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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 1924)
The Morning Bee M O R N I N G—E V E N I N G—S U N D A Y THE BEE PUBLISHING CO., Publisher N. B. UPDIKE, President ■ALLARD DUNN, JOY M. HACKLER, r Editor In Chief Business Mgr. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Associated Press, of which The Bee is a member, is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper, and also the local news published herein. All rights of republication of our special dispatches are also reserved. The Omaha Bee is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the recognised authority on circulations audits, and The Omaha Bee's circulation is regularly audited by their organisations. BEE TELEPHONES Private Branch Exchange. Ask for ATI a" inon the Department or Person Wanted. * lAIllIC 1UUU OFFICES Main Office—17th and Farnam Council Bluffs—15 Scott St. Nsw York—World Bldg. Chicago—-Tribune Bldg. St. Louis—Syndi. Tru*t Bid*. San Francisco—Holl'rook lildg. So. Side, N. W. Cor. 24th and N. Detroit—Ford Bldg. Kansas City—Bryant Bldg. Los Angeles—Higgins Bldg. Atlanta—Atlanta Trust Bldg. FINDING THINGS IN OMAHA. Noting that Omaha detectives recently arrested some parties who had been passing counterfeit dol lar*, the York Daily News-Times remarks that “al ways something to be found in Omaha.” The statement is absolutely true, but the unfor tunate fact is that there are so many people who are so constituted mentally that they are always looking for the bad, thereby rendering themselves unable to see the good. There is much of bad in Omaha, to be sure, but not more than may be found among an equal number of people elsewhere, whether they be congested in small space or scattered through numerous small communities. But there is so much of good in this great city that one may find much more delight in looking for it than one can in look ing for the bad. For instance, Omaha’s percentage of home owners, in proportion to population, is perhaps greater than any other city of its size in the country. No city of Omaha’s size in all the country has a larger park area or spends more money per capita in keeping them in proper shape for the people to enjoy. Oma ha’s school plant is not excelled by that of any city of equal size in all the world, nor has any city any where a better conducted public school system. It is safe to say that Omaha has more churches per 1,000 of population than other cities of equal or greater siae. Equally safe to say no other city in America haa pulpit orators of greatf? ability or greater sin cerity. Omaha has a splendid boulevard system built for the benefit of its citizens and its guests. Its fire de partment is a model of efficiency, and despite out state rumors to the contrary its police department will rank up with the best in the country in point of morale and efficiency. Too often all these good points about Nebraska’s metropolis are overlooked by people who seem bent on searching only for the bad or peeking around to find something to criticize or denounce. Omaha asks no especial favors, but it is wholly within its rights when it asks that it be judged by its good things, and not judged by its bad things. It claims to main tain a pretty high average of civic decency and right eousness, and while not boasting of superiority in good things and disclaiming any intent to advertise wickedness, it is quite willing to at any time be judged along with its equals in population and wealth. I PAINTERS, PAINTINGS AND CRITICS. “Who shall decide when doctors disagree?" Omaha is being mildly entertained just now by the criticisms visited on the portrait of Willa Cather, executed by Leon Bakst. Some insist that the verb "executed” is the correct one, save that the execu tion was not carried out exactly as they could wish. Professing no virtuosity in criticism of any of the seven arts, we timidly venture some suggestions that may assist those who are just now troubled in soul because of the alleged deficiencies of the paint ing. Let us consider the variations and imperfec tions of the human eye. Oculists tell'us no two are exactly alike. Alienists assert that no two brains are the same in all respects, and psychologists long ago discovered that in certain essentials bodies differ one from the other in composition and in method of functioning. Allow for these individual variations, and what do we get? Room for honest difference of opinion. Consider also the fact that Bakst is of that peculiar race that defies classification. One generalization commonly used is that the Russian is somewhere between the ancient Greek and the Turk, and this means he is oriental, if anything. Bakst has shown us designs that are magnificent in their massing of gorgeous colors; he has envisioned combinations that appear riotous to western eyes, yet entirely harmonious to his. May he not have had a glimpse of Willa Cather none other has yet caught? Finally, Miss