8 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH, EstabUihed 1831 PUBLISHED BY THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO. E. J. STACK POLE President and Editor-in-Chief F. B. OYSTER Secretary GUS M. STEINMETZ Managing Editor Published every evening (except Sun day) ~*t the Telegraph Building, 21< I Federal Square. Both phones. Member American Newspaper Publish ers' Association. Audit Bureau ol Circulation and Pennsylvania Associ ated Dailies. f Eastern OfTlce, Fifth Avenue Building, New York City, Ilasbrook, Story & Brooks. Western Office, Advertising Building, Chicago. 111., Allen & Ward. Delivered by carriers at six cents a week. Mailed to subscriber! ~*t $3.00 a year In advance. Entered at the Post Office In Harris burg, Pa„ as second class matter. si»oru dally average for tke three ★ Months rndlas Nov. 80,1914, 23,180 * Average for the year 1918—21,577 Average for the year 1012—21,175 Average for the rear 1811—18,861 Average for the year 1»10—17,405 WEDNESDAY EVENING, DEO. 28 THE PROHIBITION FIGHT THE fact that the Hobson resolu tion to submit a constitutional amendment for national prohi bition to the State Legislatures was defeated in the House at Wash ington last night is not likely to prove discouraging to those who are urging the passage of that measure. On the other hand, the vote of 197 for, to only 189 against ought to give them rea son to believe that they will be able in the end to get the required two thirds. There is nothing of party organiza tion in this light, as was demonstrated when Democratic Leader Underwood and Republican Leader Mann both lined up on the floor shoulder to shoulder in opposition to the Hobson resolution. On the other hand, the strength of the temperance sentiment in Congress is amply shown by the fact that both of these famous "whips" were unable to prevent a ma jority of the House from swinging into line with the prohibitionists. Doubtless the resolution will be presented again next session and thereafter as often as necessary until it is passed. A peculiarity of the situation is that once adopted, the constitutional amendment resolution remains in force until a majority of the States have ratified it. Any num ber of States may for any number of years vote down the adoption of the amendment, but if at last a.majority of all the States adopt it, the amend ment In question becomes a part of the constitution. So it appears that we arc on a fair road toward national prohibition, no matter what the next few years may bring forth. THE MUNICIPAL TREE HARRISBURG owes a debt of gratitude to those who are ar ranging the municipal Christ • mas tree celebration for to morrow evening. It Is a very good sign when busy men and women of varied tastes and interests enter so heartily into any plan for the enter tainment of the whole community. As is always the case, the burden Is falling on the shoulders of a compara tive few. They must take consolation in the thought that the whip is al ways for the horse that pulls. They are doing a splendid and unselfish 1 work and whether they pause to say so or not, Harrisburg people are not ungrateful. HELP THE MUMMERS THE Mummers' Association is in need of funds. The money ought to be forthcoming. The organization is not a profit making enterprise. By Its efforts hun dreds of out-of-town people will be brought to I-larrisburg for a day and the city will be well advertised. There is a possibility, if not indeed a very lively probability, that the Mummers, if they are properly encouraged, will make the Harrisburg New Year's cele bration as big a feature of the new year in Central Pennsylvania as is the "Shooters' " parade in Philadelphia. It is true that our people have been asked to give to many causes this winter, but even so there ought to be no great difficulty in raising the com paratively small sum necessary to make the Mummers' parade a success. TAKING THE RIGHT COURSE IT is a matter of gratification that officials of the Livestock Sanitary Board have taken steps to ascer tain the exact value of the cattle ordered killed in the State-wide effort to check the foot and mouth disease, and It is to be hoped that the next Legislature will give ear to the demand of owner* of stock that they be re imbursed in full. The lawmakers arc to blame in the last analysis for tho present conditions because provision for more generous treatment of owners was not made when the act of 1913 was passed. No doubt prompt steps will be taken to repay those who have suffered losses. When the cattle disease became rampant the State was allowed to pay only ?70 for an animal of registered stock and S4O for a grade animal. These figures are the maximum and In certain cases cattle were valued below those rates because they were not worth more, but there were many in stances in which the value of the cattle