La Grange Journal. (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 31, 1918 Page: 1 of 8
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Opposite Masonic Building. Published Every Thursday Morning and Entered at the Post Office as Second-Class Matter.
By B. F. Harigel
Democratic in Principle and a Worker For LaGrange and Fayette County
$1.50 Per Year
Volume 39.
PEOPLE AND POLITICS
Remarks by the Editor
They used to tell me that coming events
cast their shadows before them, and in order
to make effective their argument, pointed to
a time-worn shadowgraph, a reflection on the,
wall cast by a light which shone on a young
couple—a man and a woman—who were in the
act of creating an eliptical. In the position
they were standing, the rays of light created
a peculiar composition, the shadograph re-
sembled an elderly woman, with a broom in
her hand, and under the shadograph was the
appendix: “The Mother-in Law.”. But that
isn’t what I had in mind when this weekly
digest was started. It takes great financiers,
speculators, diplomats, and sometimes dam-
phools to run a good country like ours, and
while leaving off the latter mentioned in this
instance and taking care of the financiers, we
find them busy with the speculation of a poss-
ible increase in the export trade after the war.
The pleasing feature about the matter is that
the South is going to come in' for proper
recognition. Representative men met from
over twenty Southern cities recently at Geor-
gia and decided that business would be good
after the war.
Considering the fact that the country a- j
cross the big pond has been demoralized, many
of the most substantial buildings destroyed,
anti thousands of new homes have to be con-
structed, the question of exporting material
naturally appealed to the lumberman, the
man who handles cotton and wool, and the
man who manufactures feed stuff from the
cotton plant. You know we folks down in
the Southern States have always contended
we were “it,” but for the good breeding that
was in the majority of the better posted, we
were not permitted to flaunt the fact i?f'the
faces of the other chaps. The South must
eventually come into her own. Take the re-
sult of the last presidential election as an exam-
ple; note the fact that the South and West
have compelled or did compel the North and
East to acknowledge defeat. That was in
politics, sure, but that was a start. We of the
South, and by this I mean the man who swelt-
ers in the mid-summer sun as well ns the man
wh* pushes the raw timber before the circular |
snaggle-toothed steel and converts it into use- J
ful timber, should have a stand in the world
of commerce. With this fresh in my think
tank, I am urged on in the hope that the awful
scrap will soon end.
Commenting on the possibility referred to,
F. R. Eldridge, Jr., acting chief of the Far I
Eastern division of the Bureau of Foreign and j
Domestic Commerce, says: “Cotton goods,
cotton seed products, naval stores and lumber
will be some of the principal exports. Europe
wouid have to depend largely on the South for
lumber to rebuild its cities, and all the world
would buy the other products. The exporting
ships cannot stay in foreign trade unless they
return laden; Southern business men should
prepre to. import copra from the Phillipines
and the East Indies, and thus Southern mills
would crush oil all the year round. Manilla
jute could also be exported for making bags
for cotton seed meal and fertilizer. Prepara-
tions must be mjade in the South for factories
to handle the ray jute imports.” That man
isn’t a bad fellow at all, he has said somg^ good
things. I presume he laid particular emphasis
on the necessity of having factories in the
South to handle the products. The trouble is
going to be, however, that, after, all this talk,
newspaper publicity and encouraging of hope,
the thing is going to remain only talk, unless
them big fellers get a move on.
-o-
Rather funny how a felloe’s brain woTks
sometimes, especially when he has just filled
up on substitutes and permits himself to be-
come reminiscent. I was thinking of a funny
story told me by a local attorney a good many
years ago, in which the principal character
was a man who lived here immediately after
the civil war ended. This man was addicted
to the use of liquor, and had his morning’s
morning every morning before he had his
meals, and generally came to town to get the
meat for the day’s meals and that enabled hm
to get the appetite whipped up a bit. One of
his acquaintances wagered that he could not
pass the grog shop on his way to the market,
that his love for the red d#rink wouldn't permit
it. He was a man possessing a keen sense of
honor and humor as well, he accepted the dare
and the next morning saw him on the way to
the market, with head erect and shoulders
squared. He managed to pass the little
drinkery, get his meat and then return, again
passing the same spot, and when some ten or
fifteen feet away, paused, moistened his lips
a ad said: “There now, I knew I coni do it
LaGrange, Fayette County, Texas, Thursday, October 31, 1918
Number 44
With A Kiss
O mothers, so weary, discouraged,
Worn out with the cares of the day,
You often grow cross and impatient,
Complain ofj the noise and the play;
For the day brings so many vexations,
So many things going amiss;
But mothers, whatever may vex you.
Send the children to bed with a kiss!
The dear little feet wander often,
Perhaps, from the pathway of ri*ht.
The dear little hands find new mischief
To try you from morning ’till night;
But think of the desolate mothers
Who’d give all the world for your bliss.
And, as thanks for your infinite blessings,
Send the children to bed with a kiss!
For some day their noise will not vex
you,
The silence will hurt you far more;
You will long for their sweet childish
voices.
For a sweet childish face at the door;
And to press a child’s face to your
bosom,
You’d give all the world for just this!