Cather selected him, sat for him, and must have noted the progress of the picture as it developed under the painter’s strokes. If she is content that it be displayed to her honor in the Omaha gallery, and apparently she is, why all the fnaa? The dispute will probably go on, world without end, until “the oldest color has faded, and the young eat critic has died.” We all would have some com fort in the knowledge that a Nebraska painter had been asked to perpetuate for us the lineaments of a Nebraska writer, hut the latter willed it not so, and the rest of the chapter might be left unwritten with no especial loss to art or liternture. TALE TOLD BY A BANQUET. Farmers of Union county, Oregon, have just treated themselves to an object lesson. They served a banquet, the food provided by themselves and served hy themselves. After it was all over, a com putation was made, showing that the cost was 16 cents per plate, calculated on a basis of farm price for the provisions and the labor cost of preparing the same. A similar menu served at a Portland ho tel would have cost $1.55 per plate. The difference, $1.39, is set out ns an interest ing illustration of how costs grow between the farm and the city table. At first glance it is impressive, but a little examination may give another view. To begin with, Union county is in the extreme eastern part of Oregon, and Portland is in the western. About 300 miles of distance separate the two. Over this the food would have been carried, crossing one very high mountain range on the way. Out of the freight rates would have come wages for engineers, firemen, brakemen, conductors, telegraph operators, section hands, station agents and others. Then the farmer would have had to pay something for his cost of hauling from the farm to the station. In Portland the food would have been delivered at a commission house, and then to the hotel. Two transportation costs would have to be met here, and the commission man's fee. When served at the ho tel, the wages of the chef, the waiter, the dish washer, and several other necessary members of the staff would have to be added. Then the cost of napery, lights, tableware, and a few incidental items, not esteemed in the country, but used in the city, must be counted. Giving every item its due and proper weight, the $1.39 does not look so big. Our general life is no longer so simple, and the complexity adds to the cost. MAGIC IN A SENATOR’S MITTS. Biologist*, psychologists, neurologists and con chologists all give great weight to environment in any problem they have to solve. Every now and then something crops up to convince the ordinary run of mortals that the scientists are right. Right now the Iowa legislature affords additional proof in support of the proposition. Davis county, Iowa, has long been noted for its remarkable men. Whether it be Hacklebarney, the Hairy Nation, Soap Creek, or any of the other locally famous subdivisions, the bailiwick is a producer. It gave the state John A. T. Hull, lieutenant governor and afterward congressman; it gave the nation James B. Weaver, congressman and greenback leader, and named first candidate for president of the populist party; out of Davis county came Timo thy 0. Walker, democrat and raconteur, whose ready wit still adorns many good anecdotes, and the echoes of whose big voice still lurk in the cavernous cor ridors of the capitol at Washington, where he served as reading clerk for the house; to the journalistic world it gave W'ill Vanbenthuysen, loved by all who knew him, and to the printing craft Moxy Mon- , heimer, who could set type by hand faster than any other man who ever lived. * Now Davis county is to the front again, with John Ethell, state senator, who filled in a day with a showing of thaumaturgic stunts that bewildered all beholders. Another Ethell who came from the same county was Henry, who built an enduring name for himself as country editor, when he also had to develop magic in order to meet the weekly pay roll. Perhaps the sleight-of-hand displayed by Senator Ethell may clear up some of the mystery that sur rounds the doings of the Iowa state senate. Won dering constituents may see therein an explanation of what becomes of some of the measures that enter that body and never emerge. ANDREW JACKSON, REAL AMERICAN. One act of President Coolidge during the week occasioned quite a little lifting of eyebrows in Wash ington. The president on Tuesday placed a wreath at the base of the “rocking horse” statue of Old Hickory, commemorating the great victory at New Orleans on January 8, 1815. No republican presi dent ever before did this, wherefore the gossip. Andrew Jackson was the first president of the United States to be actually the people’s choice. Ho was opposed by a powerful machine, by press, pul pit, commerce and finance, all the organized power of the nation as it then existed, but the masses rallied behind him, and he began eight years of office thnt were continually