The Morning Bee I _~ i MORNING—EVENING—SUNDAY •_ THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY KELSON B. UPDIKE. Publieher. B. BREWER, Gen. Manager. --- MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS H* Associated Pr«M. r.I which Tbs Bee it s member, is exclenteslf •HUM to tk* ues for rrpubltrai'i p of til oeet dispatches credited to is et ••t otherw.es credited la tlila paper, tad also th* local nswe published beret e. AH light* *4 rrwthtlcattoea of oar spscitl dlaptlchas are also reaarred. BEE TELEPHONES Wtttl Branch Exchange. Ask for the Department AT lantie or Parson Wanted. For Night Calls After 10 P. M.: innn Editorial Department. AT lantie 1021 or 1042. IWUU OFFICES ~ Main Office—17th and Farnara Co. Bluffs - • - • 12 Scott St. So. Side. N W. Cor. 24tb and N New York—286 Fifth Avenue WgOhingtoa • • 422 Star Bldg. Chicago - - - 1720 Steger Bldg. Paris, Franca—420 Rue St. Honore A CHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENT. That amazing story of brutality in Louisiana is of more than local Importance. The thing that happened there is capable of repetitfon in many Other communities throughout the nation. It is nothing less than a symptom of an epidemic that threatens to spread far and wide unless promptly checked. Two young men who had incurred the enmity of a masked gang were kidnaped, slain and their bodies hidden in a lake. They had committed no crime, and they were granted no trial, bat were doomed to torture and death because they had dared to de nounce the methods of the Ku Klux Klan. When men organize to see their prejudice and judgment above the law, this is what may be ex petted. Shrouded in secrecy, they cast off the re straints of civilization and revert to barbarism. The laxity of public officials in enforcing the la* encourages such movements in two ways. In the first place, such hooded mobs have little or no fMr of being arrested and punished for their vio lence. In the second place, the loose administration of lew in other cases leads to the feeling that some itrong hand is necessary to suppress crime and sup port public order. There is a contradiction here that condemns the basic principle of such move ments. Breaking the law in order to compel others to respect it is a particularly dangerous and unwise proceeding. There are orderly ways in which to secure stricter administration of law, and these *0Uld eliminate the possibility of personal spite being confused with the spirit of righteousness. Last W'inter the Ku Klux Klan posted a warning in an Oklahoma town which illustrates what seems ♦ o be a general policy. "We are here In Coal comity 500 strong. We stand for otir churches. Officers of the law. do your duty and wc are with you. Fall, und we are Against you. We oppose socialism and bolshevism. Wc ure 10U per cent Americans. We are for white supremacy. We arc for public free schools. Agi tators. better clear out. We know who you are. Gamblers and bootleggers, hit the hike. We will be back soon. Blood won American freedom. Blood will preserve it if necessary*’’ Doubtless there are many Americans who, with out analyzing a document of this sort, will feel that it is warranted by the circumstances. It may have been that conditions were very bad, but unless our government is & failure, there is no excuse for force arid violence to clean up. Ours is after all a violent race, much given to short cuts and direct action. In the last tivo years 85 persons have been lynched by mobs and more than 50 tarred and feathered. Floggins have been administered to more than 100, lenge to law and order. If it existed anywhere else in the world, American public sentiment would be outraged. It is a situation that demands deep thought, not shallow acquiescence. The energy with which, now six months after the Louisiana outrage, the case is being investigated gives rise to the hope that some public officers have come better to realize the necessity for a strong hand. No lawless individual or class should enjoy protection or immunity from punishment. Crime must be put down, whether committted by unor- j ganized individuals or by a gang in white robes. The government must show its power, making itself feared by alKwrongdoeis and trusted by all decent men and women. | “SAGE OF SILVER CREEK.” When the list of men who were active in public affairs of Nebraska is finally made up, the name of Charles Wooster of Silver Creek should get a high place. One of the pioneers of the state, he came I to Nebraska from service in the Union army, and j settled down to make a farm. He did this in a way that won for him a competence, but to the end of his days he remained a farmer. Yet he found time for other matters, and showed great interest i« all that was going on about him. His views were his own, and were not always popular, but he held them independently, and battled lustily for his notion of the right. Compromise was not in his na- : ture, and nobody was left in doubt