* te^S'NlJCflVS WORK or MUCH IMPORTANCE AWAITS INCOM- IMG ADMINISTRATION. ! \? f . " •*> 'i tttik PRINCIPLES INVOLVED y ------ / v •" | V _- First Is General, Embodying Most Es sential Rules Concerning a Given Subject; Other Is Particular, Pre- scribing as Much Detail as Can Be Done. Springfield.--Bythe mo&tfortunate •elrctnnstnnces find the urgent demands of the times for'unprecedented conser vation and efficiency, Illinois is now confronted with a program of construc tive legislation that is as far-reaching as any it has ever yet undertaken. It Is no less a task than the remodeling of the entire administrative branch of L' . the slate government. , In the past, governmental agencies f. ' •were created to meet actual necessity, £v'*". and were mostly guided by custom. In this manner came Into existence - the offices of governor, secretary of . state, state treasurer, auditor of pub- lie accounts, attorney general and su- 1; , • perintendent of public instruction. In this day and age nothing is at- < tempted without thorough inquiry and { scientific sutdy. The lesson of baste & and waste has been too well learned Jf and neither legislature nor chief ex- * ecufive is now willing to Initiate or to approve of a plan of government that Is not thoroughly practical, scientific ; . , . and efficient. 4,' S Heretofore Investigation was limited If and sectional; now the wisdom not only of the best that can be had in the state but also of every other state, and even nation is before the construc- pj tive legislator. ® The efficiency and economy commlt- of the Forty-eighth general assem bly of this state, which was composed of four Republicans and an equal nam* ber of Democrats, performed a hercu lean task along the line of investiga tion regarding the consolidation of ;:$r state bureaus and commissions, and ' its report us weii as the bills recom- „ maided and introduced in its behalf, will undoubtedly be of great service to those having to do with the prepara tion of new bills to be presented to the Fiftieth general assembly. The plan of the efficiency and econ omy committee lends itself to a con solidation of the executive branch of this state's government Into a depart ment of state, a department of finance, fi department of trades and commerce, a department of labor and mining, trades and commerce, a department of labor and mines, a department of ag riculture, a department of public works, a department of education, a department of health, a department of charities and corrections and a de partment of law, under the supervision of six constitutional officers, namely;" the governor, the secretary of state, the state treasurer, the auditor of pub lic accounts, the superintendent of pub lic instruction and the attorney gen eral. Each department may have as many divisions as are necessary, each di vision to be under the direct con trol or management of a single com missioner or a superintendent who should be responsible to the particular constitutional officer under whom the department shall be placed. The com mission form of government has proven more satisfactory than boards or bureaus. The demand of the times re quires the fixing, of responsibility up on some specific person who should be made accountable for the full acts of his department or division. Boards or bureaus do not answer this de mand. There are two basic principles upon which laws are drafted; the first is general, embodying the moslt essential and inclusive rules concerning ^ given subject; the other is particular, pre scribing as much detail as can be done with the Information at hand. While in the past, some of our legis latures have leaned toward giving too much detail in their laws, it is hoped that the incoming legislature will avoid the temptation to act upon facts that •re bound to be insufficient, in view of the fact that the subjects to be legislated upon are of such a magni tude. In all constructive matters, theory is one thing and practice is quite an other. What may seem perfectly feas ible In theory, may prove entirely impractical when the theory is at tempted to be carried out; It is ap parent therefore that most of the de tails of a particular plan should be left to be worked out as each situation arises. As the legislature is solely a creative body and has no administrative func tions, all it can do. and no doubt will attempt to do, at this session is to re organize the executive or administru- ^ tive branch of this state's government on general and comprehensive lines, giving each department full power to work out the details as -future occasion may require. Cold Kills Fish. Farther investigation conducted by Paul Hausen, sanitary engineer for the state board of health, revealed the fact that cold weather Is the cause of the alarming