killed was considerably more than tho maximum, probably three or four times as large. The State, and the Federal government, which bore half the cost, went as far as possible, but for fine herds the amount offered WEDNESDAY EVENING, HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH DECEMBER 23, 1914. in reimbursement was pitiably short. EftoTts have been made for years to build up the cattle Industry of Penn sylvania and there are magnificent herds of blooded cattle In the State. Constant efforts to Improve the strain have been made and only this year our Secretary of Agriculture Issued u bulletin pointing out how cattle raising can be made profitable. The exigencies of fighting an epidemic have wiped out some famous cattle and seriously decreased herds in certain districts. Even if in the end the disease does cost the State half a million, or even three-quarters of a million, the Legis lature should see that the losers are given means to restore the cattle on which we depend and will depend more and more. And Congress should likewise help generously. It is a fool ish policy to encourage cattle raising and then fail to pay adequately for the animals killed in efforts of public officers to check a disease which might have decimated the cattle of the State. IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS? IS there a Santa Claus? This is the question that hundreds of perplexed boys and girls of Har rlsburg are asking to-day. For the benefit of the little folk we reprint the answer to this momentous question as written by Frank P. Church, editorial writer on the New York Sun in 1897, when that great newspaper was owned by Charles A. Dana. Mr. Church an swered the question in reply to hun dreds of letters received by the Sun from its little friends. Possibly a bet ter answer to "Is there a Santa Claus?" has never been written. Here It is: Virginia, your little friends are I wrong. They have been affected by I the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds. Vir ginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little, in this great universe of ours man is a mere in sect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the in telligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty of jcy. Alas! how dreary would be the world If there were no Santa Claus. There would be no childrenllke faith then, 110 poetry, no romance to make toler able this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood lilled the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneyq on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if tjiey did not see Santa Claus comjng down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus. but that is no sign that there is 110 Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those thr t neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not. but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or Imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You might tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but ther. Is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even ihe united strength of faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the suDernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there Is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thou sand vears from now, Virginia, nay. ten times ten thousand years from now. he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. THE NEW WAY DON'T "drink Christmas in" with anybody to - morrow night. | Don't wish anybody "Merry Christmas" over an intoxicating glass. That style of ushering in the holiday Is as obsolete as the old Druid rites upon which some of our early Christmas were founded. Just as we have outgrown those pagan rituals, so are we now entering upon a newer and better way of celebrating the great holiday. Handsomo is as handsome does, and the Merry Christ mas wisher now accompanies Ills words with a gift. The punchbowl and the eggnog have given way to the msfrketbasket and its delectable con tents. ■i"herc is more good cheer and down- j right enjoyment in a trip with a well fllled basket to some needy family on Christmas eve than in all the Christ mas bowls that were ever brewed. Try it and see, you who have been accustomed to acclaim Christmas with wassail and song. THE THAW CASIO THE Supreme Court of the United States is no respecter of persons. ■Young Mr. Thaw now knows that. He who juggled with the law for months ran up against an adamant wall when ho appealed to the highest tribunal of the nation. Neither millions nor influence, clever lawyers nor obscure constructions of legal points avail there. "We regard it as too clear for lengthy discussion that Thaw should be delivered up at once," says the Su premo Court in deciding thp Thaw case. There are those who have attempted to besmirch