Pemoreabic alc BY P. GRAY MEEK. INK SLINGS. —Of course Col. House wasn’t ex- pected to talk much, but when he did we all knew he would say a mouthfull. — Dr. Anna Shaw’s advice to Bal- timore mothers to smile when their sons march off to war might have made a deeper impression had it been volunteered by a woman who had a son. — Those Bolshevikivites will wind up by declaring war on the German people because they don’t kick the Kaiser out. Besides, how can they hope to treat with any government when they don’t believe in govern- ments. : —Diphtheria has broken out in Bellefonte, but most children look with less horror on it than they have for the asafoetida bag that will be hung around the necks of many of them if the disease spreads, ard we don’t blame them. It is about as sare a charm against sickness as it once was for suckers, when we all had a ball of it in our bait cans—and what a smell. Thanksgiving festivities are over, but Christmas is only twenty-five days off, and after that—the deluge— of snow and coal shoveling, and froz- en water pipes, and chapped hands, and frosted feet and butter that’s too hard to spread—if you have any at all—and worryin’ as to whether that car of coal that’s “on the roa » for the steam heat company is going to get here on time, all piled on top of seven wheatless meals and one beef- less day a week; who said “life is just one damned thing after another.” —The poor despised penny has come into its own at the banks. Whereas the man behind the wicket once looked at you like a meat axe when you dumped several hundred unwrapped pennies on him now he commences to smile the moment he spies a bag or box under your arm that looks as though it might conceal the coppers. The man with pennies is really the bank’s valuable depositor nowadays. They are so scarce that in some localities postage stamps and script are being used as substitutes. __Be careful about repeating ru- mors you hear that have even the semblance of untruthfulness. The German propaganda is everywhere trying to break down the efficiency of the war machine we are building up. it is spreading all manner of fals rumors concerning the motives of our government in this or that activity and it is going to be stopped, even if you have to be punished for unwit- tingly rehashing some of them. There have been many such rumors afloatin, ~Géntre county. All designed To frighten the individual into withhold- ing his full co-operation in moves that the government is making for the general welfare. Naturally, the pro-German peddles them, but he won’t do it long without getting into serious trouble. ol __State Highway Commissioner J. Denny O’Neil opens 2a stupendous question when he suggests that the tax-rate in Pennsylvania be more equitably adjusted. The “Watchman” agrees with the gentleman that there is much that is unfair in our present methods of arriving at the tax liabil- ity of the individual, but woe unto the man or the party that essays to bring about a more equitable rate. We know of no tax payer today who is not convinced that he is already paying more than his share and we know of none who will deny that a more equitable rate would increase the burden of some and reduc2 that of others so it must be patent that J. Denny is working himself into the muss of his lifetime, if he is really contemplating action in the matter. — The sequel to the appointment of Harry Keller Esq., as a member of the commission to locate the new state institution for inebriates is out. After Governor Brumbaugh set him to the job of doing something that requires an alcoholic perspective—when he has only that of a soft-drink fiend—oth- ers came to the rescue of our very es- timable citizen, to save his reputation for doing all things well and have put him in the way of qualifying, ere long, as a most fit member of the body that is to select the site where the home of old John Barleycorn’s followers will be located. He has been made fuel dictator for Centre county and if that don’t eventually drive Kel. to drink the picture shows will have to do for him what the Salvation Army does for other near-derelicts; keep him out of temptation by being open at all hours. —In reporting an addition of $52.50 to the $100.00 the people of Rebersburg and vicinity had already given to the Y. M. C. A. war fund, Mr. C. L. Gramley remarks that there “was some faithful work done to se- cure this amount.” There must have been. When we consider that this contribution represents that of one hundred and twenty-five different contributors we must confess that the spirit to do, as well as the spirit. to give, was there. In all of these con- tributions it is the number who give rather than the amount each one con- tributes that augurs most for the co- hesiveness of the American people in this crisis. Practically one in every ten of the entire population of Miles township is on the Rebersburg list alone and if we were to add to it the number who have contributed on the Madisonburg list it would make the percentage still better for Miles. _VOL. 62. STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. Labor Called on Two Continents. Europe