8
IHARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
A NEWSPAPER FOR THE HOME
Founded 1831
Published evening* except Sunday by
THD TELEGRAPH PRIXTIIfG CO.
Telegraph Building, Federal Square,
B. J. STACKPOLE
Pretident and Editor-in-Chief
F. R. OYSTER, Business Manager
GUS. M. STEINMETZ, Managing Editor
A. R. MICHENER, Circulation Manager
Execktlve Board
3. P. McCULLOUGH,
BOYD M. OGLESBY,
I F. R. OYSTER,
I GUS. M. STEINMETZ.
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titled to the use for republication
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lished herein.
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Lord Christ, my trembling Hps in
spire,
So with Thy love my words im
press,
That I may link each heart's desire
With Thy vast eager power to bless.
—Howard Arnold Walter.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1919
THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM
THE decision of Governor Wil
liam C. Sproul to make a chart
and then go ahead with his
road building is something which
everyone will be glad to hear. This
State has seen an amazing list of
isolated stretches of macadam and
"concreate islands" in long lengths of
highway placed upon the map In the
last few years, -and regretted that
the war camo along and prevented
coupling up. And it has seen some
enterprises of doubtful value con
ducted In the name of development
y of a highway system.
But, we may safely say, that
period is gone. With the sponsor for
the present road system In execu
tive authority, and ample funds and
a good organization assured under
Commissioner Lewis S. Sadler,
Pennsylvania can look forward to
improvements of its roads on com
mon sense and business lines. 'And,
after all, that Is all that anyone can
ask.
The road program will cover every
part of the State. The construc
tion will be divided into four years.
Important places will be connected
up, and the highways that bring the
food from the farming regions will
he cared for. It is all to be put
down In black and white, and per
haps a color for each year's pro
jects. But the important fact Is
that It Is to be put down and car
ried out.
THE KEYSTONE
GEN. MARCH'S announcement
of the losses sustained by the
combat divisions of the United
States army in the world war once
more proclaims Pennsylvania the
keystone of the national arch. Al
though every figure in the more than
66,000 major casualties means sor
row for some one and a vacant chair
in a home in many cases, It is what
, the United States has come to ex
pect from Pennsylvania. Once mare
the Commonwealth founded on
principles of liberty In thought for
men of every race and creed has
demonstrated to the world that no
sacrifice Is too great to make for
the right, for law and order.
Pennsylvanlans can refer with
solemn exaltation to their divisions
—National Guard and National
Army—heading the lists of the
heaviest sufferers outside of the
First division, composed of fcgu
lars. Whether province or state,
Pennsylvania has been ever
ful In response to the national call.
Often ignored in honors, and its
sons at times stood aside for other
, leaders. It has been the bulwark
of national defence.
No state suffered more in the colo
nial wars than Pennsylvania. In
dians raided within sight of' onr
home and the smoke of burning
cabins was seen from John Harris'
ferry. The part Pennsylvania and
Its men played in the struggle for
independence is imperishable. Penn
sylvania furnished the one success
ful genera! and the {ho
MONDAY EVENING, BXUBIBBCRG TTELEGRiFa FEBRUARY 3, 1919.
sands of men. Pennsylvania was
one of the sources of men of strength
in the Mexican war. The Keystone
State was raided and made the scene
of the decisive battle of the Civil
War; its captains and its men; its*
financiers and its activities made
records for the preservation of the
Union which will endure as long as '
North America. Pennsylvanlans
were in every action of the Spanish
war.
And now it Is officially announced
that the Pennsylvania troops suf
fered heaviest among the divisions, i
We may fairly lay claim to a share
of the glory of that First division
of regulars, with a casualty list of
over 6,200, because Harrisburg lod
the nation's districts In regular
army recruiting, and Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh and Scranton and other
places contributed of their finest
sons for the regulars. Likewise, the
presnce of Pennsylvanlans men
from Lancaster, Berks, Lehigh and
other counties of the so-called
"Pennsylvania Dutch" belt, In the
hard-hitting Rainbow division, must
not be forgotten, nor the fact that
Philadelphia was the recruiting
ground for the marines' who suf
fered so terribly and won so mag
nificently.
