THE BEE: OMAHA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1918
.The Omaha Bee
? UA1LY (MORNING) EVENING SUNDAY
' FOUNDED BY EDWARD ROSEWATEK
. VICTOR EOSEWATER, EDITOR
THE BEE PUBUSHINQ COMPANY. PROPRIETOR.
'.5 Entered mt Omaha postotfice at ceond-clau matter.
S TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
1 ' Bf Carrier. Bt Mill.
, Only mil Sued., par ML 19 rtr nu, KIN
I Otitr without Sunday " 10c 4.00
9 Cimlni and Sunday 100 (.00
C Etnln wimout Sunday IXs 4.00
Panda Be only " (e " 100
4 fiena not if of elint of address or tnwslintr la deltrar, to Osiaiia
Htt Circulation Dewtmeot
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
II Tne Awnciitinl Pnm. of wtiic Ths M li I mmtm, it
entitled to th m for publication of 111 oew dlintrhn credited
t c it or not otherwise credited lo Unit paper tnd ilto tht lord newt
iHihlishfd herein. All rtitati of wbllcMJO of oar eoeclsl dlnxtrAM
tf? tre also rMrird.
j 7" REMITTANCE
Rnrnt fty draft, niimt or porul order. On'i l-rent etimre uses In
J ix.njrat of tmaU ecsounta I'enonal check, ucet on Oiaitii tad
.5 entitm eiriians. not accepted.
1$ ., 1
5 OFFICES
Ooitn-Tn Bar- Bulldlns. t hwifo Pentii ()u Building.
1 t.th Onur, 3318 N 8t. New fort 21 Fifth Aw.
"5 cmnml UiiifTn 14 N. Mno 8t St. Loui-N B'k of Commerce,
r l.inw.ln-l.lltlt Building. Withlnirton Ull O St.
CORRESPONDENCE
Aildrm mmmunlctlioot reltim to sows and tdl ton it sittttr to
O rmlia Bee. Edltorlil Dtpuinietit.
JANUARY CIRCULATION
59,964 Daily Sunday, 52,534
T 4wfie cirruutl o for tht mm to. subscribed tod swore to M Dwliht
i ' .WHIiaeja, Orculstlon M inner.
Subscribers leavinf tha city should bava Tha Baa mailed
Aa tham. Address chanted 11 often aa requested.
it; , .
? Are you reconciled to the "less" days?
j. Investigation of Hog Island ought to show
' who got .the pork.
j Wisconsin has a splendid opportunity to prove
'I its loyalty right now.
l "Keep the home fires burning," hut do not
ignore the tag on the shovel.
"Hi" Johnson is for free speech and honest
criticism, but does not want to see the privilege
if abused.
j! ) Omaha is not so much concerned over the
jj'price at which its bread sells in the state as it
jf is in what price is charged for it at home.
?i "" t
j You can tell it to the marines if you feel in
I clined. but the fact that more of these soldiers
h are being called for shows that the "leatherneck"
,i is appreciated in the service.
t
"'' The element of self is looming up big in many
. places throughout the country and service is suf-
' ; fcring thereby. Profiteers must keep in mind
; that the hereafter is not very far away.
Nebraska will make a substantial start on the
good roads campaign during the present, year
and in time ought to show up fairly well as pos
sessor of really improved highways, i
American-made tanks are to lumber across
the field in pursuit of the Boche, These are-of
different construction from the type of "tank"
( that went out of style in Nebraska last May.
; ' Base hospitals are eagerly sought after by
German airmen, who must have a special induce
ment to bomb such places. Killing the helpless
lias only brought renewed determination to ex
terminate the Hun.
It ts interesting to note that the opposition
. to Lloyd George in England comes from a com
4 bination of extreme tories, extreme socialists and
Avowed pacifists. Has civilization much to ex
. pect from elements such as these?
Careful critics suggest- that we keep an eye
t Km Italy, while the Germans threaten attack on
j 'the west front. Another drive into the Venetian
; I plain will b worth more than a fruitless attempt
Is to break through the allied line in France.
,'i Sending peace messages to Germany in sau
rjsage cases may have an opposite effect. Think of
,lthe feelings of hungry soldier of the kaiser
jifon tearing open the package and finding it con
ijjtaim only. a copy of the president's ipeech.