contests between him and Influen tial men. Clay, Calhoun, Webster and other, giants of the time opposed Jackson. He broke the "suc cession,” by which the president named his successor through making him secretary of state; he disestab lished the office-holding class, that was already a menace and growing in its potential danger. Several of those who were removed from office, and over whom greatest clamor was raised, turned out to be defaulters or embezzlers. Some fled the country to- escape prison. Intrigues in his cabinet and in congress distress ed and embarrassed Jackson, but through it all he steered a straight course, and in the end he vindi cated government of the people, for the people and by the people. I A republican president does well to lay a wreath to the memory of this great man. Jackson’* name brightens as years go on, and he ia valued more and more as he is better understood. A century haa cleared away muefy of the cloud that shrouded his real service,' and he ia getting a belated but deserved appreciation from his country. A few weeks ago Governor Pinchot was grumbling because President Coolidge was not active enough in enforcing the prohibitory laws. The Marine corps officer loaned the Pennsylvania municipality seems to have made a pretty good start in the front yard of Governor Pinchot’s commonwealth. The Department of Agriculture is just out with a statement as to the number of farmers who lost money in land speculation in 1920. Why rub it in —they know it well enough without being told. The Salt Lake Tribune devotes a column of space to an editorial discussion of “Investments in Chile.” We’ve been making a lot of investments like that during the last few days. James Middleton Cox still is engaged in flaying •he administration. It will take him a long time to 'orget what the voters did back in 1920. That waa tome flagellation. The first candidate for city commissioner to come jut into the open declares himself to be a progres live. They all will be until after election, then ve shall see. Charley Dawes has landed in France and we’d have given a pretty penny to have heard what he said when some Frenchman kissed him on both cheeks. ‘‘German finances begin to look up,” shrieks a headline. They’ll have to look a long ways up be fore catching a glimpse of the rim of the hole. * When the reparations commission meets our guess is that the cussing will be well under way be fore the discussion get started. ' Wo gather from what we hear that Hiram John son’s peace plan was not even considered by the Bok jury of award. Why waste so much time? To get a mental wasp of what Hiram opposes just ascertain what Calvin advocates. ... ■■ -... - ■ i.- - Right now the campaign managers are all funda mentalists, with the accent on the fund. Homespun Verse —By Omaha's Own Port— Robert Worthington Davie. DOING HIS DUTY. If he trudges aheiyl In the usual way. And raises Ills chickens and harvests his hav, And keeps down his weeds In his acres of grain Ami always looks out for the season of rain - Ills life won't I is given to naught, even though He doesn't save up an abundanee of "dough." If home Is his castle, his haven and shrine. His gonl Is exalted and humbly divine, And If he is honest and ev«t|- tho same, And lakes what Is given but sticks to the gsme In sunshine or shadow does sll thRt hs run— The world, with due merit, will call him a man If he's good to his children and true to his wife. And struggles to give them the pleasures of life, If he s kind and congenlnl to others, end lives For the sunshine he gels and I he smiles he gives He won't need lo feel, as he waits for the end. The want of a neighbor or lover or friend “The People's Voice" Editorials from reader* of The Morn* ing Bee. Header* of The Morning Bee are Invited to use this column freely for expression on matters of public Interest. Wholesome Fun for Youth. Council Bluffs, lu.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: I don't mean to do all the talking hut things come up In "The Voice of the People" that simply make one want to take a stand. I wrote In an article not long ago and signed "The Mother of Three Healthy Americun Youngsters,” but I must put In my say again, if I may. 1 don't know when I have read any thing In the papers about the soclul activities of the community that seemed as sane and broad to mo as did the account of the New Year's party the two "Ys" put on. It had such a joy flllod, clean tono to It. When such good times are planned and carried out by such places as tho two "Y's" It will do more to draw young people away from the dance halls where we don't want them than all the preachers' sermons and police chaperons that can Ik* produced. It is human nature for the younger set and many of the older set (myself being 30—or thereabouts) to seek amusement and recreation and what could be sweeter, cleaner and more fun than a party as was had at the "Y" New Year's. Please. Mr. Minister, who made that strong