Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-08
EDGAR HOWARD ATTACKS
G00CH, DEMANDING THAT He
RESIGN FROM DEFENSE BOARD
Lieutenant Governor, inEdito'
rial, Calls Lincoln News
paper Owner "Profes-
sionaI Patriot"

Columbus, Neb., Sept. 7.-(Special
Telegram. .)-Another bomb has been
exploded in the workings of the State
Council of Defense by publication Of
an editorial by Lieutenant Governor
Edgar Howard in today's issue Of his
newspaper, the Columbus Telegram,
calling upon that body to demand the
instant resignation Of one of its men,
bers, Herbert E. Gooch, whom he
brands as professional patriot"
Howard asserts that his continuance
in Office would be like "a wolf guard
ing lamb" or "a greyhound as play
mate for rabbit" - -.
Under the heading, Zone Black
Sheep" the editorial proceeds as fol-
lows: .e.s.....
DESPOILING THE PEOPLE.
There are many professional pa
tSiots in Nebraska Under the cloak
of their professional patriotism they
despoil the people. Our good Presi.
dent Wilson has appealed to the peo-
pie in all the states to organize state
councils of defense.
"The duty of these councils is to
promote patriotism, to detect treason,
to conserve food products, and in all
ways aid the parent government in
time of war. .. .- ..'
"In Nebraska we have State
Council of Defense. The personnel
of its membership is generally ex-
cellent, but there is one black sheep
in the fold. The name of this black
sheep is Herbert Gooch, owner OF
some big -four mills. The ownership
of -four mills is honorable, provided
the owner is honorable. But the
owner of the Gooch mills has bad
record, so bad that the State Council
of Defense is shamed by his member
ship.
"The corporation Of which Herbert
Gooch is the chief owner has record
of crookedness. President Wilson
wants the people to encourage large
production OF foodstuffs in order that
the splendid army we shall soon send
over the sea may have abundant food
How can we dare hope that Her.
bert Gooch will enter the spirit Of
conservation so earnestly enjolned
upon us by our good president?
Record of Complaint.
"The record reads that only little
while ago criminal complaint was
made against the Gooch Milling COM
pany. The complaint alleged that
the Gooch concern was cheating the
people by selling short weight pack
ages OF -four. ! When dragged into
court on that criminal charge the de,
f2ndant entered plea of guilty and
paid fine Of $50 and costs.
I'm the face Of this hideous record
but one recourse is open to the hon
orable men OF the State Council of
Defense. They must ask for the i'm
mediate resignation of Herber1
Gooch. Nebraska is an agriculture
state. To. ask the farmers to grow
more grain, and at the same time holt
in the membership of-the State Coun
Gil Of Defense man whose company
has been found guilty on crimina
complaint, a complaint charging
crookedness in handling of farm prod
uce-we1l, it is so inconsistent as tt
be laughable, were it not shameful.
"The State Council of Defense wa
organized for good purpose. 1t il
performing good work, but it can
not perform best service while carry
ing in its membership a man at tn.
head of a milling corporation which
has been adjudged guilty of a charg
of cheating the public.
Zone of the purposes of the defens
council is to protect the people II