Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-03
01eCSeesHa
sLsNss9oT

LeEislstion and Special interests.
OMAHA. March i.-To the Editor OF
The Bee. Your editorial OF February IS
headed. Progressive Legisistion." Is in
deed timely exposure of the popular
fallscy. that there exists a sinister coali-
tion OF the so-called special interests
70 defeat progressive legislation. This
matter has been so persistently drummed
into our ears that Il receives far more
credit than II deserves.
A great deal OF the lobbying in our law
making bodies IL merely In defense
against bIackmailing attempts aimed at
public service corporations, railroads. in
surance companies. lioeral interests. etc.
! know that such attempts are regular
occurrences at every legislative session.
The so-called interests assailed, however
have their own axes to grind. and have
no time 70 aid the other fellow. This ap-
plies especially to the liberal interests
quite generally misnsmed the liquor in
terests" It is generally admitted that
some corporate interests have often fos-
tered and created prohibition waves in
order 20 divert attention from their own
troubles. Many instances can be cited
Colorado coal strike and the prohibition
campaign In that state. Some people
may honestly believe that there Ia some
connection between the various private
interests and the liberal element. Politl-
cal tricksters and demagogues are GER
tainly making capital out of these ever
lastingly repeated charges in order to
make a convenient scapegoat out Of the
liberal element, and professional prohibi-
uonists delight in picturing them as an
all powerful octopus
This is an era OF headliners and catch
phrases like preparedness" "watchful
waiting" brewery tools" booze" etc.
do more to confuse the "think-lazy'
reader than all other agencies combined.
The Romans already had the saying, the
world wants TO be deceived" Barnum
only resurrected It. F. Hartmann.
Nebraska state Senate, 1918
A. 10 WashinEtOn's BIrthday.
OMAHA, March 2-To the Editor Of
The Bee: / may be somewhat old fop>,-
ish about It, but 1 never could SEQ anv
good reason for closing the schools on
George Wsshngton's birthday. / should
think the best plan would be to have
some special exercises on that dav com
memorative OF the life and times of
George Washington. / will wager that
not one pupil out OF 900 even thought OF
Washington on the twonty-second day Of
February.
! said to one high school pupil that
should think It would be more appro-
pirate to hold some exercises that would
bring to view the life and doings of Wash
ington. He said he did not think 20. for
then they would not have any fun by
having holiday. He admitted to me
that he did not think OF George Washing
ton on his birthday until just as he was
getting ready to go to bed and then SIM
ply remembered the fact without any spe-
oiel thought Of Washington
II would be OF more benefit to the ria-
ing generation TO have scme kind OF ex-
ercises concentrating the deeds OF
washington than to have them run wild
on the streets with no special aim in
View. Why would 1t not be a good plan
for the school authorities TO fix up a
program for February %, 1917. that will
be OF benefit to the pupils OF the schools
OF far more reaching character than
what they will learn by running the
streets because they have a holiday.
There Is plenty Of time TO fix up a fine
program for the schools for next year
and 1t would not hurt TO begin at once.
rhon cut out the holiday next year and
devote the day TO teaching patriotism in
these critical days OF the world.
F. A. AGNEW.