death rate among fish in the Sangamon river between here and Decatur. Cat fish and carp answered the call and Joined other species on the banks of the river. This indicates, Mr. Hun- sen said, that every fish in the river between the Springfield water works dam and Decatur Corn Products com panies will be dead. Enormous fish, some of them weighing 40 pounds, were numbered among the fatalities. Telephone communication with the Decatur Corn Products companies sup plied Mr. Hansen with the clue to the mystery. No more waste matter has teen put in Sangamon river than is usual. But the same amount in the river has been deterred in its self-puri fication process by the cold weather,; low water and the coating of ice. Ordinarily the* odoriferous corn products waste from Decatur is chem ically changed to harmlessness within ten to twenty-five miles down the stream. But within this distance live fish are rarely found. Consequently when the -harmful region was extend ed by cold weather as far as Spring field, the fish began to die. To remedy this condition the rivers and lakes commission tv/o years ago ordered Decatur to provide a purify ing system, which will cost them at least a million dollars. Decatur at present is contemplating the installa tion of three acres of trickling filters. By a very complex system, these filters will purify the water so that fish may live even within a mile of Decatur. According to Mr. Hansen, the fish poisoned by the water condition will cause ptomaine poisoning if eaten any considerable time after death of the fish has occurred. But if the fish is taken from the water soon after Its death and cleaned Immediately, harm ful results may not ensue. A similar condition existed last year, Mr. Hansensald, in the Vermil ion river below Streator. Mine waste caused the destruction there. , -"-TV"-- kV ' -: 1 w%m, ism*- Wets Sib ALEB, '"'•iir ' i-. jyfoj *"**• *. R-Hi WAP .Trail r.t SECRETARY LANSING HINTS OP DANGER, BUT QUALIFIES ANp NOUNCEMENT LATER *p" m ADMITS NO CHANGE IN POLICY President's Aid Declares "Peace Plea" Is Not to Pacify Europe, But ttf Find Out Where America •Standi Cft(CA 60 6 KING GEORGE PROROGUING PAR- L1AMENT DECLARES FOR PROS- , SCUTION OF CONFLICT LONDON CRIES NO TO WILSON Bonar Law Says Statement Cannot Bo Given to Commons at Present, and That Entente Will Make Joint Re ply to Germany's Proposal. HP Commission's Power Amplcf. The increasing demand for the elim ination of grade crossings brings for ward the sweeping powers of the Illi nois public utilities commission on this subjects 1 One section of the utility commis sion law provides that no public hign- way shall be constructed across the tracks of any railroad at grade and that no railroad can lay its tracks across a public highway at grade with out first obtaining. permission of the commission. The commission has power to determine the manner in which the crossing shall be matle and the point at which it is to be placed. This does not, however, prevent the replacement of lawfully existing high ways or tracks. Another section giyes the commis sion authority, after hearing, to "re quire every public utility to maintain and operate its plant, equipment or other property in such manner as to promote and safeguard the health and safety of its employees, passengers, customers and the public" and re quires safety devices at grade cross ings. In determining the necessity for a separation of grades the commission is guided by the density of the traffic, by the dangerous character of the crossing and by the physical condi tions making the separation feasible. Expense of such improvements may be divided between the railroads and, the public. ' ̂ Illinois Third as Spender. A list of the total appropriations' of the various states for the biennial pe riod of 1915-16 shows that Illinois Is third. This state's last biennial ap propriation for all purposes was $46,- 230,660. New York state Is first with $80,019,113 and Pennsylvania second with $65,464,852. The appropriation for Illinois' per capita is $3.53. Twenty-nine states have a lower percapita appropriation than Illinois. Maine is highest with per capita of $7.50, and North Caro lina is lowest with a ppr capita of 50 cents. New York, with her $12,070,- 420.887 assessed valuation of property in 1915, has a per capita appropria tion of $4.04. The revenue per capita in Illinois is $2.38. Eight states have a lower per capita revenue than Illinois. In proportion to population Nevada has thj largest revenue, $10.25. Upholds Right of Review. The supreme court sustained the amended section of the workingmen's compensation law, by which provision was made for reviewing in circuit corut awards of the industrial board. The decision was given in the case of the estate of James Balla against the Chi cago Railways company. It affirms the opinion of the Cook county cir cuit court. London, Dec.. 26.