davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Making Farm Labor Scarcer

In passing the new immigration biil congress
has struck directly at the American farmer and
through him at the mass Of American consumers.
upon whom the high cost OF living is Gripping
tax. The one industry that underfies ali Others
and is the greatest source OF national wealth il
made the chief sufferer
Everywhere the farmers have been complain
ing of the scarcity of Labor Because of il thew
are limited in their output, although prices are
extraordinarily high They cannot raise larger
crops, for they are short Of the necessary man
power.
1t is not condition that is peculiar to any
section of the country; il is general To aggra-
vate It the inducement of high wages IS constantly
attracting more and more workers to the cities
and manufacturing centers. With unlimited land
available for cultivation the people of the United
States seriously feel the shortage of food supplies
because the farmers cannot secure enough men to
work their fields. When normally they should
have the best Of business reasons to seek to ex-
tend their acreage and to raise larger crops they
are discouraged by the difficulty Of finding the
accessory help
To make the situation still worse, congress has
deliberately erected new barriers against the very
class of labor to which the farming sections could
look for relief II is not trained artisans and
tradesmen that will be shut out by the tests re-
CURED in the new immigration act, nor -paid
sweatshop workers who overcrowd the tenement
districts, but men accustomed to till the soil and
best fitted for the heavy labor Of the farms. The
one element most needed in increasing the pro-
duction of American farms and in opening up
new areas for food growing has been singled out
for exclusion Properly, the law to restrict immi-
grafton might have been entitled an act to restrict
agriculture and increase the cost Of living.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Taking II Out on Douglas.

Members Of the lower house at LINCOLN seemed
to have had field day among the measures pre-
sented by the Douglas delegation and put to
sleep forever quite few of them. But in so do
ing they were really comforting favor on the
home people and for tins much at least deserve
some thanks, although the favor may have been
extended unconseiously. The proceedings, how
ever, ought to be carefully taken note of by the
voters as an evidence OF the standing of the men
sent to the legislature from this county. Their
election was glorious" vindication for Wilson
and his policy whatever that is, and triumph
for the "piain people" Yet out Of it comes the
spectacle Of the wealthiest and most populous
county Of the state standing before the legisla-
ture without power or recognized influence. So
far as the bills killed are concerned no tears are
shed. but Douglas county is interested in some
pending measures, and The Bee asks the legisla-
tors to fink Of what concerns the public rather
than the men who accidentally rode into the
legislature on the wave of wisconsin and to
give to Douglas county square deal.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Nebraska Press Comment

York Republican: State capftoIs do not make
cities. Lincoln is natural distributing point for
vast and fertile country, and it would be city
and continue to grow even though the capitol
was removed. 1t helps some, but mainly the
hotels Lincoln rs the best place in the state for
the capitol The town is already built on those
lines 1t is accessible to all parts OF the state, and
the capitol will remain there. Whatever time is
taken up with bills for ITS removal is wasted.
Wymore Wymorean: The shortage of print
paper is even more serious in England than in
this country, and prices are about 800 per cent
higher than normal. This condition has compelled
a general skimping in newspaper sizes. The pub
fishers notice, however, that the smaller papers
circulate Just as readily as the larger ones did,
even with an increase in price. Therfact is that
the newspaper is the cheapest service the world
affords, and doubling IN the price to the reader
would still leave it a greater bargain than any
commodity on the market.
Sterling Sum- 1t is to be hoped that enough
sane men are in our Legislature that will prevent
the purchase Of the Fremont Normal by the state
at any price. We have entirely too many normals
now. The best thing that could happen to the
state Of Nebraska would be disrnantlng of what
we already have. They have provided nothing
more than political orphanage for some who
could not make Irving any place else We should
like to see them all cleaned up and the money that
we have been spending for these institutions put
in rural schools of the state.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