assertion in this column not long ago, about the men who dance not having clean thoughts? Please don't put such thoughts before the minds of a crowd of young Americans such as must have gathered Into the good “Y” New Year's eve. Girls and hoys who frequent dance halls and places we "righteous ones” would have them avoid, many times are there because they know of no other place to go. where they can dance and enjoy their youth. Of all the missionaries I know of, none are doing more work than the “Y” are In producing the right kind of pleasure resorts among the clean minded, as are at the “Ys.” The error of dancing comes In the mind of the dancer, not In the danc ing, and not all dancers have unclean minds, for many clean minded men and women like to dance. Why ask or take advice from some one who has had no experience? When we think we need a doctor we don't call In a blacksmith or when we need a plumb er we don't call In an occullst. So why not get our advice from some one who has had experience and should know what lie is talking about? A Jack-of-all-trades isn’t usually com petent in any certain one. It Isn't possible for one to make a specialty of one thing and be an expert in very many other lines. Why, If dancing is so corrupt, was It provided for our soldiers at the comps during the war, when we want ed to keep our young manhood In the best possible trim? My brother was a "hut secretary" at Brest and he has often told me about the army dances and how they were looked forward to. If the good In dancing was 'lauded more, os for the exercise and harmony (of which many of us need much more) Instead of emphasizing the error, which Isn’t In dancing but In some minds, the wrong In dancing (as In everything else) would soon be done away with. Those who feel and think about dancing as this minister does should surely avoid It. He hasn't the right kind of thoughts to dance rightly. T fear some people who are endowed with the authority to try to show the rest of us the "straight and narrow way" are not broadminded enough to reach the very ones who need It most. Stop emphasizing error and Im press the good of things more strong ly and error will cease to exist. That which Is not cultivated will dwindle away. The more you stir the earth at the roots of a weed the more de termined that weed is to grow. SINCERE BELIEVER IN ALL THINGS GOOD. Opposes Joining league. Bayard. Neb.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: I am glad to see Dr. W, M. Ward and Arthur Brisbane uphold the independence of the United States of America. I hope, after the lesson we Just had. we will avoid placing our rights where any other country or countries can de mand our people or our money. I believe we are. and always will be, capable of knowing, how. when and where to make use of either or both for the benefit of humanity. If they can not maintain peace among themselves, the most and best we can do Is to stand ready to aid the wronged In our own way as we se* fit and can afford to do. There Is nothing we can sign with them but what places us in the •hailow of the league of nations. E. PINSKE. The 12-Hnur Day. Omaha—To the Editor of The Oma ha Bee: I have read the article In tha "People's Voice" column, written by Clarence Re<km*yer of Fremont, Neb , regarding his invest igatlnn of the 12 hours per day worked by Union Pacific watchmen, and the result of his findings. Could anything lie more heartrending to fhe human race than the report of his investigation, and to hand to the public eye a state ment of this poor old crossing watch man, that he la satisfied with the 12 hour day. If you could take this old watchman into a secret chamber and aak him In confidence regarding the 12-hour day, he would tell you that there was nothing to the life of a man who works 12 hours per day. Mr. Reckmeyrr's Investigation of the conditions of the Union Pacific watchmen Is like that of the other writer, Mr. Wlntersteen. a watchman for the Union Pacific, who wrote that his coworkers were all satlslled with their working conditions. I do not know any of the watchmen working on the ITnlnn Pacific, hut 1 have heard that they are n good hunch of men and work hard and hate the confidence of the company, A UNION WORKER. The Good and find of Ravenna. Ravenna. Neb. To the Kdltor of The Omaha Bee: T have been reading In The Bee the different opinion* of Horn# of the people of till* town. 1 find there fe quite a difference In opin ion. I will give you mine. I T have lived In Ravenna a good many years. In fact I was here before there wns any town nt all Working condition* of the town are unsatisfac tory. I believe that the work should be given to the man that has that trade: The bricklaying to a bricklay er, carpentering to a » nrpentrr. phis terlny to a plantem decorating to a decorator, pa I n t lb g to a painter, etc., and not to a retired fanner because he ran do It for so much less money thsn a working man can keep his fam lly on. The niechnnhnl