Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1913-08-15
controversy

IL lS tne lcttef-Wrltlnk lOrDy WHICH
gets next to the president OF the
United States. for thousands Of letters
are directed to the chief executive ask
ing that he refrain from urging this
legislation or that legislation, because
the writer's are sure II is going to,
cut wages or hurt them in some other
way"
Now. the letter-writirg lobby, from
the administration polrl Of view. 10
all right so long as It bases It's pell'
tions on accurate information. When
ever there is what is called moral
Issue at stake the letterwriting lobby
is always In evidence. and II is known
In Washington that congress has been
swayed on several occasions to change
its first opinions in cases by sheer
force Of hearing from the country"
through the United States mails.
There is a wide difference of opln-
ion in the country rs to whether or
not light wines and beers should be
sold to the soldiers at army posts.
The c1nteen as the place where tho
mildly alcoholic drinks at one time
were sold was abolished some years
ago. The force that abolished It was
the letter-wrlting lobby. Unquestion-
ably the pure food bill was PASSED be-
cause Of the influence of the letter
writer's 1t is held by many people
that this is the best legislation now
on the statute books of the United
States. but for years congress- refused
to give Il consideration Then the
letter writer's got busy and congress
acted.
Heroic Deeds Recognized.
The records Of the life saving serv-
Ice OF the United States show hun
dreds Of heroic deeds done. Dur
ing the year 1912 twenty-six med
ais were awarded to men who
saved the lives of fellow creatures at
the imminent danger Of losing their
own. 1t is known from reading the
last report OF the life saving service
that the giving OF medals for extra
ordinary service does not In itself tell
more than the beginning of the stories
OF heroic acts which are done week
in and week out by mSn In the gov
ernment service merely as a matter OF
the duty OF routine"
During the last year the youngest
person to receive medal from the
United States government for life
saving was Samuel & Smith, Jr., OF
Savannah Ca. IL years old, Uncle
Sam recognised his daring and spirit
Of selt-sacriice by presenting him with
an honor medal. This boy rescued
from drowning a little girl named
Mary Morrison who was swept to sea
while bathing at Tybee Island, Geor'
gia.
There were many adults present
who tried to struggle through the surf
to the child's rescue, but they were
unable to make headway, The boy.
however, succeeded where his elders
had failed, and he made his way to
the struggling child and succeeded In
bringing her to shore.
Medals for Brave Soldiers.
Two troopers OF the Tenth United
States cavalry Levi Anderson and
John X. Lyons, were given silver
medals for heroism These troopers
had gone with another named John Il.
Moody to swim their horses In NAL
lett'B Bay. Moody was thrown on
his horse In water fifteen feet deep
~. 10 Nn ntr-tu
son aud Lyon dropped from their
horses and swan to their comrades
assistance. but before they reached
him he had sunk. They dove and
brought Moody to the surface, when
he revived and struggled fercely as
only man IN danger OF drowning can
struggle. All three meI went to the
bottom twice before Anderson and
Lyon finally prevailed and accom-
plished the rescue,
Capt Charles r. Howland Of the
United States army won gold medal
In 1912 for personal gallantry at San
Fabian, Philippine Islands. A quar-
termaster's launch which had become
] ulNdulfu Ehh uIbh q oohh boa a. t''N
height OF a typhoou. Men under the
command OF Captain Howland went to
the beach near the wreck and started
a signal FIRE TO let the crew know OF
, their presence. At midnight while the
! sea was raging Captain Howland
, swan half a mile through the surf
to the launch to inform those on
, board OF the purpose OF the fire and
, to tell them that It would be kept
I going as n beacon light TO guide them
In their swimming II the vessel should
I break up during tho night Captain
I Howland then swan back to the shore
) to his men, who had not expected te
, see him alive again. The launch broke
> up during the night. but as the storm
; had ahated the men on board guided
by the FIRE. succeeded in reaching the
shore In safety,
: The senate passed the Oregon lien
! land bill, providing that the state
D may exchange school lands in United
3 States forest reserves for single
! tract Of land to be held as state
: forest reserve. and on which forestry
q instruction is to be given,
/. President Wilson narrowly es