Fergus County Democrat. [volume], December 21, 1916, Page 8, Image 8

About Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
BRITAIN'S NEW WAR COUNCIL IS SUPREME
Premier David Lloyd George has
finally bad his way in Great Britain,
and the war council which he tried
to force on Premier Asquith has final
ly been named. Lloyd George him
self will head it with Arthur Hender
son, labor leader in parliament, and
in the cabinet without portfolio; Earl
Curzon, unionist, and president of the
war council and government leader in
the house of lords; Bonar Law, union
ist, chancellor of the exchequer and
government leader in the house of
commons, and Lord Milner, unionist,
and minister without portfolio. These
WHY ENGLAND WANTS TO MOBILIZE
ALL OCEA N CARRYING FA CILITIES
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—A desire of
the British government to mobilize
under one general head the entire
ocean-carrying facilities of the United
Kingdom for the exclusive benefit of
the allied armies and the great civil
lan populations of the allied countries :
is the reason behind the statement of
Premier Lloyd George that the ship
ping of Great Britain will be ''nation
alized," according to leading British
shipping men here.
Eor some time, one of the represen
tative steamship men said today, all
British vessels have had about one
third of their cargo space comman- i
deem! tor grain. This space lias re- ;
cently been increased to such an ex-j
tent that now the New York agent
has only about one-third of bis ships
available to private shippers. The ,
same authority added that it was his i
belief that under the proposed new ;
regulations even more space would be
controlled by the government by reg
illations that all cargo be officially j
designated. Designation of cargo w r ilI j
LARGE MIKE OPERATOR IS HERE
FROM MEXICO ON BUSINESS VISIT
Ivan Ragaz, who makes his home in
Andeer, Switzerland, but who is heav
ily interested In several producing
mines in Mexico, is in Lewistown on
a short visit, with friends and rela
tives. Mr. Ragaz arrived here yester
day from Billings, where lie visited
several days, and will leave shortly
lor the west coast and El Paso, where
be lias business offices. He has been
doing considerable globe-trotting and
lias been in the widely separated war
zones of Europe and Mexico during
the present year.
Last May lie left Switzerland, pass
big through France and sailing for
this country. Of conditions in Eu
rope lie speaks with first-hand knowl
edge. He says that business seems
to prosper in Switzerland even more ,
than usual, although high prices for |
foodstuffs prevail and cause some
hardship. In parts of France busi
ness does not seem to be hurt by the
war and except for the presence of
soldiers, one would hardly think the
nation to be engaged in a great war.
Reports from Germany and England
are similar. Of course the war is felt
in many ways, but industrially the
countries are prospering. In his opin
ion each of the warring sides realizes
the futility of expecting a decisive vic
tory, and for that reason he believes
peace negotiation will be well under
way in the spring of 1918.
In Mexico lie finds conditions very
mucli unsettled, and no end to the
revolutions in sight. He looks for in
tervention by tills country as the final
solution, and does not anticipate much
trouble for this ennntrv to rn«torn nr.
trouble for this country to restore
der there. Recently lie was in Mex
ico City, and next month lie expects
to return to that city on business. His
chief mines are located at Esmeralda,
C'oahuila, the properties being lead
and silver, the deposits being large
and of good grade. Here he employs
590 men, but at his Chihuahua prop
erty matters are at a standstill, owing
to the Villa activities. In fact all the
silver-lead mines and other mines in
this war-torn state are shut down,
which makes conditions very bad for
tlie Mexicans as well as the investors.
ROAD MAPS RECEIVED.
The Chamber ol' Commerce have re
ceived 50 road maps of Montana, from
George R. Meltin, secretary of the
state highway committee, to be dis
tributed in Fergus county. Anyone
interested in same can call at the
Chamber of Commerce office.
i
I
I
LORD
MILNER
LORD
CURZON
A
BONAR
LAW
five men will manage the war for
Great Britain.
mean that the shipping in British hot
toms of any commodity other than that
necessary for maintenance of army
and civil life will lie forbidden
It is also deemed not unlikely that
British ships now engaged in trade
between neutral countries will be
th
nr
called upon to take their place in the
line of ships engaged in carrying sup
plies to Great Britain and her* allies.