The Twenty-eighth division has
proved the value of the militia sys- 1
tern and upheld the traditions of the |
Pennsylvania Line, the Pennsyl- 1
vania Reserves and the National :
Guard of Pennsylvania. Leading all
National Guard divisions In losses,
Its banners, when placed in the
State Capitol, will rustle with stories
of battle that generations will come
to hear.
The Seventy-ninth division, in
leading the National Army divisions
tn losses, demonstrates that the man
in the draft was as valorous as his
grandfather in the Civil War. Our
own Dauphin county boys were in
this battling organization, the boys
we helped to train and the boys we
sent away with music and parades
in the summer and fall of 1917 and
the winter of 1918. And we may
acclaim not only the prowess which
the casualty list tells for this fight
ing division, but that of the Sev
enty-eighth, of the boys J
of Northern Pennsylvania, who were ■
with the New Yorkers and who lost 1
over 1,800 men.
The full ( story Is not yet told. 1
There were Western Pennsylvanlans 1
in fighting organizations, one regi- i
ment In Italy being made up from
men from the Pittsburgh district, '
while sons of Pennsylvania made
the great sacrifice In many a unit.
S
And some day we shall hear of
what the Pennsylvania men did in
the sleepless work of the navy.
Enough Is at hand to show that
Pennsylvanlans upheld their State
as the keystone not only of the fight
ing men, but that, as Governor
Sproul says, it gave in equally glo
rious measure of its wealth In taxes
and bond subscriptions, in products
of the factory, the farm and the
mine.
Pennsylvania, the keystone, did
what it has always done.
TO BUY A DOZEN EGGS
SAYS the official jokesmlth of the
Philadelphia Evening Public
Ledger: "To buy a dozen eggs
all you noed is a heart and a dollar."
May be so in Philadelphia, but you
can get a dozen of nice fresh Cum
berland Valley eggs in Harrisburg
for sixty-seven cents, or thqr&bouts.
Indeed, it has come to such a condi
tion of things here that we can now
look a fresh egg unblushlngly in the
eyo and eat two of 'em at a sitting
without feeling that we will be called
upon by friend wife, at the end of
the week to make up a deficit In the
grocery budget. "A heart and a dol
lar" may be the requisites In Phlla
delphia, but up in this country we
can have for tho price the eggs and
a half pound of choice sliced bacon
thrown In. *
TALKING TO THE STARS
THE New York Times, the Ohio
State Journal and certain scien
tific gentlemen more or less
visionary, aris having a lively discus
sion over the possibility of talking
with the stars; or, rather, talking
with the people who Inhabit the
stars, providing there are such. The
scientific sharks believe it can be
done by wireless. The newspapers
say the Idea is nonsense, and so the
controversy rages. We know by
youthful experience that "counting
stars" Is a pleasant and altogether
satisfactory occupation. We are re
liably Informed that "etar gazing" is
taMMM
that "hitohing one's chariot to a
star" is highly commendable. We
know that stars "whisper," for did
not the venerable Tennyson himself
tell us he heard them? Then why
should they not talk right out loud
and be done with it? We Imagine old
"Doc" Cook, equipped with a wire
less apparatus and mounted on the
summit of Mount McKlnley, say,
could get a rise out of 'em If anybody
could. f
fotrtCc* Ck |
By the Ex- Committeeman j
Philadelphia newspapers are again
announcing that to cure the election
troubles in that city the Legislature
of the commonwealth is to be asked
to pass bills for radical changes, and
to-day tho desire expressed by some
members of the General Assembly
was that It would be the "last call"
from Philadelphia for a time. With
the bill to repeal the non-partisan
system in election of Judges on the
way in the House, and chances that
a similar move will be made In re
gard to the third-class city code to
say nothing of the Powell bill pro
viding councils of seven with* four
year terms for all boroughs there
will be considerable election legisla
tion to discuss.
