Excerpts from:

The Wynot Tribune
H.A. McCormick, Publisher
An Independent Newspaper
Published Every Thursday
Subscription Rate $2.00
Payable in Advance.

January 10, 1918

Observations
There is a need for cooperation between town and farm folks to help the war effort. “Team work will win the war” because of better food production. Waste can be eliminated from business methods. The credit system costs more than any other business transaction. Credit extended without limit forces merchants to borrow large sums to carry the accounts, some of which never pay (a large percentage). The consumers who do pay must pay higher prices to cover interest on loans to carry the non-payers. This is not good for business or consumer. The cash system must be used by business “before the government steps in and uses force.”

January 17, 1918

Our Cash System as it Will Be Handled
It will be cash over the counter. A discount of 5 per cent will apply on all sales over $1, except flour and sugar. Patrons may receive a thirty day credit with no discount. There will be no more free delivery. A 10 cent charge will apply.

Observations
Americans should help the government win the war by buying “baby bonds”. This keeps the government from getting oppressive about money for the war, and provides security at 4 per cent interest.

The Hartington News was given the contract for printing county proceedings. Congratulating itself over this wonderful achievement, the News blandly pats itself on the back and delivers itself of this wise observation: “The selection of the News was made as a tribute to its sturdy and aggressive Americanism.” Now the Tribune is happy to know that the News is “aggressive American” but, the News was the only paper in the county to bid on the County Board’s contract.

Talking about “aggressive Americanism” the News has yet to name the anonymous individual near Wynot it lambasted because he couldn’t speak English or even pure German, being a Dutchman. The News charged him with unamericanism, but wouldn’t reveal the name.

January 24, 1918

Observations
A change from the credit to a cash system is a good thing, and should have been done long ago. The credit system is a relic of pioneer days, but with an increased money supply, prices increase as the shop owners cover their credit accounts.

The Tribune is proud to donate advertising space to the War Bond’s drive.

The pencil pushers of Northeast Nebraska will meet at Norfolk Friday and Saturday. If the Tribune man comes up missing he simply ran away to get rid of the office grind for a few hours.

January 31, 1918

Observations
Securing a County Agent is a forward step.

If there was a market for waste paper, the Tribune could make a nice sum with all the publicity sent out by all departments connected with the war. They should take some savings advice and reorganize the public information machine. There is a limit to donating space free of charge for all this government publicity.

The people have implicit faith in President Wilson and the little game of politics being played in Congress is considered by a majority as simply political rot. The shake ups and reorganizations over a few mistakes won’t guarantee that a new War Board would be any better. Our senior Senator from Nebraska at Washington is playing a very precarious game which is not likely to improve his standing among a constituency that already has occasion to doubt his sincerity.

Even if Teddy Roosevelt has three sons in the army, this does not give him license to go about the country in carping criticism of the conduct of the war.

February 7, 1918

Observations
The government should regulate hens. From the price of eggs, they appear to have gone on strike.

The National Non-partisan Leagues smell pretty strongly of Kaiserism.

Food regulations are not just government orders to keep Uncle Sammy’s administrators busy. The food rules that are reasonable should be followed.

February 14, 1918

Observations
Senator Hitchcock is being classed with LaFollette for his un-american attack on President Wilson and his management of the war.

The Hartington News makes a tardy apology for their unjust accusations about German-Americans.


February 28, 1918

Observations
The war will not be won immediately but will be won with OUR help. Food supplies are the biggest problem right now.

It is reported that the little old Fords have gone up to $500. A few more boosts like that will put them in the class of real automobiles.

March 7, 1918

Observations
The big packers have been under investigation lately, and if the people are to be robbed to help win the war, the government should do it, not the big packers.


March 14, 1918

War Bonds
A mayor’s proclamation to the citizen’s of Wynot to support War Savings Day is signed by H.A. McCormick, Mayor.


March 28, 1918

Observations
This Legislative Session, the State Legislature shouldn’t pass a lot of foolish laws that have to be lived with after the war.

The Socialist Labor ticket won the mayor’s office in Sioux City. Not all the Bolshevists are in Russia.

