TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-02-24
R. LEE METCALFE---THE PATRIOT


Omaha, Feb. II, l9l7s
To the Editor
The precipitate breaking OF of relations with Germany has
sobered even the rankest pro-Any New York Papers, II remains
for The Omaha Nebraskan, fortunately without circulation or in
Guence, TO attempt at this critical time to stir up trouble among
American citizens by a series Of vicious attacks on those of Ger
man blood who are not Anglo-maniacs.. 1t is always poor taste
and at this time dangerous to call the German Kaiser insulting
names and stick out the editorial tongue instead of answering
arguments and especially is this an inOppOrtune time to talk about
running American citizens out Of this country. What peculiar
qualifications has the editor Of this paper for passing upon me
loyalty and patriotism of our citizens? Let us look dor a moment
at his record. In the first place always have a suspicion of the
loyalty of a man whose middle name is Lee. A child born during
the Civil War whose parents named him Lee does not start out
right by heredity. Added to this when he reached the age Of man
hood and deliberately chose to throw all his influence in favor
of having the people of the United States repudiate their honest
debts on the basis of Free Silver Is TO l makes him a different
kind of a patriot than we can recommend our sons to emulate
After our late Secretary of State shocked his admirers by an
example Of nepohsm in political appointments such as our country
has never known he topped this off by appointing his discarded
editor of The Commoner to the position of Governor of the Panama
Zone at sI2,5OO per year. No wonder the efficient German Colonel
Goethals resigned rather than be connected with an opera bouhe
government run by such a King DOdo!. When our friend Lees
commission as PoObah of the Canal Zone expired the President,
although he has shown contempt for the peoples opinion in many
of his appointments, did not dare face the results of reapponhng
our friend Lee at the expense of losing the services of Colonel
Cocktails. A new position was thereupon created for him as
ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary" of the
Panama Exposition accredited to such nations abroad as would
receive this King Dodo 1t is said that our new Ambassador
presented each of the royal crowned heads OF Europe with al en-
bossed copy of his book as an example Of the finest sentimental
sOb-ister droOl ever published in America. Unfortunately. this
position with its accompanying salary could not well extend beyond
the life of the Panama Exposition and our patriot had to return
to America. The appetite for pap grows with what It feeds on,
so o his return the Ambassador offered his services as governor
to his home state but because he was known, not fasorably but too
wen, his fellow citizens RELOCATED him to what they hoped was
oblivion. His latest activity was to offer himself OOr a eonsidera-
ton of course) to our friend Carranza in Mexico. Who knows but
what history will say that we have to thank God because "Lee
kept us out Of Mexico?". And this is the unselfsh simon-pure
American patriot who presumes to pass upon the Amencanism Of
his fellow citizens! Let him take the advice he puts in the mouth
of a precociOus three year old sob sister whose sole contribution
to literature is the one sentence "NO fro wocks at her.
PATRICIA S. NEWC0MB.