76
MR. PEATTIE'S REPORTS.
Blair Republican Robert B. Peattie, as correspondent to the World-Herald, draws a very dark picture of the deplorable condition of many settlers in the drouth district. Lack of clothing and food is very common and only prompt aid will avert starvation.
Oakland Independent R. B. Peattie, a traveling correspondent of the World Herald, is portraying some pitiful scenes of destitution in the drouth section of Western Nebraska. The people of that section are in distress and there is no doubt of the fact. They are an economical, hard-working class and deserve all the aid that can be given them.
Nebraska City News The Omaha World-Herald sent Mr. Peattie out into the drouth stricken district in the western part of the state for the purpose of personally investigating the condition of the people and to see if they were as much in need of help as has been reported. His letters show that the people are in a pitable condition. They have no money, no corn, oats or wheat, no fuel and no clothes. They are starving and freezing and greatly in need of assistance. We who live in the eastern part of the state know nothing of the poverty of the unfortunates in the western part. Imagine men actually starving and women so scantily clothed that they cannot meet a stranger. Instead of buying baubles for Christmas gifts give your money to the deserving poor and you will be happier for it.
77
THINK OF THE POOR.
Mr. Peattie Makes an Earnest Appeal for Food for Sufferers.
Curtis, Neb. Dec 23- I thank God tonight for the gift to man which enables me, here on the edge of the sand hills, in the midst of the ruin of crops, the deserted farms and the destitute people to talk to you as though we were face to face I do not wish to appear as the ghost at the Christmas festivities now going on among you, but I do wish to say another word for these sad people, who sit by their blackened hearths, drinking the bitter cup of poverty.
When you in your own way go about celebrating the birth of our Lord remember for a moment your fellow creatures in the sod huts upon the bleak divides and stretches of this western land. Spare neither substance nor prayers, for both are needed. There are hundreds who today have neither fuel food nor decent clothing. There are old men and women shivering out their last days in these desolate huts. There are mothers whose starved breasts cannot give sustenance to infants but a few days old. As I write these lines a babe lies dead in this very county because of insufficient nourishment.
Men stand looking at this glorious sunset with despair in their hearts, and they are almost ready to curse God and die. When I think of the thousands of dollars which even in these hard times will be spent tomorrow upon ephemeral pleasures, and when I think how much of the necessities of life that sum would buy for the people about me. I feel as though the senseless giving of gifts at this of all times in the year were a wicked crime.
These men and women have not all deserved to prosper, many have been slothful and extravagant and ungrateful, but upon the eve of the birthday of him who died for all these people, our fellow creatures, our brothers and sisters are facing the most squalid of deaths. A little will save them, everything is needed, but food most of all I earnestly beg that concerted action be taken immediately.
ROBERT B PEATTIE
78
MRS. PEATTIE'S CANVASS.
Women Are Making a Thorough Campaign for Their Candidate.
The campaign committee having in charge the candidacy of Mrs. Elia W. Peattie for the school board has recently completed its organization in every precinct in the city, and the work is being done in a thorough and systematic manner, under that indefatigable toiler, Mrs. G. W. Clark Mrs. Clark is daily receiving encouragement from all sources in the shape of pledges and endorsement of her candidate. Besides the fact that Mrs. Peattie is upon both the democratic and independent tickets, it is encouraging to the women to know that she has also received the official endorsement of the Municipal league, which carries with it considerable weight, and the endorsement of the Womens Christian Temperance union, most of the members of which are working hard for her election Circulars are being distributed explaining to women voters just what qualifies them to vote, instructing them that registration is not necessary, and informing them how, when and where to cast their ballot. The committee has received many offers of help from ladies, but can still use women in each ward, for a house-to-house canvass is being made to bring out the entire woman vote. Any who wish to volunteer in this work should communicate by telephone with Mrs Clark or call on Miss Fairbrother at the office of the Woman's Weekly, Nineteenth and Farnam streets. Although the committee has received the assurance of support from many republican men and women, it is a well-known fact that the bulk of the republican voters are preparing to take their wives to the polls to vote the straight republican ticket. This vote will be especially directed against Mrs. Peattie. The committee is therefore turning its efforts toward bringing out all the woman's vote which is connected with the other parties or with no party at all, and it is intended to personally visit each of these women before election day.
79
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN.
Women have distinguished themselves in many ways, artistically, but up to the present time none of them have done much that is remarkable in the way of architecture. True, a woman designed the Woman's building at the World's fair, and an ever increasing number are becoming draftsmen in architects' offices. But there is no woman's name which can be mentioned as being easily among the great architects- not even Phryne of Thebes. For while she offered to rebuild the walls of her city, history does not any that she undertook the erection of buildings. The building committee of the Atlanta exposition has, however, taken woman into consideration, and has offered a high premium for the best design of an exposition edifice by a woman. The offer is a generous one, and is a part of that rapidly growing consideration for the ability of women which is making itself felt in almost every city of the country.
80
MRS PEATTIE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD
The nomination of Mrs. Elia W Peattie for the school board gives the opportunity to the voters of Omaha of honoring one of the most deserving women of this city. Concerning Mrs. Peattie's qualifications for a place upon the school board no argument is necessary. In progressive thought, in culture, in energy and in public spirit Mrs. Peattie has established a reputation which all know. Her quick sympathies and her keen judgement are well known to all classes in this city. The fact she is a member of the WORLD-HERALD staff will not deter this newspaper from urging the election of Mrs. Peattie to the board. The board of education needs just such broad minded spirits as Mrs. Peattie in its membership and her election should be made by an emphatic vote.