is calling loudly and earn- estly for men to “restore the ruined towns and villages of France,” ac- cording to philanthropists who have recently returned from the despoiled sections of that unhappy country. “There is work for many soldiers,” a valued contemporary says, “whose weapons are the instruments of man- ual labor.” No doubt that is literal- ly true. Many lovely villages and even cities in France and Belgium have been razed by the heartless Huns and they must be rebuilt and restor- ed to their original state. If there are mechanics and artisans in this country who are out of employment, or even if there are any who are dis- inclined to work here, they ought to go where they are so greatly needed. But at the same time there is a growing demand for workers in this country. Under existing conditions it has fallen to the United States to practically feed the allied armies in the war for the suppression of autoc- racy. These armies must be fed. Germany is setting the example for we learn that however hungry the ci- vilians may be the German soldiers have plenty to eat. Coincident with the call for mechanics and others to restore French villages which have been destroyed by German invaders we hear the call of American and es- pecially Pennsylvania farmers for help to plant crops for next year. It becomes a question, therefore, which call shall receive attention from the working men of this country. To our mind the first obligation of American labor is to respond to the call of the home. We have sent thousands of our best citizens to Eu- rope to offer their lives in the cause of democracy. It is infinitely more im- portant to us that no member of this patriotic contingent shall go hungry than that some despoiled village in France shall remain in its present state until we have leisure to look after it after the war is ended. The government of the United States has Sed for men to fill the trenches in France and to fight the battles of de- mocracy and it is the duty of every man fit for the service to respond. are left. to labor should e where they are need- Use of trolley lines is suggest- ed as a remedy for freight congestion and in many sections it would serve the purpose. While food is scarce in the cities it ought not to be rotting in the suburbs where there is efficient trolley service. Important Work of Congress. Congress will reassemble on Mon- day for what is likely to be an epoch making session. During the extra session much important legislation was enacted but a good deal of valua- ble time was wasted in talk by a small group of Senators influenced by mistaken notions or evil purposes. During the coming session the oppor- tunities for similar blunders will be abundant but we hope the inclination will be less. We are at war with a powerful enemy and it is the plain du- ty of all men to promote rather than retard the successful issue of the con- flict. There will be opposition to the most essential legislation, no doubt, but it should be minimized. There is no room for traitors in the halls of Congress. ° : The essential element of success in peace as well as in war is unity. In view of that fact opposition to legis- lation necessary to the prosecution of the war ought to be eliminated. This policy will involve some very radical changes in our methods of procedure. For example, the proposition to sub- mit the direction of all railroad oper- ations to the government is a tremen- dously wide departure from the prin- ciples laid down by Jefferson and cherished since by the Democracy of the country. But self-preservation is the first law of nations as well as of nature and if such a step is required to achieve victory for democracy in the existing emergency, it is a patri- otic duty to yield to it. The session of Congress which opens on Monday need not be a long or noisy one. The first duty of every Senator and Representative is to im- press upon the German mind that the whole people of the United States is a unit in support of the President and that every man and every dollar will be freely given, if necessary, to com- pass the victory which is certain to follow such an expression of patriot- ism.. The malice of LaFollette, the folly of Senators Stone and Reed and ths stupidity of Senator Borah and Senator Gore did more to hearten the Kaiser during the last session of Con- gress than the achievement of . the submarine boats. There should be nothing of that kind during the com- ing session. — After awhile order may come to Russia of its own accord and mean- t.me it is comforting to know that only the worst elements of the popula- tion are killing each other. | ¢ BE LLEFONTE, Bad Trust Dissolved. Five of the individual members of the News Print Manufacturers’ asso- ciation have practically admitted the violation of the Sherman law forbid- ding price fixing and restraint of trade. The corporate members of the association have not pleaded as yet but the association has been dissolv- ed by decree of the court and the five members fined a matter of $2,500 each. This conspiracy has been in op- eration for several years and since the war has - been extorting