T A rtT M
OXFORD PUBLIC LEDGER, TUESDAY. JANUARY 21. liJia.
X
OXFORD PUBLIC LEDGER
1 AND rl
PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY
DAN A. COBIiE
1 EDITOR AND MANAGER
Fntrd at nostoffice in Oxford, N. C. as
second class mail matter.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
ONE YEAR .$1-50
EIGHT MONTHS 100
SIX MONTHS 75
FOUR MONTHS . . 50
v NOTICE Subscriptions are payable strictly
in advance. WATCH THE DATE ON YOUR
LABEL!
All Communications, Checks and Money Or
ders should be made payable and addressed to
the Oxford Public Ledger.
THE "GOB."
It wasn't difficult to find an answer for . that
man-o'-war's-nian. who leaned against our desk
the other day and demanded gloomily to know
why more nice and appreciative things aren't be
ing said about the seafarers of this war and why
all the glad uproar appears to range arpund the
returning doughboys.
The fact of the matter was obvious. Mere prose
isn't enough -to tell of the wonders and terrors
that the sea has known in these last few years.
And therefore only song or epics can ever tell
adequately of the appalling world in which the
gob lived and toiled and fought and had his be
ing. The sailor of the navy had one advantage ever
the man in the trenches. No cootie could ever
enter his world. It wasn't permitted. And, in
any event, it would have died instantly of fright.
In all. other respects the sailor on the sea lived the
tenser, the wilder and, in many ways, the more
perilous life. When he laid him down to rest he
knew that thunders and lightnings sufficient to
shake a continent were folded up and tucked a
way within a few inches of his ear and that they
might be unloosed at any instant by a shrewd
thrust of an enemy in the dark. The bellowing
tempests of the North Sea sang his cradle song
and rocked him to sleep. Day and night he rode
the troubled seas on a floating volcano. He was
flayed by winter winds and he could never know
whether he was to live for five minutes or a hun
dred years.
Night and darkness, which brings peace and
rest to other men, brought to your sailorman a
crowd of new concerns and the need for greater
strain and alertness. He lived in a world where
there was no rest, ready for battles in which
there could be no quarter, and had, the-feeling al
ways tnat sudden death was everywhere-f-on port
and starboard, under the water and in the skies
above, and unde the table t which'he ate his din
ner. - '
queers ana speecnes, wen aone, may serve to
glorify the soldier of the land. For the "gob",
there must be poets and bands.
;
When a woman says she will divide with you
fifty-fifty, she means that she is to get half and
her mother the other half.
PROTECT THE FOOLS.
We are told that hundreds of schemes of a
highly questionable nature have ' been launched
to appeal to the cupidity of holders of Liberty
bonds thru the offer to them of shares of stocks
promising a high rate of interest in exchange for
their Government securities. It is said that some
thing should be done by the Government to pre
vent the consummation of these swindling schem
es. No one will dispute this, but the way to punish
a swindler is to enforce the present laws against
getting money under false pretenses, and not by
passing a dangerously paternalistic law intended
to ' protect fools from the consequences of their
own folly.
The old rule, "Let the buyer beware," although
discredited by many social reformers at the pres
ent day, is a pretty good one. When properly
understood it does not justify the dealer in swind
ling his customers when he can. Swindling is not
the rifRTSTiDusiness. If it were no business would
be possible. We have criminal laws already that
deal with the man who gets money on false pre
tenses. And the average citizen trades with the
man who gives him value for his money and a
voids the exceptional man who cheats him. He
invests his money according to his best judgment
and sometimes loses it, as the most skilful and
experienced investors also lose theirs.
There are bureaus enough in Washington al
ready, with long lists of jobholders, without cre
ating another one to look after the financial boobs
who do not know enough to prevent a slick pro
moter from separating them from their cash.
EXTRA PAY FOR SOLDIERS.
There is a movement on foot, with national
headquarters in Norfolk, to benefit the men who
were called to the colors. The plan is to put a
bill through Congress whereby every man of the
service, regulars, reserves, etc., shall receive 12
months' extra pay, whether they went abroad or
not. Those staying in the service will receive it
as' well as those being discharged.
The circular letter at hand. says: "Do you know
that the majority of the men that joined the ser
vice gave up positions paying them around
$150.00 per month and some as much as $300.00
per month? Compare that with $30.00 per
month. The men of the service have worked in
the various camps for one dollar per day, while
the civilians at their side received as much as
ten and fifteen dollars per day, the civilian going
home at night and the serviee man standing by
night and day."