No serious consideration appears to
lie given to the suggestion that British
slops will be more heavily armed than
defense guns astern already ap
ed by the United States in con
neetion with their status as merchant
men. As one steamship man put it:
"In the first place the construction
-f the majority of ships will not stand
heavier armament, ami again, should
they be ruled out of the United States
ports they could not go elsewhere on
the American continent. Canadian
ports have not adequate facilities and
-t would take years to provide for
even half of the present United States
business."
, n .
|
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.
Following is the Christmas program
to ho carried out at the Presbyterian
church this evening, beginning at
7:30;
March Organ
Song, "Oh, Little Town of Bethle
hem" ................................. School
Scripture and prayer—Superintendent.
Mr. Hedges.
Song, "Hark, the Herald Angels
Sing" ........................................ School
Primary Department.
Song, "There's a Wonderful Tree
................................ Class
Christmas Greeting ............. Margaret
Recitation —Frances Peterson, Louise
Hiffi, Madeline Appleton.
Song, "lone Bruher—Jolly Old St,
Nicholas."
Recitation ................... Fergus Rauch
Cradle Song .................................. Class
Recitation ............. Marie Sheldon
Merry Christmas ..................... Class
Intermediate Department.
Recitation ................ Harold Slater
Recitation ................... Tyler Stapleton
J. B. Rauch
Recitation ............. Chas. Turnblade
Recitation, "Kris Kringle" ................
Robert Stevenson
Song Marjorie Brown
Recitation, "A Catastrophe" ...........
..................................... Lois Wheaton
Recitation ................ Bertha Bostwick
Recitation ................... Grau Birkland
Recitation, "A Testimonial" ............
Bessie Brown
Recitation, "A Child Is Born"..........
............... Dorothy Appleton
Recitation, "Overheard at Christmas"
..................................... Mabel Ford
Recitation. "The Proof" ....................
....... Ruby Kindschy
Recitation .................. Lillian Imislund
Song, "It Came Upon the Midnight
Clear" ....... Pastor
Vrrival of Santa Claus
j * Mis<1 MiinnVc
—
-O
Class
BOOST FOR M'CANN.
Stock Inspector McCann of Fergus
county is an officer that is needed in
lie service. He has proven that lie
; s always on tlie job. He found tlie
Walter Witt horse in Franklin after
the horse had been there several days
and people there had received post
cards from the sheriff's office to the
effect that the horse had been stolen.
Instead of making a great hubbub
over the matter he notified the near
est officer of the fact and went about
his business of tracing the horses
that he started from home after. A
few more officers like McCann and
people would have a better chance
with their livestock on the range.—
Judith Gap Journal.
tlie
J. R. King jr„ representing
Metropolitan Insurance company, is in
the city from Great Falls.
INDEPENDENTS INTEND TO HAVE
SOME Foil III NEXT CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—Indepen
(lent members of the incoming liousi
,r representatives are planning an
rfinnization to work apart from both
democrats and republicans with the
InvoveT purpose of enforcing radical
changes in the rules. Thus far no
plans have been made for voting as
a body in the speakership fight but
it is impossible that such an arrange
ment will be attempted later. At least
one of the independents has conferred
with Colonel Roosevelt over the sit
uation and will seek further advice
from him on how to proceed.
POSTMISTRESS ARRESTED.
HELENA, Dec. 20,—Postmistress
Helena A. Hedrix and her husband, A.
ij. Hedrix, her assistant, were taken
into custody today by a deputy United
States marshal on a charge of embez
jzlement of United States funds, accord
ing to word from Gillman, which lies
in this county. It is said a shortage
of $1,200 lias been found in the postal
accounts. Hedrix is editor of the
Weekly Optimist, published at Gill
man. He and his wife were removed
from office several weeks ago.
-----------O------
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
Marriage licenses were issued yes
terday to Joseph C. Harvey and Miss
Leona Know of Roy, James A. DeSilva
and Miss Onah Hasted of Rlakesley,
Richard F. Anderson of Two Dot and
Miss Gertrude Bryan of Harlowton,
Robert Marshall and Miss Emily E.
