bond and contract losses reported
up to the end of the year did not indicate any
unusual loss ratio. In addition, the ten
dency all through the business was to in
crease rates to cover the .extra overhead ex
pense. Conditions were generally harmoni
ous between the company members of the
conference devoting themselves to this class
of business, and the benefits of associated ef
fort were shown in several important situa
tions arising during the year.
' Accident underwriters, in looking over the
records for 1917, report that while business
kept up moderately well, considering war
conditions, nevertheless, the expense of do
ing business increased out of all proportion
to the premium income. It was the general
impression that during the second half of
the year the business had been much affected
because of Liberty loan, Red Cross, and
Young Men's Christian association cam
paigns and other activities, for financing the
war. The industrial accident insurance com
panies were particularly affected and they re
ported, in common with the commercial ac
cident companies, that salaries of employes
had increased as well as all home office ex
penses, which made it necessary that in some
form extra money must be collected in 1918
to maintain the plants on their present basis.
While the 'companies have been wrestling
with the problem for several months, onlv a
few announced at the end of 1917 that they
had solved it.
, i t
Nineteeji seventeen was a momentous
year for the burglary insurance business, de
velopments crowding upon one another for
solution from month to month. It was a
year of heavy losses in various classes for
the different sections of the country, making
necessary an increase of rates for all sections
being put into effect generally the first of
1918. The general increase was preceded
during the year by increases in separate lo
calities. Mercantile lines, which were the
greatest sufferers, will show an advance of
approximately 20 per cent for the different
groups; in addition, many of the classifica
tions have been moved up to a higher rated
group than they had formerly. As a result,
the actual increases in some classes amount
to 80 per cent. The Burglary Insurance Un
derwriters association put its stamp .of ap
proval on the increases at a meeting in New
York in December. The new rates are in
tended to take care of increases in cost of
goods insured, and also to equalize the loss
from a steadily increasing number of rob
beries in mercantile establishments where
there is little chance of recovery.
A flat advance of 10 per cent on all resi
dence policies became effective December 10
on new business and for renewals as of Feb
ruary 1. The discount was reduced from 50
per cent to 25 per cent for bank burglary
policies covering securities.
eesi
6W
Rationing Scheme for London
Tentative Plan for Food Cards Beginning February 25
London Times, January 16.
The scheme for the compulsory rationing
in the London area of butter, mar
garine and other foods has now been
drafted, and copies have been circulated
among the local food control committees for
their consideration. The committees have
been asked to send in by tfext Monday any
suggestions for the improvement of the plan
which they care to make, but it is not ex
pected that important changes will be made
in the form of the scheme as it has been
drawn up.
In the early stages of its operation the
scheme Will chiefly be directed to the pre
vention of the margarine queues, but pro
vision is made for the extension of rationed
distribution to other foods the consumption
of which it may become desirable to regulate.
The actual working of the scheme is to begin
on February 25. '
At a conference of executive officers of
the London boroughs held some time ago
preference was expressed for the use of in
dividual rather than household cards, and it
is on the individual basis that the scheme
has been prepared. The official text of the
scheme has not yet been issued ts the press,
but we understand that the chief provisions
may be summarized as follows:
Consumers must be registered for the
purchase of a rationed article with one re
tailer. A free choice of retailers will be al
lowed and retailers are to be prohibited from
offering any inducement to people to register
with them.
The food card must be produced each time
a' purchase is made and the proper space on
the card must be cancelled at the time of the
purchase. '
Rationed distribution will at first be ap
plied only to butter and margarine, but three
other columns are provided on the card
which can be used for foodstuffs which may
be made Subject to rationing in the coming
months.
Special cards will be issued for children
below a certain -age and persons employed
in heavy manual labor. .
Emergency cards will be provided for sol-
. Cracks the Crackerman.
Omaha, Feb. 8. To the Editor of
The Bee: Now that the case against
the bakers is about closed 'it might
be well for the public to train their
guns on a far, greater offlender the
cracker manufacturer. The baker
takes a pound of flour worth 5 or 8
cents, adds a little labor to it and
sells the product for 9 cents. The
other business man takes about the
same amount of raw material, makes
a few passes over It so rapid that the
unaided eye has some difficulty in
following, and with an unctuous smile
retails it to you for 20 cents per
pound and up. up til lost to our sight.
The baker reduced the price of his
goods when wheat and flour were
brought down, but it does not make
a particle of difference with your
cracker maker whether flour is $4
per sack of 48 pounds or $2.85. In
fact it costs him a little more to put
his goods on the market at the latter
price than at the former. The Amer
ican sense of fair play demands that
this unjust condition be investigated.