The one hope that has been up
permost In the minds of the average
legislator is that people in Phila
delphia would get together on a
scheme of charter revision before
the bill was presented to the Gen
eral Assembly, and now that an op
eration to cure by means of a bill
the situation in Philadelphia is pro
posed a similar desire is heard.
Philadelphia has been back of elec
tion changes in Legislatures for
years, and as soon as some one arose
who could beat the -combination in
the statute and maintain power a
crusade for radical alterations has
been proclaimed.
According to independent Repub
licans and Town Meeting men who
are behind the proposition the ob
ject of the bill will be to change
registration methods. 'Twas ever
thus.
I —Probably one of the most in
[ teresting studies known about the
Capitol in a long time is to be found
among attaches of departments that
they are now responsible solely to
the chiefs of theii branches of the
government, and that the system of
securing gubernatorial approval on
appointment of every person is end
ed. The people at the Capitol now
recognize that the heads are run
ning the departments, and that they
are answerable to the Governor for
results. This principle of responsi
bility where It belongs will have a
distinct effect in improving Capitol
Hill morale, It Is declared by some
observers. One or two Individuals
who had an idea that the system
of the last three years was still in
vogue received a jolt when they took
their matters to the Governor's of
fice. But the recovery has been
rapid.
—Appointments and rejections by
Governor Sproul In regard to the
State Board of Public Charities ap
pear to have met general commenda
tion. No criticisms have been heard
of the selections by the Governor,
and at the Capitol there is a dispo
sition to welcome back to State ac
tivities Howard B. French, the Phila
delphia business man. The Pitts
burgh Gazette-Times and Post speak
In the highest terms of William
Price, selected to succeed the late
Francis J. Torrance, the former say
ing that while "he has been fre
quently mentioned for public office,
he has never consented to consider
any but an honorary position.
—The Philadelphia Press says the
Governor's appointments of two mu
nicipal court judges "will amply
sustain the court's standards," but
thinks the court needs strengthen
ing in 'legal learning and mature
judgment.'
—According to Scranton papers
schools in that city are in danger
from mine caves, and there may
be some new curative legislation
presented. The Dunmore election
board was freed of election fraud
in the Lackawanna courts on Sat
urday.
—Blair county newspapers say
that Harry A. Thompson, a member
of the House for two terms, and pub
lisher of the Tyrone Times, is a can
didate for the position now held by
Superintendent of Fublic Printing
and Binding D. Edward Long. Mr.
Long is also said lc desire to stay.
There were about a dozen others re
ported out for the place the last
time a count made.
The Philadelphia newspapers
comment extensively on the acquit
tal of Mayor Smith. The Ledger says
that while the mayor "may be really
content with his 'vindication,' Phila
delphia is not." The Inquirer says
the mayor may be tried on another
charge.
—Allentown people are urging
General C. T. O'Nell to be a candi
date for mayor, as Mayor A. L
Reichenbach will not run again. In
Chester Mayor W. S. McDowell, who
will be recalled as marshal of the
civic division of the inaugruaral pa-1
rade, and a storm center of police
matters worse than in this city is
out to succeed himself.
—Charles F. Kelly, Philadelphia
councilman well known here, is be
ing urged for assistant district at
torney to suceed Charles E. Bart
lett just appointed to the Philadel
phia municipal bench.
—Berks people say that Judges
Endlich and Wagner will be accord
ed renomination and election. Their
renominations are the only things
upon which the Berks Democrats
seem to bo united.
—Prohibition is marching on
There are eightly less licenses in
Schuylkill county this year. Coates
.ville, which is "dry," has four ap
plicants.
—Philadelphia newspapers con
tain quite complimentary references
to Frank A. Smith, who will be
named for the Republican nomina
tion for senator from Dauphin coun
ty to fill the Beldleman vacancy this
week.
