Jan. 19, 1917, 
Waar Preyupice HAs PREVENTED, in the past, dire 
necessity bids fair to accomplish in the present! The use 
of leather substitutes appears not only necessary, but de- 
sirable. While men’s shoes may not be able to stand the 
wear which they are subjected to, women’s shoes with 
cloth tops and otner substitutes have not only been desir- 
able, but quite practicable. Only prejudice and extrava- 
gant styles have prevented them from becoming popular. 
In the past the manufacturers instead of addressing them- 
selves to the problem of preparing such shoes for the 
market for sale at a low price, have been content to put 
on the market high grade impracticable shoes with styles 
that were neither popular nor practicable, consequently 
the ideas have not “taken.” Now necessity knocks at the 
door. The manufacturers are studing substitutes and 
the public is being prepared for a reasonable leather sub- 
stitute. If the manufacturers address themselves to their 
problem with shrewdness and skill there should be no 
reason why an acceptable shoe should not be placed upon 
the market at a reasonable price. The public will accept 
the new shoe when the manufacturer produces it. The 
high prices of labor and material make the economy both 
necessary and desirable. 
Some Arrention Has BEEN GIVEN to President 
Wilson’s absence from the celebration services held in a 
Washington church at which our Senior Senator delivered 
‘rincipal address. To accuse the President of such 
smallness as absenting himself just because Senator Lodge 
as to speak is unthinkable. President Wilson has too 
large a task on his hands to come to such personal retalia- 
tions. It is not at all likely that Wilson “loves” Lodge, 
but he would not take that way to show it. If the Presi- 
dent does not want to be towed to church by a skilful 
minister he has a right to stay at home. If the President 
acceded to all the requests made by ambitious church 
leaders he could plan on an engagement for nearly every 
Sunday. 
Miss Heten Ho_mers oF PLyMoutTH has made a 
name for herself that will abide. Slight, ambitious and 
faithful she went about her tasks in the morning an un- 
known Plymouth schoolmarm, but near noon a feather 
of dark smoke came out through a chink in the floor of 
the schoolroom and aroused her suspicions. With com- 
plete control of her nerves she skilfully conducted all of 
the children out of the building, saving everyone and 
promptly fainted, her task accomplished. A litile duty 
in her monotonous round of daily cares, but she showed 
that somewhere in her slight frame there were hidden the 
qualities which make heroines. Someone may give her 
a loving cup, but the satisfaction of having done her day’s 
work well should yield to her the larger returns. 
Maine Has ELecrep a progressive Governor of 
ability, stamina and determination. He has said the 
words that have made the violators of the liquor laws 
uncomfortable. He proposes to enforce the statute laws 
severely. In his address he recommended a constitutional 
amendment for equal suffrage and urges a_ thorough 
study of the natural resources of the state with a view to 
their conservation. He has shown himself a student of 
Massachusetts affairs and has recommended the passage 
of a mother’s pension and the imposition of direct tax. 
Maine evidently has a progressive Governor. 
Tue Master Plumpers do not seem to be able to 
agree in Washington concerning the leak. | When the 
plumbers fail to work and disagree as usual the public 
“pays the bills, 
NOR Re StHO KR Ee Biv Age a 
THERE IS AN INTERESTING PROBLEM in motor regu- 
lation before the public today and the present legislature 
will be called upon to make a decision. There have been 
nearly three hundred deaths annually upon our highways 
and over eight thousand injuries. These startling facts 
cannot be denied. To remedy these conditions it is pro- 
posed that either the Highway commission delegate this 
part of its work to a motor vehicle officer or that an en- 
urely new commission be appointed to have complete 
charge of the policing duties of the highways. There is 
a division of opinion as to how the results may be ob- 
tained. ‘here 1s a unanimity among all who have studied 
the problem that something should be done. One faction 
believes that the modern movement of consolidating com- 
missions and centralizing authority ought to be continued, 
that the present commission should be sufficient and that 
the creation of separate and a new commission will be 
retograde. On the other hand an opposing faction claims 
that the policing duty of the highways is an independent 
problem and that a board of engineers is not the proper 
or competent group of persons to adjudge wisely and 
fairly the problems of policing; and in addition to this the 
problems of engineering and construction preclude any 
thorough and careful study of the problems due to casual- 
ties and injuries. There are merits in both contentions. 
.ue Governor himself failed to make any specific recom-’ 
mendation to indicate his judgment in the matter. Here 
the matter must rest; the proper authorities will carefully 
weigh all of the considerations and there is every reason 
to believe that this year there will be new laws passed 
providing for more stringent regulations of the vehicle 
trafhe upon our highways. To the average citizen it makes 
but little difference whether this 1s accomplished by one 
or two boards. It would seem, however, that one body 
with a competent supervisor ought to be able to care for 
this great and important work. 
It Is Reported that Dr. Simon Flexner forecasts, 
according to the Philadelphia Public Ledger, a recrudes- 
cence of Infantile Paralysis next summer. The prophecies 
are being made with caution by medical men that the 
public may be forewarned of the possibilities of the com- 
ing seasons. There is no reason to believe that there will 
not be a return of the terrible disease and the movement 
to arouse public sentiment in favor of preventive meas- 
ures is sane. There is now time during the cooler months 
of the year to make plans for the removal of conditions 
which may be contributing factors in the spread of dis- 
ease. Fortunately our North Shore has been particularly 
free from the disease and there is no reason to believe 
that there will be any evidences in this part of New Eng- 
land next season any more than there was last year. 
THE JorntT BorpER ‘Commission that has been con- 
sidering the difficulties that have arisen between the United 
States and ‘Mexico has adjourned after months of fruit- 
-less discussions and having apparently made no advances. 
Pershing’s column is still in Mexico, but we are not at 
war with the republic in the southland. While there are 
no tangible results of the enquiries that have been made 
is it not a distinct gain that Mexico and America have 
been willing to sit down and patiently thrash out the 
difficulties? If the nations of Europe had agreed to a 
round table discussion of the difficulties that arose and 
finally precipitated the present war it would not be diffi- 
cult to believe that the war could have been avoided and 
bloodshed spared. 
Tur Present Corp WaAvE has made the ice man 
smile and will help to keep the prices of-ice down in the 
coming warm days of summer,—maybe, 