the good name of this high tribunal and to bring discredit to it In the eyes of the people. But always it has vindicated itself. Always it has stood for fair play, justice and Impartiality. It knows no friend. It is beyond the possibility of outside pressure. It is still living up to its best traditions. Freedom for Thaw would have caused no end of resent ment, no matter what the purely tech nical points Involved. SYSTEMATIC GIVING AFTER the first wave of public giving to any great protracted task of relief, the work of sys tematic charity falls to the lot of organizations created for the pur pose. The present war is no excep tion. Ilarrisburg responded generously to the first rail to help the suffering ones of the war zone, but at, that it only began. Where spontaneous en thusiasm ceased the Home and For eign Relief Association has started. It is gratifying to note that every dollar given to this organization will serve a double purpose. The money raised will he expended in this city for materials from which to make garv ments for those made homeless by tlio war. Thus business right here is stim ulated and the cash kept In local cir culation. But better even than that Is the method by which the clothing is to be made. Women needing the work will be allowed to do the sewing and will be paid for it. That 100 such women have been found shows how great is the suffering among the poor here at home as well as abroad. EVENING CHAT I The first of the Christmas presenta tions, which are always more or less of an Informal part of Yuletide on the Hill, took place this morning in the office of "Tom" Perry, the veteran chief clerk of the Department of In ternal Affairs. The whole office force assembled in the olflce with Uncle Henry Houck at their head and Cap tain John H. Campbell, the chief draftsman, presented to Mr. Perry a handsome silk umbrella as the gift of the staff. In his little speech he re ferred to the faithful and efficient ser vice rendered to the State by Mr. Perry and to the esteem which every one from Dr. Houck down felt for him. The event was somewhat of a "sur prise party" for Mr. Perry, but one who as a United States cavalryman in his youth fought Indians in the West and later on was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, could not be stampeded. He rose to the occasion and returned his thanks for the token of his colleagues" regard for him and the kindly sentiments that accom panied the gift. The Christmas number of the Moth er's Magazine contains two songs with music by Mrs. Edna Groff Diehl, of Harrlsburg. Several well known mu sic clubs have taken them up and have placed one or both of them on their Christmas programs. Mrs. Diehl's "Aunt Este" stories have delighted thousands of little ones through the columns of the Telegraph. Mrs. Diehl's first work of any consequence appeared in the columns of this news paper. Now her writings are pub lished by many of the leading news papers and magazines of the country and she is recognized as among the first few in the ranks of writers .for children. Mrs. Anna H. Wood, who also was introduced to the public through the Telegraph, is spending the holiday season with her mother in New York city and will have the pleas ure of hearing the children in one or more of the New York schools recite the Lincoln Birthday poem which she contributed to the Telegraph last year and which has since been introduced! extensively in New York public schools. It is an open secret that Mrs. Wood is now at work on a story hav ing to do with incidents and scenes of the present war in Europe. The Harrlsburg Public Library is showing the Christmas spirit and the charging desk and some of the orna mental book cases in the central part of the big room have been hung with laurel, while Christmas pictures have been placed about the shelves. The Library will remain open until 9 o'clock on Christmas eve anil there will be rousing woodfires in the lire places. In accord with custom the Li brary will be closed on Christmas and New Year's days, but it will be open on each of the following days. On Saturday of this week there will be the usual children's hours. The Library's Christmas bookslu which contained many suggestions for Christmas gifts was of service to hundreds of people who got ideasi ol' just what to buy for relatives or friends. One of the late announcements of books Is one which has a Harrlsburg interest. It is entitled "Me as a Model." It is by W. li. Titterton, who it seems was one of the men who posed for the Barnard statuary in front of the Capitol. The book is filled with references to the days in the studio of George Grey Barnard when Titter ton posed with his hand over his head or holding a mythical whispering con versation. Ilarrisburg people might go up to the Capitol, when weather permits, and guess which is