PART THREE
AUTOMOBILE AND WANT AD
. . SECTION."
THE OMAHA
Sunday
BEE)
Y
PART THREE "-A .
AUTOMOBILE AND WANT AD
SECTION.
VOL. XLIX NO. 30.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11, 1920.
v
1 C
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS
"Modern Woman" Is Slipping, Declare Many Bee Readers;
Say Tolerance Is Enticing Them From Paths of Morality
Feminine Vanity, Always Vulnerable,
Cited As Underlying Cause by Many
'Believe the Rising Generation of Women Care Too Much for Froths and Frills
Modification of Present Styles of Dress Urged Analyze Every Woman
As a Combination of "Angel" and "Four-Flusher" Prone to Smother Plead
ings of Conscience and Lose Their Heads ,0ver Fellow Who Has "Shekels" If
Nothing Else. 1
PuUic discussions of the Question
"Are Our Women Slipping" drew
a deluge of answers from the read
ers of The Bee to such a number
that, many could not be put into
prtnttnis week.
This open forum will be continued
for several weeks to come, however,
and readers are invited to .express
their personal-views on the question.
As many of the answers received
will be published, as space will per
mit. Following are some of the
opening arguments:
Prodded by Editorial.
"Editor The Bee: The question
propounded by The Bee Are .'Our
Women Slipping?'- js one that I
was pleased to see taken up, and I
looked forward t reading with
. some interest the views that might
be drawn forth. The question is
one that has been raised by a large
number of thoughtful people, men
and women, and a great many have
approached the subject unconscious
ly, as I have many times overheard
remarks such as: 'You mustn't al
low Margaret to read that story,' or
4 You must see that the children do
nbt go to this picture.' Such re
. marks occur naturally along the
pathway of thought that leads to
the question: 'Are our women (and
men) slipping?'
"I had no intention of discussing
the matter myself in response to
the query of The Bee, but have
been moved to do so on reading
a challenge issued on the subject
in the editorial columns of the
World-Herald. The attack on The
Bee was thinly veiled in its pre
tended argument, but the heart of
the subject was missed, or adroitly
avoided. That such a serious ques
tion should be dodged, or used as
a shield behind which to aim an
editorial dart at The Bee, is some
thing extremely reprehensible. The
allegations made by Tie Bee, and
, the conclusions to be drawjt-lbere-From
are indisputable, and well
known to everyone, and generally
acknowledged. The fact that the
courts of the French kings were
notoriously dissolute, and that
women were coarse ana vulgar in
the days of Shakespeare and 'Good
Queen' Bess,' are admitted condi
tions that do not in any way con-
Hern the issue under discussion.
A Modern Question.
"The question raised does 'not'
'.ake tip conditions '400' years and
nore ago. )
"It compares conditions of today
with those of 10 to 25, or even five
ears ago, in this country.
"And who is there, who"was of
mature and thoughtful mind at
either of these latter periods, and
who can recall them clearly, who
will not freely and readily acknowl
edge perceiving a vast differ
ence in the attitude, manner, and
conduct of a large proportion of the
womanhood and girlhood that we
meet daily upon the streets of our
cities, as compared with the con
duct of these same classes during
the periods mentioned?
"I remember when 'The Black
Crook' was produced, and I cite it
as an instance because it is one that
will be recalled by most people who
lived in that time. There wasn't
one family man in a hundred who
would have dreamed of allowing his
younger daughfers, or children, to
see the spectacle. And yet that
play was a Christmastide church
morality play compared to some of
the Babylonian scenes depicted in
a large number of plays that are re
garded as common and ordinary
spectacles today. To tell some of
these 12 to 15-year-old girls, for in
stance, and immature youths also,
that it is not well for them to wit
ness the performances of the well
known 'vamps' of the Theda Bara
kind, and scenes as are found in the
'dance halls' of our western pictures,
would cause these sage and worldly
wtee youngsters to let out an un
holy 'hoot.'
Too Much Familiarity.
"Are these girls slipping? Are
their parents slipping? They are,
to this extent, that they have al
lowed themselves to enter upon
terms of too much familiarity with
such things. This is not to say,
nor does The Bee intimate, that this
familiarity has reached the degree
in which the vices depicted have
been embraced, and to this extent
the word 'slipped' is not exact in
describing conditions, as it might
be taken to imply such an embrace-
ment.