COL. MINOR FOR GOVERNOR.
There is going to be a lot of bad feeling en
gendered in North Carolina by the dozen or more
policitians. who are clamoring to be governor of
the commonwealth. Some of them are being
groomed by the politicians assembled iri Raleigh,
but the next gbvernorjof North Carolina is doing
his ''watch on the Rhine," perfectly oblivious of
what the weak-kneed politicians at home are do
ing. : " ; - J
The Public Ledger, learns on good authority
that the Legislature is about ready to "hatch out
the next governor," and it is a duckling that has
been in the incubator for ten years. The Legis
lature may cut and dry. its candidate for all we
care, but the wise people should not enter into
any alliance until our soldier boys come march
ing home. We have two men on the Rhine that
stands head and shoulders above the hoard of
politicians that make frequent trips to Raleigh
and Washington to see which way the wind
blows.
If Col. Sydney Minor, a native of Oxford,
wants to be the next governor of North Carolina
all he has to do is to hold up his right hand. He
is a lawyer, a financier and an excellent gentle
man; From the present outlook it would seem
that if we don't get Minor we will have mighty
poor picking among the dozen or more "stand
pat" candidates.
;
Half the population of Berlin is shouting
'Hoch!" and the other half is shouting "Nieder!"
And the rest ae out trying to borrow a machine
gun. .
AVOIDABLE WRECKS.
Railroad operatives have always known that no
system, no matter how carefully its mechanism
is adjusted, is proof against accidents due to a
failure of the human equation.
For this reason the railroads devised an ex
traordinary process of selection in order to elimi
nate dangers by putting only dependable men in
responsible posts.
Have the demands of. the military service on
railway personnel left important duties in irre
sponsible hands? This, it would seem, is a ques
tion which ought keenly to interest the investi
gators who have to explain the fatal and costly
railroad wrecks.
The young men did the fighting to win peace;
the older men will do the work of making peace
permanent. Wilson is 62, Clemenceau is 77,
Lloyd George is 56, Balfour is 70, Lord Reading
is 58.
.
UNANIMOUS REGRET.
The old bromide about saying nothing but good
of the dead was unnecessary caution to those who
commented on the death of Colonel Roosevelt.
The unanimity of the expressions of esteem and
admiration for the sound Americanism of the man
was splendid. However much men; may have dis
agreed with his methods, not one "has seriously
questioned the sincerity of his purposes. He
made mistakes, but he got away with them, as
the man in the street would say,, because every
one knew that they were mistakes of judgment.
UNCLE SAM'S BEAT INTERNATIONAL.
Nearly $65,000,000 is to be spent at the League
Island Navy Yard this coming year. Among the
items of expense contemplated is the construc
tion of two of the biggest battle cruisers in the
world. There is nothing incongruous in the fact
that we are building battleships while strenuous
ly working for the establisment of a World Lea
gue of Nations to enforce peace. If the world is
to be policed America is big enough to be called
upon for a large percentage of the necessary po
lice force.
HATRED.
1 The world is scik of hatred. Imitations of hate
are therefore all the more detestable. We may
yet hear of a society for the frowning down of
German fried potatoes or of a law under which
any one so unpatriotic as to fall ill of German
measles would be denied the care of a physician.
MATHEMATICALLY OPTIMISTIC.
Peace clouds may gather, but there' unques
tionably a glint of sunlight in the reappearance
of a most potent Wilsonian augury, since the ses
sion in Paris began on January 13. The very
number has never been divided, save by vulgar
fractions.
BUT HE ALWAYS LIES!
Bernstorff says he is for the League of Nations.
Now we must begin to lose faith in a plan that
heretofore has seemed to offer the only solution
for the world's difficulties.
-
. When the Peace commissioners begin v to
tackle the question of boundaries they will un
derstand something of the feelings of shock
troops going through barbed wire in No Man's
Land.
If we do not altogether believe that-Ameri-co
is above all other nations a vorld-deliverer
and a world-guide, at least we must concede that
such a belief is conducive to the prompt perfor
mance of any righteous task ahead of us.
A farmers' supply association, organized by
the farm bureau of Crawford County, Ohio, saved
$4,500 to farmers on a business last year of $49,
500 The association has acapital stock of $10,
000, divided into 1,000 shares of $10 each, one
share to a man
We are glad that child life is at last receiv
ing some consideration. At one time various me
thods were employed to strengthen the life of
hogs, sheep, etc., while the child was left in the
"midst" to come up, unattended, but at last Ar
merica sees her mistake, (and the best for the
child is really being given attention. -
EDITOR FORD. .