McCune of Winifred. C. O. Zimmer
man of Lewistown and Mrs. Leona
Osmon of Suffolk.
HIGGINS—ARMSTRONG.
James Higgins and Lulu E. Arm
strong, two popular young people of
Christina, were married at the Metho
dist parsonage Wednesday at 3 o'clock,
Rev. Donaldson officiating, the beauti
ful ring ceremony being used. The
ceremony was witnessed by Clifford
Anderson and Miss Eva Higgins. The
young people left this morning for
Christina where they will make their
future home.
Broadening Scope of County High School
With three and a half months of j
school laid by and with a total enroll -\
ment of nearly 360 students, the Fer-!
gus county high school will crowd I
the 400 mark before the end of the
school year. Considerably more than;
one-third of this number come from j
outside of Lewistown. The building, ;
however, is crowded to the limit with |
this number. The office has been 1
moved into the hall; during one period j
of the day the lecture room of the i
Carnegie library is used. Fifteen j
teachers are teaching lull time and |
two teachers, including the principal, i
are teaching part time. With the in-!
creased dormitory facilities that will!
be available, if given more class room
for next year, 600 students will be in 1
attendance and the next year the mini-1
her will pass the 700 mark. There are ;
S00 boys and girls in Fergus county !
now who are not in any high school j
ind who are ready for it. They need ;
the advantages that a high school edu- j
cation will give them. At the begin- [
ning of the second semester of this i
year, beginning classes in freshmen
subjects will be started.
As now organized, seven four-year
courses are offered, classical, scienti
fic manual training, domestic science,
agricultural, stenographic and ac
counting. In addition to those courses
there is a four-year winter course in j
agriculture offered to those whose
SplSli
pom i to nr- rv rtifioj- county* nm -schooi
• Wbs&uSDotrr aw> watawk t
< ARCMinrct2>- ... S's:;! p®-;
TWENTY-THOUSAND DOLLAR DORMITORY FOR HIGH SCHOOL, NEARLY COMPLETED.
work on the farm will not allow them
to stay longer than from Nov. 1 until
April 1. Special work in the busi
ness department and other depart
ments is given for those who cannot
stay four years and who wish to take
advantage of the practical work.
Some mature persons have seen fit
to take advantage of this opportunity.
More bookkeeping desks, typewrit
ers, a billing machine and "a multi
graph have been added so thatvRlie
school has one of the best eqtiippBi
business departments in eastern Mon
tana. More than that, the equipment
is used both day and night and a great
deal of work has been done for out
side communities. Since the opening
of school nearly 30,000 envelopes have
been addressed and enclosures made,
and nearly 13,000 circular letters have
been turned out for organizations in
Lewistown and Fergus county by the
students of tlie business department.
Such work is not interfering with the
programs of the students. On the
other hand, it is an incentive for them
to do better work.
The manual training department is
crowded to tlie limit. Ever since the
beginning of school, the boys have la
bored incessantly building equipment
for the school and the shop. It will be
__ ___________________
worth the while of any 'taxpayer to
visit the manual training department
GIVING
BATTLE
Russians and Rumanians
Turn Upon Teutonic
Invading Army.
BRITISH WIN IN RAID
Aside from the Rumanian theater
'ittle fighting of moment is taking
dace on any of the numerous fronts.
In northern Dobrudja the Russians
and Rumanians have faced about and
re giving battle to the Teutonic al
'ied forces which have been pursuing
them. Just how strong the stand they
are making is not yet known, the Ger
man official communication announc
ng it merely saying that they have
again offered fighting resistance."
Petrograd reports that attacks by the
invaders near Parlita on the left bank
of the Danube, were repulsed and
says also that operations successful
or tlie Russians and Rumanians arc
being carried out by scouting parties
in tiie direction of Rimnika-Buzeu.
