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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1923)
LLOYD GEORGE SEES U. S.-CANADIAN / ' FARM RIVALRY _ > _ - ... I ^ Virgin Soil of Dominion Gives feVr Great Prospects of Competition British Statesman Marvels at ^ astness of Country—Glad to “Make Acquaintance of Future."’ Ity DAVID LLOYD GEORGE. Sjircial Cable to The Omnha Bee. London, Dec. 22.—I have been asked to give some of the impressions form ed during my short stay on the Amer ican continent. 1 hesitate to do so for I did not stay long enough In any state or city to make even a super ficial study of the country or the peo ple. * I have one dominant recollection rind that is of the boundless hospitality and kindness shown my wife and daughter as well as myself. Frpm I that point of view, the journey will be I to me one of those memories that r sweeten life. ®— ■ " 1 - ■ 1 ■■ ' But whan you com* to obaarratlons on the country itself, Its dtlsens or Us Institutions, I was not there long enough to acquire the material. When you dash through a continent In an express train and view Us land through the railway windows and Us people either in masses on the streets along which you pass or In assembly rooms from public platforms, you can only form cinematic impressions at best. Still, I acquired certain def inite Ideas from fleeting glimpses of North America. Vastness of America. Any traveler from this crowded island is bound to be struck by the vRstness of the T’nlted States. After rushing along for days and nights at express speed in a westward direc tion, I was Informed, at a town Where I alighted, that I was making a great mistake not to arrange to visit the great west! I I lifter days and nights of hurrying southward, I was told that I was miss ing something fundamentally different from anything I had yet seen by my neglect to proceed to eouthern states! Cities and villages everywhere give one the idea of endless affluence. Vast stores and shops; sumptuous hotels; streets In cities and roads leading to cities sre alive with automobiles of every size and description; a single state In America has on Its register more motor cars than the whole of the United Kingdom. , Infinite Resources. But more than all. one ha? a sense of the Infinite resources. The vast grain belt stretching for thousands of miles from north to south and for hundreds from east to west; the cot ton area of the south; the garden land of California, Florida and south ern Canada; mineral resources un equalled. Coal deposits In abundance; navigable W aterways, rivers and lakes; waterpower available for Industry where most needed; Immense forests of unexplored treasure. As you think of all this, you reckon upon a piece of paper what the popu lation of the United States will be when it equals fhat of England per square mil*. The United States, on the English scale, ought to maintain a population of 1.50Q,000,000. When you think of all this you Cannot help feeling that, in visiting these regions, you are making the acquaintance of the future. This was the dominant feeling that possessed me ns I pass ed through the United States. Canada Makes Strides. I visited Canada 24 years ago and was able to note the progress made since that period. I could see it in the enormous strides made by Mont real, Toronto and Winnipeg. During that interval of years, they have leaped forward in population, in wealth and importance. What struck me most of all In Can ada and in the United States was the number and even more the dimen sions of projects for change and Im provement around these cities. Where we are apt here to niggle In thousands, over there they plan In millions. Montreal, Toronto and Win nipeg were full of gigantic schemes for the development of trade equip ment and amenity. Amongst others, a billion-dollar canal to carry the grain of the west from the lakes to the sea was the subject of onstant discussion. These cities are depen dent, of course, on the bounty of the' Canadian soil in grain, timber and materials. Wheat Growing Competition. When X got to the grain centers of the X'nited States I was struck by I he feeling that existed there of the formidable character of ' Canadian competition in wheat growing. Gen erations of cultivation had exhausted the fertility of their own lands, whereas Canada had unlimited fields of virgin soil of finest quality which still yield rich harvests without ar tificial fertilization. The American farmers felt their chances of ctynpeting in neutral mar kets against Canadian exporters were diminishing. Although a home popu-^ lation which is well over 100,000,000 provided them with a ready market at their own doors, I was neverthe less told at Minneapolis by farmers’ representatives there that American farming suffers considerably from the loss of the European market, partly