I! f ; Ak-Sar-Ben for 1918.
ll Naming committees of the Board of Gover
nors of Ak-Sar-Ben for 1918 may be accepted as
notice that the annual festival that has made
:Omaha famous is not to be allowed to fall into
lisuse. This is a wise determination. Admitting
:j?ll that may be said of disturbed conditions in
Jjstident to the war, these reasons present but
; stronger arguments why Ak-Sar-Ben should be
,?coptinued. The festival was born in a time of
deep business depression,. its mission plainly be
''ing to provide just what it has furnished through
r 2 fall the years, a point of convergence for the
jxnen of the region served at which they might
ifgather and under ttu- influence of personal con
I tact with friends, associates or rivals, business
.competitors and politicat opponents, get that en
jjeouragement and revivifying Influence they needed
l.to lift them out of the doldrums and set them
on the right road. Ak-Sar-Ben did this back in
those dead days of the '90s and in the war time
.j then it helped to keep alive the spirit of pa
triotism and devotion to country. It will do the
lisame now. Ak-Sar-Ben XXIV should be the
mightiest of all the line, just because he is
' needed now as never since the dynasty was established.
Wisconsin's Vacant Seat in the Senate.
Governor Phillip of Wisconsin, having called
the legislature together to give him the power,
announces his intention to appoint Congressman
Lenroot to the seat in the senate left vacant by
the death of Senator Husting last fall. A peculiar
political situation exists in that state just now.
Democrats are apparently willing that the va
cancy continue, rather than another republican
should be added to the senate roll call. La Fol
lette followers, socialists and pacifists are united
to defeat the selection of anyone who does not
advocate their views. It is for the legislature to
determine if .the vacancy remain unfilled. No
question can be made as to the loyalty of Mr.
Lenroot. He has given the president support in
all his war measures and may be depended on
to continue in that course. His presence in the
senate would add strength to the group de
voted to upholding American honor and pre
serving American institutions. In this regard
his appointment should appeal to the democrats
who are sincere in their support of the presi
dent. "At best the appointment is only for the
remainder of the present session of congress, as
the people must vote on the succession next fall.
. Wages for Railroad Workers.
The government railway wage board is get
ting down to the crux of its mission, coining to
the consideration of the great mass of unorgan
ized and underpaid railroad workers. One high
official has testified that wages are too low for
the greater number of employes. He places the
low rate as including all who receive less than
$150 per month. This takes in almost all who
are on the pay rolls of the great railroads of the
country. It gives in a concrete way the prob
lem that is before the wage board, that of what
rate of increase must be allowed the workers and
how the added cost of operation must be met.
The public has a question to answer in this
connection. It sympathizes with the men and
women who are being paid at too low a rate
and it also feels a rooted opposition to any con
siderable increase in railroad rates. If wages
are to be increased revenues must be also, else
a deficit is created. In the administration meas
ure for dealing with the railroads now under
consideration 'by the senate provision is made to
secure to stockholders an income corresponding
to the average net earnings for the three-year
period ending June 30, 1917. Whether this goes
through in its present form or is modified to
provide a reasonable return to the owners of the
roads will not matter so much so long as the
dividends are secure. If wages are increased
without securing the income economies must be
effected in other ways if revenues are to be pre
served, else the dividend must be paid from the
general fund.
1 It is possible to save something by cutting off
in services that cost much and produce little or
nothing. Some of these already have been done
away with. Others very likely will follow. Op
eration of all the roads as one system may save
more, but in the end the general rise in pa
for the workers, which now seems certain to
come, must be met from revenues which the
roads found inadequate under private control and
this almost as certainly means an increase in
rates as well as a curtailment of service.
Using Words as Weapon.
Remarkable as the fact may seem, Germany's
greatest victories in the world war , have been
won by words. When the Russian people un
seated the czar and overthrew the despotism, set
ting up a democracy in its stead, the armies, re
vived by the breath of liberty, began a fresh
assault on the Germans. Korniloff was leading
his regiments to victory in Galicia when Lenine
and Trotzky appeared on the scene.
One of these went from America, the other
from Switzerland through Germany, but both
were bent on the same mission, that of spreading
German propaganda. The people listened to
them; Kerensky fell, Korniloff disappeared and
the Russian republic vanished beneath the sodden
morass of bolsevism, until Russia today is with
out form and void, helpless, hungry and despair
ing before its German foe.