most shamelessly from the newspaper pub- lishers of the country. The nominal fine imposed is trifling compared with their vast profiteering operations, but there is satisfaction in the fact that the evil is abated. This is one of the most prolific causes of the high cost of living and the one least justified. According to | the testimony submitted at the hear- | ing before Judge Mayer the defend- | ants had created a complete monopo- |listic arrangement. Not only were | prices fixed but “the country was di- | vided into geographical districts for | trade purposes. Mills were suppress- | ed to avert competition and propa- | ganda sent to newspaper publishers | indicating increased manufacturing | cost at the time when it was actually | lower than it had been in previous | months.” The defense was that the publishers had organized and the Manufacturers’ association was to counteract the effect of joint purchas- ing. i Needless taxation is burdensome in {all circumstances but a needless tax | on intelligence is an unendurable in- liquity. That is what these conspira- | tors had created and were maintain- ing and hundreds of newspapers were forced to suspend while most others were compelled to operate without profit. Now that the conspiracy has been dissolved it may be hoped that the publishing business will improve though it will take some time to get back to normal conditions, contracts having been made for the future dur- ing the existence of the combination. A victory for justice has been obtain- ed, however, and we hope that now other fields of conquest will be found. TT has been suggested that during | the period that Lake navigation is closed on account of ice those mag- | | nificent lake boats might be borrow- ‘ed for use in the coast carrying trade. { That sounds like good sense and | would make for efficiency. | TT ee ET Psychological Time to Investigate. If the reformers of Philadelphia are wise they will press the pending investigation of electoral frauds to a logical conclusion. They believe that the Vare ticket was elected at the re- cent poll by fraudulent votes and that an honest return of the votes cast would show that the Town Meeting ticket was elected by from ten to fif- teen thousand majority. The few re- counts made by direction and under the supervision of the court justifies this opinion. The energy and assidu- ity with which the Vare party manag- ers resist the movement for a thor- ough investigation indicates that they, too, are of the opinion that the Town Meeting ticket was elected. There- fore there ought to be no let up. There has never been a time when a movement to expose electoral frauds in Philadelphia held out as bright a promise of success. A con- siderable portion, if not half the Re- publican voters of the city are in sympathy with the purpose of the in- quiry. Senator Penrose has given it his unqualified endorsement and his adherents in the party promise it en- thusiastic support. Most of the re- cently elected judges of the city have been chosen by the Vares but there are some of the older occupants of the bench who are indebted to Pen- rose. With the Senator’s influence and activities in favor of exposure, therefore, the chances of success are fair if not strong. In view of these facts it is a plain duty to proceed to the end. At another time conditions may be vastly different. The “cohesive pow- er of the public plunder” may bring the factions together before another election is held and that accomplish- ed there will be no chance to investi- gate. Just now Penrose is with the reformers but it is not his natural at- titude, and he doesn’t always “stay put.” The Vares had become so arro- gant that he had to take steps to curb their ambitions. Now that they have been face to face with real danger they may be willing to yield some- thing and we all know that Penrose is not averse to a dicker that may be ad- vantageous to him. All these things considered it must be obvious to the reformers that this is the time to in- vestigate. . — Moreover it’s a fairly safe bet that when supplies run out those ama- teur statesmen in Russia will be look- ing for easier and less hazardous jobs. — Speaking of lines that laid by Mr. Hindenberg is rapidly assuming a serpentine form. is Crimes that Ought to be Stopped. There appears to be something the matter with the food supply control in Pennsylvania. Mr. Heinz, of Pitts- burgh, is the head of the administra- tion of that service in the State and up to this writing he does not appear to have secured the results that are claimed for officials clothed with the same authority in New York and Illi- nois. Prices are soaring constantly in Pennsylvania and while they are being held down in New York, T1li- nois and in some other States, Mr. Heinz says that he has been waiting the result of experiments in New York and Chicago. But the people of Pennsylvania are suffering and they are losing patience. Everybody knows that delays are dangerous. Now we are learning that they are al- so expensive. Within a month the uncertainty as to Mr. Heinz’s authori- ty to fix: prices has cost the people of Pennsylvania