For the comfort ’twill bring you in
sorrow,
Send the children to bed with a kiss!
—New Orleans Picayune.
Now to go back and treat myself.” Oh. to be
sure he won the wager and got his usual bracer
as well.
As stated, I was thinking of this when the
news came in, the reports from Austin that
the “Statutory Statewide was declared uncon-
situtional. Which means that in a good many
places the open saloon may return. „ Wherever
there is a cantonment, camp or something or
other that is making soldiers, the tert-mile
law is not affected. But here is little worry
attached. In many little towns, and in some
of the little cities as well, you can get the
drink, because some of the former saloon men
had license. Don’t see how an old anti fiike
myself, who had just gotten used to the idea
of using substitutes in the liquid form as well
as in the powdered and other offerings, is going
to care much about bringing back'the old per-
sonal liberty. We had just about gotten in the
habit of referring to former scenes and condi-
tions like a hermit does about his early days
at home, and now this thing had to happen.
To be sure many of us knew that the law
wouldn’t stand the test in the higher courts,
but were willing to try it. It has been de-
clared unconstitutional, but what of that?
There is to be no more beverage brewed after
December 1, and the corn juice on hand cannot
last very long; besides, it is going to be out of
the reach of the poor fellow any way. If the
news brngs any joy at all, it will be short-lived.
-o-
It isn’t exactly nice to say so, but I am
tempted to believe that there are some folks
who are still in ignorance of the real bigness
of the great war. I do not mean to say that
these chaps are ninkompoops, but that they
are apparently getting on in an easy manner
and seem not to care to burden their brain
with a little study of the situation or what it
is costing this country to manpulate the finan-
cial and the feeding end of the proposition.
This statement comes after having interviewed
some of the committee members who served
on the work last and a part of this week. Men
came before these committees, purchased their
bonds and seemed unable to realize that it was
necessary to thus raise the money, they
thought that the great country of America
was rich enough. Not intended to be disloyal
in their utterance, not at all; but in living here
in the land of plenty, enjoying their comforts,
yet reading no paper or seeking information
along the lines necessary. Can this be said
to furnish the reason why so many people
have been interested in Fayette county?
Another fact presents itself for discus-
sion. The next Liberty Loan is to be floated
about next April. At this time the chaps up
at Washington are handling the matter and
due publicity will be given in these columns in
the future. According to some of the infor-
mation obtained, the honor flag is to be ap-
pendixed with the Roman “V” for five, mean-
ing the fifth loan and alao very timely and co-
iacideatally standing for victory. AN af which
THAT AMENDMENT
From The Houston Post
a
If there wpre pending for determination
on November 5 whether the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic liquors should continue or
cease in Texas, probably 600,000 men would
go to the polls to express their preference.
No such issue is pending. But there is
pending an amendment which involves the
progress of public education as no other prop-
osition which has come before the people in
many years. It is what is known as the “free
text book” amendment.
World events abundantly convince any in-
telligent person that ignorance is the great-
est menace there can possibly be to the per-
petuity of free institutions and to the prog-
ress of civilization.
The first and most essential step in com-
batting ignorance is public school edcation,
and we know now as we have never known
before how necessary it is to broaden the
foundations of our school systems and to place
their facilities within reach of every child of
the commonwealth.
The various processes invoked to assem-
ble, organize and train our armies have dis-
closed the amazing information that there
are tens of thousands of grown men who are
totally illiterate. The usual statistics we have
relied upon are shown to be untrustworthy.
The army questionnaires tell the true story.
In a majority of the camps there are
schools to instruct numerous men who are
wholly illiterate or almost so.
Our problems of the immediate future are
too serious to risk a considerable number of
illiterate or almost illiterate people. The first
lesson of the war, so far as our internal Af-
fairs are concerned, is the urgent need of pub-
lic education and the general strengthening
of all our educational foundations.
The free text book amendment opens the
way for a mighty step forward in Texas. It
will make the compulsory school law effective,
because the thousands of chldren who have
heretofore remained out of school because
their parents claimed to be unable to buy
books will no longer have an excuse. They
can come in without humiliation, because the
free text books will be for all children.
There are other important benefits to be
derived from the adoption of this amendment
—highly important benefits—but the placing
of free text books in the common schools, as
we already have in Houston, will mean not
fewer than 200,000 more children on the way
to becoming intelligent and efficient citizens,
capable of aiding intelligently in the solution
of our post-bellum problems.
Why, then, can’t the citizenry of Texas
evince quite as much interest in this all im-
portant matter as they would in a matter af-
fecting a few breweries and saloons?