HIS WAR RECORD
He heard his country's S. O. S.
And answered P. D. G.;
He joined the U. S. Q. M. C.
Enlisting from the "U."
His manner pleased the old C O
And he made the O. T. C.;
He handled T. N- T. abroad,
And won & D. S. C.t
—Spokane Spokesman Review.
Tangled-web-we-weave Note
Nothing is more annoying to a
host who Is boasting that the string
beans came from his own war gar
den surplus than to have the guest
bite on aMt ofapldor.—(From the
WHEN A FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND By BRIGGS
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Gov. Sprout's Good Start
(Pittsburgh Gazette Times.)
The really gratifying thing about
Gov. Sproul's discussion of state
highway improvements is the disclo
sure of his familiarity with the needs.
He knows what he is talking about,
and that means that when ho gets
down to business we shall see re
sults of benefit to the greatest pos
sible number. And he will not be
long in getting the work under way.
Already ho has ordered bills drafted
to make available as much of the
$50,000,000 improvement bond
issue which the people authorized
last November as can bo utilized th
the next two years. He is planning
the work that shall be undertaken
first. Western Pennsylvanlans will
note with satisfaction that he re
gards as essential the early realiza
tion of two important projects in
this section. An improved highway
from Pittsburgh to Erie is on his
program; so is an improved highway
across Erie county. Anyone who
has driven over the existing roads in
the last few years will agree that
the beginning of the contemplated
work cannot be undertaken too soon.
But the Governor's special reference
rto these cases is of no narrow sig
nificance. Mr. Sproul knows the
state and will exert himself to serve
all sections impartially. He is prac
tical and progressive. No more im
portant work than road improve
ment will be undertaken during his
administration. In "making the dirt
fly," as he promises to do. Governor
Sproul will make an enduring con
tribution to the prospects of Penn
sylvania.
Cowbells of France
(From the Splkdr, France.)
Right on the heels of the armistice
came the French cows. Bells cob
webby with four years of idleness
were dug up from the peasant' 3
barn lofts and hung on the neck of
Bossy as she left the thickets ana
the hills far from the searching hunt
of tho local French Impounder. But
with the signing of the armistice
there came a new lease of life, the
danger of requisition was passed and
the cows came down from the hills
to graze on the succulent grass
grown accumulative since the Gor
mans first began to hammer on the
gates of Paris.
The French peasant Is a rathci
shrewd Individual. He did his share
toward winning the war, but when
meat got scarce and the military
authorities began to requisition meat
he drove his cows back into the hin
terland. There they stayed, defying
the search of the government Im
pounders.
Then came the armistice which
opened new fields for the cows
They clutter the roads In all direc
tions. American chauffeurs will tell
you that previous to the armistice
they never had to slow up when
driving along the country roads, but
now nearly every turn reveals a
herd of cows In charge of old folks
or children.
If cows could speak, they'd prob
ably say, "On les a," too.
TO THE WOUNDED
This is our homage when you pass
us by:'
Not the crude, pitying stare your
dread, but this—
Averted eyes, and conquered tears,
and pangs
Of helpless love • • • Tou do not
know how brave
We also are, not stretching out our
hands.
Maddened with pity, to the strahger
faces
That whitely pass us, needing us so
much!
Oh, boy with deep bright eyes and
crippled foot,
Oh, soldier with the face mads old
with war,
We promise you, by every wound
yotl bear,
A nation's homage and a nation's
help.
And all its grateful hearts, • your
■ eager friends! .