General Cadorna for two years had led his
armies across the Alpine peaks, surmounting stu
pendous difficulties and driving back the Aus
trains inch by inch, until he finally dominated
the Carso. He forced one Austrian stronghold
after another in the Julians and ,the Dolomites
and had reached a place where Austria, exhausted
and defeated, sullenly waited the final blow that
would make Italian victory complete. What hap
pened? German agents began to circulate in Italian
camps and trenches, spreading lies; the more ri
diculous or incredible the story the more eagerly
the Italian soldiers seized it. All the.se fabrica
tions were sugar-coated with the talk of brother
hood, of socialism, and the Italian refused to be
lieve the Italian, but swallowed whole whatever
the German told him. When Jhe poison had per
meated the line the Mackenzen drive was launched
and in two weeks Cadorna lost all he had gained
in two years.
German propagandists are busy in America;
they are telling us the Germans are beaten; that
the war will be over in three months and in
every possible way are seeking to undermine the
determination of the American people. Are we
to go the way the Russians and Italians went?
Spur of Necessity in World War
How Neglected Resources Were Called Into Play
Hon. Eranklin K. Lane in N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
The making of war today is far more than
a test of primal resources; it tests the full
powers of the nation in every resource and
capacity and especially along lines of scien
tific knowledge. And here again we find that
the ways of peace have given something in
the way of preparation for war.
A curious illustration of the war use of
peace machinery was brought to light when
a group of chemists, representing the gath
ered genius of the country in this science,
met to discuss the problem of toxic poison
ing by gases.
Germany has been foremost for some
years in the science of chemistry, and out of
its extensive experience has developed a
form of warfare which had not before been
known, a modern expression of those dia
bolical inventions such, as the cervi and
stimuli which made Caesar's campaign in
Gaul to be characterized as a war of science.
To meet this new method of attack by deadly
gases, the western powers promptly provided
gas masks which contained chemical ab
sorbents or other agents that would negative
the effects of the gases sent adrift by their
enemies. The soldier's kit, which was so
simple a thing in other wars, had to be in
creased by a gas mask not unlike the helmet
of a deep-sea diver, with a box of chemicals
adapted for offsetting the effect of the va
rious kinds of as the enemy was known to
use; and for special use in dugouts and saps
filled with concentrated gas, an oxygen sup
ply was furnished. These outfits were not
new to the world. For some years they were
put on by those who went into the mine
where the poisonous gases from explosions
or fires were known or supposed to exist.
Every rescue gang wore them. This coun
try claitned that it had improved upon the
English, German and French in the mask
which it provided. At any rate when we
came into the war we found ourselves pre
pared with the knowledge, the machinery
and the men to promptly meet the need of
gas masks in great quantity and of a superior
type.
In this department we have during the
last year had a glimpse of the expanding
romance of chemical study. We have found
adventure in the search for the hidden secrets
of petroleum, natural gas and coal tar, of
coal smoke and the refuse from 100 furnaces
and smokestacks. We appear to have sud
denly driven into a chemical age, or perhaps
it would be more accurate to say that we
have suddenly realized that we are in such
an age. New explosives, new fertilizers, new
sources of power, of food, new materials for
construction and destruction, , new preserva
tives of life and new agencies for the sweet
ening and wholesoming of life these are to
the credit of the modern chemist, and as a
by-product of this war we are to have a
higher appreciation of this branch of science.
America has been a wholesaler in raw ma
terials. We deal in things of magnitude, that
we took greatly as they came out of nature's
storehouse, not thinking or not caring how
much of any mysterious value they con
cealed. The chemist finds that nothing is
simple; he tears all things apart to find things
that are not patent to the eye, and out of the
infinitely little and obscure creates a new
world of things useful and beautiful. This
is the conversion that is going on in Amer
ica in all fields.
The growth of the chemical industries in
the United States since 1914 has been phe
nomenal. Not only have factories sprung up
to manufacture products formerly imported,
but great expansion has taken place to sup
ply the increased demand for all chemical
products. The country now manufactures
practically everything required along chem
ical lines.
The increase in capital invested in chem
ical industries was, in 1915, $65,565,000; in
1916, $99,244,000; and up to September, 1917,
$65,861,000 over the preceding year. New
chemical industries are now being opened up
at an unprecedented rate, owing to war needs
and the energy of American chemists and
physicists.
Before the war 90 per cent of the artificial
colors and dyes were imported, five or six
concerns with 400 operatives producing 3,300
short tons per year. Now there are over 90
enterprises, each making special colors, and
100 concerns making crudes and inter
mediates. Sulphuric acid, the chemical
barometer, has doubled in production. By
product coking doubled its capacity in the
last three years, yet in 1918 the United States
will make half her coke in beehive ovens.