But they are upon "easy and com
mon terms with matters, scenes
and thoughts that years ago were
taboo. The danger of this familiar
ity is obvious, and the half-baked
wisdom and knowledge displayed by
these 'fresh' youngsters who should
be soundftr spanked and put to bed
with curfew, is disgusting.
It was not thus M years ago and
the World-Herald knows it.
"The Herald says: 'There are as
many good women, pure and high
minded, in the world today, in the
United States, in Nebraska and in
Omaha, as there ever were.'
"Why, of course.
"Who has said anything to the
contrary.
"The statement, like other state
ments contained in the puerile ar
gument set forth, are mere straw
arguments and citations raised up to
be knocked down. Let the Herald
lay aside its-own 'straw' arguments,
and give straightforward comment
on some of the facts, like the fol
lowing: A Specific Instance.
"In the Daily News but a fortnight
back, a certain young woman writ
ing a letter to that paper, set forth
certain vices of which she herself
acknowledged guilt, and of which
cigarette smoking was the least of
all, and concluded thusly: 'And
every last member of our girl's Sun
day school class, including the
teacher herself, does the same
thing.'
"Will the Herald editor look up
the list of things these young women
are doing in this Sunday school class..
and say that 20 years ago it could
have found this Sunday school class,
or a Sunday school class in any
church from end to end of the coun
try, m which the same conditions
prevailed, or could have prevailed?
And will the Herald class the young
women of this Sunday school with
the 'muck and dregs' of society that
it speaks of? And will it then bear
just these few examples of the better
class ot our young womannooa in
mind and contend that the young
women of today are not advanced
to a shocking degree further than the
same young women of a decade back.
"Are our women slipping? Not
exactly to the degree that might be
taken to be implied . in the word
'slipping' itself, but they are less
strict in their views of things that
should really be horrifying to com
mon, everyday modesty.
"They are 'slipping' to the degree
that young girls are nowadays tol
erating things that really bring a
blush to the cheek of decent grown
men. They are slipping to the ex
tent that this tolerance cannot but
lead them further along the path that
is enticing them from morality and
decency "M. L."
To a Certain Degree.
"In answer to first question I will
say in my estimation they are slip
ping to a certain degree, and unfor
tunately for the whole world the
standard of conduct is being low
ered. "To many restaurants, shows and
a general unwillingness to make
real homes, are the main reasons. I
believe woman's beneficent influ-
Are Our Womn Slipping?
Is the standard of conduct of the majority being
lowered?
Is becoming "pals" with their brothers under
mining their morals? Can they withstand "sterner"
temptations?
v Has woman's beneficent influence waned with the war? Were her
self-effacing endeavors a fleeting phenomena of an unusual emergency?
Does the "average" woman really care more for froth, frills and fop
pery than affairs of the hearth, head and heart?
Does the lessened respect shown them by men compared to that paid
to their mothers prove the daughters less worthy? Does the fair sex
no longer inspire courtesy, reverence and devotion? Is the race to
be popular and clever snuffing out the ideals of our girlhood?
"The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world," 'twas said. But
a maid, today, takes care of the children while mother plays at bridge.
"My Wandering Boy," in maidens' eyes, a hero is, his virtuous brothers
raise cynic's sneers. It was not so when dad was young.
( Why the Change Today?
Young men once were wont to worship women called them fairies,
angels, queens. . Now they term them chickens," vampires, sports.
Once regarded as superiors, they have now become man's equals, with
the "right" to ape his vices.
Sweethearts used to plead with lovers pledging them to give up
wild oats. But today that girl's "old maidish" who herself has never
smoked, tasted cocktails, told questionable stories, seen risque plays, or
bet on the races 1 j
Modesty was deemed a feminine virtue. Then why all this hub-bub
about indecent apparel? Why should pope, cardinal, school heads,
employers, club women, welfare workers, need to score their own sis
ters for their negligee costumes and the display of their persons?
Discussion Invited.