through Canadian competition and partly through European unsettle ment. Nowhere are the possibilities of Canada more thoroughly realized and appreciated Ilian across the fron tier. Two Nations' llespevt Increases. In this eonneetion, I was gratified to find imw Canadian stock had ap predated In the I'nited States in cron sequence of the war. The Canadian troops on the battlefields of Kurope hat! clearly made an ineffaceable Im pression on the American mind. Americans talk of Canadians in a different strain to that which I recall in 1K&9. On the other hand, strange as It may seem, 1 was surprised to discover that Canadians themselves did not seem to realize fully the magnitude of their achievement In the war. Had they been disposed to exaggerate their contribution to the victory, that would not have surprised me so much, livery nation naturally dwells on Its own triumphs, often to the delusion of those aehieved by other nations. The fault of Canada is in the oppo site direction. It errs from excessive modesty. Population Stinted. With all this advance in Canadian prosperity and national prestige and with all the infinite undeveloped re sources of Canada, l had a feeling that the growth of population wai not what It might have been. In 1901, the population was 5,371,315. Today It is between 9,000,000 and 9,000,000. The growth in wealth would have Jus tified a much larger growth In pop ulation. What Is the reason? Has real ef fort been made and sustained to at tract people from Uurope to this land of infinite promise? I think It will be conceded lhat more might have been done had there been no crosscur rents to impede a polity of encourage ment for immigration. For two or three years, the moth erland has bar! an unemployed list ranging between 1,300.000 and 2.000, 000. With the dependents, this repre sents a population of 4,000,000 to 5. 000,000. These include some of the best, most skilful and efficient work ers in the world. With a little mobil ization and training they could apply their hands to any industry that promised a livelihood. Missing (iood Opportunity. The doors of the United States are now only partially opened to emi grants. Would It not have been well for Canada to have taken prompt and full advantage of these exceptional Condition* to fill tip its vacant lands .’ It ha* endles* reserve* of undevel oped wealth. It need* men and wo men to open them and exploit them for the enrichment of the dominion antf the happiness of its people. Ther* Is a lag somewhere. Where Is It? Canada is unquestionably missing one of the greatest opportunities ever presented to It of advancing Its real power. It might now acquire an ac cession of strength which it need* by attracting to its soil a proportion o( this fine population. They are. men and women of the same race and tra dition as the nlSjerlty of the peopl*»ot Canada. A few years hence the chance may have gone. The ordinary methods of attracting emigrants are worthless. A bolder and more enterprising policy is needed on both side* of the Atlantic. But with co-operation, results could he secured that, while giving Canada a spurt for ward, would at the same time strengthen the British empire a* a i whole. (Copyright. IP-" *_ ' WELLS URGES THREE ALLIANCES TO SUPPLANT LEAGUE Geneva Conferences as Romantic and Impractical as Costume Play Classification of Peoples as to Rare, Language and Cul lure Is Proposed by Briton. By II. 0. WELLS. (Author «f Outlines of History.) (Special Cable lo The Omaha Hee.) Tendon, Dec. 22.—In my previous article I discussed the visit of Alfonso to Rome and the profound signifi cance to Franco and the world in general of the conversations that must have taken place there between the Spanish and Italian dictators. Among other Issues was the possi bility of a 1-atin league comprehend ing the two European peninsulas and Latin America. To return to the idea: At least it is an imaginative gesture ojj the parts of De Rivera and Musso lini on a higher creative level than anything we have had from Euro pean statescraft for some time. At best, 1t may he the opening of a way toward a real league of peoples for the preservation of the world peace. It is suggested.that all these I,atin peoples who have so much in com mon, who are so admirably equipped for common understanding and achievement of a common destiny, should withdraw from the existing league of nations, in order to group themselves together for collective ac tion in the world’s affairs. Now that is a very hopeful idea. Let us see just how It might be extended. Suppose the British empire also presently came out of the league In order to be free for a parallel but still more potent grouping with the United States rt English speaking commu nities. It seems to me that in these rearrangements wo should have two great steps made toward a real con ference of peoples