--Parliament was prorogued by King George until Feb ruary 7. in the address from the throne proroguing parliament King George declared that "the vigorous prosecution of the war" would be the single aim of England until the secur ity of Europe had been established. He indicated that peace is not yet In sight* The king's address follows: "The vigorous prosecution of the war must be our single endeavor until we have vindicated the right so ruthlessly violated by our enemies and have es tablished the security of Europe on a sure foundation. I am confident that we shall finally achieve the victorious confirmation of the aims for which we entered the war." * An Exchange Telegraph dispatch from The Hague says it is announced semiofficially that should the entente allies in their reply to the pence pro posals of the central powers leave the door open for negotiations Germany will make known her chief peace terms Immediately. The British government will make no statement at the present in regard to President Wilson's peace note, con sidering it a question that can be dealt with only in communication with the other members of the entente. Mr. Law was asked whether a state ment would be made regarding the American note. He replied: "It must be obvious to the house that this is a question that only can be dealt with in communication with our allies and that it is absolutely im possible to make a statement now." The general public had its first news of President Wilson's note from the morning papers. The people, like the press, were rather taken aback, as they had about arrived at the conclusion that Premier Lloyd-George's speech had put an end to all pence talk, un less the central popwers, in their reply to the premier, were prepared to de fine their terms. That the president or any other neutral ruler would take any action was furthest from their minds. The evening papers, which do not print editorials, came out with big headlines which expressed their views. The Evening News, which is the after noon edition of the Daily Mail, heads a reprint of the comment of the morn ing papers with the one word "NO" in - large black type, and under It "our an swer to President Wilson" and again "No, no, no, that is the answer Great Britain gives today without a moment's hesitation to the surprising note from President Wilson." . The morning headlines, such as "President Wilson's Strange Peace Es say," "President Wilson's Peace Feeler," "Amazing Note," Indicate in slight measure the astonishment cuused by the communication. GERMAN SUBMARINE IS SUNK ALL AROUND THE STATE %ir/ngfield.--The motion of Attorney P. H. O'Donnell for leave to file a pe titkm for the citation of State's Attor ney Maclay Hoyne for contempt of court was granted by the supreme court. This means that Hoyne will be compelled to defend himself at least to the extent of opposing the granting of the petition. If the court refuses to grant the petition, that will end the matter. If it is granted, Hoyne will be placed on trial. Elizabeth.--Grist mills have been re opened here and at northwestern Illi- nois towns, where farmers have their wheat ground into flour, as they did 40 years ago^ They find it cheaper to •do this than to sell their wheat to the grain dealers and buy fiour at tetilL Paris.--That Edgar county farmers <U>e eager for this to be the first eoun *jr in the state with all paved roads is indicated by die offer of F. L. Clapp of Grandview to donate $500 toward •either the county or state roads funds if or country pavement?. Paris Announces Destruction of tho U-45 by Allied War Vessels--Brit, ish Boat Destroyed. Paris, Dec. 26,--The German sub marine U-45 has been sunk by destroy ers, according to a Mantes dispatch. The U-45 recently sank steamers' oil Saint Nazaire. Amsterdam, Dec. 26.--According to reports from German sources, the Ger man submarine U-46 has been sunk in the Bay of Biscay by entente naval forces. --• (It is probable the foregoing dis patches refer to the same submarine, perhaps to the one designated in re cent news items as the U-49, which has been active off the French and Spanish coasts. This submarine sank the American steamship Columbian, the British steamship Seatonia, and the Norwegian steamers Baltimore and Fordalen.) «titer Illinois Troops Ordered Home. Secretary of War Baker has ordered the Seventh Illinois Infantry and Com pany, A of the signal corps and numer- other middle western troops home from the boraijir on the recommenda tion of Gene^y] Funston. The troopw are part of a detachment of 17,000 which will- be brought north Just as soon as facilities can be had to move them. Every effort will be made to have them home by Christ mas. New Incorporations. Levine Construction company, Chi cago; capital, $10,000; incorporators, Levine E. Kramer, Robert T. Sullivan, May Furniture company, Chicago; capital, $10,000; Incorporators, May C. Koestner, S. A. May, Judson W. Lord. The Stone Tractor Manufacturing company, Quincy; capital, $100,000; in corporators, Samuel H. Roberts, Allan K. Roberts, Harry F.. Roberts. tVright Auto Device company, Chi cago ; capital, $1,000; incorporators, Richard J. Jacker, Jamas B. McKooa N. Gibson. SHIPPING BOARD IS NAMED Three Democrats and Two Republicans From Widely Separated Sections of Country. Washington. Dec. 26.