der" and the "peace-at-any- pricer;;"
that is why SO many loyal patriotic
northern republicans supported him
To be sure, some Of the southern
states can always be counted on to re-
turn democratic matorities, no matter
who is on the ticket, just as some
northern states can be counted on to
return republican majorities no mat
ter who is on the ticket But l IN
sist it was the republican voters OF
the north that cast the decisive votes
at the last presidential election.
Mr. Wilson carried eighteen states
that did not secede from the union in
81, with an aggregate plurality OF
502,840 votes. That it was repubh-
can votes that carried these states for
Mr.. Wilson is shown by the fact that
out of these same eighteen states re-
publican candidates for other offices
received an aggregate plurality OF
654,939 votes.
In 1908, when the issue was purely
Of a domestic and economic nature,
Mr.. Taft, the republican candidate, re-
ceived from these same states an az
gregate plurality of 32s,14s votes.
In the face Of these facts 1t would
seem that your South, Side CORE
spondent had not yet awoke to the
fact that he was beaten fair and
square and that the issues of the last
campaign were of an international and
patriotic nature.
This is no time for petit political
pickering, mud singing or ghost
dancing" Every loyal patriotic citi-
zen should get behind our president
and back him up to the end of the
chapter. ]. F. WEYBRIGHT.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
The Costly Container.

Our housewives are perturbed over tho in
creasing cost Of filling the market basket but
the one factor that is being overlooked or at least
going without It's due consideration. is the grow
ing costlincss Of the contaner which we have
been educated up to demanding for all our food
products With the price of paper, strawboard,
sheet metal and tin, glass; rubber, corks yes, and
twine boosted by demands from unexpected, I'M
comfortable sources, the carton, can, Jar and box
is no longer negligible element. To be sure,
people can stiil buy bulk goods, not done up in
sanitary packages. but who wants to do it after
enjoying so long the convenience and satisfaction
Of the package product? But if we insist on the
costly container that has so revolutionized the
food purveyins business, the cost cannot be
avoided when the bill comes to be paid
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
A Good Place to Go Slow.

Of the various educational institutions OF the
state the University Of Nebraska, under the di-
rection OF its board of regents has been the
only one continuously free from graft scandal
and political chickering's. On the whole, the peo-
pie have seen to it that the regents chosen to
manage the university have been men ranking
above the average in public life, and, although
elected as party nominees and serving without
pay the regents have succeeded amazingly in
keeping partisan politics of the campus.
In these respects the record of the regents
contrasts strikingly with that Of the boards that
have been at various times m charge Of the state
norrnals and it is no wonder that some doubtless
sincere friends of the normals want to JOIN
them all together But we doubt if the plan to
do this by the wholesale abolishing Of the board
of regents, normal school board and the office OF
state Superintendent and turning the entire bust
ness over 10 paid board OF professional educa-
tors or political self-seekers will commend itself
to our people. The experience of other states
is, in the main, against such plan and, to our
mind, its chief weakness lies in the fact that it
would involve the university in the competing as
pirations of the different normals, each pulling
and hauling for advantage, with the result OF
subordinating the university, whose scope is gen
eral and which can always command, without
price, the self-sacrihcing services Of the alumni
and public-spirited citizens devoted to the cause
OF higher education.
OF course, everyone must know the board OF
regents cannot te abolished except by amending
the constitution, but at that there is call upon
the legislature to set the machinery in motion
for an, at best, questionable proposal proposal
that has not been thoroughly worked out and d.
gested but is plainly fraught with more possibili-
ties of harm than good.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
M@ Me. kABABbAE,
IA eoNsG 10 GER MApR,EoDA
WMIeR Of POPULAR SoNGS-
WHERE SHOULD We 60 NR OR
HONEYMOON?
FRvrziE lExrM
wWe
70 h1E TOWNS We WRITES
Sos,9S ABoUr AND HASN'T
SEEN Vet!