millions of dollars. At a meeting of the local and State Food Controllers of the country held in Washington ten days ago reports indicated that the plansin operation in Illinois and New York were entire- ly successful. Immediately following the plans were put into operation in several other locations. But nothing was done in Pennsylvania while the food pirates were reaping rich har- vests by running up prices. Mr. Heinz declares that he did not assume that he had authority to go ahead un- til he receives definite assurance from Hoover. But Illinois and New York didn’t wait and the fact that their methods were approved by Hoover ought to have been taken as an in- struction to proceed along the same lines if there were no better lines to lay. “A wink is as good as a nod to a blind mule.” Meantime we learn that on the rail- road sidings in Pittsburg, hundreds of car loads of perishable food stuffs have been allowed to rot. At Cleve- land, Ohio, other hundreds of car loads of food stuffs have been allow- ed to spoil and the railroad companies there and elsewhere have been refus- ing to carry food stuffs to market while people were suffering for food in: the adjacent cities. This would in- dicate that there is something the matter. Vast quantities of food rot in railroad yards because held there to keep prices up and nobody prose- cuted for a crime as atrocious as op- erating submarines on the high seas. Meanwhile we have every confi- dence that in a short time the food controller will get everything work- ing properly to the end that whatever distress there may be will be relieved and the food pirates and profiteers brought to an accounting. But this must be accomplished speedily else the public will lose patience with the food controller and all the constructive work already done will have gone for naught. A ———————— eee During the next two weeks the mountains and woodlands of Centre county will be literally alive with deer hunters and because of the fact that every man will be armed with one of the high power rifles the ut- most care should be exercised to avoid the much-dreaded accidental shooting. Centre county has been fortunate the last few years in not having one fatal case, and if every hunter exercises the proper amount of caution there is little danger of acci- dents. Therefore be sure you know what you are shooting at before you shoot, and never carry a loaded gun with the muzzle pointing toward any- one. Another thing that hunters should be careful about is forest fires. If you start a fire, be particular to see that it is in a place where there is no danger of spreading, and when you leave it be sure to tramp it out to the last little coal. — The “Watchman” congratulates Judge C. H. Bressler, of Lock Haven, on the success of the twentieth anni- versary edition of his paper, the Clin- to County Times, published last Fri- day. It consists of forty pages and gives not only the current news of the week but devotes thirty-two pages in a complete write-up of Clinton coun- ty, its varied industries and promi- nent business and professional men. Judge Bressler has made the Times a really high-class weekly newspaper and the successful accomplishment of getting out such a large anniversary edition was made possible by the up- to-date equipment in his office. Possibly the war may last a good while yet but it is safe to say that the Kaiser will get less enjoy- ment out of it from this time on than he did in the beginning. —_If all the other Senators would get busy in the.cloak rooms every time LaFollette got the floor to speak, the problem of abating one pestifer- ous nuisance would be solved. Representative Mann threat- ens to relinquish the floor leadership of the House minority and that may be regarded as an important victory for decency. PA.. NOVEMBER 30, 1917 . NO. 47. What Russia Proposes. From the Johnstown Democrat. The armistice proposed by the Le- nine government which now appears to be in control of Russia may come to nothing in itself. Apparently it is somewhat impossible, involving de- tails that would prove exceedingly dif- ficult in application. - But the proposal is interesting be- cause it may lead to counter propos- als. It may be the opening for those conversations which many think have been needlessly delayed.. The world has settled down to the rather definite conviction that Russia is already out of the war. Certainly little can be ex- pected of her while she is engaged in an internal struggle, the outcome of which is altogether problematical. The Bolsheviki are uncompromisingly for peace, but not for a separate peace. Their program is specific with respect to what the German people must do before Russia will lay down her arms. The German people must secure control of their government and must put an end to autocracy and militarism. This is the Bolsheviki demand. And while the German peo- ple are thinking the matter over and taking account of their affairs, it is the Bolsheviki idea that an armistice should be agreed to, not alone by. the Germans and the Russians, but by the other belligerents as well. How the British, the French and the Italians