I mrr-AMTTH rsH.KTSHnp
■■■■
PERILS OF DEMOBILIZATION
Lack of Any Federal Plan Rendefs Almost All
Local Efforts Valueless
IP the Secretary of War desires
concrete proof of the need of a
thorough-going national plan to
govern the process of demobilization,
late events in Boston have not left
him without evidence In point. The
visit paid to City Hall on Saturday
by a delegation of several hundred
unemployed service men, and the
visit which they announced they
would pat to the gtate House to
day, are not extensively serious mat
ters In themselves, but they are suf
ficient to indicate what will be the
seriousness of the situation in the
near future if demobilization is al
lowed to continue on a haphazard
basis, and they are more than suffi
cient to indicate the incidental acts
of injustice which arc already occur
ring while the Secretary or War tries
to avoid the adoption of a radical
plan of control. That the Mayor ac
cepts this view of the case would
seem evident from the concluding
sentence of the telegram which lie
sent Mr. Baker after hearing the
protest filed by Saturday's delega
tion, against the manner of their
discharge. His honor declared that
"The present situation seems to be
due to a complete disregard of the
unfortunate complications that arc
certain to follow such action."
"Here in Boston, where the 'un
fortunate complications' have been
directly brought to the city's atten-
WORDS
Words are the stones I use in build
ing,
My house will be strong without
illlet or gilding;
I dig in the crypt of the centuries
Where the earth is rich in ebonies.
I burrow for words in the quarry of
Time;
In the heart of the ancient hills for
rhyme.
There are veins of beauty the sages
have known;
Milton worked where the marble
shone,
Our Lincoln found what he liked in
the clay
Of the common fields where the
stones are gray.
So every spirit must find a way
And delve for the treasure that
seems its own.
Dut you! what are words, what are
words to you!
Not stone nor metal precious and
true,
Nor blocks to serve in a hallowed
shrine;
But seductive Jewels cut subtle and
fine.
Spangles you wear to glitter and
shine;
I know the worth of your words to
you!
—Gladys _ Cromwell in the New
• Republic.
THE PERFUME
She looked at me in pink surprise,
Resentment flashing from her eyes;
For she was in her teens and fair,
And I a man with frosted hair.
Her name our Introducer said,
When back along the years I sped
To one sweet June. My head awhirl,
I kissed the unexpectant girl.
Old man again, I had to tell
That 'twas her perfume wrought the
spell;
Its magic brought to sight once
more
The maid I'd lost long before;
Whose every charm of form and
face
She's given to this child of grace.
Fate intervened —ah, years of gloom
Since last I'd breathed that rare
perfume!
—HOWARD MARKbE HOKE.
Goes the Wrong Way
Portugal's is what might be call
ed a oounter-clockwish revolution.—
the aprlngaeiq Repuycan.J
tion, every disposition is being shown
to deal with them handsomely and
eifcctively in, so far as any action by
tho local authorities and peopto can
suffice to cope with them. The Gov
ernor>pnd Mayor, the Speaker of the
House and the president of the Sen
ate have all joined In energetic ef
forts to organize the employment
field in this state and to see to it
♦hat every firm or individual In
whose employ a soldier might be
placed comes to a realization of the
need that is now to be met. Doubt
less the general court will take a
legislative hand in the proceedings,
endeavoring to establish the means
by which the state can best aid the
campaign. These efforts deserve the
hearty support of all citizens.
"What must not be lost from
sight, however, is the fact that if de
mobilization fs allowed to go on at
its federal source unchecked and n
-gulded by any broadly controlling
plan, and without administrative
machinery of tho kind which Gen
eral Crowder built up for the task
of mobilization, then in tho end local
attempts to deal with the flow of re
turning soldiers will inevitably Ijo
swamped, and swamped through no
fault of their own, but on account
of "a complete disregard" in certain
high quarters "of the -unfortunate
complications certain to follow." —
Boston Transcript.
To Demobilize Its Horses
(From the London Times)
One of the big problems confront
ing the British authorities is what
to do with the immense number of
horses that were on the army
strength in the various war theaters.
Sir William Birkbeck, the exper
ienced director of remounts, estim
ated that the number of horses in
the army is not less than three
fourths million, and this, apparently,
oxcludes horses on the army
strength at homo. If all these were
brought to England there would be
such a glut of horses as lias never
been known.