Father (of Mrs. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was II
your husband wanted to see me about?
Mrs Newlywed-I think he wanted to
borrow a coupler of hundred dollars from
you The poor boy is so anxious to get
out Of debt.-Boston Transcript
There's mans best friend" he said. pull
ing cigar from his pocket
WELL" replied his companion vishulfy.
II hate to see man have only one friend"
-Yonkers Statesman
II have a most valuable work to sell,
madam" said the book agent TT tells you
how to do everything"
Does 1t tell how to get rid Of a Fostering
book agent ~ asked the busy woman.
TT does, madam returned the agent
serenely. TT says you should buy some
thing from him."-New York Times.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
New Problem for the States.

A decision by the supreme court, holding that
Nebraska is not entitled to collect greater fee
for inspection of oils than the actual cost Of the
service, precipitates new problem upon us.
Our state has been cxacting fixed charge for
the inspection Of oil on a basis that has turned
in considerable excess to the treasury that is
it was turned into the treasury before the demo-
Gratis took hold, bat is now held in fund to be
disbursed by the food and oil inspector At pres
ent $1l5000 has been tied up by the suit just de-
termned adversely, which will have to be re-
turned to the oil companies. This will leave quite
hole in the funds from which the deputy COM
missioner and his force of food and other inspec-
tors have been supported. Without going deeply
into the merits OF the case it is plain that the oil
companies have resented as an imposition the
practice that required them to assume the cost
of inspecting boarding houses, hotels, grocery
stores, dairies making food and drug tests, and
doing the other things that fall within the
vaguely outlined purview Of the oil and food de-
partment of the state. Supported by the court,
these protesting companies are now relieved, and
the state itself win have to shift the charge
elsewhere or abandon the service
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
05edBees1&a
.&MyRo4fH
In the Ring to Fight for Peace,

Scotia Neb., Feb. Ito the Edi-
tor of The Bee: I want to say word
to one of Americas greatest citizens,
w. ]. Bryan, to keep UP the fight
against preparedness and the would-be
conflict with Germany to the bitter
end, as more than rs per cent of the
American people see and know that he
is right in his anti Germany and pre-
paredness move and will stay with
him until the great fight is to an end.
l, B. L. Collins, throw my hat in the
ring and will fight side by side with
w. ]. and every other true American
loving citizen against this fiendish
move until it is stamped out forever.
B. L. COLLINS.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

The brand Of politics brewed in Indiana uys-
tihes its neighbors. For the third time bunch Of
political trench diggers are under Indictment for
bombing the sanctity Of the ballot box. The mys-
terry is not in the oense so much as in the failure
Of the authorities to forget it in two years. The
Hoosier forgettcry sadly needs repairs.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

Allowance must be made for the youth and
inexperience Of the Cubans who invoke the gun
and the machete as tools to reach the pie counter
Time and reflection cures unseemiy ardor. In
due course, il they survive the revoiutionists
may see the greater efficiency Of legal shake
down modelled on the Douglas county democratic
plan. 1t is safer than a gun and gets there just
the same.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
SMILING LINES.

There is one thing queer about splurs-
ing on limited income"
whats that?"
'-The moro you live in a society round
the harder you find 1t to mako ends meet"
Baltimore American.
what has become Of my almond cream?"
Your almond creamT
Yes, my complexion cream"
"I thought that was some fancy grub
you got for the party last night, SO spread
1t on sandwiches. Boston Transcript.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

At last the railroads seem to have discovered,
what was plain all the time, that they, them
Selves are more responsible than the shippers for
car congestion and car shortage. Observers can
not but believe that by cooperating on some def
mite plan the railroads can remove the obstacles
to efficient transportation service
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

It ought to be possible some day to eject a
Legislative delegation to represent Douglas county
at Lincoln without having to follow them up with
excursions of citizens and taxpayers appealing to
their colleagues from out in the state to prevent
them from misrepresenting their constituency.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
One Year Ago Today in the War.