laborer Is the one that keeps up the merchant; If It was not for him I he merchant would have to go otjt of business A mechanic sees nn Injustice as quick as anybody else and If the merchant doesn't pal ronlze him, h«»w can the merchant ex pert to he patronized by him? That N what keeps the mall order houses go Ing. Ami when the merchants in Ibi vennn wake up to that fact they will have a better town for evei Vone. We have a large mill and a large ■ creamery, but as far a* W.Jng a good ! LISTENING IN On the Nebraska Press The (leneva Signal announces that It is defending only the 10-day provi sion of the eugenic marriage law. and wants its criticizing contemporaries to stick to the text. * s • The Orand Island Independent Is quite sure that there will be a battle over the winning plan of the American peace award. • • • Tlie Holdrege Progress insists that it costs money to produce a newspa per, the opinion of the average politi cian to the contrary. Therefore the Progress notifies those seeking favors "must come prepared to pay the reg ular advertising rates," • • * "if patriotism demands that men should risk life and limb in the ser vice of their country for principle, then apply the same rule to those who contributed money and material." de mands the North Platte Farmer-Labor Herald. "Until this Is done all talk about ex service men being lacking in public spirit in demanding a bonus is merest bunk and hypocrisy." A. E. Clark, formerly a publisher at Gordon und later at Heottsbluff, has purchased the Alliance News of Frank Broome. • • • The Sidney Telegraph boasts that the Burlington has promised Sidney a real depot during 1924. • • « " 'One good turn deserves another,’ but it will not start the flivver these mornings" mourns the Tecumseh Chieftan. • * * The Wallace Winner has just en tered upon Its 16th year, feeling pretty well, thank you. • • • The Pierce Call Insists that It Is high time for Edgar Howard to begin collecting those debts Europe owes us, and which he talked so much about a couple of years ago. • * * Speaking of weather stunts. Bob Rice of the Central City Republican declares that Nebraska weather can go from high to low and hack again to high without passing through In termediate. • • • Editor Gardner of the Elgin Review has been figuring and finds that 15 years ago wheat was 86 cents and flour $1.35 per 50-pound sack. Now wheat Is 80 rents and the same sized sack of flour $1.95. Fifteen years ago the difference was 47 centa; now It Is $1.15. The Review man refuses to attempt to explain why, but offers space to any reader who thinks he can do a good Job of It. • • • Editor Botkin of the Gothenburg Independent has it all figured out. He Is In favor of giving the candidates all the rope they want at the start, so that most of them will hang them selves early in the game, thereby mak ing it easier to make choice when the primaries roll around. • • • The Wayne Democrat wonders If there Is a prohibitive license on bob sleds. It hasn't seen one since the fine sleedlng snow came down. ' A woman think* more about the price of a hat than she doe* about It* beauty." declare* that confirmed old bachelor. Adam Breede. In the Hast ing* Tribune. • • • % ‘ Try working instead of wondering" advises Ed Curran of the Greeley Cit izen. • • • The Silver Creek Sand quotes s local man as saying that one advan tage about being married Is that only the wife's thumb gets Into the soup. see The plant of the Wiener Chronicle was totally destroyed by fire, entail ing a loss of 110,000. Editor C. C. Charles has the sympathy of the breth ren. • e • ‘‘The trouble with a lot of these hlfaltltln’ weddings.” sagely observes the I,eigh World, "Is that they don't last long." • • • Noting that an Omaha landlord dropped dead while collecting rent, the Nellgh Leader wants to know If it was because the tenant paid up with out kicking or because he didn't ask for a lot of repairs. • • • “Whenever a public officer begins to allow others to dictate the way the office should he run. It Is a sure sign that there is a weakness which need* watching." says the Blair Enterprise. • • • The Fremont Tribune man admits that when he first glanced at the head line on that story about the perfect rib roast, he thought It was going to he another wise crack about the origin of woman. • • • Something like 3S3 Nebraska ex changes referred to the fact that Sat urday. January 13. was the 38th anni versary of the big Nebraska blizzard. Wonder how many newspaper men now active in the Nebraska fold were In th* business In Nebraska then. thlnR for the people of Ravenn*. T can't see It. We can ro to other town* and buy Ravenna flour cheaper than we can buy It at home. On the other hand, they pay more for cream ■ hipped in than they pay at the cream ery or home alatlona. Thla has a ten dency to drive trade away from town rather than to hrlnK It, for if they haul their cream to other towns that pay more, they also trade there. Now. If anyone can tell nte why there thlnRs are happenlnR In Raven na right along I would like to hear from him—ami why. As far ns the morals of Ravenna are concerned, 1 think they will rnm pare favorably with those of any town of Its size in the state or other states. r. A. LAMB. The Theological Forum. Omaha.