will respond to the sugges- tion from their Russian ally is a mat- ter for speculation. It seems to call for that laying of the cards on the ta- ble which President Wilson is under- stood to have put in the form of a de- mand to be delivered by Col. House at the war conference at Versailles. It is not officially known that such a demand has been formulated. We have only the very positive newspaper re- port that it has and that the President is prepared to stand by it with reso- lution until it has been frankly and fully met by the nations with which we have joined in the great task of making the world safe for democracy. There is not so wide or so funda- mental a difference between the war aims as declared by the President and those set forth by the Bolsheviki that a common ground might not be found. The faction now in control at Petro- grad is undoubtedly a difficult one to deal with. Apparently it has more the character of a mob than that of an orderly force consecrated to the work of setting up a stable govern- ment. But it may turn out to be Tet- ter than reports would lead one to be- lieve. It may settle down under the weight of responsibility. It may ad- just its claims to its environment and prove in the end a constructive rather than a purely destructive agency. And in the latter case it may be pos- sible to deal with it in a way to pro- mote the great common end for which the allies and America are fighting, the overthrow of Prussian autocracy. Can this end be the better promoted by refusing to consider the proposals which Russia has submitted or is about to submit? It seems reasona- bly clear that Russia is in no mood to go forward without some more defi- nite understanding than that at pres- ent obtaining. She unequivocally de- clares against a separate peace, but might she not change her mind in case her allies should flatly reject the suggestions she has thought in her province to make? Prudence alone would seem to dictate a course in treating with Russia which would tend to keep her in line rather than to drive her still further out of touch with the other enemies of the German imperial government. Winning the War in the West. From the Pittsburgh Gazette Times. So long as the Russian armies re- main in the field watched by a large section of the German forces; so long as the Italians continue to hold Mac- kensen and the Austrians preventing the complete defeat of Italy, as they seem likely to do; so long as the French and British maintain their of- fensive on the Western front as they will, we may be cheerful about the war situation. Nothing less than sep- arate peaces made by Russia and Ita- ly, which are remote if they can be regarded as contingencies at all in view of the aid which is flowing to those countries, can change the fact of Ally success. - The war is being won for democra- cy in France and Belgium. Progress is slow, it is true; but it 1s steady. That is the significant thing. Every gain is made secure and held. Ger- man counters are ineffectual. If the worst possible to lmagine happens elsewhere, Germany cannot win in the West. The war would be prolonged by the release of German forces now on other fronts to battle with French- men, Britons and Americans. Thatis all. The retreat of the Germans in the Aisne sector is but another yield- ing to superior power. Germany can- not change the balance that favors her foes. Eventually she must give up the fight. —————— eee? A Short Lesson in Dietetics. From the Louisville Courier-Journal, A student of the problem of alco- hol says there are 30 calories in a dime’s worth of sherry, 240 calories in a dime’s worth of beer, and 3,130 ca- lories in a dime’s worth of cornmeal. Now, of course, if it is calories you're looking for you know where to go. —The Russian Embassy at Wash- ington has quit business for the very sufficient reason that it mo longer knows who it is working for. SPAWLS FROM THE KEYSTONE. —George Blank, while hauling corn fod- der near Jeannette Tuesday afternoom, was struck by a corn stalk, which caused him to lose the sight of his right eye. —Frederick K. Rengier, of Lancaster, isin the hospital at that place, suffering from injuries received in an automobile and motor-cycle accident on the state road near Mechanicsburg on Sunday afternoom. —A bill of costs and damages amount- ing to $175 was divided among seven New- berry boys in court the other day when they entered @ plea of guilty to entering a cottage along the Nesbit road and ram- sacking it. —Frank Marshall died Thursday at his home near Livermore, from a fracture of the skull, received Tuesday when he fell from a wagon. He had been husking corn, and was jolted from a wagon while on the way to the barn. —While Orie Reeder, who resides about a mile and a half outside of Oriole, was butchering his porkers the other day, a big buck deer emerged from the woods and came to within seventy-five yards of the butchering party. —Two negroes were arrested at an ear- ly hour Wednesday morning at Williams- port on the charge of robbing Thomas Grier, also colored, of Williamsport, of $145. As the officer was searching the one, the other