--President Wil son announced that the shipping board would be composed of the following members: Democrats -- William ' Denman of San Francisco; Bernard N. Baker of Baltimore, and John A. Dona^of New York city. Republicans--John Bar ber White of Kansas City and Theo dore Brent of New Orleans, described as a "Republican with Progressive ten dencies." U. S. Note Given to Berlin. Amsterdam, Holland, Dec. 26, via I-ondon.--President Wilson's note to the belligerents was handed to the German foreign office by the charge d'affaires of the American embassy, according:to a Berlin telegram. 6 Men Die in Florida Wreck. Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 26.--Six man were killed when a double-header freight train on the Seaboard Air Line railway ran Into a washout near Mc- Klnley, Fla., 60 miles west of here. But one member of the crew escaped. Envoy Waits for France. Vienna, Dec. 23.--Count Adam.Ta^ nowskl, the newly appointed Austrian ambassador to the United States, has decided not to leave for his post un til France, as well as Great Britain, has guaranteed safe-conduct for him. Danes O. K. Islands' Sale. Copenhagen, Dec, 23.--Both house* of the Danish parliament now have ap proved the sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States. The lands- thing, or upper house, voted favorably | upon the proposltipn, 40 to 19. 18 OUTLAWS KIUED VILLISTA "HOME GUARDS" TAKE SUMMARY ACTION. Baudelio Uribe, Leader of Band Is Executed and Many Troops Killed in Battle. Juarez, Dec. 22.---Baudelio Urlbe, a follower of Villa, who Is said to have Instituted the practice of cutting off the ears of Carranza prisoners, and 17 of his band were executed by "home guards," and "many Villa troops" killed in a battle southwest of Chihua hua City, a member of the "home guards" reported on Wednesday. Ranchers, storekeepers and cattle men of Tejolocachio, he said, organ ized to prevent raiding of their prop erties. jMter five of Villa's men were killed in an attempted raid on Tejolo cachio, he said, Villa sent a punitive expedition. The "home guards" were called to arms and the command of Julio Acosta was defeated. Following the battle, he said, a Car ranza command moved in and captured Uribe and 17 othfers, who, he said, were executed. Ajo, Ariz., Dec. 22.--Two companies of the Fourteenth infantry arrived here on Wednesday from Yuma under command of Colonel Jones to guard against a possible raid* on the big cop per camp by Mexican bandits. Un easiness has been felt by the families of the 600 miners following the re ports of a contemplated raid by Villa men. TEUTONS HOPEFUL OF PEACE Kaiser William to Agree to Reparation --Von Bernstorff Sees Another Exchange of Notes. Washington, Dee. 21.--Lloyd-George's speech leaves the door open for peace. This is the view of the White House It Is also the view of the German embassy, where the statement was made that Germany would not be the first to close the door. With the presentation of the allies' answer to the German proposals, it Iffc believed lu official circles actual peace proposals will be under way. "It looks to me as if the matter were not finished and as if there will be at least one more exchange of notes," commented Ambassador von Bernsdorf of Germany. Germany, it was declared, is ready to discuss all the questions brought up by Lloyd-George. This includes the question of reparation, without which, the premier is quoted as saying, "peace is impossible." DRY CAPITAL VOTE JANUARY 9 Parliamentary Misplay Is Cause of De lay in Action on Measure in the U. 8. Senate. Washington, Dec. 22.--A parliament ary misplay by one of its friends on Wednesday upset plans for an iinmedi- at evote on Senator Sheppard's Dis trict of Columbia prohibition bill. The senate finally agreed to a final vote on the measure on January 9, after its opponents had been sustained by the chair lu contending that It lost its place on the senate calendat by the action of Senator Ashurst in securing unanimous consent to consider* a land bill. Would Abolish Death Penalty. Queretnro, Mexico, Dec. 23.