We have thought women religious gjven them credit for being
more spiritual. Yet they now lead bands of crooks, "try anything once,"
and' of all the church movements of history (like founding the many
sects of Christendom), only one was begun by a woman. Why is it? ,
Were our, forefathers misguided knightly gallants? Are women
fallen angels or four-flushers? Is their new freedom hurting them?
Are they deaf to the pleadings of conscience and God, care no longer
for beauty of soul? Or have they grown to loath chivalry and sham,
hence lay undue stress on reality? ARE THEY SLIPPING? Tell us.
The Bee invites its readers of all ages and both sexes to ponder the
above questions 'and then send in their answers to be'printed. Address
ence has, to a great extent, waned
with the close of the war. I be
lieve woman would have gone on
indefinitely with her wonderful
sacrifices, had circumstances de
manded, but she feels she is capa
ble of soon forgetting it.
"I believe the rising generation of
women care too much for the 'froth
and frills' than they do for settling
down to hearth and home. The
lessened respect that is so obviously
shown to the daughter of today,
than was shown to her mother, is
due, I believe, not to the fact that
the daughter is any the less worthy,
but to the fact that the daughter
has conducted herself in a cheaper
and more common way. v
"They do still inspire courtesy,
reverence and devotion, but not to
the same extent their mothers did.
I believe the general trend is to a
snuffing out of the ideals of girl
hood unless they awaken soon.
Should Modify Dress.
"It is surely time for women the
world over to remedy their mode of
dressing, but the society women
should first look to their styles be
fore trying to reform the rest of the
world. Women as a general rule
are religious. They are the back
bone of the church; they are the
ones who occupy the pews.
"I do not believe our forefathers
were in any way misguided knightly
gallants. I believe every woman on
earth is a combination of angel and
'fourflushersl'
"I wouldn't undertake to assert
that woman's new freedom is hurt
ing them or not. I think it hurts
the men to see the women so in
dependent. The wom'en are prone
to smother the pleadings of con
science; it is the fellow who can
jingle the most 'shekels' whom they
all lose their heads over, as we must
each one try to outdo the other in
a worldly showing and let the here
after go hang.
"They care more about "being a
good fellow, apeing a man's doings,
even to smoking. They are slipping,
but could pull themselves up were
they to make a determined effort
"Yours sincerely, L. W. T."
Would Defend Her Sex.
"When I read your article, "Are
Women Slipping," I could not help
feeling that ycu had wrongly mis
judged my sex and that you had
very misguided ideas and opinions
of us. I am a young woman of Oma
ha with a family of my own and I
should lik? to try to answer a few
of your questions that I might de-
Tendency Toward FriVoliy Reaction
From Intense Strain During the War
Men Blamed by Some for Existing Conditions H. C. L. Blamed by Others Dif
ference in Attitude, Manner and Conduct Noticeable in Proportion of Wo
v men and Girls of Today as Compared to Same Classes 20 Years Ago Mod
ern Girls Accused of Tolerating Things Which Bring Blush to Cheek of De
cent Grown Man.
fend my sex to the best of my
ability.
"In the first place, I do not believe
that the average woman is any less
heart-hungry for love, home and
children than she ever was. I chal
lenge anyone to find 10 girls, aver
age, ordinary girls in , Omaha, or
anywhere else for that matter, who
are not ready for these three essen
tials to happiness, the nrnute the
right man comes along.
"Yoif ask, 'Has woman's benefi
cent influence waned with the war?'
Women may be more frivolous since
the war than they were before, but
then it is in perfect accord with hu
man natlirp for a rcartinn after a
great physical, mental and nervotfs 1
strain such as women, as well as
men,- were subjected to during the
war and men have yielded to the re
action as well as have women.
Time for Readjustment
"It will take time for people to
readjust themselves to normal feel
ing and conditions again. It is also
true that more women than ever are
becoming 'pals' with their brothers
and entering the business world, but
this is not always done from choice.
Don't you think that conditions and
old H. C. L. is partially to blame- for
this?
"Nowadays the average father is
not able to support his daughters
until they are ready to marry, much
less give them any , of the pretty
things every girl longs for. He does
well if he can give them a fair edu
cation. v
"You say 'young men now term
girls chickens and vampires.' I hope
you do not think this applies to the
great majority.