If our local men must be made do
their bit In treating the public fairly,
our national institutions whether
handling crackers or coal must be
made to follow suit. It's the only
fair way and in the end the only way
that will bring success. .
M. J. GRAUY.
diers and sailors on leave and for travelers.
The cards will be issued by the local food
control committees, who will make their own
arrangements as to how this is to be done.
The rationed purchase of butter or mar
garine will be limited to four ounces per per
son each week.
Application forms for food cards will be
in fhe hands of the local committees by Jan
uary 28, and the food cards will be supplied
not later than February 4. Tho issues of
cards to the householders is to be cpmpleted
by February 13, the counterfoils are ,to be
sent to the retailers by February 18, and the
scheme is to come into operation on Mon
day, February 25. -
It is probable that application for a food
card wiH have to be made much in the same
way as applications were sent io4for sugar
cards. ' The application forms are printed
on buff paper, and contain 12 lines for the
names of the members of a household. De
mand for the forms can be made at any time
after January 28.
With regard to London, the scheme is to
operate uniformly throughout all the bor
oughs. When it is applied to places in the
home counties there may, however, be some
modifications.' Responsibility for the proper
distribution of the rationed foods after the
local committees have ascertained the re
quirements of a district, as shown by the
numbers of people registered and the autho
rized demands of caterers, institutions and
manufacturers, will rest with the ministry
of food. The successful working of any
scheme depends ultimately on the mainte
nance of supplies by the central authority, but
Lord Rhondda is giving the matter his full
attention, and a scheme for the distribution
of margarine is now being worked out.
So far as opinion could be gathered yes
terday the scheme is regarded quite favorably
by the food executive officers and their com
mittees. The adoption of the individual
card will not mean, of course, that each
member of a family must make his or her
own purchases. As in the case of sugar, alL
t r ... i 111 . 1 i.j'
tne caras oi tne nouseuoiu can uc yicscmcu
by the member doing the shopping.
tyue Year Ago Today In the War.
Ambassador Gerard, with 120 other
Americans, arrived In Switzerland.
Only two vessels reported .sunk on
11th day of new submarine campaign.
British captured three-quarters of
a mile of strong German trenches on
Komme front.
The Day We Celebrate.
Thomas A. Edison, great inventor,
born at Milan, Ohio, if yean ago.
Rear Admiral James H. Gtennon,
United States navy, born in Califor
nia, 61 years ago.
. Dr. - Washington Gladden, noted
Congregational leader, born at Potts
grove, Pa., 82 yeara ago.
. Alexander M. Dockery, former gov
ernor of Missouri, born In Davlees
county, Missouri, 72 years ago.
Rt.P.ev. O. Mott Williams, Epis
copal bishop of Marquette, Mich.,
bora at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., 61 years
ago today. ' .. ; -
Tnta Day In History.
111! Alexander H. Stephens, vice
president of the confederate states of
America, Dorn near trawiorosvuie,
Ga. Died at Atlanta, March 4, 1883.
1881 Abraham Lincoln left Spr'ng
fleld for Washington.
1861 Pardon granted to Dr Vudd,
who had been sentenced to me tm
prisonment tor complicity in the TJn
coin assassination. -
1815 America warned Germany
aiil Great Britain not to abuse flag or
UVA uuiicu lauuv auiya,
Just SO Years Ago Today
The walnut Hill Saving & Invest
ment company, at its annual meeting
elected the following board of ' di
rectors: Dr. S. D. Merrer, Adolph
Meyer, Henry Bolln. J. F. Hertisman,
and W. J. Mount.
Mrs. Howees, the deputy to County
Clerk Roche, observed a birthday, and
as a mark of tne respect and esteem
n
In which the lady Is held by her asso
ciates in the office, they presented
her with a magnificent box of cut
flowers.
Misa May Yates, daughter of yrs.
Anna M. Yates, entertained her
friends at her mother's residence, 114
South Twenty-fourth street. Dancing
continued until late.
A meeting was held at the Bank of
Commerce on North Slxtet nth street,
for the purpose of dlscuwdnc plans
for getliuj the city hall moved to Jef
ferson square.
The athletic entertainment given at
tha Grand Opera house for the benefit
of the heroines of the late terrible
blizzard, passed oft very enthusiasti
cally and successfully." f .
Twice Told Tales
Whafa the Answer?
'Archie's parents are divorced and
the little fellow spends part of the
time with his father and part with h'
mother. The other day he said to
his nurse: "When I die will I go
six months to one place and six
months to the other?" Boston Tran
script. Ambition Aroused.