--A, peti tion has been presented to the consti tutional congress by the citizens of Mexico asking for a provision in the new constitution abolishing the death penulty. Refuses $100,000 Bequest. New York, Dec. 23.--Charles H. Sherrlll, former American minister to Argeutina, and organizer of the pre paredness parades last spring, has re fused a legacy of $100,000 from his mother-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Glbba. Gin 10,845,989 Bales of Cotton. Washington, Dec. 22.--Cotton giimed prior to December 13 amounted to 10,- 845,989 ninning bales, including 183,- 103 round bales and 10,448 bales of Sea island, the census bureau an nounced. REFUSES PEACE OFFER LLOYD-GEORGE SAYS GERMAN ARMY MUST BE CRUSHED. British Premier Declares Entente Al lies Do Not Propose to Put Their Heads Into Noose. London, Dec. 21.--Premier Lloyd- George said in the house of commons on Tuesday that it was felt that the allies should know before entering on negotiations that Germany was pre pared to accede to the only terms pos sible for peace to be obtained and maintained in Europe. The premier said that without rep aration peace would be Impossible. He declared there were no proposals for peace. To enter into proposals of which they had no knowledge was to put their heads into a noose with the rope's end in the hands of Germany. - Lloyd-George quoted the words of Abraham Lincoln: "The war will end when the object has been obtained; un der God, it never will end until we have attained this object." Much as they longed for It, the pre mier added, the central powers' note and the speech preceding it, afforded small encouragement and hope for an honorable and lasting peace. The premier said it was proposed to appoint a director of national service and that all industries and services would be scheduled as essential or pon- essential to the war. LIST DEMANDS ON GREECE Allies' New Note to Athens Govern ment Asks Inquiry Into Disturb ance on December 1-2. London, Dec. 22.--The ne^ note of the entente allies to Greece, which, ac cording to the understanding here was presented, includes, says lteuter's Tele graph company, the following principal demands: * The control of telegraphs, posts and railways. The release of all Venizelist prison ers. The prohibition of meetings of re servists. An inquiry" by a* mixed commission into the disturbances of December 1-2. 4 DIE IN MASONIC HOME FIRE Three Persons Missing and Scores In jured in Wichita (Kan.) Blaze-- Four Bodies Recovered. Wichita. Kan., Dec. 26.--Four bodies have been recovered from the smolder ing ruins of the Musonlc Qome. One other guest Is missing and scores are suffering from Injuries received In the burning structure. Ninety persons weVe asleep in the building when the flames were discovered. Firemen car ried out scores made unconscious by the smoke. Many who fled clad in their night clothing were ^overcome by the cold and are'being treated In hos pitals. ~ ' Baron Oppenheim Released. Washington, Dec. 22.--Bavon Robert E.Oppenheim, London and Paris bank er, held up at New York by immigra tion authorities on the ground that he had been Implicated in charges dn- .volvlng moral turpitude, was ordered released by the immigration bureau pending further investigation under a bond of $1,000. Vote to Pass Flood Bill. Washington, Dec. 26.--The senate commerce committee voted on Friday afternoon to recommend for passage the house flood-coutrol bll|,. »\ppropriat- Ing JM.l.OOO.OOO for improvement of the Mississippi river. W D e c , S e c r e t a r y Lansing issued a statement on Thurs day amplifying and qualifying the one he made earlier in the day regarding the president's notes to the ^belliger ents, because, he said, he feured some incorrect inferences were being drawn from his first utterance. Secretary, Lansing said his purpose in making the second statement was to make it clear beyond question that there was no change in the policy of neutrality of the United States. Mr. Lansing also said his purpose in amplifying his statement was to make it plain that the notes to the belliger ents should In no sense be construed as a threat to any of the governments. His second statement follows: "I have learned from several quar ters that a wrong impression was made by the statement which I made in the morning, and I wish to correct that Im pression. "My intention was to suggest the very direct and necessary interest Which this country as one of the neu tral nations has in the possible terms which the belligerents may have in mind, and I did not intend to intimate that the government was considering any change in its policy of neutrality which it has consistently pursued in the face of constantly increasing diffi culties. "I regret that my words were open to any other construction, as I now re alize that htey wer^. I think that the whole tone and language