Light oil, which contains the benzene and
toluene needed for explosives, jumped from
7,500,000 gallons in 1914 to 60,000,000 gallons
in 1917, and is again being largely increased.
Ammonia production has increased 100 per
cent in three years and the visible supply is
insufficient to meet demands. Gasoline pro
duction has increased from 35,000,000 to 70,
000,000 barrels per annum since 1914.
Potash importation from Germany was
stopped by the war, which has stimulated
production in this country. The production
from January to June, 1917, was 14,023 short
tons of potash. This is a small production,
but sodium salts have been substituted for
almost all purposes except agriculture. The
production of explosives and consequent con
sumption of nitric acid has increased
enormously. The nitric acid is' still almost
entirely made from Chili saltpeter, but
synthetic nitrogen plants are under process
of construction, and we have larger quantities
of coal tar ammonia which can be used for
munitions if necessary.
Before the war 40,000 tons of barite were
imported from Germany for the manufacture
of lithopone. Now five companies are pro
ducing this article from deposits in Tennes
see, Kentucky, Virginia and Missouri. Do
mestic supplies of manganese and pyrite have
been augmented.
War forces a nation to an intensive study
of what it can do. We of America have had
no little to boast of through the quick cen
tury of our march across a continent. But
we soon realize when thrown into such a
struggle as this war how far removed from
entire independence we are. There are raw
materials we need and for which the ocean
must be kept open, unless our dependent in
dustries are to weaken. Yet we could live
alone with Some substitution. We do not
know or have not developed what we have.
Bright Lights of Service at Sea
The honor of receiving the first medal of
honor awarded during the war with Ger
many belongs to Patrick McGunigal, a ship's
fitter, first class, attached to the United
States ship Huntington, who received this
t,oken for extraordinary heroism in the line
of his trade. Early in September, while
the ship was passing through the war zone,
a kite balloon was sent up with Lieutenant
Henry W. Hoyt. United States navy; as ob
server. When 400 feet up," the temperature
dropping, the balloon descended 200 feet and
was struck by a squall. It started on a nose
dive to the sea and was rolling oyer. Tangled
ropes overhead made it impossible for the
pilot to get out of the basket, which trailed
in the water while the man, thus held a pris
oner, was submerged. With great daring Mc
Gunigal climbed down the side of the ship,
jumped to the ropes- leading to the basket,
and cleared the tangle. Reaching the pilot,
McGunigal placed a bow line around the ex
hausted man's waist and he was safely hauled
to the deck. Another bow line was lowered
to McGunigal and he was taken aboard. In
making the medal award, Secretary of the
Navy Daniels referred to McGunigal's act
in rescuing this young officer as an extraor
dinary exhibition of self-sacrifice, as the
steam fitter knew that if he failed there was
no chance of himself being saved. In addi
tion to 'receiving the medal, McGunigal was
given a gratuity of $100.
Living up to every tradition of the United
States navy for courage and coolness in time
of peril, the officers and men of the destroyer
Jacob Jones gave a splendid account of them
selves when this vessel was torpedoed and
sunk bv a German submarine. Commander
David Worth Bagley. who had command of
the ship, gives unstinted praise to all his
shipmates in the report of the sinking. The
commanding officer and Lieutenant Norman
Scott were in the chart house when the
warning bell sounded the sighting of a tor
pedo. There was no chance to steer clear
of the torpedo, and it struck abreast a fuel
tank, blowing oil a portion of the deck and
flooding three compartments. The ship sank
rapidly. However, in this brief time with
death imminent at every moment. Lieutenant
Scott turned off the steam from the fireroom
to the engine room, then coming on deck,
fired the signal guns, in person, and accom
plished heroic service in assisting the men,
getting boats and rafts into the water and
floating the splinter mats from the bridge to
the sea. The yonng lieutenarft's work with
the crew is especially commended. Lieuten
ant Scott was born in Indianapolis on August
10, 1889, and entered the naval academy as
a midshipman from Indiana in 1906.