What the army authorities intend
to do is to bring back to this coun
try approximately the same number
of good sound horses under 12 years
old as have been taken from it for,
war purposes. This will mean, as
we reckon, bringing back nearly
180,000 horses. Demobilized horses
are to be sold a hundred at a time
In the large towns throughout the
country, and In lotß of twenty-flve
in the smaller towns.
The question of the disposal of
the surplus of army horses abroad is
almost certain to procoko much con
troversy. In Egypt alone. Sir Wil
liam Birkbeck tells us, there are one
hundred thousand horses and mules.
Repatriation ho dismisses as out of
the question owing to lack of trans
port. Destruction would mean
wholesale tnashacre and sale to lo
cal buyers maj l expose the army au
thorities to violent denunciation on
the ground that animals thus dis
posed of are being "sold Into 'slav
ery.'
THE TRIVIAL
The grep.t emotional experiences
of life are belittled by the insistence
upon the trivial, tilfe and Love look
Into each other's eyes; a man and
woman elect each other fronr all the
world. But the Joyful solemnity of
marriage is ruffled by the details of
the wedding, perhaps family squab
bles over flowers and gowns end In
vitations! Or Great Death comes
In at the door and the little human
soul, overwhelmed with grlof, ap
palled by the sudden opening of
eternity before Its eyes—yet futfses
(there is no other word for It) over
"mourning," over the width of the
hem on the veil pr the question of
crepe buttons or Jet. Margaret De-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DUTY OF LEGISLATORS
To the llditor of the Telegraph:
Tho Members of the lower house
of our General Assembly are called
"Representatives In the General As
sembly." Of course they are In the
generic sense no *more the "repre
sentatives" of their constituents than
are tho members of the State Senate.
I Members of both bodies are elected
by the people In this "representative"
government to make the laws for
them in their representative capac
ity. But wo are led to ask whether
In every case a member of either
body is to vote as he believes a ma
jority of his constituents want him
to vote. In talking with a member
of the present house from Allegheny
'county he declared that he must
vote on a certain measure against his
own convictions because ho know
they elected him to represent them
by voting that way.
"How shall I vote?" is not a ques
tion to be answered lightly on any
call. There are certain principles
that must guide the real man what
ever be the problem before him.
First .there is the problem of
righteousness that must be answered
rightoously by the representative.
Our fundamental law declares that
the object of the forming of the
United States government was, "in
order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare
and secure tho blessings of liberty to
ourselves and OUP posterity." Every
official of every kind is the "repre
sentative" of his "constituency" only
for the purpose of accomplishing
these objects, and not for carrying
out their particular desires. This
is easily seen by supposing that a
certain constituency was composed
largely of peoplo of anarchistic be
liefs. The man elected as a legisla
tor from that district would be con
sidered no less a traitor to his coun
try if in obedience to their desires
ho attempted traitorous deeds.
Neither heTior his constituents have
any right to harbor Attempts to do
anything to militate against right
eousness nor that "more perfect
union, etc.," that our government
was formed to achieve.
In applying this principle to the
perpetuation of the liquor traffic, it
does not take a man with half an
eye to see that the liquor traffic
does not help "to form a more per
fect union, establish Justice, Insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the gen
eral welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity." During the present war it
has been convicted by Congress of
being in league with our enemies;
in all times tho "results of the traf
fic is great injustice brought upon
the victims of the drink habit and
their households; instead of promot
ing the general welfare, it fills jails
and penitentiaries and alms houses
and asylums; its habitats are the
breeding places of anarchy and
crime; and it threatens tho destruc
tion of the blessings of liberty. Thank
God the people of the United States
have alrady decreed it shall die.
The question of ratification of the
prohibition amendment by our leg
islature is just now a burning one.