of the earth. The next step would be the entry of France into association with these two groups. France, half northern, half I^atin, would be free to relieve the world of Its nightmare dream of "I,a France negre." because it could find its security in a new Atlantic association. It could deal with these two agglomerations as a necessary as sociate link and intermediary, and Paris so balanced could remain a world center, instead of sinking to the level of a mere nationalist capi tal. That threefold grouping need have no fear of Germany restored, Russia reborn. It is of supreme importance if we are to get on to any real effec tive world confederation that we should ho gathering Into linguistic. racial and cultural groups rather than nationalist governments—trail ing their infernal foreign policies into tlie deliberations. “Bargain Alliance.” That is the most obvious defect of the Geneva situation. It is not a gath ering of world representatives, but a bargain alliance, a hunting place for cyplornatists. One most obvious consequence of such large aggregations of kindred peoples would be that in them the old nationalist. Imperialist policies that still divide and afflict the world would be dissolved, lost. Spain and Italy, linked up with Latin Amerira would find little support for adven tures In north Africa. Great Britain, tied a Utile closer to the United States would he under new restraint towards Mesopotamia or Asia Minor. I,cague Useless Body. This Idea of a league of peoples into which the pow'ers of the world would come, not as national sovereign states hut as great groups of states, each group with something like a common culture. Is not a new one. It was suggested In a memorandum in 301S upon which British propa ganda against Germany was based. But Wilson and the British foreign office ignored that, and Indeed most other documents and facts when the existing league of nations was brought into being—so we have this prepos terous body at Geneva which Is and must be. ( maintain on any large, grave, International occasions, a hopelessly useless body. T used the word preposterous. It may seem a harsh, excessive epithet to many readers. But I would put before them, mainly in the words of H. Wilson Harris, a little story of what happened at Geneva this year and would ask them to remember that this is the assembly from which the SO,00(1,000 of Germany and the hundred odd millions of Ilussia are Inexorably barred out—presumably as unfit for representation. Abyssinia Is not barred out. Abys sinia Is now taking Its part with France, Sweden. Britain and other great nations of the world—in what ever the league of nations 1* per mitted to do. Here is an account of the coming of Abyssinia, It must surely fill the citizens of the I'nlted States with envious admiration. Abyssinian Delegation. "The delegation consisted of two (Jark skinned native representatives, a French adviser. Count Robert Einant de Bellefonds, bearing a letter of au thorization from her majesty the queen of the kings of Ethiopia.” A few minor questions had to he settled by telegram between the queen's court and Geneva. Ethiopia renounced the slave trade and one or two other little domestic oddities by cable and on September 28 "amid re sounding cheers and impressive Ethio pian, clad in a black silk cape over a kind of surplice with white duck trousers gathered in at the ankles, slowly mounted the tribune, settling a pair of gold-rimmed glasses with much deliberation on ids swarthy nose, and proceeded to repeat an in comprehensible declaration in his na tive tongue”—of the best Intentions in the world. , The assembly presently proceeded to re elect the nonpermanent mem bers of the council. China was drop ping out—Poland, closest ally of Prance in Europe, was put forward. Abyssinia, now a seasoned member of upward of a week's standing, be came a passionate supporter of Po land. Cablegrams suddenly appear ed from the queen of kings, "intl niating that the government of these distant, dusky realms was In earnest In its support of Poland’s candidature, on account of historic ties which hound the two countries to one an other." Principle Wrong. "I wish I could have heard Count Robert de Bellefonds on these his toric ties I think that justifies my "preposterous" up to the hilt. 1 think, too, that it justifies the re iterated assertion that the constitu tion of the league is so hopeless, so childish, so diplomatically conceived and useless that nothing but reorgani sation from the ground upward can give us a proper organ for the ex pression of the real need and desire for unity In the world. Of course. Count Roberts l»d this tame vote for France into the ring partly in emulation, partly in derision of th* British troupe of young lion* with a domesticated Indian elephant* France scored a point against Britain, This league