-i Hardworking journalists who have to deal
hourly, as best they may, with the iron realities
of these thundering days will look with envy up
on Henry Ford, who, as the newest editpr in the
world, has only to pluck . blossoms of gentle
thought in the green fields of the untroubled fu
ture where his mind has found blissful raods to
wander in. ,
It is impossible not to like Mr. Ford. He is a
good-hearted man, eager to do noble things. But
he believes the troubles of the world may be solv
ed with kindly epigrams, and he has a notion,
which is apparent in the 'first issue of his weekly
newspaper, that the universe of humankind is not
less highly organized that the automobile busi
ness. It is not surprising that Mr. Ford in his
first editorial utterance should mistake old truths
for new ones. And that is what he has done.
We are informed in the first issue of the Dear
born Independent that it is nobJer to make plows
than to make dollars; that a business isn't worth
while unless it produces useful things; that op
portunity will not overlook you because you may
wear overalls. These maxims have , a familiar
sound. They belong with the oldest truths in
the world.
Everybody would like to be noble. It is easj
to be noble when you are rich, difficult when
you are a struggling business man not fortunate
enough to have millions to spend in experiment
ing with the virtues. All business men do not
live and work , in the midst of plenty. They are
not fortunate enough to have something 'that ev
ery body wants. Their road is full offerd prob
lems. If their generosity is not as spectacular as
Mr. Ford's, it is, nevertheless, proportionately as
great or greater. . . .
Journalism is a good school, and if Mr. Ford is
a sincere pupil he will learn many things. Then
he will not be so ready with hi3 lectures to the
relatively poor who are the vast majority in the
business world.
At Posen the other day a crowd of Germans
fired into a parade of children, killing two of
them. Just to remind themselves of the dear old
days in Belgium doubtless.
O
WAR ON THE YARDSTICK.
Before the might of sentiment and custom the
most flawless logic stands abashed. Like many
another reformer, Senator Shafroth has evidently
been oblivious of that fact in introducing into
Congress his bill compelling the use of the metric
system of weights and measures throughout the
United States. His intentions ere excellent, for
it cannot be denied that rods, poles, perches,
drams, quintals, carts and pennyweights bristle
with complexities. The' decimal measuring sys
tem is really complete, comprehensive and sim
ple. The preliminary bother of mastering the sys
tem would be incommensurate to the benefits
gained. But there is something chilling about
perfection, while fallibility and clumsiness, when
entrenched by tradition, exert an. endearing ap
peal..'" -;. .;
Unquestionably less confusion , attaches to 23
o'clock than to 11 p. m., for sometimes the key
initials are omitted in conversation and letters.
Italy's railways employ the clearer scheme, and
yet, most of the Roman clock faces still conform
to the twelve-hour arrangement.
The uplieavel caused by the French Revolution
must indeed have been titantic to have enabled
its cockaded savants successfully to introduce the
metric system. Anglophobia, in America must
have been rampant when we abandoned the un
wieldy pounds, shillings and pence for the sim
ple dollar standard.
It will be a keen index of the power of innova1
tion in these momentous days if the Senator from
Colorado can put over hi3 obviously commendable
reform. There are precedents, however, for be
lieving that, measuring by his chances of success,
he has a bigger job on his hands than President
Wilson.
- The fact that the Prince of Wales ended a
visit to the Yanks by dancing with American
nurses simply shows that he is an eminently sen
sible and normal young man. y
; ;
YANK. TO VISIT ENGLAND.
American soldiers in France are to be given an
opportunity to visit points of. interest in the
British Isles before their return to this country.
Descendants of those who came over in the May
flower and later boats will have an opportunity
to see the old home town. Rest stations, we are
told, have been established at Stratford-on-Avon,
Royal Leamington Spa and Edinburgh, "as many
of the men are expected to visit those places."
But what about the Liverpool docks? Artemus
Ward, in Liverpool, fifty years ago, mentioned
the fact that the natives mentioned the docks to
him "at least once." And they have grown some
what in fifty years.
T HE BANK W I TH T H E CHIrlES'
DICTATES OF HEART AND MIND
There, is significance in the fact that represen
tation at the Peace Conference is in proportion to
the extent of the interest of each nation in the
peace settlement and not merely in accordance
with the part played by each nation in the war.