—To the Kdltor of The Omaha Bee In a recent letter Mr. I<oomla of Gibbona, Neb., cites the first chapter of Matthew to disprove the virgin birth of Christ. Matthew 1 IS saya: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. When, us Itis mother. M arv. was espoused to Jo seph. before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy <»host (vttn 'Then Joseph, tier htis hand. being n just vnnn and not will ing to make h^r a public example. whs minded to put her away privily.” \ :2b); "Hut while hr thought on these thing*, behold, (he angel of the l.out nppeared unto him In h dream, saying. ’Joseph thou son of Iktvld. fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which Is con eelvfd In her Is of tho Holy Ghost.*” Kverv h ssertlop and deduction claimed by Mr ljoomla Is flatly eon tradh ted bv this same first chapter of Matthew' that he quotes. Is It pos sible for hii Intelligent man to hon estly take such a position’’ The first ehapter of I.uke goes Into this mat ter with even more detail. To deny the virgin birth simply means to deny the Gospels and leave the Christian religion without nnv foundation. That Is the real aim of the modernist, to re dues religion to a mere philosophy H J Wool mi T C. “From State and Nation” —Editorials from Other Newspapers— Indiscretion After Ninety. From the New Tork Herald. The hospitable Theodore G. North rup, whose invited guests failed to turn up to share his 95th birthday dinner on Christmas day. expected too much from these 10 nonagenar ians. When he on Tuesday called up the homes in which they lived it was explained to him that they had over done the Christmas eve festivities and were unfit to go forth and conquer new worlds of turkey and pumpkin pie. That is the old story of Impulsive youth at the holiday time, whether the age of the celebrator be 9 or 98. The temptations of Christmas eve are not to he resisted. Candy, oranges and popcorn lure boys and girls from the temperate path. Their appetites tell them that, no matter what they do. they will he In trim for Christmas dinner. The whispers of experience are In vain. Mr. N'orthrup's oldest in vited guest, aged 98. probably ate one eookle too much. Mr. Northrup was disappointed over the nonarrival of his guests. "Amer ica." he says, "needs some young men and women of 90 or over." it has some and Mr. Northrup will find them. Two were honored guests at a ban quet in Los Angeles the other night —former Senator Cornelius Cole, aged 101, and Lewis B. Heed, aged 100. They doubtless had a wild time on Christmas eve. hut they waited 48 hours before plunging again Into heavy dining. Perhaps, unlike Mr. Northrup s non agenarians, Cole and lleed have learned from experience. It may be that true wisdom comes only after the hundredth birthday. .Startling Figures. From the Sioux l-'aux orrxw. In the tax alarm pamphlet issued by the national industrial council, the statistics presented certainly furnish food for serious reflection. No one can study the history of taxation expansion In this country without realizing that the people have been Inexcusably lax In permitting public agencies to keep on reaching for larger and larger proportions of the fruits of general toll. The glib excuses ever available for such ex pansions should not have been al lowed to overcome ordinary consid erations of business sense. In at tempting to finance out of the public treasury every fool fad backed by a few aggressive spirits, merely be cause politicians haven't the courage to say "no," a tendency has devel oped which can be checked only by an aggressive stand on the part of the general electorate. According to figures presented by the industrial council, the total ex penditures for all government pur poses in the United Slates were It.773.186.000 in 1903 and had in creased to 39 373.595.000 In 1921—an Increase of 430 per cent. Part of this increase Is traceable to the late war, but the excuse of war expenses also wa* utilized for an abnormal expan sion of ordinary political wastage. The population increase for the same 18-year period was 33 per cent. "This increase." the council points out. "represents the additional sum which has been taken from the yearly earnings of the nation's population and It has reduced by that much the amount which ran now he applied to the individual needs of the people themselves A very substantial por tion of the increase has resulted from the exercise of functions by govern ment agencies not properly within the scope of essential public activi ties." During the 18-year period cited, taxes for the support of the federal government increased 750 per cent: for the supnort of state governments. 