of the note to the belligerents shows the purposes without further comment on my part. It is needless to say that I am unre servedly in support of that purpose and hope to see it accepted." Secretary Lansing's statement was as follows: "The reasons for the sending, of the note were as follows: - "It isn't our material interest we had in mind when the note was sent, but more and more our own rights are be coming involved by the belligerents on both sides, so that the situation is be coming increasingly critical. "I mean by that, that we are draw ing nearer the verge of war ourselves and therefore we are entitled to know exactly what each belligerent seeks in order that we may regulate our con duct in the future. "No nation has been sounded. No consideration of the Germaii overtures or of the speech of Lloyd-George was taken into account in the formulation of the document. The only thing the overtures did was to delay it a few days. It was not decided to send it until Monday. Of course, the difficul ties that face the president were that It might be construed as a movement toward peace and in aid of the Ger man overtures. He specifically denies that that was the fact in the document itself." Secretary Lapsing further said: "The sending of this note will indi cate the possibility of our being forced into the war. That possibility ought to serve as a restraining and sobering force safeguarding American rights. It may also serve to force an earlier con clusion of the war. Neither the presi dent nor myself regard this note as a peace note; It is merely an effort to get the belligerents to define the end for which they are fighting." STOCK MARKET IN WILD CLOSE Peace Rumors Cause $40,000,000 Drop in Steel Shares at New York --Wheat 7 Cents Lower. New York, Dec. 23.--Wall street had its wildest experience in 15 years on Thursday when every stock on the list went down in value because of Presi dent Wilson's peace notes to the war ring powers. The losses ran into the hundreds of millions as the "war-bride" stock in flation was flattened out. In a sensa tional drop from $108 to $101 a share United States Steel common alone suf fered a market value slump of about $40,000,000. Total sules numbered 3J70.000. On April 30, 1901, the Northern Pa cific corner caused a panic in which 3,281,000 shades were traded. Thurs day was the second largest day in the history of the exchange. May ivhteat in Chicago pit fell to $1.55 a bushel, 6% to 7 cents under the Wednesday closing price, but later re covered to $1.63%, or 1\ cents higher than the ^losing price Wednesday. Japs Build Many Warships. Tokyo, Dec. 26.--A great program of naval expansion which, by the end of 1923 will give Japan overwhelming su periority over all other fleets in the Pacific, including that of the United States, was officially announced. Three Ships Sunk. London, Dec. 26.-r-Lloyd's reports the sinking of the British ^teamship Itonus, 5,300 tons. The agency also announces that the Norwegian steam ers Avona and Mureta have been sunk by submarines. ©ne Man Killed In Wreck, Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 22.~-<Oae man was killed and 12 Injured on Tuesday afternoon when a broken rail threw the Seminole limited of th*t- Illi nois Central railroad into a ditch at Gold Ridge, Ala. - -- New Rifle for Japanese. Tokyo, D«c. 22.--It was learned that a new rifle has tkeen invented for the Japanese army.. It Is said to be the best in existence. It has ^ broader caliber than any other rifle, and • great range, exceeding 2,000 meters. U. 8. in Next Great Conflict. , Fall Slyer, Mass., Dec. 22.--Former President William H. Taft, speaking here, predicted if the machinery of wrt! continues to grow, the next conflict wll1 find the American government a par ticlpant. Delay Car Shortage Relief. Washington, Dec. 26.--Adjustment of the nation-wide car shortage--declared to be responsible for the present high cost of living--Is being hindered by re fusal of eight railroads to co-operate with the American Railway association. Heada Mine Workers. Des Moines, la., Dec. 28,--J. G. Lewis of Boone, la., has been elected president of the United Mine Workers of America, district No. 13, it was announced on Thursday by John'Gay, secretary of the district. Ford Closes Bib Plant. Detroit, Mich., Dec. 23.--As a means of relieving the railroad congestion now threatening all inductries of De troit, the Ford Motor company sus pended operations completely and will remain closed until January 3. Land Values Sure to Advance Because of Increasing De- înand for Farm Product! 1 k, v>;"£ " 11 " '• .