It is seldom that such an opportunity for
constructive effort is afforded as by the com-
ing election and the free text book amendment.
is very good, not yet, however, the point I am
trying to get at. We have this time had con-
siderable trouble in getting up our quota for
the county. It was larger than many coun-
ties near here, yet not as large as some, and
the county had to be raked as one would tyace
the scalp with a fine comb. This should not
have occurred, the quota should have been
raised earlier. But it wasn’t, and while we
are now in a position to crow, we should not
forget that it was a man’s job to get some of
the subscriptions. »
No criticisms are offered against anyone,
but I am going to suggest that some changes
be made in the management of the next cam-
paign. And when such suggestions are made,
it should be remembered that they are indivi-
dual and not mandatory. We have got to
reach all the people in the county and reach
them quickly, and find out how soon we can
get the necessary quota subscribed. And it
must be centralized, this work, I mean. And
again, the people of Fayette county, who live
in this county, and whose property is assessed
in this county, should purchase their bonds in
this county, let their bank account be where it
may. This is just, and the county and pre-
cinct chairmen should so insist. Oh, yes, this
is not going to s?t well with some »f our neigh-
bors, but to these we can very plainly say.
get your quota fixed on the same principle,
pledge for war savings stamps and prepare
for the next loan.
■ ..... o
With the addition of a $9,000,000 credit
established by the treasury for Belgium, the
total loans from the United States to that coun-
try now amount to $180,020,060. The total for
all tbo alliea ia $7,528,476,666.
J l
OUR WEEKLY LETTER
From Camp Travis, Texas
Offering a chance to gratify patriotism
sentiment and service in one act, Brigadier
General George H. Estes, commanding officer
of the Cactus Division, has issued a request
for cactus plants to be utilized as symbols and
in beautifying the grounds of the great army
cantonment at Camp Travis, where the division
is now in training.
In furtherance of the cactus idea, General
Estes is planning to have Camp Travis decor-
ated throughout with the native herbage.
Walks are to be bordered with cactus, cactus
will be grown in window boxes and other
places where it wll serve as ornamentation.
For this purpose the adjacent territory will bo
scoured for rare species. The sojdiers would
not have to go far from their barracks to ob-
tain a large supply of the ordinary kind, but
in various parts of Texas and Oklahoma are
to be found rarer and more attractive varieties.
Their shipment to Camp Travis will be appre-
ciated.
However, in order to prevent a deluge of
any one kind and to prevent shipments going
astray, those who help to supply the division
with the coveted plants are asked to write to
the Camp Publicity Office at Camp Travi?,
giving a description of the variety for gift
and how much can be secured. Instructions
for shipment then will be sent.
When, bristling with bayonets, the khaki-
clad Cactus Division goes dashing into action,
beside the Stars and Stripes will float a ban-
ner bearing the counterpart of the suggestive
Texas cactus and the significant pnotto, “Nolle
Me Tangere.” And it will not take an advanc-
ed student of latin to translate this motto into
its English equivalent, “Touch Me Not.” Like
the “Cactus” designation for the 18th Division,
this motto has been selected by Brigadier Gen-
eral George H. Estes. General Estes also
proposes that the division shall have its indivi-
ual marching song.
He is just plain Private Blankenship, but
the donning of the khaki the other day by this
veteran Baptist minister from Higgins, Texas,
created more than a ripple at Camp Travis.
Had he come into the service with a commis-
sion awaiting his coming, it would not have
been such an event. But he came looking
for no soft spot to light upon, not anticipating
personal glories—somply because he had given .
everything except himself to the cause of lib-
erty, and he would not be satisfied until he had
laid his all on the altar.
While Camp Travis perhaps has inducted
more men into the service than any other camp
in the United States, having transformed
thousands of civilians inty soldiers each month,
Rev. Marion L. Blankenship tops them pll for
age, and it is believed that he is the oldest
volunteer private in the United States army
today. He wanted to get into the infantry
and shoulder a rifle, but they told him he could
not, that he was too old. A robust body, six
feet tall, and weighing 180 pounds could not
pass him into the ranks of combatant troops,
for there is only one branch of the service that
will accept a man just ninety days under 56
years of age. That branch is the quarter-’1
masters’ department, and while disappointed
that he himself could not take a rifle, he found
consolation in the knowledge that his admit-
tance \o the quartermasters’ department would
release one more husky youth who could take
his place in the firing line.
The Blankenship family is 100 per cent
American patriots. The veteran lost his young-
est son last June, the boy being one of that
heroic band of the United States Marines who
made the supreme sacrifice at Chateau Thierry
that the mailed fist of Germany might be-
warded off Paris in its final thrust. His other
son is serving his country in a munition fac-
tory. His daughter is just completing a course
in nursing which will prepare her for service
overseas. His wife is a Red Cross leader at
Higgins, Texas. Six other near relatives have
been killed in action and another is held a
prisoner of war in a German prison camp.
Private Blankenship refuses to he. con-
sidered in any sense a hero.
“They made it impossible for me to say
m the same sense at Nathan Hale, ‘I regret
that I have but one life to give to my
country,’ ” he said, “but I am doing the best
I can; and when I think of the sacrifices so
many have made to save the world from Ger-
man slavery, it seems small. This is a time
when every true American should not stop to
count the cost. Houses and lands have have
I none, all my savings have been invested in
Liberty Bonds, and it is a great joy to me to
know that I can serve in this great army of
Liberty.”
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La Grange Journal. (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 31, 1918, newspaper, October 31, 1918; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth997949/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.