400 per cent: for the sunport of mu nicipal governments. 500 per cent. The council estimates that prospect* are poor for any substantial reduc tions in the federal budget and urge* taxpayers to f'ght for relief through the lowering of state and local taxes. It sounds easy except for the realiza tion that the enormous increases have taken place In the face of clear cut popular opposition. When on* can't even stop anything, it's dlffi cut to set it going the other wav. The listed government expenditure* of 19.373.595.000 for the year 1921. by the wav. are more than the total cron production on the farms of the United States for 1923. A recent re nort of the federal Department of Agriculture estimated the ‘otal cron production for 1923 at 39 322 003.000 The Increased cron production in thla country has lust about kent pace with the population increase, but scarcely stands as an "also ran" In comoarlson with the taxation In crease It's high ‘tine fo eliminate alibi* and hold public official* to strict ac count on the records. The''ll take the hint In time if mter* keep on nutting the skids under those who rate "pie" a* more important than econemy Some Pointer* on Oil. from th« Kansas City Tlnp-z. Those who are planning a little flyer in oil acme time Boon might, with profit, look over a speech by K. W. Marland, president of the Marland Oil company, at the American Petroleum Institute. In 8t. Louis recently. Mr. Marland told of the hazards of find ing and producing crude oil. lie em phasized. of course, that the oil In dustry Is essential, that It plays a large part In modern life and that money has been nside In oil by a com paratively small number of people. Hut the hazards of the game, and the billions that have been lost In It! The finding branch of the oil Indus try, says Mr. Marland, ‘is not a bus! neas. nor Is it s science—it is a speculation, a lottery." Outside of the aocalled "proven areas," the company with a good geological deportment has possibly one chance In 1ft or 2ft of opening a new pool. Mr. Marland says; "where the wildcatter, without such help, has only one c-hnm'e In one or two hundred." Maybe here Is one ezplanntlon why so many oil "Invest ments" somehow go wrong. Still, there are other hazards, liven after the oil Is found there Is no guarantee that the supple will be suf flclenl to repay the amount that has Ifcen spent In that particular pool or Held. Then there Is the hazard of Are of lack of water and. above all perhaps, of uncertain price move ; NET AVERAGE PAID CIRCULATION for Dec#inb#r, 1923, of THE OMAHA BEE Daily .7.5,107 Sunday .. 80,795 Does not include return*. left overt, sample* or papers spoiled m printing and include* no special •ale* or free circulation of any kind V. A. BRIDGE. Cir. Mgr. ' I Subscribed and mom to before me this 7th day of January, 1914 W It QUIVEY, <$••11 Notaiy Public ments which may wipe out the mar gin of profits at any time and make an otherwise unusually promising out look most depressing. Closely con nected with this hazard Is the menace of a temporary over-supply, such as that which In recent months has play ed havoc with the funds of thousands In the oil Industry. It Is not Mr. Marlaand's purpose to he destructive or to discourage legiti mate and Intelligent endeavor In the future conduct of the oil Industry. But the .Implied warning he has given ought not to go unheeded. The lesson of this statement, In particular, Is plain: "Since the beginning of the Indus try, 70 years ago. approximately $12, >00.000,000 has been placed In the legitimate channels of oil field devel opment and operation In the United States. Only $7,500,000,000 has been returned from the sale of crude oil produced. Thus there remains a de ficiency of $4,500,000,000. This great deficit takes Into consideration only the proper, legitimate costs of search ing for and producing crude oil. and does not include money put Into gross ly Inflated, Illegitimate stock promo tion schemes and so-called syndi cates." —.—- / Sugar Beet Flour. From the Indianapolis Non; * An Important additional use for the sugHr beet is found In the manu facture of flour therefrom. Indeed, it is reported that this kind of flour is turned out in considerable quanti ties at Suresnes. In France, where an enterprising person has built a large drier for the purpose. The first part of the process consists in chopping up the beets and drying the water from them. They contain, to start with, about 72 per cent of water, nearly all of which Is removed by evaporation By this means 100 pounds of dry material are obtained from 357 pounds of beets. The dry material contains more than 70 per cent of sugar—that is to say. there will be more than 70 pounds of sugar in every 100 pounds of the evaporated product. Accordingly, the latter, on being ground to a fine meal. Is ex "eedinglv sweet and well adapt* d for 'he making of cakes and pudd-ngs It is estimated to contain something lP'e 32 per cent of pure nutriment. The expectation is 