A dashing lieutenant-colonel, ex
member of the general staff, was ap
proached by a rectntly drafted man.
"What might your name be? Do
you belong to this bunch?"
"I'm the colonel in charge."
"Wal, I see the balance of 'em busy
around here, and I don't see you doin'
anything. How does a fellow go
about gittin' your Job?" Everybody
MaKMlne" V xsn
It Fotiui. Him.
A man-o'-warsman on a visit to his
native city gave up an amusing in
stance of the readiness and resource
of naval seamen. He had made an
arrangement at "New York to meet a
chum from his own ship, but he had
forgotten the number of the house,
and he did not care to knock at every
door until he came to the right one.
A rag and bone man with a bugle
passed along. Jack seized the bugle.
"I'm looking for a chum," he ex
plained. Then he blew the grog call of the
navy. As the last note died away a
window was hastily flung up and a
sailor's head was thrust out
. "Ah," said Jack, as he handed back
the bugle. "I knew I'd find him."
i Chicago Herald. .
With State Editors
Hastings Tribune remarks para
graphical : "Men's pants pockets
might Just as well be made shorter."
You're on. Adam; wasting cloth will
not win the war.
Plattsmouth Journal hands it out
cold to vocal Idlers that Its print shop
Is "no place for Joint debates " "This
is my busy day" sign might be em
phasized by a directory where Wind
jammers can hire a tall.
Norfolk News announces with be
coming pride that as quickly aa
weather permits the projected new
hotel will start and reach full flower
ing before the year ends. Omaha
builders told the News and that set
tles it.
Kenesaw Progress gleefully reports
the arrival of the advance guard of
spring signs. The robin and the
spring poet have not shown up. "But
the national" disgrace" of congres
sional garden seeds, bearing the frank
of "G. M. Hitchcock, United States
senator," piped a merry aong In the
editorial sanction. It is gathered
from the editor's remarks that he
swung the mallet
- Norfolk Press. In a spirit of lofty
patriotism, resignedly greets substi
tutes for wheat flour. "About every
thing." the Press remarks, "we have
put into our tummies for years has
been adulterated so a few more or
less won't make much difference.'
York Democrat having repalied
and oiled Its automatic kickin:t ma
chine, significantly observes! "If the
gentleman who predicted that this
would be an 'open winter will kindly
call at this office, wa'll make It Inter
esting for him,"
Peppery Points
St. Louis Globe-Denjocrat: Feb
ruary came in like a lion end prob
ably devoured the ground hog at one
i-ulp. I
Washington Post: We'll welcome
the right peace and the return of the
soldier boys, but the first ne who
comes back and calls a street car a
"tram" will get his'n.
' Minneapolis Journal: February will
have four Sundays, four Mondays
which are Just as good, the two big
birthdays, besides St. Valentine's day
and Groundhog day. Why work on
the other 16 days?
Minneapolis Tribune: The bol
shevik! is demanding that Emma
Goldman and Berkman be sent back
to Russia. The United States, while
grievously disappointed with Russia,
has no such grudge against her.
Baltimore American: The desires
for an honorable peace are all coming
from the central nations and their al
lies, and a strong note in these de
sires is to save the loot The anxiety
about this loot is a significant feature.
New York World: It is observed
that the friendliness evinced by the
Washington government to the bol
shevtki hasn't reached that point at
whldh Uncle Sam"s offering to tend
them any money the point at which
bolshevlkl friendship begins.
Minneapolis Journal:. Monday is
boiled cabbageless day, Tuerday is
chop sueylesra day, Wednesday is
pruneless day. Thursday is pickled
plgsfeetless day, and Friday and Sat
urday we may eat everything except
meat, wheat and food. Bat the war
will be over aome day.
For Capital Punishment
Lincoln, Feb. 8. To the Editor of
The Bee: I believe your Geneva cor
respondent V. A. Bradshaw, under
date of February 2, speaks on the
subject of capital punishment for a
large circle of reflecting citizenship,
unwilling to speak in public for itself
The weak, mandlin sentamentalism
for murderers disgusts good meh but
it is itself largely answerable for the
Lynch law, which is so disquieting an
element in American life, and which
the foreigner especially, never falls to
remark upon with abhorrence. Thirty
years ago a series of memorial serv
ices with flowers and eulogistic haran
gues was held over the "Haymarket
victims," so-called In Chicago, who
were hanged in November, 1887 but
no one seemed ever to remember the
dozen or more brave policemen they
did to death.