Although officers in the military forces of
this country are not allowed to accept dec
orations or gifts from foreign governments,
the British admiralty has just conferred hon
ors upon a young American officer. To Lieu
tenant Frank Loftin, United States navy, on
duty on an American destroyer operating in
the, war zone, has been given the Distin
guished Service Cross. The Navy department
announces this recommendation made
through the British ambassador. Loftin was
executive officer of the destroyer which, with
others, was convoying a number of troop
ships, when general quarters was sounded as
a torpedo was sighted coming toward the
ship. The lieutenant was the first officer
to reach the bridge. Sizing up the situation,
he rang down to the engine room for full
speed ahead. Getting this, he altered the
ship's course and headed directly for the
periscope of the U-boat. Quick maneuvering
followed, and a depth charge dropped in
the course of the submerged enemy sent him
out of sight. Lieutenant Loftin is from Ten
nessee and graduated from the naval acad
emy in the class of 1907.
Hanging by his feet from the edge of the
deck and stretching his arms to two strug
gling men in a terrific sea, an officer of the
United States navy made a heroic rescue dur
ing the fierce gale which swept the coast
early in December. In the midst of a north
east gale, which had the ship almost on its
side, a quartermaster was washed overboard
while trying to clear the steering gear. The
sea was running mad and he soon became ex
hausted. Tying a line about his waist, the
ship's cook jumped overboard and succeeded
in getting the man to the side of the ship.
It was then that Lieutenant Richard L. Con
nolly, U. S. N., swung himself over the rail
and, catching his feet to the edge, let him
self head down to the struggling men. One
grasped his outstretched hands and he drew
them up until they were pulled abroad. Con
nelly is from Waukegan, 111.
For cool head work, quick decision and
knowing the right thing to do and doing it,
a young officer of the United States navy
has won distinction from the British govern
ment. The English commander-in-chief has
recommended the award of the Distinguished
Service Cross to Ensign Henry N. Fallon,
United States navy. The officer was on duty
on a United States destroyer which was con
voying a merchant ship. Sighting a sub
marine, the man of war headed directly for
the enemy. It submerged and after a while
appeared, and by quick and well direcfed ma
neuvering the American kept after it and
by dropping a depth bomb escaped injury.
It is believed that the charge destroyed the
submarine. Ensign Fallon was on watch at
the time. He is a native of Pennsylvania
and was appointed to the naval academy in
1912.
I TODAY
'" Otic Year Ago Today In the War.
;' Party of 20 American consuls from
' Germany reached Switzerland.
Senate granted president extensive
i powers to enforce neutrality.
Ambassador Penfleld asked Austria
' ' to define clearly her policy on ruthless
warfare.
! The Day Wo Celebrate.
Major General James Parker,
L'nited States army, born In New Jer
sey, it years ao.
General Sir Henry Seymour Raw.
llnson, British commander, born 63
'years ago.
Mary Garden, soprano, born In
Aberdeen, Scotland 41 years ago.
Charles Hubbard Judd. University
of Chicago, born in British India, 45
years ago.
. , Herbert S. Had ley, former governor
, of Missouri, born at Olathe, Kan., 44
- years ago.
This Day In Hlntory.
172 Colonel William Prescott.
who commanded the Americans at
Hunker Hill, born at Groton, Mas,
j -Died at Pepperrell, Mass., October 13,
' 175.
i T 1784 -General John E. Wool, who
-) 'gave more than 60 years of his life
':to the military service of the United
!;tateu. born at Newburg, N. T. Died
, ,at Troy, N. Y.. in 1869.
I. 1809 -Saragossa, Spain, surrendered
, -to the French after a heroic resistance
'in which the Inhabitants of both sexes
took an active part
Just SO Years Ago Today
The new grip cars for the Omaha
Cable Tramway company weref ship
ped from New York, and as soon as
they come the Dodge street line will
be put In operation.
Edward Rothery and Arthur Roth
ery and A. H. Forbes presented Pat
Killen during his stay here with an
elegant gold headed cane.
The county' commissioners have
prepared a communication addressed
to the chairman of the police commis
sioners of the city council in which
they state that. they will board city
prisoners tn the county Jail for the
present and will charge 15 cents per
meal and 15 cents for lodging.
Rusa McKelvey, the ' old-time ball
fusser. now an employe of the Union
Pacific Railroad company, was
awarded the score-card privilege at
the ball park for the coming season
for a consideration of MOO.
Nebraska Politics
Columbus Telegram: If the State
Council spent $ 1,000 In circulating pe
titions for the resignation of. Patricia
Neweomb, a member of the university
board of regents, why not spend $2,
000 for petitions demanding the res
ignation of Patricia's senatorial
paramour?