On the front in France, the British
near Gommecourt and Arras have car
ried out successful raids against Ger
man trenches and bombarded other
hostile positions at Gommecourt and
near Loos and Hulluck. The Ger
mans, for their part, shelled the Brit
ish line north of the Somme near
Festubert and Ypres and south of the
Somme bombarded the French at
numerous points, the French replying
energetically.
Berlin reports the repulse of at
tacks against the positions of the
!
,
and to see the nifty drafting tables,
drawing cabinets and other handy
contrivances that are being construct
ed. A sand paper machine is being
built for the shop. The department
is gradually extending its activities
into the rural schools and rural com
munities. A seed scarifier for Mr.
J. J. Richardson of Fermus is well
under way. Mr. Richardson pays for
the actual material and the boys have
a practical problem to work out. A
large collection of plans for barns
and other farm buildings and con
veniences is being assembled and will
be sent to any interested farmer,
In the agricultural department new
equipment is being installed every
day. Milk testing for those desiring
it is being undertaken. A mailing list
of those who are interested in dairy
work in Fergus county is being com
piled so that the work of testing the
milk, and so the worth of the cows,
may reach the greatest possible mini
her. For farmers who live far out
from Lewistown, preservative tablets
will be sent free, so that the samples
to be tested may be kept for an In
definite period. Directions for tak
ing correctly the milk to be sampled
are being prepared and will be sent
to everyone on the mailing list. Stu
dents in animal husbandry are getting
practice in the judging of stock on
neighboring farms. Chickens have
been eaponized for demonstration
purposes. The class in soils is mak
ing an intensive study in the labora-,
tory of the soils of Fergus county.
The department is now equipped so.
that it may test seeds for purity and
germination for the farmers of Fer
gus county. Quick and accurate re
turns will be made upon samples sent
in and directions for taking samples
will lie furnished upon request. Ag
ricultural bulletins covering every
phase of farming and farm life are
being collected. If you are interested
in any^subject, send in for information
and bulletins will be sent to you. An
agricultural advisory board composed
of progressive and aggressive farm
ers from different sections of the
country has bfeen selected so as to
make the work v of 'the department
more nearly meet* the needs of the
farm communities of the county. As
tlie work of the a department pro
gresses. it will reacji out into the
farm activities of Fergus county. It
is the intention of the school to co
operate with the county agent so that
no duplication of effort Vill result.
The biology departmertt has begun
a Ian weed campaign throughout Fer
gus county by means, whenever pos
sible. of the rural schools. 'J'he de
partment plans not only to pqpli the
campaign this year, but during^ other
Teutonic allies in the Cerna river
bend region of Macedonia.
In Galicia, southwest of Brody, the
TcAinic allies, after a heavy bom
'■ardnient of Russian trenches, essayed
'ii infantry attack but were forced
>'V *hc fi-p of the Russian guns to
seek their own trenches again. Petro
grad reports the breaking through of
barl ei wire entanglements on the
Bystritsa river by the Russians and
compelling the Teutonic forces there
to flee.
WILSON PAVES THE WAY
(Continued from Page One.)
following paragraph takes the place
of the one just quoted:
"The suggestion which I am in
structed to make, the president lias
long had it in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer it at
this particular time because it may
now seem to have been prompted by
the recent overtures of the central
powers. It is. in fact, in no way as
sociated with them in its origin and
the president would have delayed of
fering it until those overtures had
been answered but for the fact that
it also concerns the question of peace
and may best be considered in con
nection with other proposals which
have the same end in view. The pres
ident can only beg that his suggestion
be considered entirely on its own mer
its, and as if it had been made in other
circumstances."
Then all the notes proceed identical
ly as follows;
"The president suggests that an
early occasion be sought to call out
from all the nations now at war sucli
an avowal of their respective views as
to the terms upon which the war may
be concluded and the arrangements
which would be deemed satisfactory
as a guaranty against its renewal or
the kindling of any similar conflict in
the future as would make it possible
frankly to compare them. He is indif
ferent as to the means taken to ac
complish this. He would be happy him
self to serve, or even to take the
initiative in its accomplishment, in any
way that might prove acceptable, but
years, if necessary, until the county is
aroused and the pest under control.