Russians reported checked in Cali
clan assault.
Three Teutondc submarines reported
sunk in the Adriatic by French cruis-
erR
United States asked Germany to
change its order to sink armed ships
without warning.
British declared conquest Of KAN
erun, the German colony in Africa,
was complete.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

II transpires that the democrats in the leg
islature are not so eager to stop nepotism otter
all. II the Offices with appointive jobs TO DIS
tribute were in the hands Of the republicans it
would be different story.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

No one can have much sympathy for the seven
little grocers fined in police court for short
weighing With food prices sky-roeketing, it
it just as easy TO add to the bill as to subtract
from the weight
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

1t is becoming painfully evident from the way
the lawmakers jump on the reform measures of
the Hon. Jerry Howard that the policy of hu-
manity commands few earnest supporters at the
statehouse. Have heart, gentiemenl
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
In Omaha Thirty Years Ago.

A pound social was given the Rev.
J. S. Detwiler, pastor of the Kountze
Memorial Lutheran church, the party
being under the leadership of Mrs. c.
B. Ravens. The reverend gentleman
and his worthy lady were very much
surprised and appreciated the pound
ing"
Miss Ball has decorated a large mir
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

After scoring the headline record Of support
for the land bank Omaha ought to have better
consideration for its claim for the federal reserve
bank which Kansas Ciy's political pull took away
from u.s.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
IQDAY]


The best way to avoid catarrh Is by
breathing nothing but pure, fresh air
day and night, keeping your skin clean
and vigorously by cool bathing and
taking plenty Of exercise in the open
air.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

1t is barely possible the experience Of our
soldiers along the Mexican border may yet b.
turned to useful account in Cuba
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

Four full, flush years at the pie counter makeG
little impression on the democratic appetite. The
bigger the feast the stronger the zest for more
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

American ports giutted with goods for export
and ships scarce bear silent testimony to the pres
emit efficiency of subsea frightfnlness.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

A senatorial minority lost out in their scheme
to soak the newspapers through increased post
age rates. But the minority won the spotlight
for moment, which was the main thing
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

What Omaha wants most is more industries
employing more workers, spending more wages
and making more happy homes
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

Germanys war bill to date amounts to $i4,zso,
100000. The money cost is insignificant beside
the mighty toll Of dead, and manned survivors
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

4 Judging by the number Of true bills returned
that grand jury is hardly earning the money.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

go to Halifax" is the latest sign for sea-cap
tains. There are worse places.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17

Looks as if the next order of business is to
hold General Salazar to Astrict accountability"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Clean Those Dirty Sidewalks.

Omaha, Feb. 16.-To the Editor of
The Bee: Many people are complain
ing about the disgracefully dirty con-
dition of our streets, both down town
and in the residence district. Why
not get after every business house and
resident to also clean their dirty side
walks, as other cities do. Omaha
sidewalks are just now rotten dirty.
Then the streets could be cleaned af-
ter the sidewalks. Why not? ]. E. T.
1888 South Thirty-frst street.
As TO Secttonalism in Last Election.
Scottsbluff, Neb., Feb. 14.-To the
Editor Of The Bee: This is to reas-
sure my friends that Neighbor Ag-
news final slam" was not a knock
out" In this discussion l have been
distorted into representing all sorts Of
uncanny things from Slave driver"
to mud sill" and now l am accused
of lodging the ISSUE"
The point made in my first letter
and the point I wish to maintain is
that it was the republicans of the
north and west that decided the last
presidential election and that any at
tempt to manufacture political thun-
der by parading civil war skeletons at
this time Is unpatriotic.
| am not attempting to apologize for
Mr.. Wilson, as one writer suggests, be-
cause Mr.. Wilson needs no apologists.
He stands today head and shoulders
above any statesman in the world. The
whole world sits up and takes notice
when Woodrow Wilson speaks. He is
in the class with George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln, William Mckinley
and the matchless and inimitable
James G. Blaine. And to say that he
was elected by fraud and intimidation
is an insult to the intelligent, patri-
otto citizens Of the north and west
who supported him. Mr.. Wilson rep
resents the happy medium between
the man with a chip on his Shout
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Changing the Mind.