The plan adopted is the American and . British
plan. That France should favor the other is eas
ily undestandable. She was closer to the war
than her bigger neighbors. But because strong
feeling sometimes interferes with clear thinking
there is possibility that the course adopted is the
wiser one. '
It is strange to think that in this civilized
period women are still in bondage. Cite for in
stance the case of the board of examiners, where
the men draw a salary of $2,500, and women
draw only $2,000, and do'. the same amount of
work. That is one -of the questions which our
legislators will straighten out. Is it fair, and how
long will it last? Women are only asking for
justice in this. I . V
Unity.
In
Has been demonstrated through the results of the
World War.
Our Federal Reserve Banking System is an emblem
of this unity.
The great whole is divided into many parts and
this part the First National Bank is under
direct supervision of the Central Government.
The benefits of the whole system are open to the
depositors in First National Bank.
Bank
II
W. H. Hunt, Pres., Z. W. Lyon, Vice l5s., T. C. Harris, Asst. Cshr.
THE FIRST AND OLDEST MATIONAL BANK IN
OXFORD.
THE BANK WITH THE BIG CLOCK
4 per Cent PAID ON TIME DEPOSITS. ...
CAPITAL $100,000. SURPLUS $60,000.
I
BUSINESS LOCALS
I
OXFORD ORPHANAGE SHOE SHOl'
wI12 repair your shoes nicely.
Will sand for them atad return
them promptly. Call Phone 24
Jan27tf
IT WILL PAY YOU TO KEEP
this one: Resolved, That during
the year 1918 I will send my or
ders for
PR I N T I N G
to the Printing Department of the
Oxford Orphanage.
There's a reason.
Ring ; Phone 24 and we will
caU, i Ji6tf
FOR SALE, AT STEM, N. C. TWO
store rooms, two vacant town lots,
store fixtures, etc. Day of sale,
January 25th, at 2 o'clock P. M.
Lots well located in Stem. R. G.
TAYLOR, Stem, N. C.
. . : Jan. 21 It.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE BEST
oil engine, think of Hercules and
when you think of the best feed
cutter, think Blizard, and Samuel
Davis, has them in large quanti
ties. Jan. 10 Zti
IF IT IS THE BEST CORN PLANT
er it is an Aveyr, and , if it's the
best harrow its an Avery or Imper
ial, and believe me we have them.
Samuel Davis the man who pays
the freight.
Jan 10 3t.
MR. FARMER, I WANT TO TELL
you that we have got the wire fenc
ing, for you.' know of any height
you want 26 in, 32 in, and 47 in.
all in 6 in. stay; as well as , barb
wire of the light medium and
heavy and our prices we guarantee
to be lower up to July 1st. If you
want wire, get your order here so
Samuel Davis the hardware man.
7 Jan. 10 3t.
LOST JANUARY 12, ONE PIG
Black with white spots. About 3
months old. Reward. Please no
tify Lonnie Satterwhite, Oxford,
Route 7. Jan. 21 2t-x.
PLEASANT GREETINGS FOR 1919
Samuel Davis, your hardware
man.
Jan. 10. 3t.
NO BETTER TIME THAN RIGHT
now to get that wire fencing, barn
wire, garden wire, galvanized shin
gles, cook stove or range, wagon,
huggy or set harness, corn ylanter
harrow or mower. We have them
and the pice. Samuel Davis, the
man who saves you money.
Jan.-10 3t.
ONE OR TWO-HORSE FARM FOR
rent in good condition; 5
bushels of wheat sowed. W. H.
Dean, Oxford Route 1. Jan 21 3t-x
OLD FASHIONED POTATO ONIONS
sets for sale. Price $1.00 per
peck. John L. Suit, Farmers'
Warehouse. Jan. 10 nd lm
SALESMAN WANTED LUBRICAT
ing oil, grease, specialties, paint.
Part or whole time. Commission
basis. Men with car or rig pre
ferred. Riverside Refining Com
pany, Cleveland, Ohio. Jan 21 lt-x
VALUABLE FARM LAND FOR
sale. 125 acres of land mile
west of Angier, N. C, new bunga
low 8-room house and basement,
rooms nicely arranged, land now
well adapted to tobacco, cotton,
and corn, All lands freshly clear
ed. Produced one bale of cotton
last year per acre. Nice location
on Raleigh and Fayetteville road,
mile of $30,000 school building.
Call or write E. M. Currin, Angier,
N. C. Jan. 21 2t.
FORD CAR FOR SALE FINE CON
, dition and looks like a new one.
HORNER BROS CO. Jan 17 tf.