has come in four brief years. Any one but a pedant could have foretold this soft of thing the necessary fruit of the principle of one sovereign state, one vpte. I hope the full significance of th# Abyssinian turn has not been lost on the l,atin American states. It*, may help them to realize why Ibfiie should be this feeling in Spain and Italy against the league. Excellent reasons there are for set ting up some newr association for working out the expression of will of L-at.n civilization on the whole in the world's affairs It may help fhe*5r decision towards a creative with drawal. For the world is in urgent need of a real league of nations. % real conference of peoples—this cos tume parad* at Geneva is a m£r# mockery of its hopes. (Copyright. 11-3.) 1 Lasker Will Be Power Behind Hiram Johnson in 1924 Race ---. v*: Will Exert Tremendous Driving Force to Put Across Californian Chicagoan. Head of Huge Advertising Firm. Returns to Sen a tor's Fold After Aiding Harding Win Election—ff ill l rse Business Methods in Campaign. Ity MARK SII.LI VAN. The principal motive power behind V .if.'ji’e Hiram Johnson candidacy is Al ^* liert Lasker of ‘Chicago. It Is prob ably not too much to say that but for Lasker Johnson would not be in the race. As someone expressed it, Lasker is hack of Johnson "heart and soul, pOrsc and person.” Probably I-asker at this moment has no desire so close to his heart as to promote Johnson into the White House. And yet, for two years preceding lo t August, before the death of larding, Lasker had no earthly de ire so great as to keep Johnson out •f the White House. In his curious ontrast of desire there is the hint of dramatic story; and this hint of dramatic human interest is borne out by the details of the story. In the effort to express romplex e lation through the simple device, of .1/ familiar phrase—adevice too simple to be wholly accurate—politicians and ike newspaper men speak of Liskcr miscellaneously as the Colonel House • f Hiram Johnson, or his Mark Han na, or his Franklin W. Stearns. In the nature of things, all these desig nations cannot be true; for the rela tion of Mark Hanna to McKinley was not the same as the relation of Colonel House to Wilson; and the relation of Crank Stearns to Coolidge d.ffers from both. The relation of Lasker to Hiram Johnson has perhaps some of the na ture of the relation gf llanna to Mc Kinley. It has little of the relation of Colonel House to Wilson, for Sa^^X’olone) House Is by temperament, ns ^Tiir as possible front the whirling dy namo of energy that Lasker is. The story of the beginning of the association bet ween Johnson and Lasker has been told by the present writer In a previous article. To re tell it fcglefly, Lisker began his as sociation with Johnson's political for tunes—and this was simultaneous with Lasker's entrance into national politics—just a little less than four years ago. It was during the last tew weeks of Johnson's 1920 cam paign. during the weeks Immediately preceding the national convention of 1920. Johnson’s candidacy of that year had been struggling along on a shoe string of resources and mere shreds of organization. One way or another this limping candidacy of Johnson s came to the attention of Lasker', who then was and still is the head of the largest advertising firm In the world. Lord A Thomas of Chicago, and the possessor of a large fortune made out of this and allied business, t'p ty that time Lltsker had taken no more Interest-hi politics than most business men of tils type do. Tho situation of Johnson and his 1920 candidacy nmy readily have ap praled to Linker in the same way ns many of the business situations which he has taken up when they were llmp , lug and, by the Injection of his own. energy and dynamic, personality pushed them to Immense success. It has been Lasker's way to pick up businesses, like breakfast foods, soaps, otomoblles, automobile accessories— businesses which had fundamental merit but which were not going well because of some defect of organization or resources. It has been Lasker's way. as a business man. to take tip such a business situation and by pouflng prodigal energy Into It, carry I It to success. In some such spirit as this Lasker, businesses, like breakfas foods, soaps. In a chance moment, when he was not intent on business, noticed the Johnson candidacy of 1920, saw that there was more inherent strength In the then Johnson movement than ap peared on the surface and, by analogy (o his business experiences, deter mined to throw himself into It and see liow far he could go. What Lasker's motive was in mak ing this divatation into politics could could only lie said authoritatively hy some one who knows his mind better than arty outsider can. ltmayhave boeu a mere sense of adventure. It may have been that feeling that occasion ally come to successful business