Council Bluffs. Ia. Feb. 16.-To thu
Editor of The Bee: 1t is an old maxim
that a wise man changeth his mind
but q, fool never. / will renew your
pure minds by stating a few Incl
dents that have taken place in the
last year to show how wise we Ameri-
cans are getting.
We believed we were going to have
war with Mexico and sent our boys
to the border for that purpose. But
now we have changed our minds. We
lSee 1t was only false ruse to recruit
bur regular army.
Mr.. Wilson declared armed mer.
ships. When the British ambassador
felt of his pulse he changed his mind
Mr.. Wilson has repeatedly declared
that he is determined to restore the
freedom Of the seas After he re-
ceived q promise from Germany to
warn ships before sinking them, he
changed his mind.
Last fall the people elected him
president because he was for peace
and say they are for him because he
is for war. Before the election Mr.
Wilson came before the American
people as q dove Of peace. He has
changed his mind now and comes
before us hike war god.
Last fall we were all talking peace
now they are threatening to put you
in Jail il you do not stop it. -Four
years ago cast my vote for Mr.. Will
SON But I have changed my mind
No money could hire me to vote TO,
him again. A. MORAN.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Timely Jotsings and Reminders.

Six Nebraska colleges are to meet
at Doane college today in debating
contest for the state championship.
The first horse show under the aus
pices Of the Cuban government opens
Sunday at Oriental park. in Havana.
Thirty Harvard students are booked
to sail for Europe on the steamship
Chicago today to serve in the Ameri-
can ambulance field service in France.
Sunday has been designated as a
day for a great popular contribution
by Episcopal churches throughout the
country In aid Of the $5.000,000 pen
sion fund that is being raised for the
clergymen of that denomination.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
Storyctte of the Day.

Storyctte of the Day.
Old John Bates, an Edinburgh up
holsterer. was renowned for his ST.
lence. People who have been his Gus
toners for generation had. many of
them. never heard a word from him,
except Good morning. Five shillings
Thank you. Good day"
A patron one day said to John:
What's the best kind of mattress %
Hair" was the reply.
That patron, some twenty years
later, had occasion to buy another
mattress. and again asked what the
best kind was.
Cotton" said John.
Cotton" the patron cried, why,
you told me twenty years ago that
hair was the best"
The old man gave a quaint sigh
Talking has always been my ruin"
he said.--London Tit-Bits.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-03-23
Try GLUE RIBBON" Cigar, Sc.
"CAN'T-STRIKE" BILLS DE-

WASHINGTON, March 10. - The
sixty-fourth congress passed into his
tory on March 4, and with it all
pending "can't strike" legislation.
Newlands, chairman Of the senate
committee on interstate commerce,
was most pronounced in his advoc-
acy of this proposal, but the best he
could get was to have his committee
approve bill that made it illegal to
interfere with the transportation of
interstate commerce or the mails ain
any way" Congress adjourned with
out taking final action. Similar leg
islation will undoubtedly be urged
during the sixty-ffth congress, but
organized labor is confident that as
the public understands this legisla-
ton it will not indorse any denial
of the American worker to quit his
employment.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-03-23
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
RECEIVE INCREASES

Agitation by the American Fedora
ton of Labor and its 80 affiliated
Federal Employees unions resulted in
wage increase for 100000 federal en-
ployes by the sixty-fourth congress
which adjourned March A.
Employees receiving less than $1,000
secure a 10 per cent raise and from
1900 to $1,000, inclusive, 5 per cent.
The increases were omitted from the
post office bill, thus reducing the
cost and number of employees affected
by more than one-half. The en-
ployes attempted to secure higher
rates on the ground that present
standards were made over so years
ago, and that the revised rates are
less than paid in private employment.
AS the increase is only for one year,
it should serve as an incentive to
further and stronger organization
among government employees.