It has already become a part of the
United States Constitution. Shall the
legislator who may have been elected
by the people in his district who
were opposed to ratification vote
when the time comes against ratifica
tion? In the face of the reasoning
given above we would have to an
swer, "No; he must vote for ratifi
cation because to vote against it is
to vote against the things for which
his government was formed and in
reality vote for Its overthrow'." But
there is now an even more potent
reason why no legislator should vote
against the amendment. This
amendment is NOW a part of the
United States Constitution. Every
legislator has solemnly sworn or af
firmed that he will "support the
constitution of the United States"
If he votes against the amendment,
then, is he "supporting" the con
stitution? or Is he, so far as he can,
doing the opposite? The question
looked at squarely is not hard to
answer. Then let us push it just a
little farther;. If he is not support
ing the constitution, what is he
•' may not be pleasant to
think or to say It, but It Is not true
that he is violating his oath of of
fice.' Alas, that so often this matter
of being sworn is not taken seriously.
Would that every momber of our
legislature at this late hour would
fice ar ° hlmself %vllh his outh of of-
B. E. P. PRUGH,
| TIIASKS lIARRISBURGERS
To the Editor of the Telegraph:
Since returning to Harrisburg on
the 15th, after being mustered out
of the service of the United States,
I have endeavored to reach the
many friends who were so liberal
to me with their moral and financial
support during the period I was
sergeant, secretary and treasurer In
the Harrisburg Recruiting District.
Some, I have not been able to get in
touch with, but that none may be
overlooked, I would like to express
publicly through the columns of the
Telegraph, my sincere thanks and
appreciation for the unstinted help
and co-operation extended to ine
while connected with the local re
cruiting station.
Particularly is this true of Wil
liam Jennings, who was untiring in
Ilia effort and gave most liberally In
time gnd money, which contributed
largely to the success of the local
station, which established an en
viable record for itself.
Very truly yours,
„ , LIEUT. THUS. P. MORAN,
Harrisburg, Pa„ January 27, 1919.
LABOR NOTES
The first organization in the
United States to advocate extensive
ownership of public utilities is tho
Ohio Federation of Labor,
In 1916 there were about 2,072,-
000 members of the American Fed
eration of Labor. In 1917 this num
ber had increased to nearly 2,500,-
000, and today it has gone beyond
3,000,000.
Manufacturers of gold-filled, plated
and gold-sholl finger rings have
reached an agreement with the Fed
eral Trade Commission to adopt a
standard system of marking the pro
portion of gold.
Extra pay for work done beyond
the regular working hours, whether
In port or at sea, when not neces
sary tor safety, has been recognized
on Norwegian and other vessels for
more th|.n 20 years.
The number of strikes and lock
louts occurring in the United States
during the first half of the year of
11918, . according to data compiled
from various sources by the Bureau
tof Labor Statistics, was J77X,
Eurnttuj ©fyat
Harrisburg had a good many men
In uniform on its streets, and at Its
stations during the height of the
war and especially during the last
six months, but it would seem that
there are more than ever In the army
khaki or tho navy blue about. The
fact is that Harrisburg is not only a '
transportation center, but that It is
becoming an important military can*
tcr. Its advantages in regard to trj
coastal cities at lust being recognizw
by tho military authorities, while its
record in furnishng men and muni
tions and money for the war is som"*-
thing in which we can all take the
greatest pride. From what has just
been learned the chances are that
Harrisburg will see a good many
more men in uniform on Its streets
after the war. The great depots
near Middletown and New Cumber
land are being studied with a view
to not only maintaining them, but
eventual enlargement. And
this is considered it is only natw?
that they should be establislimeSaSt
of great military value. New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington are all within a few hours
rail travel from Harrisburg. The
great material and munition manu
facturing centers are and the
rich agricultural and canning dis
tricts of York and Lancaster coun
ties are near. From all indications
Harrisburg is to become more or
less of a military post.