Stromsburg News: Senator Hitch
cock is greatly disturbed because the
president Is so poorly informed as to
the true conditions In this war. It is
really too bad that the president
should be so ignorant since he might
have had the same widely Informed
authority at his elbow, telling him not
only what had not been done, but
what ought to be done, and how to
do it
Crawford Courier: Nebraska dem
ocrats are very much worried over
the political situation in the state.
Regarding the gubernatorial phase,
Neville smiles enigmatically and re
fuses to state whether or not he will
again become a candidate for gover
nor. Charley Bryan, who wants to
be governor so badly that he can taste
It, also smiles significantly and pro
fesses not to be alarmed over the out
look. To say that a tight to the finish
is on between the Bryan and anti
Bryan factions is to mention a sure
thing. If the Courier may be allowed
to prophesy, it would like to predict
that the next governor of Nebraska
and state control in all branches will
come back into republican hand his
coming election
Right to the Point
Minneapolis Journal: The packers
at last are able to make use of the
squeal.
New York Herald: The kaiser, it
Is announced, la to "take the cure" in
Belgium. Here's hoping that some
Belgians will get a chance to admin
ister It!
Baltimore American: The French
government has ordered 1,000,000 foot
balls for the army. Wfth their expe
rience in the trenches and in rushing
the Boches the French should develop
into fine players.
Louisville Courier-Journal: "I am
not the slave of money, but Its lord,"
said Bolo Pasha recently. Yet it
seems that Bolo wasMts slave and that
he Is about to pay the penalty for
the crimes the slave driver dictated.
Louisville Courier-Journal: The
kaiser, in his latest speech, speaks of
"the intimate union of the crown and
the people." . In 1914 the intimate
union was between Wilhelm und Gott.
but the Germans were then full of
food and full of hope of loot. Now
they are hungry and irritable and
must be handled with tact.
Minneapolis Tribune: C S. Thomp
son of the American Defense society
recently declared that 14 German
spies had been executed in this coun
try and that millions of rounds of
ammunition were being manufactured
In this country and shipped to Ger
many. Both reports have been offi
cially investigated and proved abso
lutely groundless. The country is
cursed with rumor mongers who
would rather tell a tale than look for
a fact
Twice Told Tales
Some Pie Biter.
A tourist was going through a sec
tion of Alabama one afternoon, and
chancing to pause before the door of
a colored family's cabin he became
greatly impressed by the masterful
way in which a pickannlny was go
ing through a dish of chicken and a
large slice of pie.
"Just look at him," remarked the
tourist, addressing the father. "Ho
has surely got a fair enough appe
tite." "Yes, sah, boss; yes, sah," proudly
replied the father. "He am some art
ist at eatin.' Just look at him gwlne
aftah dat pie."
"He Is right there with the clutch,
alt right" smiled the tourist. "Up to
the present time he has not lost a
single crumb."
"No, indeed, sah; no, Indeed." as
sured the parent "Once he git his
upah lip obah a pie it am his pie,
boss; it am his pie," Philadelphia
Telegraph.
Tender Memories.
"Shut that door!" yelled the rough
man. "Where were you raised, in a
barn?" The man addressed meekly
and silently complied, but the speaker,
looking at him a moment later, ob
served that he was in tears. Going
over to his victim he apologized. "Oh,
come," he said soothingly, "you
shouldn't take it to heart because I
asked if you were raised in a barn."
"That's it that's it" sobbed the
other man. "I was raised in a barn
and it makes me homesick every time
I hear an asa bray." Boston Transcript
7fis&
xees
9m
Stands Up for the Squirrel.
Fort Calhoun.. Neb., Feb. 16. To
the Editor of The Bee: Last fall
Frank Agnew wrote a letter to The
Bee in which he said our little park
and woodland squirrels are destroy
ers of bird life and birds nests. Most
of Mr. Agnew's letters in The Bee
contain common sense, but he knows
no more about the life and habits of
the squirrel than the great "Billy"
Sunday knows of the bottomless pits
of hell. I have been a naturalist and
nature man all my life and live among
the wild birds and animals. The squir
rel is no meat eater, like the house
cat, and will not kill birds and de
stroy nests, like the blue jay and the
butcher bird. Mr. Agnew is all right
when it comes to telling how to build
a warm chicken house and how to
feed the old hen so she will lay two
or three eggs a day, but when it comes
to writing about our wild life in the
woods and mountains he Is away off.
About having the squirrels killed on
as a nuisance, I have been around
the parks in the summer time and
have watched the squirrels pretty
close, but I never have seen them
kill birds. Nature has not made them
that way. The house cat will kill
birds, but squirrels will not. any more
than a cotttontail rabbit will climb a
tree and kill a bird.
CHARLES STOLTENBERG.
Income Tax Question.
Omaha, Feb. 14. To the Editor
of The Bee: Kindly permit me a
query pertaining to the full working
of the new income tax.
I am engaged in a small business,
the full vlume of sales amounting to
$3,200 for last year. Would I be
taxed on the above? My wife con
ducts this business and I am em
ployed elsewhere, with my earning
power amounting to less than $1,000.
Would I be tax exempted on the last
named? Yours very truly,
ANXIOUS.
Ans. You are taxed on your total
Income, from whatever source derived.
Deduct the expense of conducting your
business from the total receipts there
from and add the remainder to your
earnings; this will give you your total
income, from which you are allowed
to exempt $2,000 as a married man.
The balance is taxable.
Compensation for Occupational
Disease.
New York City, Feb. 16. To the
Editor of The Bee: We were pleased
to note an editorial in your columns
of January 8 pointing out the injus
tice of excluding those injured by
"occupational diseases" from the ben
efits of the workmen's compensation
law in Nebraska.
With the extension of munitions
industries using many dangerous
chemicals this injustice Is becoming
more and more glaring. Perhaps it
is not generally recognized that this
injustice could be remedied with com
paratively little expense, because the
number of occupational diseases Js
after all very limited, indeed. In Cal
ifornia last year, where all occupa
tional diseases are compensated, out
of a total of 94,879 injuries reported
only 348 were cases of occupational
disease, for which the total compen
sation paid was less than $4,000. In
England, where occupational 'dis
eases are included under the work
men's compensation law, the number
of cases of occupational disease is
found to be very small. During the
years 1908-1913 less than 1 per cent
of all fatal injuiies were caused by
occupational diseases and less than
V per cent of disablement cases
were due to occupational diseases.
As it is probable that the nunber
of cases of occupational disease n
Nebraska would certainly not be
more than in England, it can readily
be seen that the expense to the em
ployers resulting from provision for
these very pathetic cases in Nebraska
would be almost insignificant.
JOHN B. ANDREWS.
Secretary American Association for
Labor Legislation.
worried you tf you'll promise not to t-l'
p anything that'll worry me. Boston
Transcript.
"Tell me what people read, and I'll tell
you what they are."
"Well, there's my wife. She's forever
reading cookbooks. Now what la she?"
"A cook, of course."
"That's where the spokes rattle In your
wheels my boy. She only thinks she is.'.'
Boston Transcript.
Miss Cglyface I suspect the men who
have proposed to me of being after my
money, and I would not marry a man who
did not love me for myself alone.
Miss Curlylocks But, my dear, the age
of miracles is past. Baltimore American.
"Are you studying geography in school?"
"Not in school," replied the energetio
boy; "in the war maps." Washington Star.
"I'm very fond of limburger. My wife
hates It, but I manage to keep a little In
the house surreptitiously."
"Gee whiz! How do you manage the sur
reptitious part of it?" Boston Transcript.
Visitor I suppese, Willie, that you can
spell all the short words?
Willie (who hears much talk about auto
mobiles) Yes, I can spell words of four
cylinders. New Tork Times.
MOTHER'S LITTLE BIT.
(Anna W. Edwards In New York Sun.)
"Do your bit! Do your bit!" Is all I hear
'em say,
"Do your bit, do your bit. morning, night
and day!"
So ladies fine give up their time, their
money an' their play:
An' merchant kings clip their wings give
Sammie right-of-way.
But here I sit don't even knit jus' patch.
an' cook, an' darn,
Count the pence I strive to stretch can't
even buy some yarn.
Each kiddie has a Liberty Bond an' how I
scrimped to pay!
An' make good soup from out o' stuff mos'
folks 'd throw away.
I try to bring a little cheer, a tiny ray
of joy
To neighbor friend across the way who's
lost her only boy.
An' not a night that closes when the kiddles
start to pray,
But "Don't forget our boys In France," I
whisperlngly say.
An' so It makes me kind of blue to hear 'em
always say,
"Do your bit, do your bit, morning, night
and day!"
For think an' plan an' figure In no matter
how I may
It's such a tiny bit of bit that seems my
only way.