'hat this sort of flour will eventually come into ex tensive use particularly In the man ufacture of cakes and *weet bread. It ’s said to be not onlv very nu trition's. but guaranteed to be germ »ree hv reason *,f the high tempera ture to wh'rh the raw material is exposed in the process of evaporation. Th* \lv«f*rv Men. Fr^m ih* New York Times. The hurst of suspicion and of rage which the Bnk peace plan has drawn from Incurable enemies of the league of Nations wap inevitable, we suppose, but It surely Is comic. A plain and straightforward thing has happened, hut these men will not have it so. There must have been soma sort of plot. They see the air thick with con spiracies Who bought whom? What was the bribe, and who took it? To the mystery men in the senate noth ing is what it seems. They lay wise fingers along wise noses and declare that they are bound to get at the wicked realities behind the plausible appearances. They angrily assert that they killed and buried the league, and that now they are resolved to find out who are the sacrilegious resurrec tlon'«*s that with dark lanterns and at dead of night venture to bring back the abhorrent thing Into the breathing world. Hence the senator ial demand for a rigid investigation. Old Sleuth can easily get a Job from the senate foreign relations commit tee if he whisners Into hushed eare that he has evidence to prove that Lloyd Georg# left behind him in this country a lot of British gold in order to get America to think and talk again about the League of Nations. The cause of this irreconcilable wrath ‘t reouires no detective to lo cate. The voting on the peace plan is s sort of iese msieste. or living in the face of Providence, to those who thought that they had forever dis posed of the league. They never tire of asserting that it is a Judged and condemned thing. Americans put it finally away from them in 1S20 by a majority of ? .000,000. If any one now dares to question that verdict, he is no true patriot and In all prohabili'y Is a hired traitor. The mere challenge of this arroesnt assertion by the thou sands of ballots that are being sent in every day in favor of the peace plan is what inflames those who plumed themselves on having done the league to death. This was always a hollow pretense on their part, and now that fact ts being demonstrated. The renewed In terest In the league of Nations all over the country is naturally gall and wormwood to them. Abe Martin '^SSSSTSi, 6sro//a „ 0*1 Y I We often wonder if th’ fiddler don’t have a time collectin’ what’s cornin’ t’ him? One good thing about prohibition, we hain’t alius gettin’ fooled on a tack fer a clove. <Copynrht. 1124) ' CENTER SHOTS. The Chicago News' headline, No Life, Water, Heat. Air or Hope on Moon," suggests that the professional reformers made a particularly thoruagh job of It up there.—Spring field L'nlon. And so we spend more for chewing ^ gum than foi books. Well, well; it's s<# much easier to exercise the chin than the mind—Wooster Record. Congress is not easily discouraged It keeps on passing laws In an effort to find some that will work.—Trlni dad Picket Wire. The first part of January should be a good time for the publisher* to sell those books on will power.—Po Arthur News. Modernists may take away part of the creed, hut they will leave the goo old collection plate.—Jersey City Journal. The check boy may seem a p.i a-* but just think what it will cost thi.se whose hats are in the ring.—Wen atehee World. * It is all very well to trust to the right—but a left is much more effec tive when properly developed. —El Paso Herald. Backbone is most impressive whet, a little of it is concentrated in the knot at the top.—Chattanooga Times One reason why France would let America sit in on the reparations con ference is that the conference would be meaningless without American participation.—Chicago News. This is the land of the free and. »f cording to the divorce court dockets the would be free.—Des Moines Reg ister. When we have a woman president a thing some of the foremost equal wrongs advocates predict as not far away, w(ll her hushand be the flrs! lady of the land?—Toledo Blade Judge Kenyon, importuned hv h.s friends to run for the republican non. ination for president, savs he want" "only to be let alone " Well, he might try Henry Ford's recipe.— Sioux City Journal. Sunday school teachers are in hard luck these days. With ao many shocking examples among the clergy it is difficult, oh. so difficult, to keep the infant mind from shooting into disputations realms.—Brooklyn Eagle. Some candidates thus far have more managers than delegates—Cleveland Times. BLUE CAB CO. Meter Rate*—Prompt Service CALL AT-3322 When in Omaha Hotel Conant Too Late!! Your House May Burn— And a burning house or store is no place for valuables - par ticularly when a Safe Deposit box in our vaults costs less than a cent and a half a day. W hy Take Chances? Cet a Hox Today! fV AM A LF A National Banl Trust Company