Titter ton. One of the hardy woodmen who brings Christmas trees to the city from the surrounding country says that he no sooner unloads trees bearing cones than Jhey are snapped up. These trees are spotted some way or other about as quick as they reach the ground and are taken by eager buyers. Apparent ly trees containing cones are much in demand because they have a natural touch which is worth while. C. Stuart Patterson, Jr., who was here yesterday for the meeting of the State Board of Pardons, remarked as he looked out of the Capitol at the snow-covered hills that it reminded him of Christmas during his army ser vice in the Philippines. He spent it chasing insurrectos through the jungle. Percival Phillips, the correspondent in the war in Belgium for the London Times, is not unknown to Pennsylva nians as he was for several years active In newspaper work in Pittsburgh. He was a member of the staff of the Pitts burgh Dispatch and his work brought him to this city. His articles arc be jing read with Interest by friends here. | More people have enjoyed sleighing this year before Christmas than has I been the case for many, many years. I The cold weather which preceded last ] week's snow and intense cold prepared the ground for the snowfall and it has I made some of the roads in the coun try Ideal for sleighing, the compara tively mild weather of the last forty eight hours having had little effect. The roads in some districts near the city are smooth and teams have been able to make excellent time. A num ber of farmers came to market on Saturday in sleighs and sleds. Fred Seliaeffer, chief of the guides of the State Capitol, is being looked for £ft the big building this week. He ' always takes his vacation about I Christmas time and when he started on his "off period," said he expected to visit the building and be shown through by a guide like an ordinary citizen. I WELL KNOWN PEOPLE 1 —Mayor S. H. Walker, of Altoona, received a couple of handsome po licemen's clubs made by a friend in Panama. —The Rev. Charles Burke, of Pitts burgh, fell on the ice the other day and broke his leg. —E. M. Young, the Allentown bank er, Is active in the safety first move ment in his community. —Dr. L. Webster Fox, of Philadel phia, has gone to Florida for the holi days. -—Jesse H. Wise, Pittsburgh lawyer, has been made a member of the Amer ican Bar Association committee on uniform State legislation. —Congressman J. H. Rothermel. who was hurt by a fall, is improving at his home In Reading. I— 00 YOU KNOW I That tills city Is one of the big candy manufacturing points in tlie Keystone Stnte? SPEAKERSHIPS EAGERLY SOUGHT Friends of the Candidates Are £o ing Through the State to Se cure Members' Votes PENROSE MAKES STATEMENT Says He Has No Candidate and Will Not Be Drawn Into it; Palmer Gets Peevish —Candidates for the speakership of the next House of Representatives ap pear to have taken It for granted that it is to # be a fight to the finish and ure making strenuous efforts to secure the pledges of members elect. The ap pearance of Charles A. Ambler in the field has had the effect of stirring up partisans of Up-State men and it is possible that more may. enter the con test. None of the men who entered the race the last six weeks has given the slightest intimation of withdraw ing. The various candidates will open headquarters in this city on New Year's day and will get to work on the incoming members who do not happen to be pledged. It is predicted that a largo proportion of Republicans will elect to remain unpledged until they reach the city. —Senator Penrose yesterday added some interesting comments to the sit uation and made it plain that he was not committed to the candidacy of anyone. The senator said: "I can only reiterate I am not committed to any candidate for Speaker and 1 know of no agreement by any considerable number of members of the House upon any candidate. The contest is still an open one and it may bo diffi cult. to pick the winner until the mem bers get together in Harrisburg for the Republican caucus. All the candidates are friends of mine and up to date there is no reason why I should inter fere in the contest." —Governor-elect Brumbaugh yes terday received a delegation of mem bers of the Civil Service Reform Asso ciation of Pennsylvania and assured them he favors their project for a State-wide civil service law. He made it clear that he would advocate a sen sible and practical act. not a mere theoretical measure, and that it must be framed not only to protect the State but to be fair to the individual. —The name of Alexander Simp son, Jr., eminent Philadelphia lawyer, has been submitted by a number of lawyers to Governor-elect Brumbaugh for appointment as Attorney General. James Scarlet, of Montour county, special counsel in the State Capitol prosecutions, has also been