rnen —it frellng of stateness about money making. a slight fatigue with a game that lias become so familiar ns to be too easy; and tti*- wish to bring va riety into existence by trying some thing new. basher's Type Needed. Ii rnay have been sympathy with Johnson's views about the league ol nations. It may have been a mere wirh to take a hand in a bigger game, if It was this latter, neither La.titer nor ills friends need apologize. If more men of Lasker’s energy and resources would take a hand In poli tics. we should have that much more political education and popular Inter est in politics. Lasker jumped Into tile Johnson camp In the last few weeks of the latter's 1920 campaign, lie put Im mense energy into It and. between himself and friends whose interest he enlisted, undoubtedly a good ileal of money. (Among the friends whom Igisker interested was William Wrig Icy. Jr., the chewing gum man.) Hut it was too late to be effective. Johnson lost. The maximum number of dele gates he ever hail was IIS out of 9K7. liut, although Johnson had lost the nomination, Lasker did not lose his zest, for the big game. After Johnson hud Inst, after the prize had gone to Harding, and after campaign head quartern hnd been opened at Hard ing's home In Marlon, Lasker turned up there. What passed between lijm and Hacking can only be known by the two men. They had never met I) fore. There was a i j til cal surmise to the effect that Lasker undertook to deliver Johnson's loyalty to the ticket. This was, Sif course, merely a surmise. It was a fact that John ton. after Ills dcfeul, went to Cali fornia nifd for several weeks seemed ! to rulk In his tent, i; was a widely discussed question 1 whether Johnson would accept the verdict. In the Course of time It be pan to he said that Johnson was wail ing to see what Harding would say ubout ttie league of nations, inti mately, when Harding came out for mnlly against the league, Johnson camo east and gave public allegiance to the ticket. That was what really got Johnson's reluctant allegiance. Lasker could-not have delivered John son to Harding. Lasker had other ways of—to use a phrase current In Lasker's own business—"selling himself" to Hard ing. Hv whatever art he practiced —and also by qualities 111 Lasker's peiv-uiialily which Harding found cumulating and agreeable, Tasker, to use another expressive phrase, "made himself solid" with Harding. Tie spent a good deal of lime on or near the front porch and was extremely energetic. Ised Novel Ideas. lie advised things lo do and did them, such ns bringing a delegation of baseball players to pay their respect*. If anybody else advised something lo be done, Igtsker was the willing go getter w ho attended to the details. In short, laisrker made himself extremely useful to the re publytm headquarters. Also, he made himself extremely useful and agreeable to Harding personally— established a Iwsis of confidence and friendship with Harding that grew until it became one of the commonest subjects of gossip on the Msrlon front porch, continued in Washing ton, and only ended with Harding's death. Throughout the campaign T.asker was always on the Job. If lie wasn't on the front porch, he was on hi" way to Chicago. He was probably the most prodigally energetic person In the Harding campaign. As has been said before, I^tsker was the*nan who put both the "go" and the "get" in "go getters," Also he was the man who put the "ask" In I.asker. If any thing was needed T-asker foresaw the need before anybody else. And when he saw a need, I,asker'« way was to get on the long-distance telephone and have the thing, or the man, or whatever was the need, delivered tn Marlon by the quickest route the following morning. I.asker, In short, was a dynamo of practical effective ness, and It was In that role that he served Harding faithfully and well. After the election, Ijtsker’e friends asked Harding to put T,asker In the cabinet as secretary of commerce. Harding once told one of his friends that this appointment wag pressed on him moreftrongly than any other. At that time there was a good deal of talk to the erfeet that although Lasker had been a very late comer In the political situation, iy was show ing himself able to make progress to greater effect than Johnson himself. (Certainly I.asker cashed in to greater effect than that earlier supporter of Johnson's fortunes, voting Mr. Strass | burger of Pennsylvania.) Strasshurper never gi t any reward for what he had done other than what may have come from a satisfied conscience. This, incidentally. :s be lleved to he one of the reasons why Strasshurger Is not identified with Johnson's fortunes in the present campaign. Strasaburger i» said to have no stomach for the role of play ing second fiddle to I^asker, who is now the big man in the Johnson hack ing. gtrassburger. this year, is for Coolidge. After Harding wa« In the White House. 