"There has always been the vam
pire type of woman as far back as
history has been recorded and his
tory also shows that the people of
every generation always considered
that their generation of women was
weaker morally than the generation
before them. It used to be that the
'vampire was very popular on the
stage. Are ttiey today? They are
not. Public sentiment is very much
insfavor of the sweet, innocent,
girlish charm which is shown more
on the stage today than ever be
fore. "For verification of this.read the
article written by Florenz Ziegfield,
jr., manager of the Ziegfield Follies
in the American Magazine for December.
"You also say that men once
thought women more religious and
spiritual than men. It is true that
Y'omen are not the sanctified hypo-
critesthat they were in the old days
when 'they drew their draperies aside
lest they be contaminated by the
touch of a fallen young girl.
Demand Instead of Plead.
"Don't you think that the woman
of today who helps to lift this young
girl up again and show her the way
stands a better chance of gaining
entrance to heaven than the pious
hypocrite of former days, who would
scorn her and give her an extra
shove downward?
"Because women do not like to
carry on the sham and falseness of
the old church doctrines, when the
church was used as a means to cover
up and gloss over innumerable sins,
does not signify that women wor
ship Christ less than formerly.
"You also say. 'Once regarded as
superiors,' they iave now become
man's equal, with .the 'right' to ape
his vices. Sweethearts used to plead
to lovers to give up 'wild oats,'
There again you are wrong. Women
do not want the 'right' to ape his
vices, but they do want the right to
demand instead of plead, that the
fathers of their children, and their
life companion, does not have vises
nor sow wild oats, but keeps himself
clean and untainted as he demands
of the woman who is .to be the
mother of his children.
"And so I believe most emprati
cally that women are as pure and
good as they were and I do not be
lieve they are slipping. Yours re
spectfully, . Mrs. G. I. P."
- Men Are Responsible.
" 'Are our women slipping?' It is
a question I have long wanted to see
discussed.
"It is a delicate 'question, these
women, but God has made them the
weaker sex and they are almost ruled
by men, unless .they have enough
will power to keep away from them
entirely.
"So there is the heart of the sub
ject the men. They seem to for
get they should look for a woman
who 'would make a wonderful wife
and mother, but they look for the
girl who attracts their attention,
first, because of beauty, 'classy'
clothes and the like.
"The first thing he thinks is, 'I
wonder if. I can get by with her,
And he tries her out, and if he is
tactful at all, he has her in his
clutches, and another woman has
slipped. :
The Real American Girl. ,
' "Some girls dress for attraction,
and others dress to keep up with
them. These are the girls the men
see on the streets, and speak of as
'chickens' and 'vamps.' but the girl
who isn't in their minds a 'sport,'
is a quiet girl who stays at home,
and is seldom called up for a date.
"But in the long run, she is the
real, true, American girl, and will
be one to be appreciated and looked
up to, when Some of our men catch
themselves napping, wake up, and
get over some of their foolish
fancies.
"Then the girls will not have to
be 'sports' in order to have dates
and a good time.
"Yours very trulvv
, "FRANCES." -Present
Dress Demoralizing.
"Are our women slipping? Yes.
Increased employment has not al
ways worked for their good.
"The present styles of dress nave
a demoralising effect, and instead
of helping our fcllowmen to purer
and nobler thoughts, we have placed
temptations before them which have
dragged them down to the vilests .
crimes, and in many wavs lost our
influence for gool.
"Women appear in public in dress
which should put to shame any pure
minded woman.
"To us, the influence of mother
and sister bringing society under
a pure exemplary influence is the
foundation of Christian civilization.
"The present day styles of dress
Lare to be deplored and should be.
condemmed. A radical;' change
should be advocated by every pure
minded woman. .
"To my mind, this is the , on
great cause of pur women slipping
away from the paths of' modesty
and virtue, and losing their one?
. . . . . -.1. .. .. ,
time miiuence over me lives wnicr.
touch their own.
"O. A. HARVEY."
Modern Woman Has Gained..
"Women have become nien'f
equals 1 Equality has destroyed
restraint, or the dividing line be
tween iuc scAca, j-atit ur xcbirauit
allows freedom. . . ;
"Freedom allows individual de
velopment of individual character. .