In co-operation with the Carnegie
public library, traveling libraries are
being sent into every part of Fergus
county. Already 250 volumes are in
circulation and some of these books
have been read by two or three per
sons. It is hoped that over 2,000 vol
umes of excellent reading material
may be placed in rural communities
this year. The cultural and inspira
tional value of good reading during
the winter months cannot easily be
estimated. A lyceum course made
up of inspirational addresses, illus
trated lectures, readings, musical
numbers and playlets are being put
on with the assistance of some of the
people in Lewistown. Several num
bers have already been given and a
large number of others are scheduled.
Write in and arrange for an evening's
entertainment and a circulating li
brary, if you have not already done
so.
In order that more efficient rural
teachers may be had, a two-year nor
mal course for the training of rural
teachers has been organized and the
first year is in operation. For the
major part of this work, advanced
credit in the University of Montana
will be given.
In the following activities, the high
school has worked in co-operation
with other forces and schools in the
county and, therefore, counts only a 1
one of those who are- pushing the fol
lowing movements. A meeting ot
the school boards of Fergus county
was called early in November in or
der that the sympathy and assistance
of all the school districts might bt
secured. Although a storm prevented
all of the board members coming in,
about 50 were present. An associa
tion was formed and plans for con
structive work are now being laid. In
co-operation with the high schools in
the county a debating league com
prised of several of the high schools
in the county has been formed and a
schedule for the year has been ar
ranged. A union of rural, city and
high schools of the county has also
been organized and plans for a spring
meet, vocational conference, and a
spelling and ciphering contest are un
der way.
The English department, in co-oper
ation with the other high schools of
the county is outlining a uniform
four-year high school English course
that will fit the needs of the high
schools in the county. The equip
ment in some of tlie departments
when not in use lias been loaned to
the district high schools that their
work may be made more Interesting.
FRANCE'S NEW WAR COUNCIL SUPREME
ALBERT THOMAS
LYAUTEV
Quickly following the British ex
ample of choosing a small council to
manage the war the French have se
lected five well-known men. They
are, besides Premier Briand, Alex
andre Ribot, who continues as minis
ter of finance; General Hubert Lyau
tey, as new war minister; Rear Ad
miral Lacaze, as new minister of ma
rine, and Albert Thomas, promoted to
be minister of munitions and trans
FUTURE OF NATIONAL GUARD WILL
LIKELY CAUSE A ROW IN CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20—Sharp
controversy in congress over the fu
ture of the national guard in the fed
eral military system was foreshad
owed today at hearings before com
mittees of both the house and senate.
Maj-Gen. Hugh L. Scott, chief of
staff of the army, encouraged vigorous
cross-examination by several members
of the house military committee when
he touched upon results of the mob
ilization of the state troops for bor
der duty as shown in the general staff
report based on information furnished
by regular army inspectors. Conclu
sions drawn from the figures to sup
port the contention that the guard
system is inefficient and unreliable,
were promptly questioned and it was
indicated that the head of the army
would face searching questioning to
morrow when he continues his state
ment.
The senate committee in charge of
the Chamberlain universal training
bill decided to recall General Scott,
he has no desire to determine the
method or the instrumentality. One
way will be as acceptable to him as
another if only the great object he
has in mind he attained.
"He takes the liberty of calling at-1
tention to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen of the belliger
ents on both sides have in mind in this
war are virtually the same, as stated [
in general terms to their own peoole i
and to the world. Each side desires
to make the rights and privileges of
weak peoples and small states as se
cure against aggression or denial in
the future as the rights and privileges
of the great and powerful states now
at war. Each wishes itself to be made
secure in the future, along with all oth-!
er nations and peoples, against the re-;
currenee of war like this, and against
aggression of selfish interference of
any kind. Each would be jealous of
the formation of any more rival
leagues to preserve an uncertain bal
anee of power amidst multiplying sus-!
picions; but each is ready to consider
the formation of a league of nations
tV insure peace and justice through
out the world. Before the final step
can be taken, however, each deems it
necessary first to settle the issues of
the present war upon terms which
will certainly safeguard the independ
ence, tlie territorial integrity and the
political and commercial freedom of
the nations involved.
