Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-08
AssaiIed Publisher and Miller
Declares Howard Crazy; Says
Attack Grows Out of Bryan
and Anti-Bryan Politics.
tFrom a Staff Correspondent.)

Lincoln, Sept. 7.-(Special Tele-
gram.)-Lieutenant Governor How
ards editorial attack upon Herbert E.
Gooch, president of the Gooch Mill
ing company and president of the
Star Publishing company, member Of
the State Council of Defense in an at
tack by the Bryan wing of the demo-
cratic party engineered by Mr.. How
ard and is the result of a recent edi-
torial in The Star attacking United
States District Attorney Allen and
demanding his resignation, according
to the declaration tonight of Mr..
Gooch when representative of The
Bee called his attention to the lieu
tenant governors BLACK Sheep" edi-
torial in today's issue of the Colum-
bus Telegram.
''Why, the Mans Crazyl"
Mr.. Gooch laughed when told of
the accusation of the state official.
why, the mans crazy!" he ex-
claimed.
"He may be crazy" the reporter re-
turned, "but he calls you crook. He
declares your corporation admitted
its guilt in giving short weight in
flour. What have you to say about
| it?" y.
"Sure we pleaded guilty to the
charge, paid the find and didn't peep
Mr.. Gooch stated. "A dozen other
mills in the state did the same, But
that isn't admitting that we are a
bunch of crooks by a long shot.
"You remember in 19I-I think it
was-when the net weight law went
into effect. 1t replaced a gross weight
law. Our packages of. -four were
labeled forty-eight pounds. They
weighed forty-eight pounds, with the
package. The package itself prob
ably weighed four ounces. Personally
l did not know anything about the
net weight law going into effect In
some manner the secretary of our
| company overlooked it.
Chester Aldrich was governor
then, you know, and for various rea-
son he didn't like me very we'll, any
way. So one Of his inspectors
swooped down upon the Gooch Mill.
ing company and e wwere hauled into
court. ..-. 7.e..v
| Admits Pleading Guilty.
1--WE were selling gross measures
when the law called for net measure
w wr four ouncs under weight. The
law had been broken, we pleaded
guilty and paid our fine. That's all
there was too it."
"What about this demand that you
resign?" he was asked.
81 simply won't pay any attention
to it," Mr.. Gooch answered, "and ]
am just as positive that none of the
other members of the board will heed
it in the least.
"But here is the reason for the at
tack. Edgar Howard, as everyone
knows, is the mouthpiece of the
>Bryans and their followers. Ton
Allen, Bryan's brother n-law, hasn''
| been doing the kind of work hi
should as United States district at
torney. A few days ago John Cut
wright, editor of The Star, called hin
to account and demanded his resigna
ton.
what was more in keeping thar
that the Bryans should in turn de
mand the resignation of the presiden
of The Star company? > 1t is purely
politics and pretty poor politics a
that, I think. ..t
Called Howard Discredited.
! Edgar Howard is so thorough.
discredited through out the state tha
no one heeds his yammerings an.
more, so why sorry?
"No l have no intention of resign
ing and l don't suppose that ! shal
trouble myself to make any furthe
answer than am giving the Th
Bee.
mo there is no question about i
Nebraska's lieutenant governor i
crazy-stark, raving mad"