Take restraint from the women of
bygone days and you have the
wCmen of today. '
"What have women lost by equal,- 1
ity? -artificial devotion, prudery,
prdery, unnaturalncss, poor, health,
deceit, trickery, cunning and the ;
like. -
"And they have gaind? real de
votion, self-knowledge, naturalness,
health, truth, independence, indi
vidualism, in fact, life itself.
"ONE OF THE LESS DEADLY."
"Why Execute Grammer and Cole and Let
Beryl Kirk Go Free?" Asks Reader of
Bee, Among Letters Discussing Case
Many Points of View Expressed by Readers Throughout State Who Reply to
Question Asked in Last Sunday's Bee About Proposed Electrocution of Two
s Convicted Men Feature of Letters Is That None Base Plea for Clemency
. Upon Pity, But Upon the Wrong of State Committing "Legal Murder."
"Why should Grammer and Cole
i be executed, and Beryl Kirk be "fur
loughed?" This is one of the many points
of view expressed by readet of
The Bee in answer to the invitation
extended in Sunday's issue of the
paper for expressions of opinion
concerning the conception of the
case as presented by the newspaper
artist in a cartoon published in con
nection with the story, which was
history erf the murder of Mrs.
Lulu Vogt, and the .trial of Allen
y. Grammer and Alson B. Cole for
:he crime.
The cartoon depicted the two
convicted men in their cell Behold
ing a vision of the electric chair
tipon which the law has, said they
shall expiate the crime for which
they have been found guilty. Hor
ror at their fast approaching fate
is expressed upon the features of
the two men, and the explanation
made by The Bee in lines beneath
the picture is as follows:
"If the death penalty is right m
principle, its chief asset is fright
fulness not so much in the death
of the criminal as in the lesson it
would have on others who would
commit crime. If it is wrong it
should be abolished.
"Should these two men be exe
cuted? The Bee will be glad to hear
what its readers have to say."
Clemency, but Not Pity.
Answers have been received from
points all over the state, among them
some presenting unique and startling
news and aspects of the matter not
jefore brought to the attention of
:hose who have given consideration
:o the case.
A striking feature found in the
views of some is that, while they ad
vocate clesnency for the two men in
that they should be given life sen
tences instead of being executed, the
lea for mercy to this extent is not
tased upon pity for the two men-nor
ipon any like element of mawkish
sentiment, but finds its foundation
principally in the opinion that thje
alatt should not commit legal mur-
der no more than the citizen should
illegally take a life.
Only one writer calls up what
ever doubt there may be as to the
guilt of the two men in appealing
for clemency, and another blames
the crime upon liquor, expressing the
opinion that the seller of the intoxi
cants which thev writer alleges the
boys drank is equally guilty, or more
guilty, and should bear the 'burden
of the crime.
None of the writers advocate free
ing the men. The letters are as fol
lows: How About Kirk Case?
"Omaha, Neb., Jan. 5, 1920.
"Do I think these boys should be
electrocuted? By all means no.
Why do the officials of the state of
Nebraska allow these boys to be ex
ecuted when they allow such a man
as Kirk his freedom? It's just an
other case of money talking. Look
at the past reputation of these boys
and the past reputation of Kirk?
Which of them should be 'f ur
loughed?' There is no doubt but
that one of these men is innocent,
and it is not justice that the innocent
should suffer for the guilty. Why
not give these boys a prison term?
A. R." .
Need Capital Punishment.
"Omaha, Neb., Jan. 4, 1920.
"With reference to the Grammfcr
Cole case my opinion is that they
should be given capital punishment
If there were more capital punish
ment in the state there would not
be as many murders and crimes as
there are. It looks as if the crim
inals are running the city. How
few are caught and go to the peni
tentiary, where they are turned
loose as fast as they come in so
that they an go forth to commit
more crimes. - I should think the
policemen would get so disgusted
that they would refuse- to catch any
more. The criminals don't fear the
penitentiary because they know
they won't have to stay there but a
short time. I have lived in Omaha
for 19 years, and we are having the
worst period I ever lived through
with regard to the number of crimes
committed. It looks as if the crim
inals have a strong hold on the
city. B. A. W.