proposed for this honor. —George W. Gillespie, road com missioner of Allegheny county, has been recommended to the Governor elect for State Highway Commissioner to succeed E. M. Blgelow. of the same county, and so has William Cornell, chief of highways of Philadelphia. —Congressman A. Mitchell Palmer became peeved yesterday at the man ner In which Senator Penrose had held up the post ollice appointments which have been protested, especially in Sus quehanna and Monroe counties, and issued a statement in which ho de nounced the senator. Inasmuch as the senator has managed to expose some Democratic chicanery, the statement of Palmer is rather sharp. It will probably have as much effect as Pal mer's speeches in the last campaign. —The members of the Central Democratic Club will light out their differences over the vice-presidency and the house committeeship to-night. The contest is one of the most bitter in years and ail the animosities of the late campaign are expected to crop up. Officers of the club have been en deavoring to smooth down the fuss. —The. appointment of John Kehoe ns postmaster of Pittston was con firmed yesterday by the Senate. Ke hoe is one of the men whoso selection led to the troubles of the Democracy in Luzerne. —Senator-elect K. W. Patton left Philadelphia councils yesterday after a service of thirty years. Boy Hero Honored by Belgian's King LASSIN Daring young Belgian who has won distinction for valorous work on scout duty for the Belgian army. Ho lias pierced the German advance lines not less than ten times and has caused the arrest of a score of German spies. King Albert lias bestowed upon hiin the badge of the Order of and he has been proposed for the French Legion of Honor. AX EVENING THOUGHT. Ask. and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall bo opened uj*to von. —Matt. 7:7. f OUR DAILY LAUGH JI —But Soon _ A Dettnltlon j Do you think £ a i'' what Is | the war will ef- , n iu m ?»' *» feet us. Hubby? That s the box You haven't de- °' candy I give clared war yet >our Ma after to-day. every argument, j Indigestion Some Flnnnrter What makes Johnny: tsaj. Pop. you look so blue, will y'lend mo a Fred? penny? , I fully intended Fop: When will to ask you to you pay it baeK. marry me till you Johnny: in® treated me to that first time you gi\e pie you made. nie a dime. THE CHIiISTMAS TURKEY By W inn Dinger Went to market this a. m. With a little dough To buy food for Christmas Day, And I thought I'd blow, First of all, a part of it For a turkey, fine, So I went a pricing them Up and down the line. Then I bought one that I thought Of the proper size; Gave up most of my long green For my little prize. Then no change was left to buy Other food, but gee, E'en though we have naught but turk, That's enough for me. I IN HARRISBURG FIFTY YEARS AGO TO-DAY [From the Telegraph of Deo. 23, 1564.J Rnilroad slnu Killed Augustus Wentz, Pennsylvania Hail road, slipped from the bumper on which he was standing and was caught be tween two cars. He was injured in ternally and died this afternoon. Hold Bnll Friendship Fire Company announces its annual ball to be given the 2d of January. Elect Offleer* An election of officers for the Har risburg and Middletown Turnpike will be held on January 2. FACTS AND FUN Those familiar with the eastern mistletoe only have no idea, of the great losses due to this parasite in the forests of the West, where it counts next to fire and insects in the amount of damage done. Minister (calling on inmate of prison) Remember, Mr. Kennedy, that stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage. Kennedy—Well, they've got me hyp notized, then; that's all. —Dallas News. Cyclist Many recruits gone from this village? Shopkeeper—Xo, sir. Cyclist—Oh, why's that? Shopkeeper—Well, sir, after going carefully into the matter, wo in this neighborhood decided to remain abso lutely neutral.—London Punch. MAIDEN MEDITATION'S. The proudest and most independent woman in the -vorld will accept orders from the right man—but he has to be | her "boss" in business or her master in love. Before the engagement the man talks and the woman listens: after the engagement neither one talks— much. But after the marriage either the woman talks and the man listens, or else they both talk and the neigh bors listen." 1 A SENSIBLE GIFT THE Christmas senti ment is best ex pressed by a gift of lasting value one which will grow in ap preciation the more it is used. Shoes of the SIIORB QUALITY make a sensible gift and will please the recipient as well as anything you . can think of. Men's $3 to $6 Women's 2.50 to $5 Jos. F. Shorb 300 A Market St. SCARF PINS * Diamond, from |3.00 up. Solid Oold, from »1.00 up; Gold Filled, from 50c up. JOS. D. BRENNER Diamond Merchant and Jeweler No. 1 North Third St. Try Telegraph Want Ads. I I IHE UPTON SHOPPING CENTER Q « | •