But somehow now an' then It comforts me
to think
That maybe the Recording Angel waiting at
the brink
Will nod a welcoming to those who didn't
duty shirk;
An in the final reckonin' make up The
Book to show
That all the little bits of bits when added
up together
Have made a big, big, big bit an" a little
extra measure!
Keeping the Sabbath.
North Platte, Neb., Feb. 18. To the
Editor of The Bee: I understand the
readers of The Bee have the privi
lege to ask and answer questions
through the Letter Box, so I come.
A Seventh Day Adventlst friend of
your city Is asking me where I get
my authority to keep the first day
of the week a Sabbath. I am follow
ing the examples of those men that
translated the English Bible, an ex
ample, my friend, you spurn as from
false prophets, yet you accept their
Bible as true. That shows you are
not consistent. Now. my friend, I
ask. you where did those translators
get their authority to keep the first
day of the week as their Christian
church Sabbath Instead of the sev
enth day that God had commanded
the Jews to keep holy? You may
say you do not know, but this you
and those of your faith do know: If
you had been living with those trans
lators you would have had to keep
the first day of the week a Sabbath
as they did, providing you were Chris
tians like them. You know you would,
in view of that fact. Where is your
excuse for not keeping it with the
Christians in Omaha today?
CYRUS STEBBINS.
Prohibition at Hastings.
Omaha, Feb. 16. To the Editor of
The Bee: Just as a matter of fair
ness to the people of Nebraska who
overwhelmingly voted for abolishing
the saloon possibly you will publish
this extract from a letter written me,
voluntarily, by my friend, Madgett
mayor of Hastings, February 12:
"My Dear Mr. Clark: I saw your
remarks in The Bee. For the benefit
of the people who think prohibition
is not a success permit me to give the
following facts:
' "In pur city from May 1. 1916, to
May 1, 19f7, the last 12 months of
saloons, our police department han
dled over 3,000 drunks. This year
from May 1, 1917, to February 1,
1918, nine months, our police depart
ment handled 35 drunks, and I have
this to say, that men who were kept
by the city last winter this winter are
not on the charity list.
"Recently the Presbyterian church
turned Its 'poor' offering to the de
ficiency war fund because there were
no poor." FRED J. CLARK.
CHERRY CHAFF.
"When the bank was struggling in the
teeth of the financial storm, that financier
advocated their filling with gold."
"He must have started in life as a den
tist.' Baltimore American.
"I want a pair of button shoes for my
wife."
"This way, sir. What kind do you wish,
slrr
'Doesn't matter, just so they don't button
In the back." People's Home Journal.
Mother Where have you been, you bad
boy? You should be ashamed to worry
your mother so.
Bobby Well. ma. I'll be ashamed that I
The Famous
HOSPE
Player-Piano
Is equal to every occasion.
You have always cherished the
hope of having a player piano
in your home why not secure
it now, and enjoy it while most
in need of music's cheering in
fluence! Only $475
A first payment of $25 secures
immediate delivery the re
mainder may be paid $15 a
month.
A. HOSPE CO.
1513 Douglas St.
New Pianos, $200, $225, $250.
Used Pianos, $75, $100, $125.
Easy Payments.
Bright Eyes
indicate buoyant health. When
the eyes are dull, liver and bow
els need regulating. Quickly
restore healthy conditions with
a dose or two in time of
BEECH AM'S
PILLS
Largest Sal of Amy Msdicisn fat tha World,
Sold everywhere). In bosos, 10., 2 tic
lies
, DO THIS-
When the Children Cough, Rub
Musterole on Throats
and Chests
No telling how soon the symptoms tnaj
develop into croup, or worse. And then's
when you're glad you have a jar of Mus
terole at hand to give prompt, sure re
lief. It does not blister. ,
As first aid and a certain remedy,
Musterole is excellent Thousands oi
mothers know it You should keep a
jar in the house, ready for instant use.
It is the remedy for adults, too. Re
lieves sore throat, bronchitis, tousilitis,
croup, stiff neck, asthma, neuralgia, head
ache, congestion, pleurisy, rheumatism,
lumbago, pains and aches of back or
joints, sprains, sore muscles, chilblains,
frosted feet and colds of the chest (it 4
often prevents pneumonia). "
30c and 60c jars; hospital size $2.50.
r THE OMAHA BEE INFORMATION BUREAU "P-
I Washington, D. C.
Enclosed find a 2-cent stamp, for which you will please send me, I
I entirely free, "German War Practices." 1
I
Name.
Street Address.
!,
zz:zji
jCity State ..-.-.--.- f