. A Hideous Crime.
St. Paul, Neb., Jan. 4, 1920.
"In the issue of The Bee of Jan
uary 4, 1920, you have carried before
the public, the photos or likeness of
two men that the courts of Nebras
ka have found guilty of the most
hideous crime ever committed in our
state. s
"Then you ask the question,
should these men be electrocuted?
"The cartoon to the right, was a
very vivid picture of what could be
expected in the minds of the crim
irals, even if the picture of the elec
tric chair had not occupied a part of
that space. But as a matter of justi
ice first to the Vogt family and to
the public who depends upon the
laws of our great state that we may
pursue our vocation in life safely
it behooves us to uphold our courts.
"And in my mind the artist has
left void the picture or cartoon that
should1 occupy this space. Picture
if you please our good citizen and a
lady who. had- done her part to make
this state of ours what it is today.
For she was a pioneer in Howard
county and was honored and re
spected for the virtues of a noble
life.
"Picture I say, this lady falling
victim to the hands of these two
men, dragged from her home at a
midnight hour, under false impres
sions, shot to death and left on the
open field, a victim to the beasts of
God's creation. If there is any crime
that would set the minds of sound
thinking and law abiding citizens in
a termoil, it is a crime of this na
ture, and if men should not pay the
extreme penalty for a crime so
hideous and.premeditated, may I ask
in the name of all that is great and
noble, what the crime would have to
be? They "may be ideal prisoners,
but the courts of our land have
proven that they are by far better
subjects for execution than they are
for citizens of, a civilized country
Yours for justice A. H. Rines.
Life Sentence Best
Council Bluffs, la., Jan. 4, 1920.
These Two Youths Face Electrocution
Next Friday for Murder of Lulu Vogt
" f f
r
Alsou B. Cole and Allen V.'Grammer are to di
terday' refused to grant their pleas of clemency.
They were sentenced, in the district court of II
of Mrs. Lulu Vogt, Grammer's mother-in-law, on th
upheld the death verdict
Last Monday Governor McKelvie granted 'a he
mining the fairness of their trial. In his statement ye
trial, are guilty of the clrarge and in spite of his own v
cordance with the order of the court.
Date of execution of the two youths has been t
ments have all been made at the state prison for the fi
e next Friday by electrocution. -Governor McKelvie yes-
oward county to die in the electric chair for the murder
l.i I T..1-. A inn' TL. .... .-r .L. .... .
c uiiii ui juijf t, lyii. i lie supreme wuu ui inc stale
aring of the case of the two men with a view to deter
sterday he declaredhat he is satisfied they had a fair
iews with regard to capital punishment must die, in ac-
hriee deferred. January 16 is the final date. Arrange
rst legalized electrocution in Nebraska.
."Since punishment is for the cor
rection of faults and the teaching
of a lesson, I do not think that cap
ital punishment quite meets the re
quirements. How much easier is it
for"these men to die than to live the
rest of their lives in repentance to
correct the terrible mistake they
made. Of course, murder is wrong,
but, did ever two wrongs make a
right? No. It never has, and it
never will. Is it less wrong for
the state to take a human life than
for Grammer, and Cole to have
taken the life of Mrs. Vogt? Is the
death penalty to be inflicted upon
these two men goinjrio make them
realize as fully as they should what
they have done? Of course the
penalty of death is the most hor
rible that can be inflicted, but do
you think the very fact that it is
terrible is the best deterrent of
crime? The families of these two
men are going-to suffer far more
than the murderers will. Is this
right? No. Is it fair? No. And
is it justifiable? o. Life imprison
ment is being used, I believe, as a
substitute for the so-called capital
punishment, and taking all things
into consideration it is the superior
punishment. S. H.
Revolt Against Death Penalty.
Staaton, Neb., Tan. 5, 1920.
Jan. S, 1920.
"I am driven by deep conviction
to say that my ..whole nature raises
up in revolt against capital punish
ment under any circumstances, and
in the case of these two men, I
sincerely ' hope our good governor
will gee his way clear to at least
change their sentence to imprison
ment for life.
"There seem to be some circum
stances in the case of these two
men that would justify such action.