1 -askpr became the first friend of the president, became what much of Washington, with frank malice, called "the While Mouse p»f ' ICarly In his admmislration, Harding gave : l^asker tlie office of chairman of the shipping board. About the choice of fjvsker for this office, the writer has heard this story, and believes it to be true, although It may have, in addition to its essen tial truth, as many frills of ornamen tation as dramatic stories about puhik I events frequently have: The story is to the effect that Harding, having his heart in the mercantile marine, and l>»lng as well aware as everybody else was of the chaos in tbs shipping Uvard. was determined to get the best possible man la the country' for this | Joh His first choice was Mr. Teagle, the j head of the Standard Oi! com pany. The story is that Harding asked Mr. Teagle to lake the job. and that Teagle promised to take it. subject to i the condition that he must find some [one to succeed himself ss head of the 'standard Oil company. The story goes that Mr. Teagle asked an associate to take up the duties of president of the company. The latter appears to have consented rather unwillingly and only on the basis that his acceptance would enable Mr. Teagle to undertake an Important public service. The dramatic part of the story is that at the end of the conference be tween Mr. Teagle and the other man. Mr. Teagle put in a long-distance call for Washington. In order to tell Pres blent Harding that he would accept. While he was waiting for the call, ac cording to the story, the other man. in a moment of reflection upon the bur den of the duttes he had undertaken to take on as head of the Standard (.HI company, showed a revulsion against the burden of work and re sponsibility he saw ahead of him. so apparent that Mr. Teagle felt he could not put the burden on his friend; and Instead of telling President Harding he would arcept. told him he would not is* able to. It was after Mr Tea gle declined under these circumatan cea that Harding turned to !.ask*r ss the next t>est man. As to I^asker's administration of this office, a just estimate would have to any that no government servant ever worked harder. He threw Into it the prodigal energv the untiring expenditure of nervous vi tality that had made him in private business a rich man before he passed his early forties Possibly not all tbc energy was wisely directed, but the will and the vitality were there, and he wits recklessly generous with them. However, any adequate ac count of those two years on the ship ping board would make an article in itaelf. But lAtker was to Harding much more than merely official head of the shipping board. Isiaker was always In and out of the White -Houses. He was always attending to somethin* for ltfu-dlng—always thinking of something 1h.it Harding would like to have done, and doing II. always Hustling about to do something about which Harming had expressed a wish About lids tntlmac* between Hard ing and Isisker. Washington at times huxied with gossip, much of it acute tv unfriendly to tjisker 1-flsker was held accountable for things he had never Initiated or adv ised. Hasker * relation to Harding was much more that of a loyal friend than regent In public affairs About this personal relation between I.askcr and Harding the most accurate picture the present wmer lias ever seen appeared In The I Nation some months ago from the 1 pen of William Hard. From It the following detached sentences arc taken; I onip.inioii of President. •Mr. 1 weaker came into republican rational politics in the year 1*.i-tt with wealth, amusing conversation intense v ttalltj s habit of playing golf, an tiuhnntlon to play bridge a rapacity for remembering stories and a talent for telling them, an aversion the league of nationa ... a busme-A Judgment not so statist.cal as Mr. Hoover's, a personal 'harm not so austere as Mr. Hughes, a profound interest and enjoyment in sitting up and l<elng- conipan-orable long after Mr. Hoover and .Mr. Hughes had re tired v> their studies—and there we areT" YR” thygtrry Would be t? such a man did not become an Intimate of the president's. . . . Mr. Lasker has lived through his time in Wash ington not as lobbyist and not as po litician. but as gi-nd companion, faith ful friend, trusted colleague and con '-••ientious and enthusiastic defender of the presidential Impulses and pur pose* A Icyal and compelling per sonality and an acute and vehement Li.