"in tlie measures to be taken to se
cure tlie future peace of the world
the people and government of the Uni
ted States are as vitally and as direct
ly interested as the governments now
at war. Their interest, moreover, in
the means to be adopted to relieve
the smaller and weaker peoples of the
world of the peril of wrong and vio
lence is as quick and ardent as that
of any other people or government.
They stand ready and even eager to
co-operate in the accomDlisliment of
these ends, when the war is over,
with every influence and resource at
their command. But the war must
first be concluded. The terms upon
which it is to be concluded they are
not at liberty to suggest: but the
president does feel that it is his right
and his duty to point out their in
timate interests in its conclusions,
test it should presently be too late to
accomplish the greater tilings which
lie beyond its conclusions, lest the sit
uation of neutral nations, now exceed
ingly hard to endure, be rendered alto
gether intolerable, and lest, more than
all, an injury be done, civilization itself
which can never be atoned for or re
paired.
"The president therefore feels alto
gether justified in suggesting an im
mediate opportunity for a comparison
of views as to the terms' which must
precede those ultimate arrangements
for the peace of the world, which all
desire and which the neutral nations
as well as those at war are ready to
port from an undersecretaryship he
held in the same department.
who already has presented the report
on mobilization in full to that com
mittee, and Maj.-Gen. Leonard Wood,
commanding the eastern department,
who described the mobilization as "a
tragedy" in his direct hearing before
the committee. Both officers have
been asked to appear for cross-exam
ination by Senator Blair Lee, a cham
pion of the national guard.
In preparation for the cross-exam
ination, it is understood that staff
officers familiar with mobilization will
be present and prepare to submit the
original reports from the inspectors,
including names of the organizations
named. The compiled summary lif
these reports avoid mention of any
specific units of the guard.
The house committee did not go
into the question of universal mili
tary service recommended by the gen
eral staff and Generals Scott and
Wood. The chief of staff had not
reached that portion of his statement
at the close of the day's session.
play their full responsible part. If tlie
contest must continue to proceed to
wards undefined ends by slow attri
tion until the one group of belliger
ents or the other is exhausted, if mil
lion after million of human lives must
continue to be offered up until on the
one side or the other there are no
more to offer; if resentments must be
kindled that can never cool and de
spairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery, hopes of peace
and of the willing concert of free peo
ples will be rendered vain and idle.
"The life of the entire world has
been profoundly affected. Every part
of the great family of mankind has
felt the burden and terror of this un
precedented contest of arms. No na
tion in the civilized world can be said
in truth to stand outside its influence
or to be safe against its disturbing
effects. And yet the concrete objects
for which it is being waged have nev
er been definitely stated.
"The leaders of the several belliger
ents have, as has been said, stated
those objects in general terms. But,
stated in general terms, they seem the
same on both sides. Never yet have
authoritative spokesmen of either side
avowed the precise objects which
would, If attained, satisfy them and
their people that the war had been
fought out. Tlie world has been left
to conjecture what definitive results,
what actual exchange of guaranties!
what political or territorial changes
or readjustments, what stage of mili
tary success ever would bring the war
to an end.
"It may be that peace is nearer than
we know; that the terms which the
belligerents on the one side and on
the other would deem it necessary to
insist upon are not so irreconeiliable
as some have feared: that an inter
change of views would clear the way
at least for conference and make the
permanent concord of the nations a
hope of the immediate future, a con
cert of nations immediately practic
able.
"The president is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media
tion. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerent, how near the haven of
peace may be for which all mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing. He believes that the spirit,
and he speaks the objects which he
seeks, will be understood by all con
cerned, and he confidently hopes for
a response which will bring a new
light into the affairs of the world."
The note to the entente group will
be delivered to Great Britain, France,
Italy, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Monte
negro, Portugal, Rumania and Serbia.
That to the central powers will be
delivered to Germany, Austria-Hun
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria.
It is being delivered to all neutral
governments for their information.