Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1920 — FINALLY SEVERED RED TAPE [ARTICLE]

FINALLY SEVERED RED TAPE

But Messenger Had to Declare Him* seif Emphatically Before He Got That Ice Book. The quartermaster’s department had conferred upon me authority to buy for the sum of $6 an ice book good for 2,000 pounds of ice and had sent me to this building, headed np “Commissary,” for the goods. The first clerk I saw did not question my good intentions or my legal and military right to buy that ice book somewhere in the building, but was doubtful of his authority to sell it to me. He lacked selfconfidence. He said: “Go to the other end Of the building.” And he said: “Go to the other side _ of the building.” And he said: “Go to the other end of the building.” —— And I said: “D it, I’ve been to three ends and five sides of this building, and Igo no further. If you’ve got - an ice book —and I have reasons for believing you have —I ask you as man _ to man to give it us.”— —- He said: “Sir, it is yours.”—Bookman.