Anyway, we are not living in. the
dispensation, of an "eye for an eye
and tooth for a tooth" age.
"I sincerely hope the day may
speedily come when this fair state
of Nebraska, which I love and
where I have raised my loved ones,
will forever blot from its statutes
this relic of the dark ages capital
punishment. Understand I am not
advocating the mitigation of fhe
unishment of the guilty for their
crimes,, but let us not stain our.
hands in their blood. Verv sin
cerely, ; F. M. Druliner.
Fit for Clemency.
"York. Neb., Jan. 4, 1920.
"It is the opinion of 4he majority
of the people of our community that
these prisoners are fit for Governor
McKelvie s clemency. The same
seems to be th opinion of Mrs.
Grammer and the people residing in
the vicinity of Grammer's home.
"Never before in the state of Ne
braska has an electrocution taken,
place, so why start now? Who can
make a law higher than the law of
God? It will be a cowardly act if
the governor does not heed his
conscience and do the right thing
by these men. Surely he will not
listen to some who are worse at
heart than Grammer and Cole.
Nothing can be worse than the
Third Degree. , , '..
"We never would have had a con
fession ma'de like that of Cole if
he had not been put in such torture
as has been described." Some who
are so anxious to see these men
put to death should be put to that
test. Cole was so glad to get out
of that torture that he was glad to
answer the questions put by the
cruel officials. He s it would
mc,atv death if he did not answer.
Grammer and his wife are both
pleading for his life, and the cir
cumstantial evidence isn't very
strong. This is just an earnest re
quest of Governor McKelvie to do
as God bids him, and not as the
small part of the bloodthirsty pub
lic bids him. H. W. B."
Abolish Death Penalty.
Grand IsUnd, Neb., Jan. 4, 1920.
"I don't think it right to electro
cute these boys. Capital punish
ment should be abolished. Who
has given anyone or two the right
to take the lives of these boys any
more than they had the right to
take the life of Mrs. Vogt?- As far
as I am concerned this old world
doesn't hold enough money to in
duce me to press the electric but
ton. I consider it wrong and
wicked, and I hope every brie .will
send in a plea for these unfortunate
Boys. B. F. - i.
Place Blame Where It Belongs.
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 4, 1920.
; "There are thousands right here
in Omaha who oppose capital pun
ishment. Why don't they speak
up? They voice their opinions only
among their friends. As to the
Crammer-Cole case, why is it the
dirty saloon-keeper and the brew-4
ery man are not punished.. Get
down to brass tacks and place the
blame where it belongs. If these
bo hadn't been intoxicated they
never would have done the deed.-
This is not the first case to be laid
to the door of the saloon-keeper
and when I think of all the pain
and grief that has been caused by
liquor T-feel like being" a second
Carrie Nation and going after them
with a hatchet, only I'd be tempted !
10 strike at tne neaas ot. tne Drew
erymen instead of the plate glass
windows. M. E. L. U,
Opposed to Legal Murder. N T
Milford, Neb., Jan.-5. 1920.1,
"With reference. to the Grammer.
and Cole case. I will say we are Op
posed to legal . murder." Henry
Sanders.
N Wants Life Sentence.
"Lodge Pole, Neb., Jartl S, 1920.
"Omaha Bee: Your request from
readers in regard to death sentence
of Allen V. Grammer and Alson B.
Cole has aroused my interest in re
gard to the question of capital pun
ishment in the state of Nebraska, as
no doubt it has thousands more. I
am sure ip the issue were put to a
vote in this stateit would be defeat
ed so bad we wriuld not know it had
come up. If these . two men are
guilty of the crime tliey are charged
with, it would, be much better to im
ply a life sentence. Death would
not be near the punishment life im
prisonment would, and let us remem- '
ber we have a Supreme Judge. God
one day is to judge us all. and'he is
the One judge none of u$ can side-step.
When and where did He ever
give us the right to take the life, of
our fellow men? Let us keep our
hands clean of capital punishment
and let God administer eternal pun
ishment as He sees fit. " "
"Let us suppose we in the state
of Nebraska send these two men to
the electric chair and in after years
we find one of these men to be jnno-: -cent.
There has been a deed done
that can never be made right. Let
(Continued en Fat Thre, XUs
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