Liberty Loans should be supported. Farmers should invest while prices are high to survive when prices drop.

April 18, 1918

Observations
Bond buying prevents tax increases.

We may be a little thick headed, but we can’t see why the government spends so much money printing publicity plates, expecting the printers to publish them for free.


April 25, 1918

Observations
The Tribune supports Lieutenant Governor Edgar Howard for United States Senator (a personal friend) who is campaigning on “unswerving allegiance to the commander-in-chief.” Howard is a democrat among real democrats. He doesn’t belong to Senator Hitchcock’s brand of democrats.

The Tribune supports Prohibition and the state senators in Lincoln who opposed passage of a national amendment should be defeated.

There is a need for more stringent automobile laws and for better enforcement of the current laws. Speed limits should be enforced in the manufacturing of engines so they can’t exceed a speed of Twenty miles an hour.

June 16, 1918

Observations
Governor Neville has made good on his promises and should be renominated in the primary. His opponent is Brother Charley Bryan. There is a strong sentiment among the voters to let the Bryans rest for a spell. S.R. McKelvie has a clear field for the Republican nomination.

No foreign languages should be spoken in America.

Dan Stephens should be re-elected to congress.


July 4, 1918

Red Cross
Mrs. H.A. McCormick was re-elected secretary for the Wynot Red Cross.

Observations
Howard over Hitchcock in the primary will be welcomed.

It is inconsistent for anti-German language businessmen in Hartington to advertise in the German language Cedar County Wachter.


July 11, 1918

Observations
Hell itself is occupied by better people than war profiteers. The Tribune agrees that packers are getting enormous profits just as the Federal Trade Commission contends they are.


July 18, 1918

Committee on Resolutions
H.A. McCormick is on the Committee on Resolutions for the Cedar County Democratic Convention.

Observations
Be a booster of the Wynot chautauquas.


July 25, 1918

A Candidate for the Legislature
At the request of a few friends I have filed for the democratic nomination for representative in the Nebraska legislature from the Fifteenth district (Cedar County)…H.A. McCormick

I campaign to represent a rural population; a one hundred percent pure American.

August 8, 1918

Observations
Sioux City, with its renegade preacher mayor is on the road to a “come back” on the wrong route. Boodle and booze are the watchwords in the prohibitionist state of Iowa.

Personal and Political Comment
Not this year (Dakota City Herald)
Editor H.A. McCormick of the Wynot Tribune has entered the race for representative from the Fifteenth district (Cedar County). Mr. McCormick is a sure-fire democrat and deserves some recognition from his party. But things are going republican this year, Mac.

Has the “Makings” (Dakota City Eagle)
H.A. McCormick, a former Dakota County citizen and newspaperman, now editor of the Wynot Tribune, has filed as the democratic nominee for representative from the Fifteenth district, comprising Cedar County. He has no opposition in the primary election and his many Dakota County acquaintances wish him ‘good-a-luck’ in the general election. Editor McCormick has the makings of a good representative for the people in the legislative halls.

Two True-Blue Americans (Coleridge Blade)
In Bro. McCormick of the Wynot Tribune and W.H. Burney of near Hartington the voters have a choice for representative of two true-blue Americans and the county can’t go wrong.

Would Make a Good Legislator (Hartington Herald)
Editor McCormick of the Wynot Tribune is a candidate for state representative on the democratic ticket. Mr. McCormick is an able man, and if elected, would make a good legislator.


August 15, 1918

Observations
We will not presume to tell you who to vote for in the August 20 primary. Pick the best man if they are 100 per cent pure American.

A ruling by the State Council of Defense to use the English language in church services is not the law, but is a good idea.

The Tribune supports Will S. Jay for republican nominee for secretary of state.


August 22, 1918

Primary Election Returns
All unopposed Legislative Candidates won nominations.


August 29, 1918

Observations
The fact that less than half the qualified voters exercised their right in the face of the struggle for democracy in Europe is startling.

The democratic “machine” (Senator Hitchcock) won the primary vote because the reformers (Howard, etc.) split their supporter’s votes.


Blogger’s Note: Editor McCormick did not win the November general election. It was a republican year.