-ines* intelligence—these have been Mr. Lasker s virtues, not without pro ducing in him a certain tincture of corresponding defects." Klsewhere in this same article. Mr* Hard characterized I Asker'a vivid per sonality in these words: “Lasker's impetuous crowded words, which come so fast that they seem to escape coming in sequence and seem to arrive abreast: his rapid pauses, during which by a series of abrupt wordless ejaculations he seems to try to clear the crossing for a new traffic jam of further rushing words; hia glowing physical good humor; hia amazing insight into commerce; . . „ his buoyant conviction that everybody should make his own way in tha world: his absolutely consistent con viction that the inheritance tax should l>e placed so drastically high that tha sons of rich fathers would be coerced Into making their own wav in tha world: his instant sincere sympathies; his prompt sincere dislikes, hia ab surd emotionality over the peraonal encounters in that cold blooded cheas gam*, politic*." Johnson for 1 Asker Bill. Here then, was this curious a-tu* tion. From having been the chief backer of Johnson. lAsker became the principal friend of Harding. La ker and Johnson continued to h* friendly, and Johnson supported Lea ker'* ship subsidy bill- Nevertheless, at this time. lASker's primary loyal ty was to Harding He would have walked on his hands and knees to San Francisco and hack to get Hard ing renominated—although, necea sarliy that meant that he would have done anything he could to prevent Jobs-on from contesting against Hard ing. In fact, Johnson would not have contested against Harding: and tha chief reason he wvmld have re frained was the fact that he cot)Id not have the support of Lisker whose relation to his political for tunes was nowe or less inu.spt usable Then Harding died For Lisker *n< John*- n. that utterly changed ths Whole political map. Overnight, Lv# her. front having had no w.vh so great as to keep Johnson out of the White I House, immediately had, and new liss. no wish so great a* to grt John j son :n,,> the White House, laakei immediately went back to his oh loyalty of 1^S0. He again enlisted bla friend. William Wrlgley. Jr., ant other friend* of personal power anf resource*. Lasker today i* busy every minim pushing forward Johnson * fortunes Arid w hen I Asker is busy, he is very very busy. He Is in the background but the country will see h s work | A1 o, i\hiI id ire's frit da w ill see and 1M v e reason to !>e concern** about It. laske-r is far more re jsourctfu! more ferule than anvhod’ I in the t'oolidge camp—’.tore quick because of hi* advertising and pub llclty experience, to see and *c’..< psychological moments A! ready fr« in time to lime, we hear rumor* of formidable move* emanating frwt lAsker. Some ,»f the*.- rumor* h*v« to do with the acquisition of r.evve impel * In (rnit. iv impel taM to :h« .lohaaca t>up«i. Omaha Man Owns Bound Volumes of Old Almanacs Printed in the Year 1817 Old almanacs that date lsirk to the year 1817 have been found In Omaha. They are the property of Harley Oon ani of the Conant Hotel company and were given to Mr. Conant In 1895 by hi* mother, who received them from her father, .V. B. Butterson. Th'*y came down through genera tions from Hannah Ilatterson, great grandmother of Harley Conant. To preserve the old almanacs which were printed n Irousiana. Albany, N. Y.. and New York city. Mr. Conant has hail them bound In two volumes. The volumes Include the years 1817 to 1*28 nnd 1830 to 1851. Transportation of more than 100 \ ears ago Is descrllied in these old looks. There la a time table for packet boats that left every AVednes , clay from New York city and front Albany. These Itoats are described as being handsomely fitted up for passengers and freight. Tbs Hudson river steamboats nam ed Paragon. Car of Neptune, and Richmond,' made four trips each week in 1816. It cost 6 cents lo send a letter which ’constated of one piece* of paper not over 30 miles A letter to be sent not over 80 miles cost 10 cents. "Letters going out of the United Htntes must be paid for when lodged in the postoffice,” Is the notice posted. Comical poems, maxims and re marks of the wise fellows of the day are In pale prinl on the yellow pages of the 'old books. Kven endurance ‘dance test are recorded. Politics were given a rap In the following poem found In a New York ,almanac of 1819: A ”1 caught a congressman, by dint > of double compensation: A lawyer, on promotion bent. By timely nomination: These lawyers are, though oft you wish (No thunks fort) Satan had 'em, The most unprofitable fish of all the sons of Adam.” Advice to dairy maids Is given nnd school hooks, ciullls. Ink powders nnd wafers for sealing letters advertised. In 1825, a Christian almanac pub lished a list of mission* abroad nnd al home. The mission among the Cherokee Indians was al Bralnerd In Tennessee, 150 miles southeast of Nashville. The mission among the Choctaw Indians was at Klllott sta tion In Mississippi. Thirteen stations worn reported among the Indians In 1810. where 5on Indian children re ed Yeti Instruction. Another almanac has Its page* fill oil with th» harm of drunkenness. Temperance societies were