} ' The cry from countries abroad for more of the necessaries of life is acute today; tomorrow it will be still mora insistent, and there will be no letup after the war. This is the day for the farmer, the day that he is com ing into his own. He is gradually becoming the dictator as it becomes more apparent that upon his induo* try depends the great problem of feeding a great world. The farmer of Canada and the United .States has it within himself to hold the position that stress of circumstances has lifted hiin into today. The conditions abroad are such that the utmost dependence will rest upon the farmers of this continent for some time after the war, and for this reason there is no hesitation in making the statement that war?s de mands are, and for a long time wrtilbe. Inexhaustible, and the claims that trill be made upon the soil will with diffi culty l?e met. There are today 25,000,- 000 men in the fighting ranks in the old world. The best of authority gives 75 per cent and over as having .been drawn from the farms. There is there fore nearly 75 per cent of the land for merly tilled now being unworked. Much of this land is today tn a devas tated condition and if the war shonlA end tomorrow it will take years to bring it back to its former producing capacity. Instead of the farmer producer pro-' duclng, he has become1 a consumer, making the strain upon those who have been left to do the farming a very dif ficult one. There may be agitation as to the high cost of living, and doubtless there is reason for it In many cases. The middleman may boost the prices, combines may organize to elevate the cost, but one cannot get away from the fact that the demand regulates the supply, and the supply regulates the price. The price of wheat--in fact, all grains--as well as cattle, will remain high for some time, and the low prices that have prevailed will not COOie again for some time. < J^ter the war the demand for cattle^ neralone for beef, but for stock pur poses, to replenish the exhausted herds of Europe, will be keen. Farm educa tors and advisers are telling you to prepare for this emergency. How much better It, can be done on the low-priced lands of today, on lands that cost from ten to twenty dollars per acre, than it can on two and three hundred-dollar- an-acre land, 4he lands of Western Canada meet all the requlremenU. They are productive in every sense of the word. The best of grasses 'can be grown with abundant yields and the grnln can be produced from these soils that beats the world, and the same may; be said of cattle, and horses. The cli mate is all that Is required. Those who are competent to Judge claim that land prices will rise in value from twenty to fifty per cent. This Is looked for In Western Canada, where lands are decidedly cheap today, and those who are fortunate enough to se cure now will realize wonderfully by means of such an investment. The land that the Dominion Government Is giving away as free homesteads in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are. of a high class; they are abundant in every constituent that goes to make the most productive soils. The yields of wheat, oats and barley that have been grown on these lands gives the best evidence of their productiveness, and when backed up by the experience of the thousands of settlers from the United States who have worked them and become wealthy upon them, little more should be re quired to convince those who are seek ing a home, even with limited means,» that nowhere can they secure anything that will better equip them to become one of the army of industry to assist in taking care of the problem of feed ing the world. These lands are free; but to those who desire larger holdings than 160 acres there are the railroad companies apd land corporations from whom purchase <?an be made at rea sonable prices, and Information can be secured from the Canadian government agent, whose advertisement appears elsewhere in this paper.--Advertise ment. A Creole Conception. A masculine representative of the "Malaprop" type has just returned from a recent southern trip. "Were you In New Orleans?" a friend asked. "Oh, yes." "And did you like the cltyf* "Very much In some ways." "Did you eat any of the French cooking?" "No." "What made the greatest Impres sion on you?" "I think what struck me most was the beauty of the French oriole wom en."--Oakland Tribune. A Problem. "The law says that a man most be tried by a jury of his pears, does#'! Itr ' :,V "Yes; what of It?" "Then must a man of sense necie* sarily be tried by a jury of 'coppersf ** One Reason. are the lowest creation.** "Yes; the coutemptlble things never hesitate at a chance to work for their living." The Psychology of It, •T would rather have a sensitive horse for hunting than any other kind." \ "Why a sensitive horse?** I "Because he would be quicker t# take offence." > : ; V - A business woman should never pro pose to a man who can't cook or on buttons. I