• • •
The average citizen is nonplussed
these dayq in his efforts to establish
the meaning and significance of tho
various insignia and decorations be
ing worn by returning soldiers and
officers. Gold stripes, silver stripes,
blue stripes, red stripes, service rib
bons of all colors, gold and silver
stars, shoulder devices and every
other form of adornment embellish
and ofttimes disfigure the returning
heroes. Perhaps it would be easy
to distinguish these numerous de
vices were it not for the fact that so
much unauthorized stuff is being
bought and sold and worn to the
utter confusion of the casual ob
server. For example, the French
fourragere, a green or red cord with
pointed steel device worn wound
round tho left shoulder, is granted
to French divisions after a certain
number of citations, but only upon
special order from the higher French
authorities. The Stars and Stripes,
official newspaper of the A. E. F.,
declares that only a very few Ameri
can soldiers with previous service in
the French army, are entitled to this
decoration, and the statement is cor
roborated by a recent newspaper
dispatch quoting a conversation on
the subject between General March,
Chief of Staff, U. S. A„ and a French
attache at headquarters in Wash
ington.
• • *
Abuse of the privilege of wearing
service ribbons on the left breast has
also caused a revulsion of feeling
against those men who buy up all
manner of bright-colored bits of rib
bon and declaim modestly on the
campaigns for which they are worn.
The truth is, no ribbon for service
in this war has yet been authorized
in army orders, and many officers
and enlisted men are allowing their
love of personal adornment to out
weigh their understanding or regu
lations. The ribbons representing
the Croix de Guerre and our own
Distinguished Service Cross and Dis
tinguished Service medal are alone
permitted to be worn at this time.
Service ribbons for wars prior to the
world war are of course not included
in the list.
• * •
Wound stripes of gold are worn
on the lower right sleeve of the coat
and overcoat, one for each day the
wearer received wounds, but hot one
for every wound, if the latter were
all received in the same engagement.
The gold stripe is worn on the left
sleeve for each six months spent
with the A. E. F. A single blue
stripe on tho left sleeve-signifies less
than six months abroad, while each
silver stripe represents six months'
service in this country. It was not
contemplated that there should be
a combination of such stripes, as, for
instance, two silver and one gold, or
one gold and one blue. The red stripe
worn on the upper left sleeve an
nounces to the world that the wear
er has been honorably discharged
but not yet adopted civilian clothing.
As for the stars, we have yet to see
any official authorization for the
sewing on of any stars, except on tho
shoulders of general officers. Stories
have come from soldiers that the
gold star on the lower sleeve is for
the first 100,000 oversees and the
silver star for voluntary enlistment,
but they lack verification. The poor
civilian is easily taken in and the
boys do love to fool them.
• •
It is understood that devices in
dicating the division with which the
soldier Berved may be worn below
the seam of the left shoulder by all
National Army and former National
Guard divisions. The majority of
these aro for citations, such as the
red keystone of the Twenty-eighth
Division, the red, white and blue
shield of the Forty-second or Rain
bow Division, and the "wild cats'
head" of the Thirtieth Division.
[ WELL KNOWN PEOPLE |
—The Rev. Dr. W. H. Roberts,
stated clerk of the Presbyterian gen
eral assembly, is being congratulated
upon his seventy-fifth birthday.
—William Price, the new member
of the State Bocvrd of Public Chari
ties, is a big banker and one of the
most generous contributors to chari
ties in that city. It is said he gives
the Biblical "tenth."
—General Charles T. Monoher, '
who presided at the Smith trial, is
one of the wealthiest Judges in the
state. He comes of a family that
long ago became noted in tho coal
development.
—Beneral Charles T. Menoher,
commander of the Rainbow Division,
will be welcomed by Somerset and
Cambrian friends of his boyhood
this week in Johnstown.
| DO YOU KNOW |
—Tlat Harrisburg furnished
steel for entrenching tools for
the fighting men of our army.
Historic Harrisburg
—John Harris gathered supplies
here for Washington's armjr when it
made the march to take Yorktown.
Books Exactly Balance
Yesterday Father Van QuenUn
figured he broke even. His car was
stolen and his brother sent him a
bucket of country-made lard, free
'