one was trying to chew three $20 bills. —Brnest Johnson, of Klondike, was in- stantly killed Thursday morning in the woods near that place by a companion hunter who aimed at a rabbit and at the same time Johnson stepped in front of the gun, receiving the full discharge in the back and lungs. —Adam Bleecher, of New Providence, a patient in the Lancaster hospital, escaped from that institution late Saturday night, attired in the thin hospital garments, and prowled about for several hours in the cold until he was finally eaptured and re- turned to the hospital. —TYor the second time the prize that is offered annually by the Pennsylvania railroad for the most improved tracks, was awarded to supervisor R. B. Harris, of the Williamsport and Sunbury divis- ions, extending from Renovo to Jersey Shore. The prize is $100. —The commissioners of Clearfield coun- ty decided on Monday to begin the erec- tion of an emergency quarantine hospital which will be used to take care of conta- gious diseases in case of epidemics such as the smallpox outbreak at Blue Ball and that section of the county, at the present time. —Q@overnor Brumbaugh late on Monday signed a respite staying the execution of Henry Ward Mottern, Jefferson county, from the week of December 3 to that of January 21, to permit the Board of Par- dons to pass upon his application for a rehearing. Mottern has been respited six times. —A young teamster named Karstetter, residing near Loganton, secured a twenty pound wild turkey gobbler in the Sugar Valley Narrows last Thursday without the aid of a gun. Karstetter saw five turkeys in the road ahead and having no gun, he jumped from the wagon, got a club and hit the largest one before it flew away. A shot from a hunter’s gun had broken one of the turkey’s legs. : two men on Saturday morning. Carroll had secured the money from the bank te pay the company’s employees and had just alighted from a street car near the {vorks when he was knocked down and beaten by one of the men while the other secured the money. The robbers escaped. 3 John Traynor, brakeman, residing im Punxsutawney, was killed at Cummings, Thursday, when his foot caught in a guard rail as he stepped from the cars toe make a cut, without waiting for the train to stop. Despite the fact that his body was cut practically in two when he was knocked down by the car behind him, Traynor lived for an hour and a half, and was conscious until a few minutes before his death. —1It cost $121 to raise two bushels of pe- tatoes in a school or community gardem in Morrellville, Johnstown. The school supervisor explains that the ground was sour, the plot was flooded by the clogging of a sewer, due to the neglect of some- body, stones were super-abundant, com- munity farmers who had been enthusias- tic in the work failed to keep it up, ne lunches were served to them by the de- mestic science students. In short every- body was to blame but the supervisor. Explanations are not yet all in. __There is now smallpox in twelve counties in the State, with thirty-eight patients under quarantine. This state ‘of affairs, according to Dr. Dixon, although it does not constitute a severe epidemic, is a serious one and, unless the public will heartily cooperate with what the State Health Department is doing, may very well grow into a condition that will men- ace not only the health and well-being of large numbers of citizens jn different parts of the State, but retard and handicap the prodigious labor that Pennsylvania is called upon to do in support of the Unit- ed States at war. —The Punxsutawney Spirit says: Another newspaper of this vicinity has suspended publication, with the passing of the Reynoldsville Volunteer. Publish- ed for many years by Ward Elliott, the Volunteer recently passed into the hands of the Bierly brothers, of Rebersburg, whe made extensive changes in the make-up the Bierly brothers, of Rebersburg, whe which for scathing irony and personali- ties are said to have had anything beaten in Jefferson county. Lack of advertising support is said to have caused the demise of the Volunteer. It is the second paper in this section to suspend this fall, the DuBois Journal being the other. The Star is now Reynoldsville’s sole journal- istic entry. —The II. S. Kerbaugh Construction company’s plant, west of Bellwood, has been leased for a period of one year by Harris Bros., of Chicago, who will use it for repairing locomotives. The company will employ between seventy and one hun- dred men and will begin operations om December 15th. Harris Bros. have pur- chased a large number of locomotives from the federal government which were used in the construction of the Panama canal. These will be taken to the Bell wood plant where they will be put in com- dition for service and then sold wherever purchasers can be found. The Bellwood plant was built. a number of years ago by the Hyre-Shoemaker Censtruction compa- ny for use in their railroad constructiom. work. ‘“fimothy Carroll, paymaster of the T. ... M. Nagle Boiler and Engine company, of Erie, was held up and robbed of $2,800 by SR Tami
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers