THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1918.
The Omaha Bee
DAILY (MORNING) EVENING SUNDAY
FOUNDED BY EDWARD ROSEWATEH
VICTOR ROSEWATER. EDITOR
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OFFICESi
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NOVEMBER CIRCULATION
Daily 69,418 Sunday 63,095
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to them. Address changed aa often aa requested.
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Now for the real rush of Christmas shop
ping. Also, do not forget to mail your Christmas
packages early.
A dollar is all it costs, and the Red Cross
badge is yours.
Our present president resembles our first,
in that both have been made honorary citizens
of Taris.
Max Hardin talks of coming to America to
pjead for Germany, but he ought to recall that
the Hun beat him to it.
Mr. Wilson has given Taris the supreme
thrill of the war. After his visit even that cen
ter of gayety will seem quiet.
China is to adopt a system of symbol writ
ing, but that will not make the tea-box labels
,any clearer to a "foreign devil."
The commander of U-53 escaped the sur
render, but he will not be able to get away
from the ignominy of bis calling.
( An opera singer serving at a lunch counter
may be a novelty, but we have many an example
of cooks and waitresses singing opera.
The suggestion that Karl Liebknecht have
his head examined is timely, but it ought to be
extended to include a lot of his followers.
Dr. Blue of the navy tells us the flu has
passed its crest and will not stage a come-back.
For this assurance, much thanks, but how are
we to know?
Six Christmas ships are carrying good cheer
from home to the boys over there. Do you
remember how you helped The Bee load the
Jason, back in 1914?
Nebraska's crop for 1913 did not come up to
some others the state has garnered, so far as
quantity is concerned, but the market price
rtiakesjjp. the deference.
t i " '
p Uniform traffic laws for the several states
; are suggested as a possible solution for the
motorist's present perplexity. The first one
; should require observance of all the rest.
i
Why should it be necessary to urge anyone
,-v to join the Red Cross? It is a,badge of honor
that anyone should be proud to wear, ad ad-
miision to the roll is an honor anyone rhight
covet.
Sir Thomas Lipton will find American
sportsmen quite eager to renew the ancient con
troversy for supremacy of the seas as repre
sented by the "mug." And both sides know
there is no pewter in it.
Bill Hohenzolleni evidently looks forward
to an unpleasant time in court, having called in
lawyers to prepare his defense. This is quite a
come-down for a gent who lately held himself
answerable only to his old friend, Gott.
Chairman Moon is meeting some obstacles
in his effort to convince the house that the
purchase of the wires is an immediate neces
sity. Perhaps if Burleson were not in the back
ground a different light might shine on the
proposal.
I
The "muny" ice plant might quiet some
local apprehension incident to next summer's
.service by announcing an extension of its plan
for furnishing citizens with ice. Last summer's
operations were all right as far as they went,
but did not go far enough.
The Mauretania sailed into Halifax with
7,000 returning "Canucks" on board, and
claimed the record for the load. sThis was on
Saturday, but here comes the Leviathan with
9,000 Yanks on its passenger list, just to show
what a real transport can do.
' The Lost Troubadour
Where, oh where, is Karl Rosner Rosner
who revealed the kaiser as a botanist and his
firstborn son as a naturalist?
Tales of lugubrious Hohenzollerns flashed
From Holland inspire regret that the once rever
ential biographer of German royalty did not
follow his idols into exile. When his touching
description of the elder Hohenzollern picking
violets the while he wept over the disasters
which his stiff necked enemies had brought
upon themselves is recalled, one longs for the
picture which he might make of that same in
dividual plucking nettles or other noxious
weeds and shedding upon tulips tears for his
own sad fate. Rosner's vivid portrayal of the
younger Hohenzollern relating to the elder the
miracle of the frogs which croaked so thunder
ously as to drown the noise of the German ar
tillery and permit his armies to advance unex
pectedly prompts longing for his account of
that fanciful personage listening to the thunder
of the waves against his seagirt prison as he
gazes upon the sorrowful picture of the Prodigal
Son ia his simple domicile,
v Nine there was so deft as the missing Ros
ner in verbally disguising devil as Madonna, in
training the morning glories of posty over the
Hohenzollern dunghill. By leaving or losing
him Wilhelm and Fritz have deprived posterity
of an epic "work beside which Virgil's classic
tale of the adventures of Aeneas would have
appeared as a narrative of the simple life.
New York Herald. ,
SELECTIVE DRAFT" A SUCCESS.
General Crowder is well within reason when
stating that the selective draft system has more
than justified its adoption as a method for rais
ing an army. It would be absurd to contend
that by the volunteer system the United States
could have raised an army numbering more
than 4,000,000 men, to have trained, equipped
and sent across the Atlantic more than 2,000,000
of these, and to have had another million ready
for such transportation within the short time
we were in Jhe war. v
Registration of more than 23,000,000 men,
with accurate detailed information relative to
the personal affairs of each, is alone an achieve
ment of such magnitude as to give the law an
impressive standing. All its operations were
novel to Americans, but generally were carried
out in such spirit as made them more effective.
The early establishment of the constitutionality
of the measure was helpful, and those who op
posed it at the time of the great crisis uncon
sciously did the republic a service. That it will
be relied upon for the future as the agency
through which the military forces of the United
States will be provided in time of war may be
accepted as fairly well settled.
Its application in time of peace has not as
yet been decided upon. Advocates of universal
training will rely on it, finding In its provisions
ready support for their convictions. If we are
to have our young men trained in the rudi
ments of the soldier's trade, the. selective draft
law will make easy the approach to such a
system.
Whether the disbanding of the draft boards
was justified at this time, or whether it would
have been wiser to retain them to assist in the
muster out, need not now be debated. The
public owes a great deal to the men who served
on those boards. They were charged with a
grave and important duty, accepting responsi
bilities rarely put upon citizens. That these
duties were well discharged is shown by the
results.
If the law did not always operate smoothly,
and sometimes apparent injustice or- hardship
resulted, it was not the design of the draft
boards that was to blame. No chapter of all
our experience in the war is of greater moment
than that written by these men, on whose judg
ment, patriotic prudence and devotion rested
the first step of forming the new army. To
them belongs more credit than they probably
ever will get.
Our New Merchant Marine.
The report of the Emergency Fleet Corpor
ation and the United States Shipping board
gives a careful review of the activities of the
great organizations that have achieved so much
of real accomplishment within the year. When
the squabbles that began under the chairman
ship of Mr. Denman were brought to an end
by his removal and the work was reorganized
under Mr. Hurley, the building of ships actu
ally commenced.
The Hog Island episode may be dealt with
at another time, as the senate still is in the
mood to more thoroughly inquire into some of
the conditions that surround that deal. With
this at one side, the fact stands out that the
United States did make great progress in
its ship building program. Although the full
amount of tonnage asked for was not deliv
ered, on November 21 the Emergency Fleet
Corporation owned 455 new ships of 2,648,892
deadweight tons. In all, on that date, the fleet
corporation had control of 1,386 vessels, aggre
gating 7,498,075 deadweight tons, owned, man
aged or chartered. Part of this fleet has been
returned to its private ownership since.
The coming year, says the report, will see a
larger turn-out from the shipyards, because
many technical difficulties have been conquered
and improvements have been adopted. It is
proposed to complete the full number of steel
vessels contracted for, and wooden shipsv under
the conditions recently announced. No con
crete vessels will be added to the fleet till the
engine builders overtake the hull constructors.
While Mr. Hurley does not specifically out
line a future for the great fleet, he has expressed
himself in other places as favoring its continued
ownership and operation by the government.
Other authorities have discussed the question,
with varying opinions, but all agree that in the
existence of the ships called forth by the
U-boat warfare found the future for American
commerce. The place we held prior to the war
of the rebellion may be regained through the
war of 1917.
Confusion Becoming Confounded.
The uproar at a little gathering in New
York, when a speaker sought to expound an
idea in connection with colonial control, is
symptomatic of the state of public mind. Rep
resentatives of "submerged" nationalities, just
now breathing the air of freedom, find it not
easy to curb all the aspirations that have been
repressed for generations. Therefore a confu
sion of thought has ensued, and this is being
confounded as these patriots come together
for conference over the future. It is not that
insuperable difficulties have appeared, yet it is
clear that all expressed hopes are not to be
realized. Adjustment of claims with respect to
the rights of others, that justice may be done
to all, is the greatest job ahead of the old na
tions lately become new. That they will find
help in America and elsewhere is certain, but
it is equally true they must begin by helping
themselves. National greatness may be denied
them, perhaps, but national dignity, prosperity
and happiness will be theirs, if they will only
just start right. This is a time for wiping out
ancient grudges and getting under headway
with a clean sheet for a new world.
Mr. McAdoo reassures the Missouri river
navigators that the Mississippi barge line is not
to be abandoned. This js one government en
terprise that means a great deal to the middle
west, and Omaha is deeply interested in its ex
tension. When the towboats go up and down
the Missouri on regular scheduled trips, dreams
now entertained will be realized, and one big
transportation problem wiH- have been solved.
The water wagon is to follow the Allies into
Germany. If the Hun's other idols are to be
taken from him, why not let Gambrinus go
with Wotan? It looks like the "gotterdamer
ung" all right.
Another makeshift public market is pro
posed. If Omaha is ever to have proper ac
commodations in this line, it is time to start
right
Right in the Spotlight
Carter Glass, who today takes of
fice as secretary of the treasury of
the United States in succession to
William G. McAdoo, has been a
member of congress for eight terms
and is regarded as one of the best
informed men on currency and bank
ing in the country. During the past
few years he has had many offers
from banking institutions, but has
preferred to remain in public life.
Mr. Glass is a native of Lynchburg,
Va., and is in hns sixty-first year. He
learned the printing business when
a youth, and is now the owner and
publisher of two newspapers in his
native city. He is now the second
newspaper man in President Wil
son's cabinet, the other being Jo
sephus Daniels, secretary of the
navy. (
One Year Ago Today in the War.
The armistice between Russia and
Germany came into effect.
British and French troops joined
the Italian army in the defense of
the Piave line.
In Omaha 30 Years Ago Today.
Casper E. Yost has been ap
pointed by Judge Dundy to be re
ceiver of the Omaha Republican
and will continue to run the paper.
Word comes from Boston that Dr.
Duryea preached his farewell ser-
Future of the Red Cross
mon as pastor of the Central Con
gregational church there prepara
tory to taking charge of the First
Congregational church of this city.
Rev. A. W. Lamar preached at the
First Baptist church on "Father
hood. Its Responsibilities and its
Joys."
Herbert Taylor, eldest son of
Cadet Taylor, fractured several
bones of his right foot and will be
confined to his room for a week or
two.
Fred W. Jones, manager of the
cloak and suit department at Fal
coners, died at his residence, 1513
Howard street.
The Day We Celebrate.
Frank L. Weaver, city attorney,
born 1861
William' A. Smith, vice-president
of the Omaha andv Council Bluffs
Street Railway company, born 1847.
Admiral Austin M. Knight, U. S.
N., born at Ware, Mass., 64 years
ago.
Rear Admiral James M. Helm, U.
S. N., born at Grayville, 111., 63
years ago.
william J. Snow, who held a com
mission as major general in the na
tional army, born in New York 50
years ago.
Oscar B. Colquitt, former gov
ernor of Texas, born at Camilla, Ga.,
57 years ago.
Dr. Isaac Sharpless, former presi
dent of Itaverford college, born in
Chester county, Pa., 70 years ago.
' i
This Day in History.
1824 Thomas Starr King, a Uni
tarian divine to whose remarkable
powers as a writer and speaker has
been ascribed the loyalty of Cali
fornia to the Union in the civil
war, born in New York city. Died
in San Francisco, March 4, 1864.
1857 Ten thousand lives lost in
an earthquake in Calabria.
1870 The French under General,
n t i . r l
at Vendome.
1914 Ninety-nine persons killed
in a German raid on the English sea
coast towns of Scarboro, Hartlepool
and Whitby.
1915 Italian destroyer Intrepedo
and transport Re Umberto sunk in
Adriatic.
Timely Jottings and Reminders.
Today is the centenary of the
birth of John Laurence Smith, one
of the most original and independent
of American scientific investigators
of the nineteenth century.
A special meeting of the board of
directors of the National Lumber
Manufacturers' association has been
called to meet in Chicago today to
consider the advisability of providing
additional revenues for the associa
tion. Nevada is to taks its place in the
list of bone-dry states today as a
result of the November election,
L when the initiative prohibition
amendment was adopted by a major
ity of between 2,000 and 3,000.
Twenty thousand hotel men from
all parts of the United States and
Canada are expected in New York
City today for the opening of the
National hotel exposition and con
gress, wh'ch will hold forth for a
week in Madison Square garden.
Storyette of the Day.
Edward Marshall, the noted au
thor and war correspondent, said
in London:
"I can sympathize with the Eng
lish hatred of the slacker.
"The slacker gets it good and hard
in England nowadays. One of these
slacking chaps boarded a tram the
other evening that was crowded
with muddy, unshaven soldiers just
back on a five-day furlough from
the trenches. ;
"The slacker was in evening dress
silk socks, pumps, brilliantined
hair, and dainty white gloves. There
were no seats, so he took hold of a
strap. As he stood there, strap
hanging, the Tommies studied him
thoughtfully. Finally one oft them
got up, touched him on the elbow
politely, and said:
"'Have my seat, miss.'"
IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN
SOLDIER BOYS
He la not dead; 'tis but th"! shell
That Math here so mid and still;
He who but yesterday
Did greet us with a smile
Hath but preceded ua
Across the bridge
You and I must cross
In the afterwhile.
And in that land where God hath decreed
All strife and tumult cease.
Our soldier boy today
Doth dwell In peace.
Mayhap with him who.
By the Irony of fate,
Became his foe.
Who 'monf us all ,
Doth dare to say,
"It la not so."
CHARLES H. JACOBS.
McCook. Nab.
New York Evening Post
Having risen splendidly to a tremendous
emergency task, the American Red Cross feels
that it has proved its capacity for the permanent
shouldering of new responsibilities. It now has
22,000,000 members, and at Christmas intends
asking all Americans to join and pay their dol
lar. Since January 1 the American people have
given it nearly $360,000,000, and what remains,
the membership fees and the gifts of materials
that will be asked from time to time, will be
sufficient for the present. But as Chairman
Davison indicates in his statements, the Amer
ican Red Cross intends no slackening of its
relief work. Its undertakings will merely have
a slowly changing character as its war work
merges into more 'normal peace activities.. The
winter is expected to see acute suffering abroad.
In alleviating this misery the American Red
Cross expects the European governments and
the European relief organizations to step for
ward more prominently. The governments in
particular may take entire charge of some fields.
"Co-operation" Mr. Davison emphasized in
speaking, of the Red Cross' future in countries
which will show a rapid expansion of agencies
for binding up their own wounds. We "must
not and cannot act alone;" we must wait on the
general program before outlining our definite
policies. But this co-operation has been a
watchword to a greater extent than we com
monly realize. The Red Cross, which
may seem to the hasty American mind to have
begun work in a huge vacuity of social agen
cies, has labored in communities full of them.
They are loyally supported and intelligently
managed. Few things in the Red Cross record
are more admirable than the tact shown in util
izing or being utilized by them.
Just before fighting ended the Red Cross ac
complished a reorganization in ' France which
partially decentralized it and gave it greater
flexibility. The country was divided into irreg
ular zones, each with its manager. The admin
istrative departments became six. That of re
quirements was given charge of supplies, per
sonnel, transport and manufacturing; the med
ical and surgical department was given the
children's bureau, nursing and the bureau of
reconstruction and re-education; that of army
and navy service the home service, canteens and
armv field service, and that of general relief the
refugees, war orphans, soldiers' families and
agriculture. The two other departments are
those of medical research and French hospitals.
Still further changes will be necessary now in
France and in the alignment of Red Cross work
as it affects all Europe and America; but the
old organization, adaptable as it was to a nice
adjustment between civilian relief and army
work as the demand varied, will serve as frame
work. The Red Cross has trained agents study
ing the field with care. Homer Folks is abroad
with expert helpers examining the war's social
effects in most of the allied countries' from
Britain and Belgium to Greece, and, possibly
Russia. His reports are expected to furnish
one basis for the Red Cross' peace plans. Tu
berculosis, child welfare, housing, public health,
with details of the government solution of food
and fuel problems, will demand of the Red Cross
planned effort.
Americans were always proud of the Red
Cross as an agency of national and interna
tional relief. We turned to it for a score of do
mestic needs, from that of meeting a mine dis
aster to that of furnishing funds and plans for
fighting tuberculosis. We were glad to point
to its record at Messina, in flooded China and
starvingIndia, and in the typhus-scourged Bal
kans. Yet we were put to shame by even Japan
in' the matter of Red Cross membership, and
wereremarkably slow in giving the Red Cross
means of building itself up sturdilv and well.
In her book on the Red Cross before we en
tered the war Mabel Boardman protested
against our "happy-go-lucky" faith in emergency
measures. Now that the Red Cross is left by
the war with extraordinary strength, with an
experienced corps, with a many-sided organiza
tion well tested, we should be eager to see it
kept strong.
Poor Bernstorff's Troubles.
u With regret Count Bernstorff confessed that
the fact of an American newspaper being sub
sidized can never be kept secret, because there
is no reticence in this country."
This national failing was deplorable. It was
annoying and embarrassing to the kaiser's
trusted agent in Washington in his efforts to
enlighten the American people. They were not
so easily fooled as the honest Germans, whose
government made it a business to stuff tham
with stupid official lies. The German ambassa
dor had unlimited funds with which to corrupt
purchasable publications or to nourish needy
anti-American editors. But none of his ven
tures turned out well. "It always ends," he'com
plained to Berlin, "in my being" held responsible
for all the articles of any such newspapers."
The only investment Count Bernstorff found
profitable was the "peace propaganda, which
has cost the largest amount but which also has
been the most successful." He had tried the Em
bargo association, -which enjoyed the patronage
of a representative since indicted and an emi
nent western senator. He made use of the Ger
man University league and other associations,
but none gave real satisfaction. After the sink
ing of the Lusitania he found it expedient to
get rid of "all dubious individuals;" some sought
to fasten themselves on him as permanent pen
sioners, and failing that, they "try to blackmail
us."
The real burden of Count Bernstorff's griev
ances, however, was not that he spent enormous
sums to no purpose, that he was bled right and
left by the kind of people he selected for the
services he required, but that he was bound to
be caught if he subsidized an American news
paper, because the suspicions of American news
paper readers would at once be aroused.
We would not tolerate the system of fraud
which the German government cultivated in
Germany. We were not kultured. New York
World.
One Idol Amid Ruins.
A man just arrived in Amsterdam from Berlin
reports' that all save one of Germany's idols
have fallen. The others, war lords and states
men, and the ruler by divine right himself, are
no longer subjects even of conversation. Hin
denburg alone remains erect amid the ruins of
the old regime, and still commands the rever
ence and respect once accorded to every com
manding figure of the days that are so remote,
though at the same time so recent.
Why this should be so is not easy of under
standing. Hindenburg does not look like a great
man, though undoubtedly he is a big man, and
there is strangely little evidence that he pos
sesses military genius. He did inflict a single
crushign defeat on the Russians in the early
part of the war, but the circumstances were
peculiar and all in his favor, and since then his
achievements, if any, have not come to foreign
notice. Indeed, outside of Germanv he has been
held a half-mythical personage. Perhaps he is
no more within Germany and in that very fact
may he he reason for his survival in popular
esteem.
A less fanciful theory of his present favor is
that it rests on his refusal to run away or hide
when the crash came. He has shown none of
the so common fear of his own soldiers, and if
the allies want him they will have no d;fficulty
in finding him. By comparison with other war
lords, he is now heroic, however he mny have
been in the past, and heroes are scarce in Ger
many. New York Times.
Nation-Wide Question.
"What shall we do with auto speeders?"
The question vexes the country east and west
and all around the center. Jails are not big
enough to hold 'em. Fines make about as
much of an impression as water on a duck's
back. Safety promoters in New York state now
propose a law giving trial judges power to re
voke licenses in lieu of the imposition of fines.
Chauffeurs are licensed in the Empire state.
Around the State
Adam Breede of The Hastings
Tribune appears to have landed in
his old Job. More, than no
graph decorates the editorial page
each day.
.vWh!? ,Cheyenn' dry! The
thought loses l;self in visions of in-
a gestiDie aust. Along the Denver
highway and th,- Lincoln route to
Sidney and bpynrtd the bootlegger
warily asks, "Where do we go from
here, papa?"
Following the example of the Fre
mont Tribune in tollini? its age the
Nebraska City Press 'f esses up to
60 years and still going strong. Oh.
well, as long as old chanticleers give
themselves away the youngsters have
no kick coming.
Crete Vidette will not weary of
good work and phns a fresh cam
paign for paved streets. Now with
peace cheering the multitude, failure
is Impossible. The road roller of
progress is bound to move regardless
of the moss along the road.
Hastings Tribune chortles para
graphlcally, perhaps reminiscently,
over the touch awaiting newspaper
men nocking to France. Editor
Breede has been there and knows.
By the way, how does the French
touch compare with the home va
riety? "Some years ago," says the Beat
rice Express, "it was not a serious
problem to find a modern house to
rent in the city. At the present time,
however, it requires advance figuring
to secure a stiitahle house. They are
usually spoken for as soon as it is
known they are to be vacant." Sim
ilar conditions are noted in other Ne
braska cities, foreshadowing an early
revival of home building.
Orand Island's clearing house as
sociation takes official notice of the
activities of salesmen of blue sky
stocks and warns the people against
exchanging Liberty bonds or parting
with their savings without investiga
tion or consultation. Glittering
promises of big profits are worth
about us much as the air that cre
ates them, and 'the Grand Islanders
render a needed public service
against blue sky scalpers.
Booze runners in Nebraska un
doubtedly scent big profits when
they succeed, or else they figure the
adventure worth the cost. In 18
months of drouth, prosecutions net
ted $142,3(56.55 in fines, equivalent to
$7,900 a month, besides the loss of
vehicles confiscated. Pretty stiff
price to pay for wet whistles. Per
haps a few uncommonly slick run
ners can show a profit, but the all
round loss will ntn deter the fellows
always eager to take a chance.
EDITORIAL SNAPSHOTS.
Atlanta Constitution William Ho
henzollern clings to a semblance of
royal nomenclature by taking the
title of "count." But, in the ver
nacular of the sports page, he "took
the count" before the title.
Washington Post Bill Hohenzol
lern hopes that the allies will be
wrapped in the intracacies of their
own technicalites and thus permt him
to. escape. Bill, you always were a
bafd guesser.
(Detroit Free Press The two most
dangerous men in the country today
are the employer who Is going
around looking for trouble with his
workmen and the workman who Is
going around looking for trouble
with his employer.
Philadelphia Ledger It is clear,
from Oeneral Pershing's report, that
the armistice came just In time, to
save the German army from a dis
aster at Sedan as great as that which
once overtook a French army there.
Brooklyn Eagle Every good Ir
ishman in British or American uni
form will smile contentedly as Persh
ing receives the "Order of Michael
the Brave" from the king of Ilou
mania. Maybe Pershing will smile,
too. He knows what Kelly and
Burke and Shea can do when they
get started.
New York World Figures given
out by the Public Health Service
show approximately 350,000 deaths
in the country from influenza and
pneumonia since September 15.
Comparisons with the death rate in
our tirmies in France from wounds
and disease signify nothing. But
that they should be made is inevitable.
SIGNPOSTS OF PROGRES8.
A Worcester (Mass.) grocer, un
able to secure an efficient delivery
boy, is now employing two delivery
girls, and says the boy question
doesn't worry him any more.
The German potash industry, here
tofore almost a monoply, may have
to face severe competition after the
war. Potash deposits have been
discovered in Catalonia, Spain.
Machinery for ships in which a
steam turbine and an old engine are
coupled to each propeller, permit
ting either kind of fuel to be used,
has been patented by a Swiss Inven
tor, A parliamentary committee that
investigated found that the produc
tion of all London's electric power in
a few central stations would save
6,000,000 tons of coal a year and
greatly lessen the smoke evil.
Minneapolis Tribune: It Is said
the German crown prince parades
before the mirror in full uniform
and has fits of depression. A plain
case of cause and effect, we should
say, remembering what his pictures
look like.
The Altoona (Pa.) Council has
voted to substitute a motor for three
horses which have been kept to haul
a big steam fire engine which, ac
cording to the records of the fire
department, has not been in service
for six years.
THE MARNE.
Twice they came to the river.
The river of Great Decision;
Once they met with a flaming sword,
And fled before the vision.
And when once more they came,
Through the dream of power that
wooed them.
Confusion fell on their evil ranks.
P'or the Angel of God withstood them.
There were soldiers who saw the light
Of slern white hosts Klyslnn,
Guarding the hosts of wary men.
At the river of Great Decision.
Then went the edict forth.
Voiced in the brittle thunder,
Thnt the soulless ones should never pass
Through that green vale of wonder;
That the little tranquil stream
Should be a sign forever
The border lino of a world's defense,
In a land of high endeavor.
France of the Miracles see.
At every day's declining.
In level rays on the river's breest
The sword of victory shilling;!
Marlon 0. Smith in New York Tribune.
-. - Mt
2av
Wants Strict Quarantine,
Omaha, Pec. 12 To the Editor
of The Bee. A leaflet put out
by the University of Nebraska on
Spanish influenza, in giving the
causes, admits ignorance bv say
ing it is "probably" caused, etc., etc.
After telling of the highly contagi
ous character of the disease and
warning persons to stay at a distance
from other people, it ends up by say
ing, "Quarantine is unnecessary. It
is impracticable."
If ever a strict quarantine was
needed it is now and right now, for
thik disease that is spreading dally
and reaping its alarming harvest.
And why is a quarantine for this
disease impracticable? other con
tagious diseases are quarantined.
The writer of the epistle accredit
ed to the University of Nebraska
contradicts himself: He warns
against crowds, saying they are
"potent factors" in spreading the
disease, yet declares "quarantine un
necessary. Now. "avoiding crowds" is a sort
of voluntary quarantine, an isolating
of ones self from persons. A quar
antine is an enforced isolation of the
sick. The former cannot be effective
only in small degree: the latter,
where the germs causing the disease
are short lived, would be entirely ef
fective. It would soon stamp out the
disease.
Four hundred thousand persons
dead from influenza in this country
in less than three months, and the
disease unchecked. Something more
than "sneezing in the handkerchief"
should be done to stop it. Let's have
a quarantine a strict one and try
to etop this awful scourge.
OMAHAN.
Two Kinds of Picketing.
Smithfleld, Neb., Den. 10. To
the Editor of The Bee. I cannot
refrain from comparing notes on the
picketing done by the carmen and
the picketing done by the suffragists
at Washington. 'How were both
treated? The suffragists were at
tacked by unsympathetic police and
citizens, their clothes badly torn,
their bodies bruised and scratched.
Next, they were thrown into prison
along with criminals, made to do ob
noxious tasks eight hours a day, eat
unfit food, be tried by harsh Judges
and fined for disturbing traffic. All
this for standing silently holding a
banner.
How are the carmen treated?
Very nicely indeed. Everything Is
being done to bring the dissatisfied
parties together. They are protected
by the union. Is this equality and
justice?
SUFFRAGIST.
Mail Service for the Soldiers.
Oxford, Neb., Dec. 12 To the Ed
itor of The Bee. In Thursday's Bee
under the heading, "Ask for Home
Letter to Soldiers, I read the appeal
of Secretary Baker to write Inspir
ing letter-to the soldiers in France.
I desire to ask Secretary Baker what
good it will do to write Inspiring let
ters if, through the absolutely ineffi
cient postal facilities the soldiers do
not get those inspiring letters until
age kills the inspiration. Here we
are in the second month since the
armistice was signed and thousands
and thousands of parents have not
heard whether their boys were
wounded, killed or survive the great
battles during the fore part of No
vember. These soldiers are not get
ting their home letters written by
their parents, sisters and brothers
until they are so old that they give
an acute feeling of homesickness in
stead of an inspiration to content
ment. If Secretary Baker wishes to
inspire our soldiers let him cut out
the red tape and see to it the boys
who have sacrificed so much for
their country get a mall service com
patible with the debt the nation owes
them. There is no sane reason the
friends of soldiers are in suspense
at this late date as to conditions In
which their soldier boys emerged
from the hard fighting in the late
war with Germany. I heartily sec
ond our secretary's appeal to write
often to our soldiers on foreign soil,
but a greater obligation rests upon
Mr. Baker to take steps Immediately
to correct what is nothing less than
a national disgrace, i. e., the mail
service accorded to our soldiers since
hostilities have ceased.
A. C. RANKIN.
Ho;? Prices.
Falls City, Neb., Dec. 11. To
the Editor of The Bee. In an ed
itorial in The Bee December 11, on
"Hogs, Corn and Markets," you ap
pear to think farmers are rushing
their immature hogs to market in
order to take advantage of the high
price of meat or that they are will
ing to kill the goose that laid the
golden egg, only in this case there
is no golden egg. The facts are that
farmers have not received the price
of the corn they fed into their hogs
for a year or two. Last fall, when
the food administration asked the
farmers for an Increase in hog pro
duction he promised to see that the
price of 100- pound hogs would equal
the price of 13 bushels of corn. Mr.
Hoover got the increase, but his
promise he treated as a scrap of pa
per and set a new price minimum of
$18 per hundredweight, at Chicago,
for October, which was also a scrap
of paper in about 10 days. He then
set a price of $17.50 for November
and also for December, which has
held good so far but bids fair to be
also a scrap of paper in a day or
two. The facts are farmers have lost
confidence In the promises of the
food administration and are getting
out of the hog business as fast as
they can and are going to stay out
until there is a change in th-3 food
administration. It looks to them as
though instead of the government
having the packers under license
the packers have the government
under license.
By the way. Mr. Consumer, how
much cheap; r do you net pork
chops than ou did in Sentember?
W. A. SCHOC1C.
About the Irish Question.
Omaha, Dec. 15. To the Editor
of The Bee: I read with pleasure
the letter from Michael O'Connor of
Greeley. His question is logical when
he asks, "Could it be possible to em
barrass England by asking it to give
to Ireland what it demands for Ser
bia and Belgium?" And his reason
ing is likewise sound when he says,
"Self determination will apply to
Ireland as mttvh as to Poland or Bo
hemia, or any of the small states of
Europe." Mr. O'Connor mentions,
too, how "Chairman Flood ruled out
some resolutions in congress looking
to 'the freedom of Ireland on the
ground that they might embarrass
England."
It is well to keep the Irish ques
tion agitated before the American
people, for they are Imbued with a
spirit of fair play and are curious to
learn why Ireland Is not entitled to
her freedom. Congressman William
A. Mason, an American without a
drop of Irish blood In hla veins, In
troduced the resolutions. I am curi
ous to know where were our Irish
American congressmen, wherein they
allowed the resolutions to be shelved
without a protest.