as to where the “Sage of Silver Creek” stood, once he had made i up his mind. He first came to general notice in connection I with the populist movement in 1890, and in the leg islature of 1897 he attracted much attention by his apposition to the Transmississippi and International Exposition, about to be held at Omaha. So rigid was lie on the point that he did not visit the expo sition at any time. To illustrate another phase of his character, it may be permitted to tell of his con tribution to the support &f French war orphans. He subscribed $10 per month, oi« the number of francs equivalent to, that sum, to the fund that was administered, his donation being sufficient to sup port two orphans. When the franc began to de ciine in'value, Mr. Wooster engaged in a rather i extended controversy with the French authorities because they did riot increase the amount in francs allowed each orphan, or at least the particular orphans he was contributing to sustain. He was giving $10 a month, and he wanted the young folks to have it all, no matter how many francs it repre sented. His last active effort was to attend a meeting at Hastings, the object of which was to form an or ganization to work for lower taxes. He was the true stormy petrel in this respect, his connection with the Farmers* Union and similar bodies giving him ample opportunity to expound his views and air his opinions. His contributions to the press of the state were always interesting, although not always couched in terms that woud endear him to the per son he had under consideration. “Charlie” Wooster was a strong man, a patriot and a good citizen, and even those who did not think as he did felt for him the respect due a courageous adversary who did his fighting in the •pen. Head of Omaha’s booze sleuths has the American record for capturing stills, but he hasn’t exhausted th« supply as yet. FOR A BUSY NEW YEAR. Beginning with Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, and coming on down the list, every agency that is assumed to he in touch with condi tions predicts a busy time for 1923 in the United States. Retrospection shows that 1922 was not such a bad twelve months alter all. November's*record of exports of food products showed greater amount in both volume and value than for 1921. Similar revival of exports of manu factured goods is reported, indicating a healthy condition of foreign commerce. At the same time affairs at home show a great change for the better. Unemployment is fast disappearing, workers are getting full time at high wages, and the home mar ket reaps the benefit of the improved buying power of the consumer. Specifically, the building trades have been the most active, the effort being to overcome the acute shortage in housing facilities created by the prac tical abandonment of that class of construction dur ing the war period. The coming year will exceed the record of the year just over in this regard, ac cording to Secretary Hoover’s view. This in turn insures occupation for factory hands, and that makes sale for farm products, and so the movement goes around the beneficent circle. Operations in stocks and bonds during the last year rose almost to the peak attained by the boom following the war, when inflation was at its zenith. Prices are strong and high, indicating faith in the future. For Omaha the bank clearings for.the year show a record of increase of over $78,000,(\po the total being $1,902,158,685.91. No sign of fall ing off in this. President David Friday of the Mich igan Agricultural college says the farmer is enter ing on an era of prosperity that will equal the four teen-year period that culminated in 1913. A general chorus of encouragement^ is heard from all sides. Money is easy, interest rates arc lower than in many years, enterprise is being ejo tended, factories are busy, railroads are buying new equipment to take care of increasing business, and no sign of calamity is apparent The year of 1923 promises to mark some new records in the United States. LAUDER’S PLEA FOR PEACE. It wac only yesterday, or the day before, that Harry Lauder was in Omaha, on his way from New Zealand to England. War had been declared while he was in the Antipodes, and he was making his way back. One of his hopes was to reach home be fore his son, Capt. John Lauder, had gone to France. In this he was disappointed, and when he did go to France it was to search out the grave of the lad by whom he had set such store, and in whom he had such pride. Harry Lauder carried on throughout the war; his part was honorable and arduous, and a bar onetcy was given him by his country as partial com pensation for his service* Nothing, however, can restore to him the boy he loved, and, while *his ar dent patriotism has in no sense diminished, he is committed to the cause of peace, for he knows what war costs. Therefore, it is not an idle statement on part of Sir Harry Lauder that he would rather build friend ships than battleships. He abates in no degree bis devotion to righteous justice, to the maintenance of law and order, but he does believe that men and na tions alike can find as much cause for agreement as for quarreling, and that the search should be made for points of meeting rather than for excuse for separation. A little more singing to lighten the load a little more of tyndshaking and cheery greeting, a little less of self and a little more of service_ these are ingredients for a prescription which, if taken right, will make come true another thought of Sir Harry s, that each day be a happy day, instead of the once-a-year greeting of “Happy New Year.’’ For the birth of each new day is itself a miracle, as much a wonder as the birth of a new year, and de serving of as much effort on the part of each to make it a happy one for all. May the gospel ac cording to Lauder spread! .____ A permit has been issued for a $40,000,000 power dam on the Colorado river in Arizona, if you want to know where the opposition to the seven state treaty for dividing the waters comes from. Discussion of conditions at the County hospital reminds us that it is not too late to take steps to establish the city and county hospital, so long mooted and so badly needed. ___ A special train to carry democrats to Lincoln on inauguration day is something of a rarity in Ne braska. It has happened but few times in history. Organized agriculture is now considering its problems, but what the wheat belt most needs is about four inches of closely packed snow. “Charlie” Wooster could tell a sham farther off than most men, and he loved to smash one. Happy New Year to you all! ~ The Craze for Oriental Curios From Arts and Decoration.”" l our true Asiatic treasures his works of art whether he be a mandarin or a simple trafficker. He has a tender and admiring affection for them, and cherishes in them his ideals of beauty. He is endowed by nature with the artistic sense. He has a keen eye for color, good taste, and a wonderfully clever hand for shaping things. A person Who haunts the curiosity shops of Pekin, j Canton, Tokio and Yokohama catches deep glimpses now and then into the secret depths of the oriental soul. He finds people buying, haggling, bartering. Na' j lives and foreigners alike are feverishly interested in I collecting curios. Half of Asia lives from them. Every j ■ year the volume of this trade increases, The marvelous j Ali Baba treasures of China and Japan captivate th. I imagination of the European. Only in these lands cor he revel in such a wealth of shimmering silks, wrougli , gold ami silver, and precious stones. In western conn tries such treasures are hidden behind lock and key In Asia they are exposed by the wayside and in opci booths. A Chinese Croesus will let a pearl fall from lii: jewel-embroidered mantle and leave it lying in the dust The curio fever has seized everyone—buyers, sellers barterers, tricksters and tricked. Here Is a younj Chineso foreign office official, who hangs his gold-em broidered mantle on a peg and becomes a curio dealer; i there is a German calico salesman, who by chance dls j covers an old treasure of little boxes and caskets and Tanagra-like idol statuettes, front the time of the Ilai. dynasty. They show traces of Greek and Roman in fluenee. He Is now scouring China for treasures which the market of London and Paris eagerly absorbs. Even high Chinese notables are so possessed by this wild collecting mania, that they plunder ancient ances tral tombs in search of antique bronzes, prehistoric pot tery and sepulchral images. The common people are bribed to be quiet. Reverence for the dead runs in th' blood of the Chinese peasant; he will have nothing to do with this violation of ancient tombs. The people who come at night to carry off old inscriptions and fa mous reliefs of the Wei and Han dynasties, from cliff tombs and burial mounds, are professional grave-rob bers. Indeed, European collectors condemn such van dalism—unless they profit directly by it! ________________________________________ I America and the World Nebraska Editors Discuss Question of an Economic Confer ence and Differ on Part to Be Played by President and Senate. (•rand Island Independent. A. F. Buehler: It Would be a se rious mistake to place all responsibil ity of dealing with the European sit uation in the hands of any one man, even the president. And power means responsibility. The senate, if not the entire congress, should handle it. Even the calling of another interna tional conference before France has completely ratified- that of almost a year ago, is a very doubtful pro cedure. • Bloomington Advocate. H. M. Crane: AA'e are of the opinion that the senate should have some thing to say in regard to European matters as well as the president. It ! begins to he conceded that it will be necessary for America to attend \he international economic conference in order to enable the foreign countries to get on their feet and be able to pay their debts and begin to buy our products. Everybody is against any cancellation of the war debts. Blair Pilot. Eon C. A’aif Deusen: If Harding should have a free hand in dealing with European affairs, why shouldn't AA Uson have had a free hand also? The senate, of which President llar ding-Avas then a member, seemed very much inclined to take things into their hands when President AVilson was negotiating the Versailles peace I treaty. AVhat is sauce for the goose \ should be sauce for the gander. Per- ' sonally, we believe the president should have a free hand in the nego tiations with foreign nations. The senate's business is to ratify or re ject, i not negotiate. They should mainly accept the president's negotia tions as the best that could be ob tained Just as the senate accepts tliei reports of conference committees' whether they altogether like them or not. It is the only way to expedite matters and get things done. Tho Pilot editor was and still is in favor of j the League of Nations and believes we made a big mistake in not going in It in the first place, one that can never be corrected, for we have lost much of the prestige we then had. AVe didn't like to get into the war, but I we had to. AVe still have a duty to perform in helping a war-torn world to settle down. AVe can at least try to help settle matters and, if we should fail, we will have done ou) duty and none can blame us for not trying. If this isn't tile opportune time to call an economic conference, then let us stand by until it is tim and then call it. Norfolk Press. Marie Weeks: The newspaper re ports in the matter of the proposed international economic conference seem evasive and unsatisfying. Be tween the lines citizens read the handwriting of diplomacy, which Is the antithesis of "open covenants openly arrived at." The government of Germany is a weak thing. Ameri can financiers realize that the people or Europe are pretty thoroughly dN gustod with their governmental lead ers and may kick over the traces any n'm Ute' Ajlieri('an money lenders are willing to loan Germany and the other European countries money if they <-afi make sure that they can protect that money and get their interest. Presi dent Harding wants a free hand that he may give Wall street and those It stands for full and free rein to sr cure .mortgages on the unborn wor t ers of Europe for generations. Mr. Borah has gotten ready to remove tin hd on a cauldron of financial diplom acy. That has been, will lie and is the cause of most wars. Chamber of } ommerce representation does not look to us as the American way. I.et Hie senate have something to gay. The people elected the senate to rep resent them. McCook Gazette. H. D. Strunk: it would seem that the best results might be obtained by giving President j larding a free hand in dealing with I he European situa tion. The fact that the people might then place the responsibility definitely for the results would have a tendency , to cause deeper concern on the part of those at the helm of affairs, and result in a more just settlement of such questions. Public sentiment is not capable of judging ns to whether or not America Should call a new In ternational economic conference. T hero is no grood reason why it should be. President Harding and the senate should be in a position to run the business of the United States and the public should have confidence in their integrity and ability. Public sentiment, however, is certain of one thing, ftnd that is that some ac lion should have been taken long ago by this, august body to prevent the economic conditions which face this country today. Falls City Joiiniul. Aaron Davidson: A new interna tional conference having the sage counsel of experts on economies cer tainly could do no harm and may ac complish some good in unsnarling the Daily Prayer Open to me the gates of righteous ness: t will go in to them, anil I will Praise the Lord—Psalm 118:19 Our Heavenly Father, we pause at the opening of tills day to place our selves in harmony with Thy great plans. We know that it is unwise and sinful to oppose or attempt to ‘hinder Thy purposes. Hear our hum ble appeal for Divine wisdom, for spiritual sensitiveness to Thy mes sages, for broader views of our duty, and for peace of God which fills the soul when working in full harmony with Thee. Let each of these bless ings lie given to all whom we love, incline them to stop and pray—to watch and act, under the Impulses which come from Heaven. Make know Thy love and law to all peo ple in all lands, and hasten the era when all mankind shall accept the teaching of Thy Son, and of the Holy Prophets, and thus in sincere agree ment live in peace with all, and in full obedience and devotion to Thy Holy Will. We ask these great bless ings in the Name of our Lord Jesus, Thy Son, and our Redeemer. Amen. BUSSELL H CONWELL, D.H., Philadelphia, Pa. NET AVERAGE CIRCULATION for NOVEMBER, 1922, of THE OMAHA BEE ' Daily.73,843 Sunday .78,105 B. BREWER, Gen. Mgr. ELMER S. ROOD, Cir. Mgr. 1 Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of December, 1022. W. H. QUIVEY, (Seal) Notary Public present tangle in world politics and commerce. Harding has thus far shown himself reliable in refraining from exercising autocratic measures, I and it is hoped for the sake of ex pedition that he will he given a free hand in dealing with the situation. Kearney Hull. M. A. Brown: Give the president a | free hand in dealing with the Euro i pean economic situation. If there is need for calling an international con ference he alone is in position to de ! cide. I _________________ Memory Tests 1. Who was known as "Long shanks?” Edward 1. king of England (12391307). 