urged. .Sketches of loathsome men with hot ties In hand, wive* .on their knees begging for mercy nnd s drunken ' n" In a tavern are In lids almanac. Love and courage are said lo at ways bring their own rewartl Basil King has written another novel on this theme ' The Happy isles" tlli*r pet's). New Books to Meet Tastes of Every Kind Donn Rvrn# made hi* mark with "Messer Marco Polo" and "The Wind Rloweth." His fullslxed hook of short stories "Changeling and Other .Stories" (Century), agnln exhibits his wonderful powers a a an artist and creator of character. These are good rending. “The Alabaster Rox" (Harpers), by •Tames lame Allen, Is the short story of a man who dared practice with his fellow nien the whole of the virtue that was In him. Mr. Allen has long been one of the master* of American literature. Mis* Maude Hoyden hits a message for everyone In her latest collection of addresses. "Renuty In Religion" (Putnams). The meaning of beauty In religion, ami Its relationships with Christian doctrine are discussed with clarity and force by this llnglish woman prtu her who spoke l ist year In Omaha. The great success of "If Winter Comes" hasg(nIerested many persona In Its author, A ft M Hutchinson. \ hook of hi* short stories. "The Mighth Wonder and Other .Stor es," has recently been published by l.ltMc Drown & On These are widely varied In theme and manner, and depict an other aspect of the versltlllly of their gifted writer. Hardly a day passe* but what some one remarks that we can't change human nature and that therefore ll Is futile to discuss far reaching re form. Mr. Harold Row nt tec's "Cluing Ing Human Nature" (Stratford) Is « critical examination of lust this sort of argument. His i toc lii ion l«*!hal human nature has been i bonding ever since man tierumc man. and (bat our desires ant needs cun modify out nature He points out several direr lions in which hi expects prngt<** "Lazy Laughter," by Woodward i Mysteries Unraveled by Craig Kennedy Headers of detective stories know Arthur H. Keeve. writer of baffling mystery stories. and they are familiar with Craig Kennedy, whose adven tures ns a scientific defective have given Mr. Keeve a front place ns s creator of this class of fiction. “Craig Kennedy Listens In." is the titlo of a scries of new stories by Mr. Keeve, published by Harper nnd Brothers. These stories are: "The Wireless Phantom. " "Burled Alive!" "The Brass Key,” "The Boulevard ,.f Punk." "The Soul Merchant,” am! Buccaneera of Booe.'* It would really be auptrfkui* to attempt to re view these clever yarns which run the .mut of radio to ectoplasm ,s*le 1 ntum cell* to suspended animation, phantoms. forged finger prints, hootch and the weed of madness. As detective stories. they are worth while. )!idi slot•> has n punch of It* own. Boyd (Scribner’s!. Is a study, prlmar ily, of feminine i hnracter. Mis* Loyd tell* her story well. Frederick .1 Slimson’s * The Amer lean Constituth ti ns It Protects Pri vate K ghts" (Scribner's! is m popu lar exposition of the traditional view of our organic law Thl* volume, largely rewritten from an earlier l ook, points out the many safeguards the constitution gives to proporty light* and individual liberty. Prof. Bliss l'cirv has a high place among our hterary essayists 111* recent group of paper*. "The Praise i of Polly" tHoughton Mifflin), are In I hi* usual manner A good gift to h | friend Interested in literature Sir Philip Bibbs has bad an un ( • itininonly luige numlMpr of adventure* in 11i* journalistic career. Hi* "Ad ventin'* In Journalism” (Harpers) is hntii enteriaininu and Instructive III* mcatest ' scoop'* was Ids flint report 1 on Dr. Cook when the latter returned , 1 o£> .foy V. Corymb. | from hi* polar expedition. In that story Sir Philip, who was the ftrst Knglish newspaper mnn to meet the American, doubted the entire tale of Cook. The description of that ex citing and luc ky time In Copenhagen --the chapter "Ilow l Kx posed Dr. Cook'* Polar Fraud' Is a memoir to (iihhs' pluck and energy. There are other notable Incident*, many fine character sketches, some of the '‘in side story" of wsi front correspond once, n» well a* a reproduction of the atmosphere of Fleet street—jour nalism’a own row in London. A splendid 1*0!lection «*f abort stories ha* recently been published by Apple ton'* ".11 Stories. b> Thirty and One Authors ' edited by Krtlest Rhys and C. A. I >a\\son Sc ott. The best of Brt sh talent is represented. On* is aui's «*f plenty of adventure and romance u» any novel of Ralph Connor’s and 111* latest work. "The Caspurds of Pine Croft* il>oran). shows that his nR ill has not a Rated. Paul Onspcirri struggle* against o\crwhi lining temptation. but he triumph*, a* Indeed we expert bill! to Lanpanl is a fine creation, and front hU struggles Ralph Connoi ttlic Rev \li Charles Cordon) secures s heartening message.