One of these goody-goody con
gressmen aa chief mogul of en Irish
society made the assertion a while
ago that he was the leader of 25,000,
000 of the Irish race in America.
How many millions of the Irish
know anything about Congressman
Mason's resolutions? It seems all
they are supposed to know Is to fol
low bogus leaders. Hearken, the ac
credited and legitimate leaders, the
"physical farce men," as Michael
Davitt used to call them, are out on
the arena in one Of their spasmodic
collecting tours, to free Ireland.
Is it possible to do anything prac
ticable towards the emancipation of
the persecuted people without pass
ing the hat around?
At the peaca conference If Ireland
obtain her Independence these long
distance patrtoteers, ehotless war
riors, who are invisible In war, and
invincible in peace, will lose a pa
triotic and profitable occupation,
namely, soliciting subscriptions.
JERRY H WARD.
CHEERY CH&iF.
"Th baker and hla cook ar ta thi
ame boat, aren't theyt"
"How ao?"
"One wanta bread and th 4hr kneads
It." Baltimore, American.
"Aren't you In favor of lh pllrtt" In
quired th philanthropist.
"Yes," anawered th profiteer, "bot don'l
you think you've boosted th prlc tags
about a high ai the publlo will stand
for?" Washington Star.
"He'e a food apeculator."
"But he always look half-aUrrd."
''That's It he's always speculating at
to whether he'll (at all the food he needs
at the next meal." Buffalo Expreaa.
"Did you ever observe anything- about
women In private life which could con.
vlnce you they would make a aucceas in
any political office?"
"h, yes; there's my wife. She's con
vinced me she would make a rood ipeaker
of the house." Indlanapolla Star.
"The Tank! In Russia must be barlni
great fun."
"In what way!"
"In hearing the Russian eorreapondenti
worry over the English and American
names." Baltimore Amerloan.
First Artist "Old RoxJey wouldn't buy
my pictures wouldn't even look at them."
Second Ditto "Well, he waa more con
siderate of your feelings than of mine
he refused to buy my picture! even after
he did look at them." Boston Transcript.
"I wonder what the oondltlon are In
Berlin Just now?"
"That's a question hard to answer. How.
ever, I dare aay It haa been some time
alnc a citizen of Berlin proudly drove a
nail Into a wooden statue of Von Hin
denburg." Birmingham Age-Herald.
Blass Why do they always cheer when
a player geta hurt?
Phemy So the girls oan't hear what he
1 saying. Awgwan.
THE FIDDLER OF BERLIN.
"And there came a fiddler, whose
name waa Truth."
Night, and a black pall over the city,
Mist, and the wind's cry, (hrUl aid
thin
Who la he who goes In pity
With his fiddle under his ehlnf
His brow la grave, his eyea are stera,
A slow dawn wreathea hla hair
And th muato he make shiver and
shakes
Like hands, the high windows where
misery wakes,
And, faint aa breath on a bubble, break
The dying lamp on the atalr.
Winds, and blown foga over the elty,
Lo, the white-faced, huddled throngl
Who is he who goes in pity.
Fiddling hi terrible song?
The babes In their mother' arms
Hear It, wide-eyed;
And the children come In swarm
And run at hi aide.
Hearing the silken, sad refrain
Of the fiddler's magical, tragical (train
Warm aa the wind and soft aa th rail
And terrible as the tide.
Out of the house th women com,
Mother and daughter and wive,
From loving and remembering numb.
White through the night, the women com,
Bearing tho ahards of their Uvea.
Lo, the fiddler plays his song
Of madness and defeat,
And out of the houses the women throng
And follow him down tha street.
And the dead, th" dead arise and cornel
Pallid from burden bearing;
The son of the drum from slumber coma
With eyea like torchea flaring.
From their gory bed the battle dead
It lee up, resolved and strong,
And follow the shimmering, glimmering
thread
Of the fiddler' terrible song.
The children moan, the women ery.
The gliosis wall like the wind.
But the fiddler's eye I fixed on high
And he heeds not the host behind.
But loud as the roaring tide In flood
He play hi terrible chant of God.
And the houses crumble and (all.
And the ateeplea reel like ships,
And the ruler rush from the council hall
With wild cries on their Up.
Lo, th fiddler plays hi high refrain
Over and over and over again. , . ,
But the ruler and their boasts -
Are trampled under the feet of hi hosts
The feet of fatherless children.
And broken women, and ghoata.
HERMAN HAGEtDORN la the Outlook.
NOT Jf f
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