2. What was the unicorn? In | mythology, a ferocious monster with the body of a horse, the head of a deer, the feet of an elephant, the tail I of a boar, and a single black horn, | two cubits large, in the middle of its i forehead. Hunters found it Impossible to catch the beast until they found out it was a great lover of purity. Thpy secured a virgin to snare it. 3. Who published in Boston in 1789 a novel entitled "The Power of Sym pathy”—probably the first American novel to appear in print? Mrs. Sarah Morton. The reason for such a late appearance of native fiction may be ascribed to the ascendancy of the clergy, who would not have tolerated novel reading by members of their flocks. 4. What is the highest denomina tion United States postage stamp now in use? The $5 stamp. F>. Who wrote the words of the song “Kathleen Mavaurneen?” Louisa Macartney Crawford. _ ! A Book oj Today Intense experiences and emotions fill Alice Brown's new novel of New England life, “Old Crow.” It is the story of nn eccentric old uncle and his nephew, home from the war, disillu sioned and heartened to tlnd the world much the same in spite of all the human sacrifice. Women play a large part in the lives of these two recluses, hunting them out and en deavoring to pull them this way and that. Tira, a native woman, beauti fill and unhappily married, is a strik ing character. Her husband, a re pressed, overworked farmer, is an other type that lends a psychological tinge to this novel. Distinctly a worth-while piece of literature. It is published by Macmillan. Common Sense The Most Valuable Kinploye. "She is not only a good stenogra pher and typist, but she has brains and good judgment and she us you? (Copyright, 1922.) NEW YEARS FOR OLD. "New years for old! New years for old!" Ho Time is crying out his wares. He'll take your cross and give you gold. And give you hopes for your despairs What cause is lost? What love Is cold? "New years for old! New years for old." New years for old! Whatever dream Died yesterday, today Is here. Ahead of you, new visions gleam. Whatever visions disappear. New years for old'—new lights ahead For every candle that is dead. New years for old! Bring hither, then. Your disappointments and your griefs Your hurls, your hates of other men. Your shattered faiths, your disbeliefs— Yea, bring them all. and Time will give New faiths for old, new lives to live. * "New years for old! New years for old!" So Time is crying out hla wares. He'll take your dross and give you gold, And give you hopes for your despairs. What cause i-* lost? What love is cold?— "New years for old' New years for old!" (Copyright, 1923.) Your Hens Need This Big Help 11 Then they’ll pay you I back with more eggs. I Keep them vigorous and f active—and they are I bound to lay Give them I Pratts Poultry | Regulator I in their daily Ged and [ see how they wak *. up I and get busy. H«:lp« to 9 n.aintain health Fry if 9 at ou' risk I # Poor Money Back If YOU I i Are Not Satisfied" || i IMA Ti FOOD COMPANY Phils., Chicavo, faroil# Boy Pratt* in >2 or 26 tb. paila; bo I u iu o«tf* PffATTS 80“ YfAb “The People’s Voice” Editorials from rr.dtrt of Th« Mornlnf Boo. Roadtrs of Tho Moral.*?! Boo tro lavlfod to ui« this c'lu'’n frorly for oxfroMloa oa matters of public tatore.t. Always a Penalty. Sterling. Neb.—To the Kditor of The Omaha Bee: On reading The l Omaha Bee Sunday my attention was railed to the statement of Will Haya: "You will not be unmindful of the ! words of Him who first taught us to forgive.*’ This refers to the “Ar i buckle case.” and if I did not see whither such argument is drifting I would not enter protest. The eounthy is full of crime, and the cause is because the doctrine of forgiveness is preached and practiced without tegurd to results. So long as you teach people that it does not mat ter what crime you commit "you can ask G or a *rr - ?ovno vnt a *me cop Vep here hc come*. /Vttt'r REtfOfrXUFD MC Vet ——^ Wm* i* 60n«a BE A 6000 ON6 on Ml"l **V.' PULU OVCK TO TT^eCURIJ, MAW I powr MMeMBeR. WU< OM.V ABOUT A THOOJAA/O £|VD> HANPEP MB SEBfeAR* THE OTHT* wsn! «eM> veR. 4up! . jp^ lar class to the detriment of another. Let's hasten on—get it all out of our systems—and then perhaps < r^fer Into that desirable state where we will do unto others as we would be done by. HOPEFUL. Faithful to Fatty. Howells, Neb.