Life is a sacred thing. Every right
thinking man abhors its sacrifice. But
the taking of the convicted murderer's
life is really the conservation of life.
It is a faving. It is not a loss. It is
a duty which should be assumed by
the sate for the security of our homes
and the welfare of society. It has
nothing to do with the vlndictlveness
of revenge. The due and prompt execu
tion of the law should be utterly
passionless, and as remorseless as
fate, to forget and to strengthen in
the breast of the would-be criminal
a sense of the inevitability of his
punishment. Even in his own concep
tion of it, his punishment must be
made to appear as a necessary and
certain sequence. When this comes
about and Mr. Criminal is made to
confess with St. Paul that "the law Is
a terror" to the evil-doer, murders
will begin to lessen. Today the crimi
nal law is in contempt, a travesty.
And hence come these murders.
I am quite aware that my views
as to the result of capital punishment
may be gainsaid, but I submit that
your correspondent, Mr. Bradshaw,
has rather understated the case as
between England and the United
States. His figures are not strong
enough. A student of sociology made
a statement on this point eight or ten
years ago, basing his utterance on the
authoritative census returns of the
two countries. At that time the popu
lation of Des Moines, Ja., was approxi
mately 75JO00. London, then, num
bered 7,500,000. Between the two
cities the population was as one to
100. Yet, this statistician pointed out
that for a series of years past there
(had been more murders each year
not relatively more murders, but ab
solutely more In Des Moines than in
giant London. For me this is an end
of argument
Doubtless we all agree it would be
good to abate capital punishment it it
safely could be done. Perhaps it
would be well for us also to agree that
the very best time to do this good
thing, is as certain Frenchman once
said, "When Messieur the assassin
sets the example. L. A. A.
May Be Camouflage.
Omaha, Feb. 9. To the Editor of
The Bee: The last Nebraskan
urged us to shower devotional
wires on President Wilson to cancel
the shower that that . weekly says
is falling on Hitchcock. I warrant
that the man least disturbed by
Hitchcock is Mr. Wilson. I can hear
his greeting of the first of thse
wires: "This does credit to the Ne
braskan heart, Tummie. out I am
rather busy right now and must ask
you to let its followers get off at your
desk." He knows, none better, the
sources of the wires to Hitchock.
Does anyone think that President
Wilson doesn't know Hitchcock, that,
because he dragged him through the
smother last fall to re-election, he
hopes Hitchcock would feel any less
keenly how largely national welfare
hangs on national respect for Hitch
cock's elastic conclusions?
Why, for the Wilson man that k.ept
his head there was nothing more
cheering In the present muss than
Hitchcock's recent bombing of the
war office from the senate floor. It
was music in his tortured ear. For
whatever movement is afoot for
bringing a great .good into our lives
Hitchcock first opposes, second is
"indifferent toward," and third sup
ports. And the worst of these would
be his support for that is exactly
what it would not be. not being sound
at heart (or head, whichever it fs
whereby it would let down whatever
it might be put under. But its un
soundness is known of all men and so
it Isn't put under anything. There
fore the senator is driven to trying to
shore up structures that everyone else
is pulling down. Nothing then arsues
so strongly that Secretary Baker is a
good secretary as Hitchock s saying
he isn't. .
It occurs to me that it may be tho
present drive against the administra
tion would not serve so well if it were
not so violent and unjust. There is a
maximum of shock, a probable shak
ing together of the administration
parts into much better working or
der. Also it shows we too can organ
ize a drive. Not that apy fair minded
man thinks any other 'administration
wouldn't have needed a hard shaking.
Don't we all know that, whoever had
been president and whoever his heads
of activities, Juht at this time there
would have been this hurricane of
criticism? Is it in human power in
nine months to get 100,000,000 peo
ple, who had always worked each for
himself with entire devotion, to work
each with all without an enormous
amount of jostling? '
W. E. MARTIN.
P. S. Also one settles down to tak
ing little stock in aid-and-comfort-to-the-enemy
talk. The enemy was do
ing his damnedest no doubt before
Hitchcock's speech and his last stake,
the spring drive, will not be less or
more by reason of it By the Lord,
it may all be camouflage, shrinking
the enemy's measure of us!
MIRTHFUL REMARKS.
"you seem to enjoy seeing the judge wit.,
his wife."
"Yes, I like to see him get some of his own
medicine. '
"Kh?" -"I
like to see her overrule him." Louis
ville Courier-Journal.
Father Joe, why do you suppose that old
hen persists in laying in the conl yard?
Joe Why, father, I think she has seen
the notice 'Now is the time to lay1 In youi
coal." Trade Review.
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