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: The discussions of country editors regarding Fatty At bucklo are disgusting in the extreme. Especially so is one statement by one editor that If the public refuse to see Fatty. Hollywood will clean up more quickly than the employment of ten Hays. I am personally acquainted with Ihls editor and have never seen any great reform that he has pulled i off. although he has always been classed as a trouble maker. I am | one of the public that refuse to be bamboozled Into staying away from a j theater where Arbuckle is being shown. I admire the statement by the Falls | City Journal and the Oakland Inde ' pendent, and to Mr. Wood in ('!>•. Gehring Courier I say, "Stay away* till there are snowballs in Africa for all that anybody cares.’’ Arbuckle was acquitted, and that should be the epd of It. 1 certainly would enjoy seeing all the people making these statements against him put up against the same charges that he was. Arbuckle is no worse than thou sands of others that are defaming him, and I hope the day may com* when I can take his hand and tell him I believe in him, also that l may meet some of these knockers face to face and tell them to go jump In th* lake. T. P. WARD. Those Dull Details. There seems to be at least three details common to all the payroll and hank robberies: "First, the attack "was well planned;” second. Iho ban dits "used a stolen motor car;” third, “the bandits escaped."—Kansas City Star. Money to Loan on Omaha Real Estate Present Interest Rate Charge Is 6% Illinois Central System Reviews Its Record of Service in 1922 • • As we enter upon the new year, it is fitting that we review, briefly, the events of the past year and pledge bur most earnest efforts to the task of meeting the problems ahead. \ The past year began with a business depression and ended in a period of business activity that carried the tide of traffic on the Illinois Central System higher than ever before. The freight traffic handled in 1922 (December esti mated) was 16,676,800,000 ton miles, an increase over 1921 of more than 21 per cent. The great increase in business came in the last six months of the year. In the first six months of the year, up to July 1, the Illinois Central System handled an average of 1,169,065,500 ton miles of freight per month. In July it handled 1.311.564.000 ton miles; in August 1,649.538,000 ton miles; in September 1,690, 066.000 ton miles; in October 1,759,576,000 ton miles, and in November 1,703, 662.000 ton miles. The October business was the greatest in any month in the history of the system. The handling of this mounting tide of business was made possible by the loyal team-work of the employes of the Illinois Central System and the splendid co-opei'ation received from our patrons. Despite the difficult conditions of the year—the unsettled state of business and the unrest generally existent—the Illinois Central System, looking to the fu ture needs of its patrons, contracted for new equipment costing approximately $18,000,000. For other improvements, including reduction of grades and con struction of new main line and yard tracks, it incurred an additional expense of $7,500,000, making a total outlay of $25,500,000 for new facilities and enlarge ments. • During the year the patrons of the Illinois Central System have had neither all the transportation service they deserve nor all the service we wanted them to have. The shortage of railway facilities has been of national scope. The losses of the year suffered by shippers as a result of the inadequacy of transportation will not be altogether in vain if they serve to teach the American public the abso lute necessity of having an efficient, well-equipped transportation machine, and if they demonstrate that the public cannot have such a machine unless the railroads are regulated constructively. Some of the prominent antagonists of the railroads are expected to make efforts during this year that will, if successful, place further restrictions upon the railroads, making it still more difficult for them to take the steps necessary to forestall further transportation shortages. Farmers, business men. wage earners and all other classes of our population should be activfe in opposing these efforts, because their interests in the stake of adequate railway transportation are just as great as, and in some instances greater than, those of railway men themselves. . The New Year season is an occasion for pledging ourselves to the tasks before us. We of the Illinois Central System face the new ye&r hopefully. We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to merit a continuance of the support and co operation which our patrons have so generously accorded us in 1922. Constructive criticism and suggestions are invited. C. H. MARKHAM, President, Illinois Central System.